march from Perote ten leagues distant, reached the vicinity of Atlixco on the evening of October 19th; and after fighting his way through the forces of Gen, Rea, to a summit overlooking the town, he there posted his artillery, and for three quarters of an hour threw shot and shells into the "most thickly populated parts," the bright light of the moon enabling the practised gunners to fire with terrific effect. The crash of the walls and roofs of the houses, when struck by our shot and shells, was mingled with the roar of artillery. Two hundred and nineteen Mexicans were killed, and three hundred wounded, while our own loss was only one killed and one wounded. It was thought necessary to strike these people with terror, because their city had been the refuge and headquarters of guerillas, whence many an expedition had issued against our troops.
EXPEDITION TO TEHUACAN,
NARROW ESCAPE OF SANTA ANNA.
The detachment, consisting of 350 men and officers, under the command of Gen. Lane, left Mexico on the 18th of January. Maj. Polk, Col. Hays and Capt. Crittenden, accompanied it. Passing Chalco and Rio Frio, the band, took a circuitous route to Puebla, where it arrived on the 21st.
Leaving Puebla at dark the same day, the company took the road to Vera Cruz as far as Amazoque, where General Lane took a road entirely unknown to any one but himself and the guide. It was little better than a mule path over rocky hills, and after a forty mile march, the troops arrived next morning at the hacienda of Santa Clara. They were then informed that their object was to take Santa Anna, who was then at Tehuacan, distant forty miles, with 150 men. In order that the Mexican chieftain might not obtain information of the presence of our troops in this section of the country, the General ordered every Mexican in the hacienda
