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

ACTION OF CERRIALVO. 309
and ran either to the advance or rear-guard. But few of
those men deserve censure, for the road was so narrow that
the stopping of a single"wagon necessarily detained all others
behind it. And even at those rare places where the track
was wide enough to admit of passing, many of' the brainless
native mules, being accustomed only to follow, refused to
pass those halted in advance of them; thus, by their provoking obstinacy, defeating the efforts of the most diligent
and courageous drivers to bring up their wagons. To remain
with such brutes was certain death; and indeed, so sudden
was the onset of the cavalry at all points, that more than a
dozen of the teamsters were lanced in their saddles; while
others, unable to join either division of our force escaped
in the chaparral, and wandered off toward Monterey or
Camargo.
Meantime the wagons were being gathered as rapidly as
possible around the advance and rear-guards, and by prompt
and unceasing exertions,-in which some of the wagon-masters and drivers fearlessly discharged their duty,-we succeeded in saving about one hundred and twenty of them.
The remainder, probably forty in number, were lost chiefly
by the mules taking fright, and dashing through the penings
of the thickets into the enemy's hands. Had we fifty or a
hundred good dragoons, even those should have been recovered. The ranchero portion of Urrea's force, under General
Canales, after unhitching the animals immediately set fire to
the wagons. Among those burned was our ammunition
wagon, which, though placed in charge of two drivers
recommended as trusty men, had been lost in the first