concerted plans of co-operation, he set out on the 13th, on his return. On his way he received intelligence that a large body of the enemy had reached Matamoras, with the intention of collecting in force at Barita, a neighboring village. In consequence of this news he changed his plan and returned to Point Isabel; at this place he was greeted with the sight of a considerable reinforcement of Louisiana and Alabama troops, both regular and volunteer, who had just arrived directly from New Orleans. This accession of strength enabled him to draw from that station a much larger force than he had at first intended; so that on the 14th, when he again set out for Fort Brown, he was accompanied by six hundred men, a train of artillery, nearly three hundred wagons, and a large amount of equipage and military stores. He reached his camp without any

molestation from the enemy.

On the afternoon of the next day Colonel Wilson, with four companies of regulars and three of volunteers, crossed the river and took undisputed possession of the reported depot at Barita. The property and rights of the citizens were respected, and the station soon became one of importance to the army.

The battle of Resaca de la Palma closed the purely defensive operations of General Taylor; and in his subsequent proceedings, he was operating entirely in the enemy's country, and on the offensive. After the victory the relative disposition of both armies was

In the meanwhile Com. Conner was cogitating over the most proper way to compliment Gen. Taylor. Having heard of his peculiar disregard of military dress, he concluded he would make the visit in a manner comporting to Gen. Taylor's habits, and consequently equipped himself in plain white drilling, and unattended, came ashore.

The moment old “ Rough and Ready” heard that Com. Conner had landed,, he abandoned some heavy work he was personally attending to about the camp, and precipitately rushed into his tent, delved at the bottom of an old chest, and pulled out a uniform coat, that had peacefully slumbered for years in undisturbed quietude, slipped himself into it, in his haste fastening it so that one side of the standing collar was three button-holes above the other, and sat himself down as uncomfortable as can well be imagined. With quiet step and unattended, Com. Conner presented himself at Gen. Taylor's tent; the two soldiers shook hands, both in exceeding astonishment at each other's personal appearance.

The wags in the army say, that the above contains the only authentic account where Gen. Taylor was ever headed, and since that time, he has taken to linen roundabouts of the largest dimensions, with more pertinacity than ever."

changed, and the Mexicans no longer thought of resisting the victorious General in an open field. In the subsequent chapters, therefore, we must no longer look for the Americans, besieged in a breastwork, and restricted from every thing, except an active defence; but we shall follow them in rapid marches across the territory, overthrowing all opposition, and capturing the towns and fortifications which obstructed their progress.

The battles of the 8th and 9th of May were of immense importance, not only on account of their accomplishing the relief of Fort Brown, and the expulsion of the enemy from the territory of the United States; but from their moral effect on both nations. To the enemy these battles were a sad warning of the future, a foretaste of defeat. To our own countrymen they gave the presage of success, the undoubting confidence which was destined to be justified by their subsequent career of victory and conquest.