as brave soldiers should do. The signal to charge was given to the
Arrapahoes, and at that moment, the Shoshones, who till then had
remained inactive with me on the hill, started at full galop to their
appointed duty. The charge of the Arrapahoes was rapid and terrific,
and, when the smoke and dust had cleared away, I perceived them in the
plain a mile off, driving before them the Mexican cavalry, reduced to
half its number. The Shoshones, by a rapid movement, had broken through
between the infantry and artillery, forcing the artillery-men to abandon
their pieces; then, closing their ranks and wheeling, they attacked
fiercely the right flank of the infantry.

When I gave the signal to the Arrapahoes to charge, the Apaches
quickened their speed and charged the enemy in front; but they were
checked by the running fire of the well-disciplined troops, and, in
spite of their determination and gallantry, they found in the Mexican
bayonets a barrier of steel which their lances could not penetrate.

The chances, however, were still ours: the Mexican artillery was in our
power, their cavalry dispersed and almost out of sight, and the
infantry, though admirably disciplined, was very hardly pressed both in
flank and in front. At this juncture I sent Gabriel to bring back the
Arrapahoes to the scene of the conflict, for I knew that the Mexican
cavalry would never form again until they had reached the borders of
Senora. Of course, the coadjutors of Martinez had disappeared with the
fugitive cavalry, leaving the old general to regain the lost advantage
and to bear the consequences of their own cowardice and folly.

Now left master of his actions, this talented officer did not yet
despair of success. By an admirable manoeuvre he threw his infantry into
two divisions, so as to check both bodies of cavalry until he could form