[168]
Captain Henry, of the Third Infantry, a classmate of mine at West Point, a very good fellow, and I notice his recent productions since our march from Camargo have been quite spirited.
His account of the battle has not yet reached here, and I cannot therefore vouch for its accuracy.
He was one of the individuals who wagered with me on a fight, and I had the good fortune to win a forage-cup from him, as I did a box of cigars from another, and one of wine from a third.
This, I suppose, you will say was very bad in me, but in war times soldiers will be bad fellows, and you must pardon me on the score of my confession.
I enclose you a rough sketch which will give you some idea of the relative positions of various places about to be occupied and garrisoned by our forces, and will enable you better, and particularly your dear father, to understand what is going on. I have only put down the principal towns and roads; there are an immense number of ranchos, as they are called, and numerous trails and mule-paths joining them, but the only good wagon roads, or the lines on which it is practicable to move with wagons and artillery, I have put down.
The troops as now stationed are as follows: General Wool, with two thousand five hundred men (one thousand five hundred foot and one thousand horse) and eight pieces of artillery, is now at Parras, having been ordered there from Monclova, at which place he was stopped by General Taylor, on account of the armistice.
General Worth is at Saltillo, where he will soon have a force of about two thousand five hundred men and eight pieces of artillery.
Major General Butler will remain here, with about one thousand five hundred men and a large quantity of artillery.
This will make about six thousand men and over sixteen pieces of artillery that could be united at Saltillo, under General Butler, in the event of Santa Anna's advancing in this direction.
This force is ample to hold him in check.
The only danger to be apprehended is his not giving them time to concentrate.
One thousand men have been sent and are by this time at Tampico, with twenty pieces of artillery of various calibre.
Among these one thousand are five hundred regulars, of the artillery, under the command of Colonel Belton.
General Taylor will move from here in a few days, with about two thousand five hundred men and eight pieces of artillery, to go by Morelos and Linares to Victoria.
He will pick up on the route the Second Infantry, now at Morelos, numbering five hundred men,
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