Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/528

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THE GUERILLA BANDS.

arms and ammunition, quantities of which were found and destroyed.

General Rea made his escape from Atlixco with 400 guerilleros; but the stroke was as effectual, as it was bold and well — executed. The inhabitants of the town had hitherto clamored loudly for a continuance of the war, but, now that its terrors were brought to their own firesides, they began to assume a more pacific tone. General Lane lost but one man killed, and one wounded, during the day; — while the enemy had 219 killed, and about 300 wounded. On his return to Puebla, he learned, when at Cholula, that two pieces of artillery had just been finished at Guexocingo, whither he proceeded with a portion of his command, and destroyed the carriages, — the guns having been previously removed by the enemy.

Bands of guerilleros still hovered in the neighborhood of Puebla, after the arrival of General Lane with reinforcements, and the consequent raising of the siege. The official reports of General Scott were repeatedly intercepted;[1] and on the 19th of October, Lieutenant Sears, of the 2nd artillery, on his way down from Puebla, with dispatches, escorted by a Mexican spy company, under Captain, or, as he is sometimes called, Colonel Dominguez, was attacked near that city by a large force under General Torrejon. Having beaten off the enemy, he proceeded on his course; but, on encountering another body, under Colonel Vamos, within a short distance, he was obliged to return, having lost fifteen killed and wounded in the two engagements. The enemy's loss

  1. The first information received of the battles in the valley of Mexico, on the 8th, 13th and 14th of September, came through Mexican sources, and, of course, was greatly exaggerated and untrue.