On the morning of 22nd February, 1847, the Mexican cohort appeared on the distant hills, dense squadrons of horse, with glittering lances and gay pennons, forming the advance serried files of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, column after column in apparent endless massiveness followed, but it was Washington’s birthday, and General Taylor declined to surrender, and that meant hard fighting. The line of battle was formed by General Wool, General Taylor held Colonel Jefferson Davis (his son-in-law) with his Mississipi Rifles, Lieut.-Col. May’s Dragoons, the light batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg, and Captain Steers’ squadron in reserve. General Lane moved forward with a section of Washington’s battery to arrest the advance of the army, but that enemy seemed invincible; before night the Mexicans had occupied the sides and scaled the summits of the Sierra Madre. That night our little army lay on their arms without fires, and long before daybreak were aroused from their slumbers to the tug of war; the day dawned bright, and beautiful skies unclouded, and mountain bathed in sunlight. Ampudia commenced the battle early, and at 8 o’clock Santa Anna had his main column in motion, at 11 he summoned General Taylor to surrender; the fortunes of the day seemed against us. Lieutenant O’Brien, whose name is so indelibly written on Buena Vista, maintained his ground until all his cannoniers were killed or wounded. Eight regiments of Mexican infantry fell upon the 2nd Illinois, and they were forced to take shelter. Braggs’ and sections of Sherman’s batteries had been ordered to their relief. Immense hosts of Mexican troops poured along the base of the mountain to the rear of the American line. Colonel Jefferson Davis hastened to meet them, the Mississipi Rifles went into action in double quick, and fired advancing, the front lines of the enemy seemed to melt before them: in the thickest of the fight Captain Bragg sent to Taylor for a supporting party, Taylor sent back the answer, “Major Bliss and I will support you.” He galloped to Braggs’ support, and there gave the celebrated order, “A little more grape, Captain Bragg.” The American line had been turned in the morning, but before night it was recovered. In the success of the battle Colonel Jefferson Davis justly claims a conspicuous part. Our little army of less than 5,000 men for more than 12 hours sustained this terrible fight against 20,000 Mexican troops, and thus closed one of the most memorable battles of modern times.