Our crossing was thus made practicable without loss.
When we reached a safe position I instructed my little command again to carry their arms at a trail, not to fire at the enemy until they were ordered, and to move very cautiously following me until the San Cosme road was reached; we would then be on the flank of the men serving the gun on the road, and with no obstruction between us and them.

When we reached the south-west corner of the enclosure before described, I saw some United States troops pushing north through a shallow ditch near by, who had come up since my reconnaissance.

This was the company of Captain Horace Brooks, of the artillery, acting as infantry.

I explained to Brooks briefly what I had discovered and what I was about to do.

He said, as I knew the ground and he did not, I might go on and he would follow.