The symbol naturally led to a name. They were known to our soldiers as the "Red Hats"--the phrase not unfrequently coupled with a rude adjunctive. Outlawed in their own land--now associated with its invaders--it is scarce necessary to say that the Red Hats were an object of terror wherever they had a chance of showing their not very cheerful faces. And in no place more than La Puebla; that had given birth to at least one-half of them, and to all of them, at one time or another, shelter within its gaols! Now returned to it under the _aegis_ of the American eagle, there was a fine opportunity for the Red Hats to settle old scores with _alcaldes, reyidores_, and the like; and they were not backward in availing themselves of it. The consequence was, that the Poblanos soon laid aside their bullying tone; and were only too well pleased when allowed to pass tranquilly through their own streets. I was one among many other officers of the American army who felt disgust at this association with _salteadores_--solely an idea of our superannuated commander-in-chief, since celebrated as the "hero" of Bull's Run. Endowed with a wonderful conceit in his "strategical combinations," the employment of the Spy company was one in which he felt no little pride; while we regarded it as a positive disgrace. The act might have been allowable under the pressure of a severe necessity. But none such existed. In the anarchical land invaded by us we could have found spies enough--without appealing to its cut-throats. It is not to be denied that Dominguez and his robbers did us good service. Faithfulness to our cause was a necessity of their existence. Outlawed before--now doubly estranged by their treason--they were hated by their countrymen with an intensity beyond bounds; and, wherever caught straying beyond our lines, death was their certain doom. In several skirmishes, into which they were drawn with their own guerilleros, they fought like very tigers--well knowing that, if taken, they had no mercy to expect. On their side the _lex talionis_ was practised with a loose hand; so loose that it soon became necessary to restrain it; and they were no longer allowed to go scouting on their own account. Whenever their services were required, they had to be performed under the eye of an officer of mounted rifles or dragoons, with a troop of these acting in concert. But the terror originally inspired by them continued till the end of the campaign; and the sight of a Red Hat coming along the street was sufficient to terrify the women, and send the children screaming within doors. In no place were our red-handed allies held in greater detestation than in the city of La Puebla--partly from the striking resemblance borne to them by a large number of its population, and an antipathy on this account; partly from old hostilities; and, perhaps, not a little from the fact of our having there, more than elsewhere, permitted them to carry out their proclivities.