he United States be requested
to cause to be struck a gold medal, with devices emblematical of
this splendid achievement, and presented to Major-General Zachary
Taylor, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress
of his judicious and distinguished conduct on that memorable
occasion.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested
to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to
Major-General Taylor in such terms as he may deem best calculated
to give effect to the object thereof.

Approved May 9, 1848.

_____

_General Taylor to the Adjutant-General of the Army._

To Headquarters, Army of Occupation,
THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY, Agua Nueva, March 6, 1847.
Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honor to submit a detailed report of the
operations of the forces under my command, which resulted in the
engagement of Buena Vista, the repulse of the Mexican army, and
the re-occupation of this position.

The information which reached me of the advance and concentration
of a heavy Mexican force in my front, had assumed such a probable
form, as to induce a special examination far beyond the reach of
our pickets to ascertain its correctness. A small party of Texan
spies, under Major McCulloch, dispatched to the hacienda of
Encarnacion, thirty miles from this, on the route to San Louis
Potosi, had reported a cavalry force of unknown strength at that
place. On the 20th of February, a strong reconnoissance under
Lieutenant-Colonel May was dispatched to the hacienda of
Heclionda, while Major McCulloch made another examination of
Encarnacion. The result of these expeditions left no doubt that
the enemy was in large force at Encarnacion, under the orders of
General Santa Anna, and that he meditated a forward movement, and
attack upon our position.

As the camp of Agua Nueva could be turned on either flank, and as
the enemy's force was greatly superior to our own, particularly
in the arm of cavalry, I determined, after much consideration, to
take up a position about eleven miles in rear, and there await
the attack. The army broke up its camp and marched at noon on the
21st, encamping at the new