man  we  learned  that  tlie  Mexicans  had  made  an  ambuscade  at
the  river,  that  Geneial  Garay  was  there  liimself  with  a  large  force,
and  that  it  was  intended  to  attack  us  there.  I  immediately
despatched  the  adjutant  and  sergeant-major  to  order  Captain  Boy;l
to  fall  back  to  the  main  body ;  it  was  too  late;  they  had  no  sooner
started  to  communicate  the  order  before  a  heavy  discharge  of  mus-
];etry  was  heard,  and  many  single  shots  after ;  we  hastened  to  the
river;  Captain  Boyd,  M'ith  six  of  his  men,  had  fallen,  and  the
remamder  of  his  company  had  dispersed  or  iled  back  to  us.  As  I
reached  the  ground  I  perceived  the  enemy  had  cleared  away  the
ground  of  all  bushes  for  the  space  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards
on  either  side  tlie  road,  leaving  beyond  that  a  dense  hedge  of  chap-
paral,  in  the  rear  of  which  had  been  constructed  a  fence  to  prevent
charges  of  cavalry ;  in  front,  upon  the  opposite  bank,  was  their  main
body,  also  protected  in  their  front  by  thick  chapparal.
