General Worth reached a defensible position just out of range of the enemy's guns on the heights north-west of the city, and bivouacked for the night.

The engineer officers with him--Captain Sanders and Lieutenant George G.Meade, afterwards the commander of the victorious National army at the battle of Gettysburg--made a reconnoissance to the Saltillo road under cover of night.
During the night of the 20th General Taylor had established a battery, consisting of two twenty-four-pounder howitzers and a ten inch mortar, at a point from which they could play upon Black Fort.

A natural depression in the plain, sufficiently deep to protect men standing in it from the fire from the fort, was selected and the battery established on the crest nearest the enemy.

The 4th infantry, then consisting of but six reduced companies, was ordered to support the artillerists while they were intrenching themselves and their guns.

I was regimental quartermaster at the time and was ordered to remain in charge of camp and the public property at Walnut Springs.