When they finally were able to leave their place of concealment, the several that were left assisted their Captain on the road towards the main force.

Arriving at a point where reinforcements could be summoned, the Captain wrote a report to his commander and sent his men to headquarters with it.

They arrived in record time and a party was sent out, reaching the wounded officer in time to save his life.
About half of the American force was wiped out and most of the others were taken prisoners.

They inflicted a much heavier loss on the Mexicans.

Among the killed was the Mexican commander who had ordered the treacherous attack.
It may be that "someone had blundered." This was not the concern of the black troopers; in the face of odds they fought by the cactus and lay dead under the Mexican stars.
In closing this outline of the Negro's participation in former wars, it is highly appropriate to quote the tributes of two eminent men.