About three o'clock in the afternoon, General Taylor received the message from Captain McCall, and instantly put his army in motion, which came up with the advance-guard about four o'clock. Lieutenant Ridgely, with his battery, was immediately thrown forward on the road. Captain Smith, with his party, was now directed to take the right of the road, while Captain McCall took the left, with orders to feel the enemy and bring on the action, after which they were to assume a position upon the enemy's flanks, and harass him. Having advanced about three hundred yards to front and flank, the advance encountered the right of the enemy's infantry, and with great gallantry brought on the action, pouring an incessant and destructive fire upon the enemy.

Ridgely's battery, in the mean time, had advanced upon the road; while the 5th infantry and one wing of the 4th, thrown into the chaparral on the left, and the 3d infantry and the other wing of the 4th upon the right, moved simultaneously upon the enemy. These corps were deployed as skirmishers, and intended to cover the battery and engage the Mexican infantry.

Moving cautiously along, Ridgely discovered the enemy in the road, about four hundred yards in advance, and almost instantaneously their artillery opened upon him. Ridgely ordered forward his battery at full speed, about a hundred yards, and returned the fire with precision and effect. The cannonade was kept up for some time on both sides with great spirit, after which, as the fire of the enemy slackened, Ridgely limbered up and advanced upon him, until at length he was within a hundred or a hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's batteries, and at this fearful proximity, galled him with rapid and terrible discharges of grape and canister.

Simultaneous with the opening roar of the artillery was heard the sharp rattle of musketry. On the left the 5th infantry, led by the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel McIntosh, rushed on towards the