Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

170 ADVANCE OF THE FIRST OHIO REGIMENT.
hedge of pomegranate, the Mexicans seemed well informed
of our position, and, during the few minutes we stood quietly
yet impatiently there, sent some terrific rounds of canister
into our ranks. Among those then killed was Lieutant H-Iett,
commanding Company H, whose captain had been left sick
at Cerralvo. To stand still and be thus tamely and unresistingly slaughtered, was a severe trial for volunteers. I-Iad
the order been given they would willingly have cleared the
hedge, and have stormed the barricades in front with indomnitable fury.
We had been but a short time in that position when
General Butler, who, on receiving Major Mansfield's comPmunication, had galloped back to consult the general-inchief, returned and gave the order to retrograde, and the
movement was accordingly commenced in no very good
humor. General Taylor, however, who was near at hand,
animating, directing, and watching every shock and charge
in the fight,' presenting himself even in the aim and very
flash of danger,"9 learning almost immediately afterward that
Quitman's brigade had carried Fort Teneria, countermanded
the order. At once and again the direction of the column
was changed, and we re-entered the streets further to the
east, striking at a point in the enemy's line between the tetede-pont of the Purisima and Fort ]Diabolo. Upon the withdrawal of the regiment from the point to which it had first
penetrated, the Mexicans had been encouraged to throw out
parties of light troops, who, being familiar with the ground,
followed us with a close and annoying fire. The order to
countermarch, therefore, was obeyed with alacrity by our