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

284 TAYLOR'S POSITION.
On the 24th of January, General Taylor returned to Monterey, bringing with him the light artillery companies of
Captains Bragg and Sherman, which he had fortunately
reserved. Washington's and Webster's batteries had also
been retained with General Wool's brigade at Saltillo. Without these, Buena Vista would not occupy the proud eminence
it now does, in the column of American victories. Taylor
encamped as usual in the grove of San Domingo, with a
small quarter-guard. His presence again restored confidence; and all the uncomfortable apprehensions aroused by
the departure of so large a portion of the army from our line,
disappeared at his coming. Stripped of his veteran infantry,
and left with a little band of volunteers to struggle with the
twenty thousand Mexican troops, soon to be precipitated upon
him; he was yet as calm and undismayed as if threatened
only by a summer shower. He says in a letter to Major
General Scott, written about this time,-" I feel that I have
lost the confidence of the government, or it would not have
suffered me to remain up to this time ignorant of its intentions, when so vitally affecting the interests committed to my
charge. But however much I may feel, personally, mortified
and outraged at the course pursued, unprecedented at least in
our own history, I will carry out in good faith, while I remain
in Mexico, the views of the government, though I may be
sacrificed in the effort."
There is no period in the history of General Taylor more
interesting than this, replete, as his whole career is, with
honorable deeds, and instructive examples of patriotic and
self-sacrificing magnanimity. View him in his tent at San