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

THE MEXICANS INVEST MARIN. 291
the city, to reconnoiter the surrounding country, returned
with the intelligence, that while in that elevated position he
had heard two faint reports of artillery in the direction of
Saltillo. As a sharp-eared sentinel at the citadel had also
heard the same sounds, we were convinced that a battle was
progressing in front. But General Taylor's position, at the
last account, being distant at least eighty miles by the road,
and perhaps fifty in an air line, many were disposed to entertain the painful belief, that he was retiring before the enemy
toward La Rinconada.
About the same time, General Urrea, doubtless informed
that Santa Anna had commenced operations in front, presented himself upon our line, with all his regular cavalry
and a large body of rancheros under General Canales. He
invested iarin, garrisoned by a part of the 2d Ohio regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Irvin, with eight hundred
horse: with as many more he fell upon one of our trains
near Ramas, killing about fifty of the wagoners and capturing the escort, which consisted of thirty soldiers of the 1st
Kentucky regiment under Lieutenant Barbour. A part of
his force was also thrown between Colonel Morgan's detachment at Cerralvo and Major Wall's at Punta Aguada.
On the morning of the 24th of February, the painful uncertainty and suspense which had so long prevailed at Monterey were partially dispelled. A messenger arrived from
Lieutenant-Colonel Irvin, stating that the enemy had been
for some time in force around Marin; that the little garrison
was much harassed by the close siege and desultory attacks
of the foe; that their ammunition was failing rapidly and