in December, he placed Gen. Butler in
command of the troops left on the Rio Grande, and
at the stations from the river on to
Saltillo--Worth's small division of regulars being
at the latter place. Gen. Wool's column had by this
time reached Parras, one hundred or more miles west
of Saltillo. General Butler had so far recovered
from his wound as to walk a little and take
exercise on horseback, though with pain to his
limb. One night, (about the 19th December,) an
express came from Gen. Worth at Saltillo, stating
that the Mexican forces were advancing in large
numbers from San Luis de Potosi, and that he
expected to be attacked in two days. His division,
all told, did not exceed 1500 men, if so many, and
he asked reinforcements. The general remained up
during the balance of the night, sent off the
necessary couriers to the rear for reinforcements,
and had the 1st Kentuckey, and the 1st Ohio foot,
then encamped three miles from town, in the place
by daylight; and these two regiments, with
Webster's battery, were encamped that night ten
miles on the road to Saltillo. This promptness
enabled the general to make his second day's march
of twenty-two miles in good season, and to hold the
celebrated pass of Los Muertos, and check the enemy
should he have attacked Gen. Worth on that day, and
obliged him to evacuate the town. Whilst on the
next, and last day's march, the general received
notice that the reported advance of the enemy was
untrue. Arriving at the camp-ground, the general
suffered intense pain from his wound, and slept not
during the night. This journey, over a rugged,
mountainous road, and the exercise he took in
examining the country for twenty miles in advance
of Saltillo, caused the great increase of pain now
experienced."

The major's account then goes on to relate Gen. Butler's proceedings
while in command of all the forces after the junction of Generals
Worth and Wool--his dispositions to meet the threatened attack of
Santa Anna--the defences created by him at Saltillo, and used during
the attack at Buena Vista in dispersing Minon's forces--his just
treatment of the people of Saltillo, w