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Sabin—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -/* DACSoft styles */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -/* General headers */ -h1, h3 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -/* Chapter headers */ -h2 { - text-align: center; - font-weight: bold; - margin: .75em 0; -} - -div.chapter { - page-break-before: always; -} - -.nobreak { - page-break-before: avoid; -} - -/* Indented paragraph */ -p { - margin-top: .51em; - margin-bottom: .49em; - text-align: justify; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -/* Unindented paragraph */ -.noi {text-indent: 0em;} - -/* Centered unindented paragraph */ -.noic { - text-indent: 0em; - text-align: center; -} - -/* Non-standard paragraph margins */ -.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} -.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} - -.pad2 { - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; -} - -.padr2 { - padding-right: 2em; - text-align: right; -} - -.padr35 { - padding-right: 3.5em; - text-align: right; -} - -.spblck4 { - margin-left: 2em; - margin-right: 2em; -} - -/* Horizontal rules */ -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap { - width: 65%; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; -} - -/* Lists */ -ul { - list-style-type: none; -} - -li { - text-indent: 0em; - padding-left: 0em; -} - -li.p05 {margin-top: 0.5em;} - -/* Tables */ -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -td { - padding: 5px; -} - -th { - padding: 5px; - font-weight: normal; -} - -/* Table cell alignments */ -.tdl { - text-align: left; -} - -.tdc { - text-align: center; -} - -.tdrb { - text-align: right; - vertical-align: bottom; -} - -.tdrt { - text-align: right; - vertical-align: top; -} - -/* Physical book page and line numbers */ -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - right: 3%; -/* left: 92%; */ - font-size: x-small; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-align: right; - color: gray; -} /* page numbers */ - -/* Blockquotes */ -.blockquot { - margin-top: 1em; - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - margin-bottom: 1em; -} - -/* Alignment */ -.right {text-align: right;} - -.flright { - float: right; -} - -.x-ebookmaker .flright { - float: right; -} - -/* Text appearance */ -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.allsmcap { - text-transform: lowercase; - font-variant: small-caps; -} - -/* Small fonts and lowercase small-caps */ -.smfont { - font-size: .8em; -} - -.smfontr { - font-size: .75em; - text-align: right; -} - -/* Illustration caption */ -.caption { - font-size: .75em; - font-weight: bold; -} - -/* Images */ -img { - max-width: 100%; /* no image to be wider than screen or containing div */ - height:auto; /* keep height in proportion to width */ -} - -.illowe6 {width: 6em;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 90%; /* div no wider than screen, even when screen is narrow */ -} - -/* Footnotes and sidenotes */ -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .65em; - text-decoration: none; - white-space: nowrap; -} - -/* Poetry */ -.poetry { - display: block; - text-align: left; - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} - -.poetry .verse { - padding-left: 3em; - text-indent: -3em; -} - -/* Poetry indents */ -.poetry .indent0 {padding-left: 3em;} -.poetry .indent1 {padding-left: 3.5em;} -.poetry .indent2 {padding-left: 4em;} -.poetry .indent3 {padding-left: 4.5em;} -.poetry .indent4 {padding-left: 5em;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.tnote { - background-color: #E6E6FA; - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - padding: .5em; -} - -.tntitle { - font-size: 1.25em; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -/* Title page borders and content. */ -.title { - font-size: 1.75em; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -.halftitle { - font-size: 1.5em; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -.author { - font-size: 1.25em; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -.works { - font-size: .75em; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -/* Advertisement formatting. */ -.adtitle { - font-size: 1.5em; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -.adauthor { - font-size: 1.25em; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -/* Hanging indent. */ -.lsthang { - text-indent: -1em; - padding-left: 1em; -} - - /* ]]> */ </style> -</head> - -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Into Mexico with General Scott, by Edwin L. Sabin</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Into Mexico with General Scott</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>When attached to the Fourth United States Infantry</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Edwin L. Sabin</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Charles H. Stephens</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 30, 2022 [eBook #68652]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INTO MEXICO WITH GENERAL SCOTT ***</div> - - -<div class="figcenter" id="cover"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover" title="cover" /> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="noi halftitle">INTO MEXICO WITH<br /> -GENERAL SCOTT</p> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="noi adtitle"><i>The American Trail Blazers</i></p> -</div> - -<p class="noic">“THE STORY GRIPS AND THE HISTORY STICKS”</p> - - -<p class="p2 noi">These books present in the form of vivid and fascinating -fiction, the early and adventurous phases of American -history. Each volume deals with the life and adventures -of one of the great men who made that history, or with -some one great event in which, perhaps, several heroic -characters were involved. The stories, though based upon -accurate historical fact, are rich in color, full of dramatic -action, and appeal to the imagination of the red-blooded -man or boy.</p> - -<p class="noic">Each volume illustrated in color and black and white</p> - -<p class="noic">12mo.<span class="spblck4"> </span>Cloth.</p> - -<ul> -<li class="p05 lsthang">LOST WITH LIEUTENANT PIKE</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">GENERAL CROOK AND THE FIGHTING APACHES</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">OPENING THE WEST WITH LEWIS AND CLARK</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">WITH CARSON AND FREMONT</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">DANIEL BOONE: BACKWOODSMAN</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">BUFFALO BILL AND THE OVERLAND TRAIL</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">DAVID CROCKETT: SCOUT</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">ON THE PLAINS WITH CUSTER</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">GOLD SEEKERS OF ’49</li> -<li class="p05 lsthang">WITH SAM HOUSTON IN TEXAS</li> -</ul> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter" id="i_frontis"> - <img src="images/i_frontis.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><a href="#Page_167">“YOU YOUNG RASCAL! WHAT’S THE MEANING OF THIS RACKET?”</a></p> - </div> -</div> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h1 class="nobreak">INTO MEXICO WITH<br /> -GENERAL SCOTT</h1> -</div> - -<div class="blockquot smfont"> - -<p class="noi">WHEN ATTACHED TO THE FOURTH UNITED STATES INFANTRY, -DIVISION OF MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM J. WORTH, CORPS OF -THE FAMOUS MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT, KNOWN AS OLD -FUSS AND FEATHERS, CAMPAIGN OF 1847, LAD JERRY CAMERON -MARCHED AND FOUGHT BESIDE SECOND LIEUTENANT U. S. -GRANT ALL THE WAY FROM VERA CRUZ TO THE CITY OF MEXICO, -WHERE SIX THOUSAND AMERICAN SOLDIERS PLANTED THE -STARS AND STRIPES IN THE MIDST OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY -THOUSAND AMAZED PEOPLE</p> -</div> - -<p class="p2 noic">BY<br /> -<span class="noi author">EDWIN L. SABIN</span></p> - -<p class="noi works">AUTHOR Of “LOST WITH LIEUTENANT PIKE,” “OPENING THE<br /> -WEST WITH LEWIS AND CLARK,” “BUILDING THE<br /> -PACIFIC RAILWAY,” ETC.</p> - -<p class="p2 noic"><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY</i><br /> -<span class="noi author">CHARLES H. STEPHENS</span><br /> -<i>PORTRAIT AND 2 MAPS</i></p> - -<div class="pad2"> -<div class="figcenter" id="logo"> - <img class="illowe6" src="images/logo.jpg" alt="logo" title="logo" /> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="noic"><span class="adauthor">PHILADELPHIA & LONDON<br /> -J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY</span><br /> -1920</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="noic">COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY</p> - -<p class="p6 noic">PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY<br /> -AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS<br /> -PHILADELPHIA, U. S. A.</p> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOREWORD">FOREWORD</h2> -</div> - - -<p>Although General Winfield Scott was nicknamed -by the soldiers “Old Fuss and Feathers,” they -intended no disrespect. On the contrary, they loved -him, and asked only that he lead them. No general -ever lived who was more popular with the men in -the ranks. They had every kind of confidence in -him; they knew that “Old Fuss and Feathers” -would look out for them like a father, and would -take them through.</p> - -<p>His arrival, all in his showy uniform, upon his -splendid horse, along the lines, was the signal for -cheers and for the bands to strike up “Hail to the -Chief.” At bloody Chapultepec the soldiers crowded -around him and even clasped his knees, so fond they -were of him. And when he addressed them, tears -were in his eyes.</p> - -<p>General Scott was close to six feet six inches in -height, and massively built. He was the tallest officer -in the army. His left arm was partially useless, -by reason of two wounds received in the War of -1812, but in full uniform he made a gallant sight -indeed. He never omitted any detail of the uniform, -because he felt that the proper uniform was -required for discipline. He brooked no unnecessary -slouchiness among officers and men; he insisted upon -regulations and hard drilling, and the troops that he -commanded were as fine an army as ever followed -the Flag.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span></p> - -<p>While he was strict in discipline, he looked keenly -also after the comforts and privileges of his soldiers. -He realized that unless the soldier in the ranks is -well cared for in garrison and camp he will not do -his best in the field, and that victories are won by the -men who are physically and mentally fit. He did not -succeed in doing away with the old practice of punishment -by blows and by “bucking and gagging,” but -he tried; and toward the ill and the wounded he was -all tenderness.</p> - -<p>As a tactician he stands high. His mind worked -with accuracy. He drew up every movement for -every column, after his engineers had surveyed the -field; then he depended upon his officers to follow -out the plans. His general orders for the battle of -Cerro Gordo are cited to-day as model orders. Each -movement took place exactly as he had instructed, -and each movement brought the result that he had -expected; so that after the battle the orders stood as a -complete story of the fight.</p> - -<p>His character was noble and generous. He had -certain peculiar ways—he spoke of himself as -“Scott” and like Sam Houston he used exalted -language; he was proud and sensitive, but forgiving -and quick to praise. He prized his country above -everything else, and preferred peace, with honor, to -war. Although he was a soldier, such was his justice -and firmness and good sense that he was frequently -sent by the Government to make peace without force -of arms, along the United States borders. He alone -it was who several times averted war with another -nation.</p> - -<p>General Scott should not be remembered mainly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> -for his battles won. He was the first man of prominence -in his time to speak out against drunkenness -in the army and in civil life. He prepared the first -army regulations and the first infantry tactics. He -was the first great commander to enforce martial law -in conquered territory, by which the conquered people -were protected from abuse. He procured the passage -of that bill, in 1838, which awarded to all officers, -except general officers like himself, an increase -in rations allowance for every five years of service. -The money procured from Mexico was employed by -him in buying blankets and shoes for his soldiers and -in helping the discharged hospital patients; and -$118,000 was forwarded to Washington, to establish -an Army Asylum for disabled enlisted men. -From this fund there resulted the present system of -Soldiers’ Homes.</p> - -<p>The Mexican War itself was not a popular war, -among Americans, many of whom felt that it might -have been avoided. Lives and money were expended -needlessly. Of course Mexico had been badgering -the United States; American citizens had been mistreated -and could obtain no justice. But the United -States troops really invaded when they crossed into -southwestern Texas, for Mexico had her rights there.</p> - -<p>The war, though, brought glory to the American -soldier. In the beginning the standing army of the -United States numbered only about eight thousand -officers and men, but it was so finely organized and -drilled that regiment for regiment it equalled any -army in the world. The militia of the States could -not be depended upon to enter a foreign country; -they had to be called upon as volunteers. Mexico<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span> -was prepared with thirty thousand men under arms; -her Regulars were well trained, and her regular army -was much larger than the army of the United States.</p> - -<p>When General Zachary Taylor, “Old Rough and -Ready,” advanced with his three thousand five hundred -Regulars (almost half the United States army) -for the banks of the Rio Grande River, he braved -a Mexican army of eight thousand, better equipped -than he was, except in <em>men</em>.</p> - -<p>A military maxim says that morale is worth -three men. All through the war it was skill and -spirit and not numbers that counted; quality proved -greater than quantity. “Old Zach,” with seventeen -hundred Regulars, beat six thousand Mexican troops -at Resaca de la Palma. At Buena Vista his four -thousand Volunteers and only four hundred and fifty -or five hundred Regulars repulsed twenty thousand -of the best troops of Mexico. General Scott reached -the City of Mexico with six thousand men who, -fighting five battles in one day, had defeated thirty -thousand. Rarely has the American soldier, both -Regular and Volunteer, so shone as in that war -with Mexico, when the enemy outnumbered three and -four to one, and chose his own positions.</p> - -<p>The battles were fought with flint-lock muskets, -loaded by means of a paper cartridge, from which the -powder and ball were poured into the muzzle of the -piece. The American dragoons were better mounted -than the Mexican lancers, and charged harder. The -artillery was the best to be had and was splendidly -served on both sides, but the American guns were -the faster in action.</p> - -<p>Thoroughly trained officers and men who had confidence<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> -in each other and did not know when they -were beaten, won the war. Many of the most famous -soldiers in American history had their try-out in -Mexico, where Robert E. Lee and George B. -McClellan were young engineers, U. S. Grant was a -second lieutenant, and Jefferson Davis led the Mississippi -Volunteers. The majority of the regular officers -were West Pointers. General Scott declared -that but for the military education afforded by the -Academy the war probably would have lasted four -or five years, with more defeats than victories, at first.</p> - -<p>Thus the Mexican War, like the recent World -War, proved the value of officers and men trained -to the highest notch of efficiency.</p> - -<p>In killed and wounded the war with Mexico cost -the United States forty-eight hundred men; but the -deaths from disease were twelve thousand, for the -recruits and the Volunteers were not made to take -care of themselves. In addition, nearly ten thousand -soldiers were discharged on account of ruined health. -All in all the cost of the war, in citizens, footed -twenty-five thousand. The expense in money was -about $130,000,000.</p> - -<p>By the war the United States acquired practically -all the country west from northern Texas to the -Pacific Ocean, which means California, Utah, Nevada, -the western half of Colorado and most of New -Mexico and Arizona. This, it must be said, was an -amazing result, for in the outset we had claimed only -Texas, as far as the Rio Grande River.</p> - -<p class="right">E. L. S.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span></p> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - - -<table> -<colgroup> - <col style="width: 20%;" /> - <col style="width: 70%;" /> - <col style="width: 10%;" /> -</colgroup> -<tr> - <th class="smfontr">CHAPTER</th> - <th class="tdl"></th> - <th class="smfontr">PAGE</th> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt"> </td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#WAR">The War with Mexico</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">18</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt"> </td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#SCOTT">Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">27</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">I.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#I">The Star-Spangled Banner</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">37</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">II.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#II">A Surprise for Vera Cruz</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">53</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">III.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#III">The Americans Gain a Recruit</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">61</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">IV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#IV">Jerry Makes a Tour</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">67</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">V.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#V">In the Naval Battery</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">84</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#VI">Second Lieutenant Grant</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">92</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#VII">Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue!</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">110</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VIII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#VIII">Inspecting the Wild “Mohawks”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">120</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">IX.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#IX">The Heights of Cerro Gordo</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">130</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">X.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#X">Jerry Joins the Ranks</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">146</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XI">In the Wake of the Fleeing Enemy</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">154</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XII">An Interrupted Toilet</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">164</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XIII">Getting Ready at Puebla</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">175</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XIV">A Sight of the Goal at Last</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">188</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XV">Outguessing General Santa Anna</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">194</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XVI">Facing the Mexican Host</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">203</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XVII">Clearing the Road to the Capital</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">218</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVIII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XVIII">In the Charge at Churubusco</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">229</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIX.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XIX">Before the Bristling City</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">240</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XX.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XX">The Battle of the King’s Mill</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">250</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXI.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XXI">Ready for Action Again</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">269</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XXII">Storming Chapultepec</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">279</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIII.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XXIII">Forcing the City Gates</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">291</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIV.</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#XXIV">In the Halls of Montezuma</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">311</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span></p> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="ILLUSTRATIONS">ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> -</div> - - -<table> -<colgroup> - <col style="width: 90%;" /> - <col style="width: 10%;" /> -</colgroup> -<tr> - <th> </th> - <th class="smfontr">PAGE</th> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl lsthang"><a href="#i_frontis">“You Young Rascal! What’s the Meaning of -this Racket?”</a> <span class="spblck4 flright"><i>Frontispiece</i></span></td> - <td class="tdrb"> </td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl lsthang"><a href="#i_027">Winfield Scott—General-in-Chief of the Armies -of the United States at the Period of His Commanding in Mexico</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">27</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl lsthang"><a href="#i_046">“And All Your Army and Guns Can’t Keep Them Off”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">46</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl lsthang"><a href="#i_125">“’Peared Like They Were Going to Ambush Me and -Take this Turkey”</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">125</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl lsthang"><a href="#i_264">Lieutenant Grant Used this as a Ladder</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">264</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdc author" colspan="2">MAPS</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl lsthang"><a href="#i_018map">The March to the City of Mexico, 279 Miles</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">18</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdl lsthang"><a href="#i_194map">The Campaign in the Valley of Mexico</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">194</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span></p> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WORDS">WORDS OF GENERAL SCOTT</h2> -</div> - - -<p>His motto in life: “If idle, be not solitary; if solitary, be -not idle.”</p> - -<p>At Queenstown Heights, 1812: “Let us, then, die, arms in -hand. Our country demands the sacrifice. The example will -not be lost. The blood of the slain will make heroes of -the living.”</p> - -<p>At Chippewa, July 5, 1814: “Let us make a new anniversary -for ourselves.”</p> - -<p>To the Eleventh Infantry at Chippewa: “The enemy say -that Americans are good at long shot, but cannot stand the -cold iron. I call upon the Eleventh instantly to give the lie -to that slander. Charge!”</p> - -<p>From an inscription in a Peace Album, 1844: “If war be -the natural state of savage tribes, peace is the first want of -every civilized community.”</p> - -<p>At Vera Cruz, March, 1847, when warned not to expose -himself: “Oh, generals, nowadays, can be made out of anybody; -but <em>men</em> cannot be had.”</p> - -<p>At Chapultepec, 1847: “Fellow soldiers! You have this -day been baptized in blood and fire, and you have come -out steel!”</p> - -<p>To the Virginia commissioners, 1861: “I have served my -country under the flag of the Union for more than fifty years, -and, so long as God permits me to live, I will defend that flag -with my sword, even if my own native State assails it.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WAR">THE WAR WITH MEXICO (1846–1847)</h2> -</div> - - -<h3 class="nobreak"><span class="smcap">The Causes</span></h3> - -<p>March 2, 1836, by people’s convention the Mexican province -of Texas declares its independence and its intention to become -a republic.</p> - -<p>April 21, 1836, by the decisive battle of San Jacinto, Texas -wins its war for independence, in which it has been assisted -by many volunteers from the United States.</p> - -<p>May 14, 1836, Santa Anna, the Mexican President and -general who had been captured after the battle, signs a treaty -acknowledging the Texas Republic, extending to the Rio -Grande River.</p> - -<p>September, 1836, in its first election Texas favors annexation -to the United States.</p> - -<p>December, 1836, the Texas Congress declares that the -southwestern and western boundaries of the republic are the -Rio Grande River, from its mouth to its source.</p> - -<p>The government of Mexico refuses to recognize the independence -of Texas, and claims that as a province its boundary -extends only to the Nueces River, which empties into the -Gulf of Mexico, about 120 miles from the mouth of the -Rio Grande.</p> - -<p>This spring and summer petitions have been circulated -through the United States in favor of recognizing the Republic -of Texas. Congress has debated upon that and upon annexation. -The South especially desires the annexation, in order -to add Texas to the number of slave-holding States.</p> - -<p>February, 1837, President Andrew Jackson, by message -to Congress, relates that Mexico has not observed a treaty of -friendship signed in 1831, and has committed many outrages -upon the Flag and the citizens of the United States; has -refused to make payments for damages and deserves “immediate -war” but should be given another chance.</p> - -<p>March, 1837, the United States recognizes the independence -of the Texas Republic.</p> - -<p>Mexico has resented the support granted to Texas by -the United States and by American citizens; she insists that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> -Texas is still a part of her territory; and from this time -onward there is constant friction between her on the one side -and Texas and the United States on the other.</p> - -<p>In August, 1837, the Texas minister at Washington presents -a proposition from the new republic for annexation to the -United States. This being declined by President Martin -Van Buren in order to avoid war with Mexico, Texas decides -to wait.</p> - -<p>Mexico continues to evade treaties by which she should -pay claims against her by the United States for damages. -In December, 1842, President John Tyler informs Congress -that the rightful claims of United States citizens have been -summed at $2,026,079, with many not yet included.</p> - -<p>Several Southern States consider resolutions favoring the -annexation of Texas. The sympathies of both North and -South are with Texas against Mexico.</p> - -<p>In August, and again in November, 1843, Mexico notifies -the United States that the annexation of Texas, which is still -looked upon as only a rebellious province, will be regarded -as an act of war.</p> - -<p>October, 1843, the United States Secretary of State invites -Texas to present proposals for annexation.</p> - -<p>In December, 1843, President Tyler recommends to Congress -that the United States should assist Texas by force -of arms.</p> - -<p>April 12, 1844, John C. Calhoun, the Secretary of State, -concludes a treaty with Texas, providing for annexation. -There is fear that Great Britain is about to gain control of -Texas by arbitrating between it and Mexico. The treaty is -voted down by the Senate on the ground that it would mean -war with Mexico, would bring on a boundary dispute, and -that to make a new State out of foreign territory was -unconstitutional.</p> - -<p>Throughout 1844 the annexation of Texas is a burning -question, debated in Congress and by the public. In the -presidential election this fall the annexation is supported by -the Democratic party and opposed by the Whig party. The -Democrats had nominated James K. Polk for President, -George M. Dallas for Vice-President; the Democrats’ campaign -banners read: “Polk, Dallas and Texas!” Polk and -Dallas are elected.</p> - -<p>March 1, 1845, a joint resolution of Congress inviting -Texas into the Union as a State is signed by President Tyler<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span> -just before he gives way to President-elect Polk. The boundaries -of Texas are not named.</p> - -<p>March 6 General Almonte, Mexican minister to the United -States, denounces the resolution as an act of injustice to a -friendly nation and prepares to leave Washington.</p> - -<p>March 21 orders are issued by President Polk to General -Zachary Taylor to make ready for marching the troops at -Fort Jesup, western Louisiana, into Texas.</p> - -<p>This same month the Texas Secretary of State has submitted -to Mexico a treaty of peace by which Mexico shall -recognize the republic of Texas, if Texas shall not unite with -any other power.</p> - -<p>In May, this 1845, Mexico signs the treaty with Texas.</p> - -<p>May 28 the President of the United States directs General -Taylor to prepare his command for a prompt defence of Texas.</p> - -<p>June 4 President Anson Jones, of the Texas Republic, -proclaims that by the treaty with Mexico hostilities between -the two countries have ended. But—</p> - -<p>June 15 President Polk, through the Secretary of War, -directs General Taylor to move his troops at once, as a -“corps of observation,” into Texas and establish headquarters -at a point convenient for a further advance to the Rio Grande -River. A strong squadron of the navy also is ordered to the -Mexican coast. And—</p> - -<p>June 21 the Texas Congress unanimously rejects the -treaty with Mexico, and on June 23 unanimously accepts annexation -to the United States.</p> - -<p>July 4, this 1845, in public convention the people of Texas -draw up an annexation ordinance and a State constitution.</p> - -<p>On July 7 Texas asks the United States to protect her ports -and to send an army for her defence.</p> - -<p>August 3 General Zachary Taylor lands an army of 1500 -men at the mouth of the Nueces River, and presently makes -his encampment at Corpus Christi, on the farther shore.</p> - -<p>In October the Mexican Government, under President -Herrera, agrees to receive a commissioner sent by the United -States to discuss the dispute over Texas, and President Polk -withdraws the ships that have been stationed at Vera Cruz.</p> - -<p>December 6, 1845, John Slidell, the envoy from the United -States, arrives in the City of Mexico to adjust the matter of -Texas and also the claims held by American citizens -against Mexico.</p> - -<p>The Mexican Republic is in the throes of another revolution.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> -It declines to include the claims in the proposed discussion; -December 30 President Herrera is ousted and Don -Maria Paredes, who favors war rather than the loss of Texas, -becomes head of the republic. Minister Slidell finally has to -return home, in March, 1846. But long before this President -Polk had decided to seize the disputed Texas boundary strip.</p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">General Taylor’s Campaign</span></h3> - -<p>January 13, 1846, General Taylor is directed by the President -to advance and occupy the left or Texas bank of the Rio -Grande River; he has been reinforced by recruits, and is -authorized to apply to the Southern States for volunteer troops.</p> - -<p>March 8 the first detachment is started forward to cross the -disputed strip between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. -Other detachments follow. Part way General Taylor is officially -warned by a Mexican officer that a farther advance will -be deemed a hostile act. He proceeds, with his 4000 Regulars -(half the army of the United States), and establishes a base -of supplies at Point Isabel, on the Gulf shore, about thirty -miles this side of the Rio Grande River.</p> - -<p>March 28 the American army of now 3500 men, called the -Army of Occupation, encamps a short distance above the -mouth of the Rio Grande River, opposite the Mexican town -of Matamoros and 119 miles from the mouth of the Nueces.</p> - -<p>The Mexican forces at Matamoros immediately commence -the erection of new batteries and the American force begins -a fort.</p> - -<p>April 10 Colonel Truman Cross, assistant quartermaster -general in the American army, is murdered by Mexican bandits.</p> - -<p>April 12 General Ampudia, of the Mexican forces at -Matamoros, serves notice upon General Taylor either to withdraw -within twenty-four hours and return to the Nueces out -of the disputed territory, or else accept war. General Taylor -replies that his orders are for him to remain here until the -boundary dispute is settled. He announced a blockade of the -Rio Grande River.</p> - -<p>April 19 Second Lieutenant Theodoric Henry Porter, -Fourth Infantry, is killed in action with Mexican guerillas.</p> - -<p>April 25, this 1846, occurs the first battle of the war, when -at La Rosia a squadron of sixty-three Second Dragoons under -Captain Seth B. Thornton, reconnoitering up the Rio Grande -River, is surrounded by 500 Mexican regular cavalry. Second<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span> -Lieutenant George T. Mason and eight enlisted men are -killed, two men wounded, Captain Thornton, two other officers -and forty-six men are captured.</p> - -<p>By this victory the Mexicans are much elated; the flame -of war is lighted in the United States.</p> - -<p>May 11 President Polk announces a state of war, and a -bloody invasion of American soil by the Mexican forces that -had crossed the Rio Grande.</p> - -<p>May 13 Congress passes a bill authorizing men and money -with which to carry on the war, and declaring that the war -has been begun by Mexico. There were objections to the bill -on the ground that the President had ordered troops into the -disputed territory without having consulted Congress, and -that war might have been avoided. But all parties agree that -now they must support the Flag.</p> - -<p>General Taylor calls on the governors of Louisiana and -Texas for 5000 volunteers.</p> - -<p>April 28 Captain Samuel Walker and some seventy Texas -Rangers and Volunteers are attacked and beaten by 1500 -Mexican soldiers near Point Isabel, the American base of supplies. -Captain Walker and six men make their way to General -Taylor with report that his line of communication has been cut.</p> - -<p>May 1, having almost completed the fort opposite Matamoros -above the mouth of the Rio Grande, General Taylor -leaves a garrison of 1000 men and marches in haste to rescue -his supplies at Point Isabel. The Mexican troops are appearing -in great numbers, and matters look serious for the little -American army.</p> - -<p>May 3 the Mexican forces at Matamoros open fire upon -the fort, thinking that General Taylor has retreated.</p> - -<p>May 8 General Taylor, hurrying back to the relief of the -fort, with his 2300 men defeats 6500 Mexicans under General -Arista in the artillery battle of Palo Alto or Tall Timber, -fought amidst the thickets and prairie grasses about sixteen -miles from Point Isabel. American loss, four killed, forty -wounded; Mexican loss, more than 100 in killed alone.</p> - -<p>The next day, May 9, “Old Rough and Ready” again -defeats General Arista in the battle of Resaca de la Palma, -or Palm Draw (Ravine), a short distance from Palo Alto. -Having withstood a fierce bombardment of seven days the fort, -soon named Fort Brown, of present Brownsville, Texas, is safe. -The Mexican forces all flee wildly across the Rio Grande River.</p> - -<p>May 18 General Taylor throws his army across the river<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> -by help of one barge, and occupies Matamoros. Here he -awaits supplies and troops.</p> - -<p>August 20 he begins his advance into Mexico for the capture -of the city of Monterey, 150 miles from the Rio Grande -River and 800 miles from the City of Mexico.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile General Paredes, president of Mexico, has -been deposed by another revolution, and General Santa Anna -has been called back.</p> - -<p>September 21–22–23 General Taylor with his 6600 men -assaults the fortified city Monterey, in the Sierra Madre -Mountains of northeastern Mexico, and defended by 10,000 -Mexican soldiers under General Ampudia.</p> - -<p>September 24 the city is surrendered. American loss, 120 -officers and men killed, 368 wounded; Mexican loss, more -than 1000.</p> - -<p>General Taylor proceeds to occupy northeastern Mexico. -In November he receives orders to detach 4000 men, half of -whom shall be Regulars, for the reinforcement of General -Scott’s expedition against Vera Cruz.</p> - -<p>February 22, 1847, with 4300 Volunteers and 450 Regulars -he encounters the full army of General Santa Anna, 20,000 men, -at the narrow mountain pass of Buena Vista, near Saltillo -seventy-five miles southwest of Monterey.</p> - -<p>The American army, holding the pass, awaits the attack. -In the terrible battle begun in the afternoon of February 22 -and waged all day February 23, the Mexican troops are repulsed; -and by the morning of February 24 they have -retreated from the field. American loss, 267 killed, 456 -wounded, 23 missing; Mexican loss, 2000.</p> - -<p>The battle of Buena Vista leaves the American forces in -possession of northeastern Mexico. General Santa Anna now -hastens to confront General Scott and save the City of -Mexico. General Taylor returns to Louisiana, and there is no -further need for his services in the field.</p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">General Scott’s Campaign</span></h3> - -<p>March 9, 1847, General Winfield Scott, with the assistance -of the naval squadron under Commodore Conner, lands his -Army of Invasion, 12,000 men transferred in sixty-seven -surf-boats, upon the beach three miles below the fortified city -of Vera Cruz, without loss or accident.</p> - -<p>In spite of shot and shell and terrific wind storms the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> -army advances its trenches and guns to within 800 yards of the -city walls. On March 22 the bombardment of Vera Cruz -is begun.</p> - -<p>March 27 the surrender of the city and of the great -island fort San Juan de Ulloa is accepted. The siege has been -so scientifically conducted that 5000 military prisoners and -400 cannon are taken with the loss to the American forces of -only sixty-four officers and men killed and wounded.</p> - -<p>Having been detained at Vera Cruz by lack of wagons -and teams, on April 8 General Scott starts his first detachment -for Mexico City, 280 miles by road westward.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="i_018map"> - <img src="images/i_018map.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><i>The March to the City of Mexico, 279 Miles</i></p> - </div> -</div> - -<p>April 12, arrangements being completed, he hastens to the -front himself and is received with cheers for “Old Fuss -and Feathers” all along the way.</p> - -<p>April 18 storms and captures the heights of Cerro Gordo, -sixty miles inland, where his 8000 men are opposed by 12,000 -under Santa Anna. Three thousand prisoners, among them -five generals, are taken; 5000 stands of arms and forty-three -pieces of artillery. American loss, 431, thirty-three being -officers; Mexican casualties, over 1000.</p> - -<p>April 19 he occupies the town of Jalapa, fifteen miles -onward. April 22 the castle of Perote, some fifty miles farther, -is captured without a struggle. On May 15 the advance -division of 4300 men enters the city of Puebla, 185 miles from -Vera Cruz. In two months General Scott has taken 10,000 -prisoners of war, 700 cannon, 10,000 stands of small-arms, -30,000 shells and solid shot.</p> - -<p>The term of enlistment of 4000 twelve-months Volunteers -being almost expired, he waits in Puebla for reinforcements.</p> - -<p>August 7 he resumes the march for the Mexican capital, -ninety-five miles. His force numbers 10,800, and he needs -must cut loose from communications with Vera Cruz, his base.</p> - -<p>August 9, from Rio Frio Pass, elevation 10,000 feet, on the -summit of the main mountain range of Mexico, the army gazes -down into the Valley of Mexico, with the city of Mexico -visible, thirty-five miles distant.</p> - -<p>By a new and difficult route he avoids the defences of the -main road to the city, and on August 18 has approached to -within nine miles and striking distance of the outer circle -of batteries.</p> - -<p>August 19–20, by day and night attack, 3500 Americans -carry the strong entrenchments of Contreras defended by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span> -7000 Mexicans. American loss, in killed and wounded, 60; -Mexican casualties, 700 killed, 1000 wounded.</p> - -<p>The same day, August 20, 1847, the outpost of San -Antonio is taken, the high citadel of Churubusco stormed. -There are five separate actions, all victorious, and the dragoons -charge four miles to the very gates of the city. Thirty-two -thousand men have been defeated by 8000. The total -Mexican loss is 4000 killed and wounded, 3000 prisoners, including -eight generals; the American loss is 1052, of whom -seventy-six are officers.</p> - -<p>August 21 President and General Santa Anna proposes -an armistice.</p> - -<p>September 7 the armistice is broken and General Scott -resumes his advance upon the city.</p> - -<p>September 8 the General Worth division, reinforced to -3000 men, in a bloody battle captures the outpost Molino del -Rey or King’s Mill, and the Casa-Mata supporting it—the two -being defended by 14,000 Mexicans. American loss, killed, -wounded and missing is 789, including fifty-eight officers. -The Mexican loss is in the thousands.</p> - -<p>September 12, by a feint the Scott army of 7000 able-bodied -men is concentrated before the Castle of Chapultepec, -situated upon a high hill fortified from base to summit and -crowned by the Military College of Mexico, with its garrison -of cadets and experienced officers.</p> - -<p>September 13 Chapultepec is stormed and seized; the road -to the city is opened, the suburbs are occupied and the General -Quitman division has forced the Belen gateway into the city -itself. Twenty thousand Mexicans have been routed.</p> - -<p>At daybreak of September 14 the city council of Mexico -informs General Scott that the Mexican Government and army -have fled. At seven o’clock the Stars and Stripes are raised -over the National Palace and the American army of 6000 -proceeds to enter the grand plaza.</p> - -<p>This fall of 1847 there is still some fighting in the country -along the National Road between Vera Cruz and the City of -Mexico, and the fleeing Santa Anna attacks Puebla in vain.</p> - -<p>February 2, 1848, a treaty of peace is signed at Guadaloupe -Hidalgo by the United States commissioner and the -Mexican commissioners.</p> - -<p>May 30, 1848, the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo is ratified -by both parties.</p> - -<p>June 19, 1848, peace is formally declared by President -Polk, who on July 4 signs the treaty.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span></p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">Other Campaigns</span></h3> - -<p>At the end of June, 1846, the Army of the West, composed -of 2500 Volunteers and 200 First Dragoons, under General -Stephen W. Kearny, leaves Fort Leavenworth on the Missouri -River to march 1000 miles and seize New Mexico.</p> - -<p>August 18 General Kearny enters the capital, Santa Fé, -and takes possession of New Mexico.</p> - -<p>This same month the Army of the Center, 2500 Volunteers -and 500 Regulars under General John E. Wool, assembles -at San Antonio of Texas for a march westward to seize -Chihuahua, northwestern Mexico, distant 400 miles.</p> - -<p>General Wool is ordered to join General Scott; but in -December, 1846, Colonel A. W. Doniphan, of the Missouri -Volunteers of the Kearny army, leaves Santa Fé with 800 -men to march to Chihuahua, 550 miles, and reinforce him.</p> - -<p>December 25 he defeats General Ponce de Leon, commanding -500 Mexican regular lancers and 800 Chihuahua volunteers, -in the battle of Brazitos, southern New Mexico.</p> - -<p>February 28, 1848, in the battle of Sacramento, he defeats -General Heredia and 4000 men, entrenched on the road to -Chihuahua. American loss, one killed, eleven wounded; Mexican -loss, 320 killed, over 400 wounded.</p> - -<p>On March 1 the American advance enters the city of -Chihuahua.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, during all these events, on July 7, 1846, -Commodore John D. Sloat, of the navy’s Pacific Squadron, has -hoisted the Flag over Monterey, the capital of Upper California. -The explorer, John C. Fremont, already has supported -an uprising of Americans in the north, and the flag is raised -at San Francisco and Sacramento.</p> - -<p>On September 25 (1846) General Kearny starts from Santa -Fé with 400 First Dragoons to occupy California, 1100 miles -westward. On the way he learns that California has been -taken. He proceeds with only 100 Dragoons. A battalion of -500 Mormons enlisted at Fort Leavenworth is following.</p> - -<p>December 12 he arrives at San Diego, California, and -forthwith military rule is established in California.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter" id="i_027"> - <img src="images/i_027.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><a href="#Page_27">WINFIELD SCOTT</a></p> - - <p class="noic">General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States at the Period of his Commanding -in Mexico. From the Picture by Chappel</p> - </div> -</div> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="SCOTT">LIEUTENANT-GENERAL -<a href="#i_027">WINFIELD SCOTT</a></h2> -</div> - -<h3>“<span class="smcap">Old Fuss and Feathers</span>”</h3> - - -<p>Born on the family farm, fourteen miles from Petersburg, -Virginia, June 13, 1786.</p> - -<p>His father, William Scott, of Scotch blood, a captain in -the Revolution and a successful farmer, dies when Winfield -is only six years old. Until he is seventeen the boy is brought -up by his mother, Ann Mason, for whose brother, Winfield -Mason, he is named. All the Scott family connections were -prominent and well-to-do.</p> - -<p>Winfield is given a good education. When he is twelve he -enters the boarding-school of James Hargrave, a worthy -Quaker, who said to him after the War of 1812: “Friend -Winfield, I always told thee not to fight; but as thou wouldst -fight, I am glad that thou weren’t beaten.” When he is seventeen -he enters the school, of high-school grade, conducted in -Richmond, Virginia, by James Ogilvie, a talented Scotchman. -Here he studied Latin and Greek, rhetoric, Scotch metaphysics, -logic, mathematics and political economy.</p> - -<p>In 1805, when he is approaching nineteen, he enters -William and Mary College, of Virginia. Here he studies -chemistry, natural and experimental philosophy, and law, -expecting to become a lawyer.</p> - -<p>This same year he leaves college and becomes a law -student in the office of David Robinson, in Petersburg. He -has two companion students: Thomas Ruffin and John F. May. -The three lads all rose high. Thomas Ruffin became chief -justice of North Carolina; John May became leader of the bar -in southern Virginia; Winfield Scott became head of the -United States Army.</p> - -<p>In 1806 he is admitted to the bar and rides his first -circuit in Virginia. At Richmond, in 1807, he hears the arguments -by the greatest legal orators of the day in the trial -of ex-Vice-President Aaron Burr for high treason.</p> - -<p>While the trial is in progress the British frigate <i>Leopard</i> -enforces the right of search upon the United States frigate -<i>Chesapeake</i>, off the capes of Virginia. On July 2 (1807) -President Thomas Jefferson forbids the use of the United<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> -States harbors and rivers by the vessels of Great Britain, and -volunteer guards are called for to patrol the shores.</p> - -<p>Young Lawyer Scott, now twenty-one years of age, -becomes, as he says, “a soldier in a night.” Between sunset -and sunrise he travels by horse twenty-five miles, from Richmond -to Petersburg, and having borrowed the uniform of -a tall absent trooper and bought the horse he joins the first -parade of the Petersburg volunteer cavalry.</p> - -<p>While lance corporal in charge of a picket guard on the -shore of Lynnhaven Bay he captures a boat crew of six sailors -under two midshipmen, coming in from Admiral Sir Thomas -Hardy’s British squadron for water. The Government orders -him to release the prisoners, and not to do such a trick again, -which might bring on war.</p> - -<p>England having made amends for the attack upon the -Chesapeake the volunteers are disbanded. Corporal Scott resumes -his practice of law. On Christmas Eve, 1807, he arrives -in Charleston, South Carolina, to practice there. But he hears -that war with Great Britain is again likely. Thereupon he -hastens to Washington and applies for a commission in the -increased regular army. He is promised a captaincy.</p> - -<p>The Peace Party in the United States gains the upper -hand over the War Party. In March, 1808, Lawyer Scott -returns to Petersburg without his commission.</p> - -<p>May 3, 1808, he receives his commission at last, and is -appointed to a captaincy in the regiment of light or flying artillery -then being raised. He recruits his company from Petersburg -and Richmond youths and is ordered to New Orleans. -For the next fifty-three years he is a soldier, and he outlives -every other officer of 1808.</p> - -<p>After a voyage of two months in a sailing vessel he arrives -at New Orleans April 1, 1809.</p> - -<p>The trouble with Great Britain having quieted down this -summer, he despairs of seeing active service and attempts to -resign. While in New Orleans he has said that he believed -General James Wilkinson, commanding that department, to -have been a partner of Aaron Burr in the conspiracy against -the United States government. Now when he arrives in Virginia -he hears that he is accused of having left the army -through fear of punishment for his words. So he immediately -turns about and goes back to face the charges. He rejoins -the army at Washington, near Natchez, Mississippi, -in November.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span></p> - -<p>In 1810 he is court-martialed under the Articles of War -and found guilty of “conduct unbecoming a gentleman,” in -having spoken disrespectfully of his commanding officer. He -is sentenced to twelve months’ suspension from duties, with -the recommendation that nine of the months be remitted.</p> - -<p>Under this sentence he returns to Petersburg. He spends -every evening, when at home, reading English literature with -his friend Benjamin Watkins Leigh, in whose family he is -staying. His motto is: “If idle, be not solitary; if solitary, -be not idle.” During this period he again despairs of seeing -active service; but he writes: “Should war come at last, who -knows but that I may yet write my history with my sword?”</p> - -<p>In the fall of 1811 he rejoins the army at department headquarters -at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, having made the journey -by land over a new road through the country of the Creeks -and Choctaws.</p> - -<p>This winter of 1811–1812 he is appointed superior judge-advocate -for the trial of a prominent colonel. He also serves -upon the staff of Brigadier General Wade Hampton, commander -of the Southern Department, and is much in -New Orleans.</p> - -<p>The inactive life of a soldier in peace palls upon him. In -February, 1812, the news arrives that Congress has authorized -an increase of the regular army by 25,000 men. This looks -like war. May 20, as a member of General Hampton’s staff, -he embarks with the general for Washington. Upon entering -Chesapeake Bay their ship passes a British frigate standing -on and off; in less than an hour they pass a pilot boat bringing -to the frigate the message that the United States has -declared for war with Great Britain. Thus by a narrow -margin they have escaped capture by the frigate.</p> - -<p>July 6, 1812, is appointed lieutenant-colonel, Second -Artillery, at the age of twenty-six.</p> - -<p>Is ordered with his regiment to the Canadian border; -reports at Buffalo October 4, 1812.</p> - -<p>On October 13 leads 450 regulars and militia in a final -attack upon Queenstown Heights, opposite Lewiston, New -York. The Heights are held by a greatly superior force of -British regulars and militia and 500 Indians. The United -States militia left on the American side of the Niagara River -refused to cross and support, and the attack failed for lack -of reinforcements. There were no boats for retreat; two -flags of truce had been unheeded; with his own hand young<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span> -Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, tall and powerful and wearing a -showy uniform (“I will die in my robes,” he said), bears -the third flag forward into the faces of the raging Indians -to save his men. He is rescued with difficulty by British officers. -After the surrender he is held prisoner with the -other Regulars until paroled on November 20 and sent -to Boston.</p> - -<p>In January, 1813, is released from parole. Is ordered to -Philadelphia to command a double battalion of twenty-two -companies.</p> - -<p>March 12, 1813, promoted to colonel, Second Artillery.</p> - -<p>March 18, appointed adjutant general, rank of colonel.</p> - -<p>May, 1813, appointed chief of staff to Major-General Henry -Dearborn on the Niagara frontier, New York, and reorganizes -the staff departments of the Army.</p> - -<p>May 27 commands the advance again in the attack on -Fort George, Canada. Every fifth man is killed or wounded. -By the explosion of a powder magazine his collar-bone is -broken and he is badly bruised; but he is the first to enter -the fort and he himself hauls down the colors.</p> - -<p>July 18 he resigns his adjutant generalcy in order to -be with his regiment as colonel. Leads in several successful -skirmishes.</p> - -<p>March 9, 1814, aged twenty-eight, is appointed brigadier-general. -He has become noted as a student of war—a skilful -tactician and a fine disciplinarian. At the Buffalo headquarters -he is set at work instructing the officers. The United -States has no military text-book, but he has read the French -system of military training and employs that.</p> - -<p>July 3, 1814, leads with his brigade to the attack upon -Fort Erie, opposite Buffalo. Leaps from the first boat into -water over his head, and laden with sword, epaulets, cloak -and high boots swims for his life under a hot fire, until he -can be hauled in again. The fort is captured.</p> - -<p>July 4, again leading his brigade he drives the enemy back -sixteen miles.</p> - -<p>July 5 fights and wins the decisive battle of Chippewa -against a much superior force. The war on the land had -been going badly for the United States. Now the victory -of Chippewa sets bonfires to blazing and bells to ringing -throughout all the Republic; the American army had proved -itself with the bayonet and General Scott is hailed as the -National hero.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span></p> - -<p>July 25 he distinguishes himself again in the night battle -of Niagara or Lundy’s Lane. He is twice dismounted, and -is bruised by a spent cannon ball. Receives an ounce musket -ball through the left shoulder and is insensible for a time. -Is borne from the field in an ambulance.</p> - -<p>July 25 brevetted major-general for gallantry at Chippewa -and Lundy’s Lane.</p> - -<p>The wound in his shoulder refuses to heal properly. He is -invalided and is unable to take part in further active service -for the rest of the war. Travels upon a mattress in a carriage. -Stops at Princeton College on Commencement Day, is given an -ovation and the degree of Master of Arts. Congress votes -him a special gold medal; the States of Virginia and New -York vote him each a sword. His wound slowly heals under -treatment by noted surgeons, but leaves him with a left arm -partially paralyzed.</p> - -<p>He is placed in charge of operations in defence of Baltimore -and is made president of the National Board of Tactics, -sitting in Washington.</p> - -<p>After the close of the war he presides, May, 1815, upon -the board convened to reduce the army.</p> - -<p>Declines to accept the office of Secretary of War.</p> - -<p>July, 1815, sails for Europe, where he witnesses the reviews -of 600,000 soldiers, following the defeat of Napoleon by -the allied troops. He meets distinguished commanders and -statesmen of the Old World, and is awarded many honors.</p> - -<p>Returning from Europe in 1816 he marries Miss Maria -Mayo, of Richmond, Virginia. Seven children—five girls and -two boys—were born. Of these, four died early in life.</p> - -<p>As brigadier-general, in 1818, he begins the preparation of -a system of General Regulations or Military Institutes for the -United States Army. This was approved of by the War -Department and Congress.</p> - -<p>September 22, 1824, he writes and has printed “A Scheme -for Restricting the Use of Ardent Spirits in the United States.” -This essay was the basis of the temperance movement in -the country.</p> - -<p>In 1824 is president of the Board of Infantry Tactics, -meeting at West Point.</p> - -<p>In 1826 is president of a board of militia officers and -regular officers, convened at Washington to devise an organization -and system of tactics for the militia of the United States.</p> - -<p>In 1828, while inspecting the Indian frontier of Arkansas<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> -and Louisiana, is approved of by the cabinet for appointment -to commander-in-chief of the army, but loses to General -Alexander Macomb.</p> - -<p>In the summer of 1832 is ordered from his Eastern Department -to proceed in person against the Sacs and Foxes under -Chief Blackhawk, in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. -The cholera is raging in the Great Lakes region. Before leaving -New York he takes instructions from a doctor, and when -his force is attacked by the disease on the boats he himself -applies the remedies and prevents a panic.</p> - -<p>Arrives at Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, -after Blackhawk’s surrender. Descends the Mississippi to -Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, and holds grand council -with the Sacs, Foxes, Sioux, Menominees and Winnebagos. -Is congratulated by the Secretary of War for his services and -his high moral courage in combating the cholera.</p> - -<p>On his way home to West Point he narrowly escapes a -severe attack of the cholera himself.</p> - -<p>November, 1832, is sent to South Carolina, which has -threatened to secede unless the tariff laws of the Government -are modified. General Scott takes command in Charleston, -and by his firmness and good sense among his fellow Southerners -averts civil war.</p> - -<p>In 1834–1835 translates and revises the new French infantry -tactics for use by the United States. These, known as -“Scott’s Infantry Tactics,” were the first complete tactics -adopted by the army and were used up to 1863.</p> - -<p>January 20, 1836, is directed by the President to proceed -against the Seminole Indians of Florida. Asked at four in -the afternoon when he could start, he says: “This night.” -Through failure of supplies and by reason of the short-time -enlistment of the majority of the troops, the campaign is unsuccessful. -For this, and for a similar delay in a march against -the Creeks, he is court-martialed by order of President Jackson. -The court approves of his campaign plans and acquits him. -Returning to his headquarters in New York he is tendered -a public dinner April, 1837. This he declines.</p> - -<p>January, 1838, is ordered to the Niagara frontier again, -where misguided Americans and Canadians are attempting -a movement to annex Canada to the United States. In dead of -winter he travels back and forth along the American border, -quieting the people by his words and the force of his presence.</p> - -<p>In the spring of this 1838 he is sent into Alabama to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span> -remove the Cherokee Indians to new lands given them by -treaty, west of the Mississippi River. The Indians had refused -to go, but by using reason and gentleness he avoids bloodshed -and persuades them to move of their own accord.</p> - -<p>In February, 1839, is sent by the President as special -agent to northern Maine, where the State of Maine and the -Canadian province of New Brunswick are in arms against each -other over a dispute upon the boundary between. Again by -his rare good judgment and by his influence with the authorities -upon either side, he averts what might easily have resulted -in another war.</p> - -<p>In 1840 he is proposed as the Whig candidate for President, -but he declines in favor of General William Henry -Harrison, who is elected.</p> - -<p>June 25, 1841, appointed full major-general.</p> - -<p>July 5, 1841, appointed chief of the Army, a position that -he occupies for twenty years.</p> - -<p>From 1841 to 1846 is busied with the duties of his office. -He aims to enforce justice and discipline among the rank and -file. August, 1842, he issues general orders forbidding the -practice of officers striking enlisted men and cursing them, and -directs that in cases of offense the regulations of the service -be employed.</p> - -<p>In the summer and fall of 1846, believing that the campaign -by General Zachary Taylor to conquer Mexico by invasion -from the Rio Grande River border cannot succeed, he -advises an advance upon the City of Mexico from Vera Cruz -on the Gulf. He asks permission to lead the army in person.</p> - -<p>November 23, 1846, he is directed by the Secretary of -War to conduct the new campaign.</p> - -<p>Leaves Washington for New Orleans November 25.</p> - -<p>In his absence a bill is introduced in Congress to create -the rank of lieutenant-general, and thus place over him a -superior officer. This movement for politics was defeated, -but General Scott felt that he had “an enemy in his rear.”</p> - -<p>Under these conditions he goes to meet General Taylor -at the Rio Grande in January, 1847, and detaches a portion -of the forces for the Vera Cruz campaign. This makes an -enemy of General Taylor.</p> - -<p>February 19, 1847, he issues general orders declaring -martial law in Mexico, for the purpose of restraining the -Volunteers from abusing the people of the conquered territory. -This wins over the natives and restores discipline.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span></p> - -<p>March 9 to September 14, 1847, he conducts the campaign -by which the City of Mexico, is captured.</p> - -<p>September 14, 1847, to February 18, 1848, he remains in -charge of the military government in Mexico. By his enforcement -of martial law that respects the persons and property -of the Mexican people he gains the leaders’ confidence. -He is proposed for dictator of the Mexican Republic, with -a view to annexation to the United States, but declines.</p> - -<p>February 18, 1848, he receives orders from President Polk -to turn over his command to Major-General William O. Butler, -and report for trial by a court of inquiry, on charges that he -had unjustly disciplined Generals Quitman and Pillow, and -Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan. He is acquitted.</p> - -<p>March 9, by joint resolution of Congress, he is voted the -National thanks for himself and his officers and men, and -the testimony of a specially struck gold medal in appreciation -of his “valor, skill and judicious conduct.”</p> - -<p>May 20, 1848, he arrives home to his family at Elizabeth, -near Philadelphia.</p> - -<p>Is assigned to command of the Eastern Department of the -Army, with headquarters in New York.</p> - -<p>In 1850, after the death of President Taylor, he resumes -his post in Washington as commander-in-chief of the Army.</p> - -<p>In 1850 he is awarded the honorary degree of LL.D. by -Columbia College (University).</p> - -<p>June, 1852, he is nominated by the Whig party for President. -He is opposed by President Fillmore and Secretary of -State Daniel Webster, who had been candidates. Is badly -defeated in the election by Franklin Pierce of the Democratic -party.</p> - -<p>February, 1855, he is brevetted lieutenant-general from -date of March 29, 1847—the surrender of Vera Cruz. This -rank had not been in use since the death of Lieutenant-General -George Washington, and was now revived by -special act of Congress.</p> - -<p>In November, 1859, he sails in the steamer <i>Star of the -West</i> for Puget Sound, by way of Panama, to adjust difficulties -arising between Great Britain and the United States -over the possession of San Juan Island of the international -boundary.</p> - -<p>In 1860 he counsels the Government to garrison the forts -and arsenals on the Southern seaboard with loyal troops, and -thus probably prevent the threatened secession of the Southern -States. His advice is disregarded.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span></p> - -<p>In March, 1861, submits other plans by which he still -hopes that the rebellion may be averted.</p> - -<p>Is offered high command by his native State, Virginia, and -declines to forsake the Flag.</p> - -<p>October 31, 1861, being seventy-five years of age and long -a cripple, almost unable to walk from wounds and illness, he -retires from the army. President Lincoln and the cabinet call -upon him together and bid him farewell. There are tears in -the old hero’s eyes.</p> - -<p>November, 1861, he sails for a visit in Europe.</p> - -<p>December, 1861, is recommended by President Lincoln -in first annual message to Congress for further honors, -if possible.</p> - -<p>June 10, 1862, his wife dies, leaving him with three daughters, -now grown.</p> - -<p>He removes from New York to West Point, and on June 5, -1864, after a year’s work he completes his autobiography -in two volumes.</p> - -<p>He dies at West Point, May 29, 1866, aged eighty, lacking -two weeks.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]<br /></span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span></p> - -<p class="noi title">INTO MEXICO WITH<br /> -GENERAL SCOTT</p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="I">I<br /> -<small>THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“The North Americans! They are getting -ready to attack the city!”</p> - -<p>“Who says so? Where are they?”</p> - -<p>“At Point Anton Lizardo, only sixteen miles -down the coast. A great fleet of ships has arrived -there, from North America. The sails looked like -a cloud coming over the ocean. The harbor is -crowded with masts and flags. Yes, they are getting -ready.”</p> - -<p>That was the word which spread through old -Vera Cruz on the eastern coast of Mexico, at the -close of the first week of March, 1847.</p> - -<p>“Well, the castle will sink them all with cannon -balls. It will be another victory. We shall see a -fine sight, like on a fiesta (holiday). Viva!”</p> - -<p>“Bien! Viva, viva!” Or: “Good! Hurrah, -hurrah!”</p> - -<p>There was excitement, but the news travelled -much faster than the Americans, for they seemed to -be still staying at desolate Anton Lizardo.</p> - -<p>Now, March 9, up here at the city of Vera Cruz, -was as fine a day as anybody might wish for. The -sun had risen bright and clear above the Gulf of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span> -Mexico, and one could see land and ocean for miles -and miles.</p> - -<p>From the sand dunes along the beach about three -miles southeast of Vera Cruz, where Jerry Cameron -was helping old Manuel and young Manuel cut -brush for fagots, the view was pleasant indeed. To -the northward, up the sandy coast, the fine city of -Vera Cruz—the City of the True Cross—surrounded -by its fortified wall two miles in length, fairly shone -in the sunlight. Its white-plastered buildings and -the gilded domes of its many churches were a-glitter. -In the far distance, inland behind the city, the mountain -ranges up-stood, more than ten thousand feet -high, with Orizaba Peak glimmering snowy, and -the square top of Perote Peak (one hundred miles -west) deeply blue, in shape of a chest or strong-box. -Outside the sea-wall in front of the city there was the -sparkling bay, dotted with the sails of fishing boats, -and broken by shoals.</p> - -<p>Upon a rocky island about a third of a mile out -from the city there loomed the darkly frowning -Castle of San Juan de Ulloa—the fort which guarded -the channel into the harbor. And almost directly -opposite the place where Jerry worked as a woodcutter -there basked the island of Sacrificios or Sacrifices, -about two miles out, with the flags of the -foreign men-of-war anchored near it streaming in -the breeze. While farther out, beyond Sacrificios, -appeared Green Island, where the ships of the United -States had been cruising back and forth, blockading -Vera Cruz itself.</p> - -<p>The United States and Mexico were at war. -They had been at war for well-nigh a year, but the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> -fighting was being done in the north, where the -Americans had tried to invade by crossing the Rio -Grande River and had been thrashed. At least, -those were the reports. General Antonio Lopez de -Santa Anna himself, Mexico’s famous leader, had -returned from exile in Cuba to command the army. -He had been landed at Vera Cruz without the Americans -objecting. The Americans had foolishly thought -that he would advise peace—or else they were afraid -to stop him. At any rate, he had gone on to Mexico -City, had gathered an army, and not a week ago word -had arrived that he had completely routed the army -of the American general named Taylor, in the battle -of Buena Vista, north Mexico!</p> - -<p>It was said that the crack Eleventh Infantry of -the Mexican regular army had alone defeated the -North Americans. The Eleventh had marched to -war last summer, carrying their coats and shirts -and pantaloons slung on the ends of their muskets, -because the weather was hot. The soldiers had not -looked much like fighters, to Jerry; many of the -muskets were without locks, and most of the soldiers -were barefoot.</p> - -<p>But the news of the great victory filled all Vera -Cruz with rejoicing. The guns of the forts were -fired, the church bells were rung, and the people -cheered in the streets, and from the sea-wall shook -their fists at the American fleet in the offing.</p> - -<p>It had been unpleasant news to Jerry, he being -an American boy whose father had died in Vera -Cruz, from the yellow fever, and had left him alone. -He hated to believe that Mexico actually was whipping -the United States. But he and the few<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> -other Americans stranded here did not dare to -say anything.</p> - -<p>Now that the North Americans (as they were -called) had been driven out, in the north, very likely -they would try to invade Mexico at another point. -Yes, no doubt they might be foolish enough to try -Vera Cruz, hoping to march even to the City of -Mexico from this direction! Of course, the notion -was absurd, for the City of Mexico was two hundred -and eighty miles by road, and on the other side -of the mountains. So the Vera Cruzans laughed -and bragged.</p> - -<p>“No hay cuidado, no hay cuidado! Somos muy -valientes. Es una ciudad siempre heroica, esta Vera -Cruz de nosotros,” they said. Or, in other words; -“No fear, no fear! We are very brave. It is a city -always heroic, this Vera Cruz of ours.”</p> - -<p>“That is right,” had agreed old Manuel and -young Manuel, with whom Jerry lived and worked. -“If those North Americans wish to come, let them -try. We have two hundred great guns on the walls, -and three hundred in the castle—some of them the -largest in the world. Yes, and five thousand soldiers, -and the brave General Morales to lead us.”</p> - -<p>“The Vera Cruz walls are ten feet thick, and -those of the castle are fifteen feet thick,” old Manuel -added. “Cannon balls stick fast; that is all.”</p> - -<p>“The guns will kill at two miles,” young Manuel -added. “Never once have those North American -ships dared to come within reach. The commander -at the castle laughs. He says to the American commander: -‘Bring on your fleet. You may fire all -your shot at us and we will not take the trouble -to reply. We only despise you.’”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span></p> - -<p>“Así es—that is so,” grunted old Manual. “The -castle has stood there for two hundred and fifty years. -Please God, it will stand there two hundred and -fifty more years, for all that those Yahnkee savages -can do.”</p> - -<p>It was true that the American fighting ships had -stayed far out from shore. They cruised back and -forth, preventing supplies from being brought in. -That was a blockade, but Vera Cruz did not care. It -had plenty to eat. It went about its business: the -fishing boats of the native Indians caught vast quantities -of fish in the harbor, the ranches raised cattle -and vegetables and fruits, and peons or laborers like -the two Manuels cut fagots and carried loads of it -on their burros into town, to sell as cooking fuel.</p> - -<p>Thus it happened that Jerry, who worked hard -with the two Manuels for his living, was out here -amidst the sand hills, as usual, on this bright morning -of March 9, 1847.</p> - -<p>These sand hills fringed all the beach on both -sides of the city, and extended inland half a mile. -The winter gales or northers piled them up and -moved them about. Some of them were thirty feet -high—higher than the walls of the city. From their -crests one could look right into Vera Cruz. They -were grown between, and even to their tops, with -dense brush or chaparral, of cactus and thorny -shrubs, forming regular jungles; and there were -many stagnant lagoons that bred mosquitoes -and fevers.</p> - -<p>From the city the National Road ran out, heading -westward for the City of Mexico, those two hundred -and eighty miles by horse and foot.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span></p> - -<p>To-day, of all the flags flying off shore scarcely -one was the American flag. The American warships -had disappeared entirely, unless that sloop tacking -back and forth several miles out might be American. -At first it had been thought that the Yankees had -grown discouraged by the news of the defeats of their -armies on land, and now did not know what to do. -The very sight of the grim castle of San Juan de -Ulloa had made them sick at their stomachs, the -Vera Cruzans declared. But the reports from Anton -Lizardo had changed matters.</p> - -<p>The morning passed quietly, with the flags of the -city and castle—flags banded green, white and red -and bearing an eagle on a cactus in the center—floating -gaily, defying the unseen Americans. At -noon the two Manuels and Jerry ate their small lunch, -and drank water from a hole dug near a shallow -lagoon. Then, about two o’clock, old Manuel, who -had straightened up for a breath and to ease his -back, uttered a loud cry.</p> - -<p>“Mira! See! The Americans are coming -again!”</p> - -<p>He was gazing to the east, down the coast. Young -Manuel and Jerry gazed, squinting through the chaparral. -Out at sea, to the right of the little island -Sacrificios, there had appeared against the blue sky -a long column of ships, their sails shining whitely. -They came rapidly on, bending to the gentle breeze, -and swinging in directly for the island anchorage. -Scrambling like a monkey, old Manuel hustled for a -high, clear place and better view; young Manuel and -Jerry followed.</p> - -<p>The foremost were ships of war; they looked<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> -too trim and large, and kept in too good order, for -merchantmen, and they held their positions, in the -lead and on the flanks, as if guarding. But what -a tremendous fleet this was—sail after sail, until the -ships, including several steamers, numbered close to -one hundred! Soon the flags were plain: the red-and-white -striped flags of the United States, streaming -gallantly from the mast ends.</p> - -<p>“The Americans!” young Manuel scoffed. -“They want another beating? They think to -frighten us Vera Cruzanos? Bah! We will show -them. We are ready. See?”</p> - -<p>That was so. How quickly things had happened! -As if by a miracle the sea wall of Vera Cruz was alive -with people clustered atop; yes, and people were gathering -upon all the roofs, and even in the domes of -the churches. From this distance they were ants. -The news had spread very fast. The notes of the -army bugles sounded faintly, rallying the gunners -to the batteries.</p> - -<p>Now out at the anchorage near Sacrificios the -mastheads and the yards of the foreign men of war -and the other vessels, from England, France, Spain, -Prussia, Germany, Italy, were heavy with sailors -clustered like bees, watching the approach of the -American fleet.</p> - -<p>Straight for Sacrificios the fleet sped, silent and -beautiful, before a steady six-knot breeze which -barely ruffled the gulf. A tall frigate (the American -flagship <i>Raritan</i>) forged to the fore, and in its -wake there glided a vessel squat and bulky, leaving -a trail of black smoke.</p> - -<p>“Un barco de vapor—a steamboat!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, yes! But it has no paddles—it moves like -a snake!”</p> - -<p>“No matter,” said old Manuel. “Everybody -knows that the North Americans are in league with -the Evil One. Only the Evil One could make a boat -to move without paddles. But the saints will protect -us.”</p> - -<p>“They are bringing soldiers!” young Manuel -cried. “Look! The decks of the warships are -crowded!”</p> - -<p>The American warships all forged to the fore; -in line behind the tall <i>Raritan</i> and the smoking new -steamer (which was only a propeller) they filed past -the foreign ships at the Sacrificios anchorage, and -about a mile from the beach they cast anchor also. -Now it might be seen that each ship had towed a line -of rowboats, and that every deck was indeed crowded -with soldiers, for muskets and bayonets flashed, uniforms -glittered, bands played, and a clatter and hum -drifted with the music to the shore.</p> - -<p>The merchant ships stayed outside the anchorage, -as if waiting. There seemed to be seventy-five or -eighty of them; too many for the space inside.</p> - -<p>The warships lost no time. Small launches instantly -began to tow the rowboats to their gangways; -soldiers began to descend——</p> - -<p>“What! They are going to land here, on our -beach of Collado?” old Manuel gasped.</p> - -<p>“No! Viva, viva!” young Manuel cheered. -“Our brave soldiers are there, waiting! Viva, viva!”</p> - -<p>“Now we shall see!” And old Manuel cheered, -waving his ragged hat. “There will be a battle. -Maybe we shall have to run.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span></p> - -<p>From the brush and sand hills a troop of Mexican -lancers, in bright uniforms of red caps and red -jackets and yellow capes, had cantered down to the -open beach, their pennons flapping, their lance tips -gleaming. They rode and waved defiantly, daring -the Americans to come ashore.</p> - -<p>A row of little flags broke out from the mizzen -mast of the <i>Raritan</i>. At once two gunboat steamers -and five sloops of war left the squadron, they -ploughed in, a puff of whitish smoke jetted from the -bows of a gunboat, and as quick as a wink another -puff burst close over the heads of the lancer troop. -Boom-boom!</p> - -<p>The gay lancers, bending low in their saddles, -scudded like mad back into the sand hills and the -brush, with another shell peppering their heels.</p> - -<p>“Hurrah! Hurrah!” Jerry cheered, for it -looked as though that beach was going to be -kept clear.</p> - -<p>He got such a box on the ear that it knocked him -sprawling and set his head to ringing.</p> - -<p>“You shut up!” old Manuel scolded. “You -little American dog, you! Your Americans are cowards. -They dare not land and fight. They think -to stand off out at sea and fight. The miserable -gringos from the north! That’s the Mexican name -for them: gringos. You understand?”</p> - -<p>No, Jerry did not understand. “Gringo” was -a new word—a contempt word recently invented by -the Mexicans, when they spoke of the North Americans—his -Americans. But he wasn’t caring, now; -he was wild with the box on the ear, and the sight of -the United States soldiers. Boxes on the ear never<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span> -had angered him so, before. It was pretty hard to be -cuffed, here in front of the Flag; cuffed by the -enemies of the Flag.</p> - -<p>“That isn’t so,” he snarled hotly. “They aren’t -cowards. You’ll see. They’ll land where they please. -<em><a href="#i_046">And all your army and guns can’t keep them off.</a></em> -Then they’ll walk right over your walls.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="i_046"> - <img src="images/i_046.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><a href="#Page_46">“AND ALL YOUR ARMY AND GUNS CAN’T KEEP THEM OFF”</a></p> - </div> -</div> - -<p>“Shut up!” young Manuel bawled, and cuffed -him on the other side of the head. “Of course they -are cowards. They’ve been beaten many times by -our brave men. Your General Taylor has been captured. -He dressed like a woman and tried to hide. -Now your gringos are so afraid that they think to -land out of reach of our cannon. If they do land, -what will they do? Nothing. The minute they -come closer the guns of the castle will blow them -to pieces.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and soon the yellow fever will kill them. -They will find themselves in a death-trap,” old Manuel -added. “Bah! Our brave General Morales may -let them land. He sees how foolish they are. All -he needs do is to wait. Where can they go? Nowhere! -They will fight mosquitoes. That is it: -they are come to fight the mosquitoes!”</p> - -<p>Jerry saw that there was no use in arguing; not -with two men whose hands were heavy, and who preferred -to believe lies. They did not know American -soldiers and sailors.</p> - -<p>The cannon of the city and castle had not yet -spoken, but the walls of San Juan de Ulloa, like -those of Vera Cruz, a little nearer, were thronged -with people, watching. And that was a busy scene, -yonder toward Sacrificios. The two gunboats and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span> -five sloops cruised lazily only eight hundred yards -out from the beach, their guns trained upon it; the -sailors stood prepared at the pieces, and spy-glasses, -pointed at the beach, occasionally flashed with light. -Well it was, thought Jerry, that he and the two -Manuels were securely hidden. He did not wish an -American shot coming his way. But there, beyond -the seven patrol boats, the rowboats were being -loaded at the gangways of the men-of-war; for the -soldiers of his country evidently were determined -to land.</p> - -<p>Boat after boat, crammed to the gunwales with -men, left the gangways, was pulled a short distance -clear, and lay to.</p> - -<p>“How many boats?” young Manuel uttered. -“Many, many. It is wonderful.”</p> - -<p>“And a crazy idea,” old Manuel insisted, “to -land here where the ships cannot follow, right in -sight of Vera Cruz. But the more the better; -the yellow fever will have a feast, and so will -the vultures.”</p> - -<p>The loading of the boats took two hours. The -sun was almost set when the last one appeared to have -been filled. No shot had been fired by the Mexican -batteries. Suddenly a great cheer rang from the -ships and the boats; yes, even from the English, -and French and Spanish ships. The boats had -started; they were coming in at last, and a brave spectacle -they made: a half-circle more than three-quarters -of a mile front, closing upon the beach, with -oars flashing and bayonets gleaming and the trappings -of the officers glinting, all in the crystal air -of sunset, upon the smooth sea. The breeze had died<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> -down, as if it, too, were astonished; but above the -boats a myriad seagulls swerved and screamed.</p> - -<p>Five, ten, twenty, forty, sixty, sixty-seven! -Sixty-seven surf-boats each holding seventy-five or -one hundred soldiers! Sixty-seven surf-boats, and -one man-of-war gig!</p> - -<p>“Sainted Mary! Where did the Americans get -them all?” old Manuel gasped.</p> - -<p>Jerry thrilled with pride. Hurrah! He was an -American boy, and those were American ships and -American boats, manned by American soldiers and -American sailors, under the American flag. He -shivered a little with fear, also; for when the guns -of the castle and the city began to throw their shells, -what would happen to those blue-coated men, helpless -upon the bare beach of Collado?</p> - -<p>The music from the bands in the boats and upon -the ships sounded plainly. The bands were playing -“Yankee Doodle,” “Hail, Columbia!” and “The -Star-Spangled Banner.” Even the dip of the oars -from the sixty and more boats, pulled by sailors, -sounded like a tune of defiance, as the blades rose -and fell and the oar-shafts thumped in their sockets.</p> - -<p>Splash, splash, chug, chug, all together in a -measured chant; and still the guns of the city and -castle were silent, biding their time.</p> - -<p>Now it was a race between the boats, to see which -should land its men first. The sailors were straining -at the oars; the figures of the soldiers—their bristling -muskets, their cross-belts and cartridge boxes, -their haversacks—were clear; their officers might be -picked out, and also the naval officers, one in the stern -of each boat, urging the rowers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span></p> - -<p>The gig beat. One hundred yards from the beach -it grounded. It scarcely had stopped when a fine, tall -officer leaped overboard into the water waist deep; -with his sword drawn and waved and pointed he -surged for the shore. He wore a uniform frock -coat, with a double row of buttons down the front -and with large gold epaulets on the shoulders. Upon -his head was a cocked hat; and as he gained the -shallows the gold braid of his trousers seams showed -between boots and skirts. He was of high rank, -then; perhaps a general—perhaps the general of the -whole army! And his face had dark side-whiskers.</p> - -<p>Close behind him there hurried a soldier with -the flag. All the men, mainly officers, his staff, had -leaped overboard; and from the other boats, fast and -faster, the men were leaping, and surging in, and in, -holding their muskets and cartridge boxes high, -and cheering.</p> - -<p>“Boom!” A cannon shot! Smoke floated from -the bastion fort of Santiago, in the nearest corner -of the city walls, three miles up the shore; but -the ball must have fallen short.</p> - -<p>“Boom!” A great gun in San Juan castle, -three miles and a half, had tried. By the spurt of -sand this ball also was short.</p> - -<p>“We’d better get out of here,” old Manuel -rapped. “To the city! Quick! The Americans are -surely landing. We don’t want to have our ears cut -off; and we don’t want to be blown up, either. The -guns are beginning; they are playing for the dance.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and you come, too, you little gringo,” -young Manuel exclaimed, grabbing Jerry by the arm.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> -“We’ll not have you running to those other gringos -and telling them tales.”</p> - -<p>Away scuttled old Manuel and young Manuel, -dragging Jerry and shoving him before them while -they followed narrow trails amidst the dunes and the -thick, thorny brush. Presently they all heard another -hearty shout from a thousand and more throats; -but it was not for them.</p> - -<p>Pausing and looking back they saw the whole -broad beach blue with the American uniforms; flags -of blue and gold were fluttering—a detachment of -the soldiers had marched to the very top of one high -dune and had planted the Stars and Stripes. Already -some of the boats were racing out to the ships, for -more soldiers. The bands upon the shore were -playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” again.</p> - -<p>“Hurrah!”</p> - -<p>“Shut up, gringito (little gringo)!”</p> - -<p>“You will sing another tune if you don’t take -care. There!” And Jerry received a third and -fourth cuff. “Your soldiers are cowards. They -land out of reach of the guns. And now maybe we -have lost our burro.”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you go back for it, then?” Jerry -demanded. “Why don’t your own soldiers march -out and stop the soldiers of my country?”</p> - -<p>“Because we Mexicans are too wise. The -Americans never can get near the city. Why should -we waste any lives on them? Now you come -along, gringito.”</p> - -<p>And Jerry had to go, wild with rage and hot -with hopes.</p> - -<p>The balls from the city and castle were falling<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span> -short; the patrol vessels and the soldiers and sailors -paid no attention to them; but from all the ranches -and fields and huts outside the city walls the people -were hastening in, for protection. This was another -sight: those men, women and children, carrying -bundles, and driving laden donkeys, and chattering, -threatening, bragging and laughing.</p> - -<p>Hustling on, Jerry and the two Manuels joined -with the rest, crossing the open strip a half a mile -wide, bordering the walls, and pushing in through the -gate on this side, named the Gate of Mexico and commanded -by batteries.</p> - -<p>Inside the city there were hubbub and excitement. -The broad paved streets of the down-town -among the two-story stone buildings were crowded -as on a feast day. Bugles were pealing, drums were -beating, soldiers in the bright blue and white of the -infantry and the red and green of the artillery were -marching hither thither, lancers in their red and -yellow clattered through, while the roof-tops and the -church belfries above swarmed with gazers.</p> - -<p>Nobody showed much fear.</p> - -<p>“Wait, until the cannon get the range.”</p> - -<p>“Or until the northers bury the gringos in -the sand!”</p> - -<p>“And then the vomito, the yellow fever! That is -our best weapon.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed, yes. All we Vera Cruzanos need do -is to wait.”</p> - -<p>The northers, as everybody should know, were -the terrific winds that blew in the winter and early -spring; they blew so fiercely, from the gulf and a -clear sky, that anyone lying for a few moments in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> -the sand would be covered up. Neither man nor -beast could face a norther, there in the open where -the sand drifted like snow.</p> - -<p>And the vomito, or yellow fever! Ay de mi! -That was worse. It came in the spring as soon as -the northers ceased and stayed all summer. Some -days and nights it appeared like a yellow mist, rising -from the lagoons of the coast and spreading toward -the city; men and women and children died by the -hundreds, even in the city streets, so that the buzzards -feasted on the bodies. The City of the Dead: -this was the name for Vera Cruz during the vomito -season. Everyone who was able fled to the -higher country inland, and stayed there above the -vomito fog.</p> - -<p>Until ten o’clock this night the American boats -landed the American soldiers; by token of the twinkling -lights and the distant shouts the beach was -occupied for a mile of length, and the bivouacs -extended back into the dunes.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="II">II<br /> -<small>A SURPRISE FOR VERA CRUZ</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Boom!”</p> - -<p>It was such a tremendous explosion that it shook -the solid buildings of the city. It also brought Jerry -upon his feet, all standing, where he had been asleep -for the night in a vacant niche against a stone warehouse. -A great many of the people slept this night -in the open air, just where they chanced to be, so -that they might miss no excitement.</p> - -<p>The explosion awakened them all. There was -a rush for good viewpoints; perhaps the battle had -begun. Right speedily Jerry had scrambled atop -the wall at a place between batteries, from which he -could see the harbor and the Americans’ beach eastward. -Nobody objected to him, here.</p> - -<p>“Boom—<em>Boom!</em>” A double explosion well-nigh -knocked him backward. A cloud of black -smoke had spurted from the walls of San Juan de -Ulloa castle, a quarter of a mile before; but yonder -amidst the sand hills the louder “<em>Boom!</em>” had raised -a much greater, blacker smoke, where the shell -had burst.</p> - -<p>The people upon the wall cheered.</p> - -<p>“Viva, viva!”</p> - -<p>“Now we shall see. San Juan is speaking with -his giants.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, the Paixhans,” said a Volunteer. “It is -the Paixhans that he is turning loose, to blow the -Yankees up. Viva!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span></p> - -<p>The Paixhan guns were large pieces that threw -shells in a line, instead of solid shot or high-sailing -bombs like the mortars.</p> - -<p>“Boom!” from the castle; and in a moment, -“<em>Boom!</em>” from the thickets of the dunes. The -smoke jetted angrily; the people imagined that they -could see brush and trees and bodies flying through -the air; but just how much damage was being done -no one might say, because most of the American -army was out of sight, concealed in the wilderness -of the jungle.</p> - -<p>General Morales, commanding the city and castle, -had issued a proclamation calling upon the soldiers -and citizens to rally for the defense. All this -day the American boats, large and small, plied back -and forth between the fleet and the shore, out of -range, bringing in horses and mules and cannon and -supplies; when the cannon had been landed, soldiers -and sailors fell to like ants and helped the long teams -drag them across the beach, into the sand hills. The -larger part of the army had been swallowed by the -chaparral; but now and again a column of blue-uniformed -men could be sighted, winding through a -cleared spot, as if gradually encircling the city on -the land side.</p> - -<p>All day the city forts and outworks and the castle -pitched round-shot and shell into the dunes. There -were several little battles when the Mexican lancers -and infantry outposts met the American advance. -A number of wounded Mexican soldiers were carried -in; but the American flags kept coming on, bobbing -here and there, bound inland.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow it will blow,” the weather prophets<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> -asserted, noting the yellow sunset. “A norther! -Then those gringos will wish they were somewhere -else.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that is so.”</p> - -<p>Sure enough, about noon the next day (which had -dawned calm), far out at sea a sharp, vivid line of -white appeared, approaching rapidly.</p> - -<p>“The norther! Hurrah! It is the norther!”</p> - -<p>A norther never had been so welcomed before. -The shipping was frantically lowering sails and putting -out storm anchors. The war vessels at Sacrificios -were riding under bare poles. The line of -white reached them—they bowed to it, their masts -sweeping almost to the water. On it came, at prodigious -speed, in a front miles long. The white was -foam, whipped feathery by wind. Suddenly all the -shipping in the harbor was in a confusion of scud; -the few American small boats plying between war -vessels and beach were striving desperately, and see! -The dunes had been veiled in a cloud of yellow dust -driven by the gale.</p> - -<p>The change was miraculous. So strong was the -wind that it cleaned the walls of people. Like the -rest, Jerry crouched in shelter, while the gale -howled overhead.</p> - -<p>The dunes were completely shut from view by -the cloud of scud and sand. Firing from the city -and castle ceased. There was nothing to do but wait -and let the norther work. Somewhere under that -sand cloud the Americans crouched also, fighting for -breath and to keep from being buried. Here in Vera -Cruz everybody was safe and happy, except Jerry -Cameron. He was safe, but he was sorry for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span> -those other Americans, although he did not dare -to say so.</p> - -<p>It was a bad norther. It blew without a pause -for two nights and days. Then, about noon of the -third day, which was March 13, it quit about as suddenly -as it had arrived. It left the ocean tossing -with white caps and thundering against the sea-wall -and upon the beach, but the air over the dunes cleared -and all eyes peered curiously to see what had become -of the American army.</p> - -<p>Why, the flags were nearer! Some of them fluttered -at the very inside edge of the hills, not much -more than half a mile away, across the open space -which skirted the city walls. There were signs that -the ground was being dug out, as if for batteries. -As soon as the ocean quieted a little, the boats again -hustled back and forth, landing more guns and supplies. -The forts and castle fired furiously at the -American camps. But the Americans had not been -stopped by the norther and they were not to be -stopped by shot and shell.</p> - -<p>Now more than a week passed in this kind of -business, with the city and castle firing, and with the -Mexican soldiers skirmishing in the brush to annoy -the gringos, and with the Americans doing little by -day, but each night creeping nearer. One morning -a strange new token was to be sighted. To the south -the ground had been upheaved, during the night, out -from the edge of the dunes, and a line of earth -extended like a mole-run into the cleared space. -The Americans were burrowing.</p> - -<p>The city forts lustily bombarded the place and -evidently drove the Americans out of the trench, for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span> -there was no reply. In fact, very few gringos were -seen, but their flags might be glimpsed, farther back. -Where were their cannon?</p> - -<p>After this fresh burrows appeared frequently. -Still there was no firing by the American cannon. -What was being done, in that brush, none of the -Vera Cruzans could say from such a distance. -Only——</p> - -<p>“It will be a siege,” the wise-acres nodded. -“Very well. We shall wait until the vomito comes. -The vomito will fight for us, in the sand hills where -our brave soldiers cannot go. The yellow fever will -find those skulking gringos, who dare not attack us.”</p> - -<p>Then, about two o’clock of March 22, after the -Americans had been digging and dragging cannon -for almost two weeks, and had advanced their flags in -a complete half circle around the city, excitement -rose again. A Yankee officer and two other men, -bearing a white flag, had ridden out from among the -dunes and were boldly cantering forward across the -flat strip, for the southern Gate of Mexico.</p> - -<p>The three were received by a Mexican officer sent -by General Morales. Word spread that the American -general, named Scott, demanded the surrender of -Vera Cruz! He gave two hours for an answer.</p> - -<p>General Morales did not require the two hours. -Before the time was up, back went the flag of truce, -while the soldiers loudly cheered when they learned -that he had refused to surrender. If the Americans -wished to try a battle, let them start in; they all -would die without having reached the walls; and as -for breaching the walls with their cannon, that -was impossible.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span></p> - -<p>Four o’clock had been the limit set by the American -general, Scott. Usually Vera Cruz slept from -noon until four; all Mexico took its siesta then: stores -were closed and shutters drawn and nobody stirred -abroad; in Vera Cruz even the water carriers who -cried “Water! Pure water!” on the streets, dozed -like the rest. And by this time, two weeks, the -people had grown accustomed to the guns, so that -they slept right through.</p> - -<p>But this afternoon the city waked early, and -by four o’clock the roof tops and the walls were -thick with spectators watching to see what would -happen. Ragged Jerry gazed with the others. He -had paid no attention to the two Manuels. There -had been no fagot gathering, and little other business -except talk.</p> - -<p>The sea was smooth; the ships swung at anchor -under a blue sky; out at Sacrificios island, four miles -distant to the east, the Stars and Stripes languidly -flapped from the mast ends of the men-of-war; -the sand dunes shimmered yellow, buzzards circled -above them and the chaparral which flowed into the -flat strip—the buzzards might see the American -army, but few persons in the city could. Nevertheless, -from the east clear around into the west the -faint sounds of the burrowing blue coats drifted in.</p> - -<p>There was no sign of any charge. Then, at four -o’clock precisely, from a spot half a mile out, between -the city and Collado Beach, a sudden great -belch of black smoke issued; a black speck streaked -high through the sky, fell—and there was a resounding -crash and a mighty shock, from an explosion<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> -in the very center of the city. The clatter -of stones followed.</p> - -<p>Next, while the people gazed at each other, -astounded, in the southeast the chaparral was -drowned by a perfect torrent of the same smoke, -blasts of air rocked the very walls and buildings, all -the city shook to explosion after explosion mingled. -Several shells had arrived at once; the air was filled -with dust and shrieks.</p> - -<p>Vera Cruz was being bombarded. The bastion -guns boomed hotly, replying; the great guns of the -castle chimed in; the chaparral was being torn to -pieces. But so was the city; and out in the roadstead -the two steam gunboats and the five sloops of -war veered nearer and from a mile away began to -shoot, also, at the city and the castle both.</p> - -<p>The battle had opened. The Americans were -firing only seven mortars; that was all—seven. -Where were their other cannon? Stuck in the sand -and brush, as like as not. The seven mortars were -hard to see, but the city forts and the castle would -bury them. As for those little ships a mile at sea, -one shot from San Ulloa would sink any of them.</p> - -<p>However, the mortars stuck to it. They kept -firing all night, while it was too dark for the forts -and the castle to answer. There was no sleep for -Vera Cruz—not amidst that steady “Boom! Boom! -Boom!” and “Crash! Crash! Crash!”, with -showers of iron and rock flying far and wide into -all parts of the city.</p> - -<p>In the morning ten mortars were at work. The -forts and San Ulloa spouted smoke and flame in vain. -The walls had not been hurt; but what with the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> -booming, and the crashing, and the yelling and running, -assuredly Vera Cruz was no place in which to -stay. Jerry resolved to get out before he, an American -boy, was killed by shots from his own country.</p> - -<p>This afternoon another norther set in, as if to -help Vera Cruz. It silenced the mortars, and drove -the American gunners to cover. Nobody could see -to shoot in such a dust storm. The people were -happy over it. They knew that the northers and -the yellow fever would come to their rescue. The -Americans were crazy, their guns useless, their -trenches would be filled faster than they could be -dug. But to Jerry the norther looked like a lucky -stroke for one American, at least. To slip over the -walls and sneak across the flat strip and enter the -American camp would be as easy as—well, as cutting -a watermelon.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="III">III<br /> -<small>THE AMERICANS GAIN A RECRUIT</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The norther was making things uncomfortable -in the city as well as outside. The streets were -lashed by howling wind, and raked by sand and bits -of clay; loosened stones crashed to the pavement, -threatening the few people who scuttled around the -corners; and when the thick dusk gathered early Vera -Cruz seemed deserted. But if matters were bad here, -what must they be yonder, out in the open?</p> - -<p>Jerry was going to know, pretty soon. It was -time that he left Vera Cruz. He did not belong in -Vera Cruz, where Americans were disliked. It was -the enemy’s country. The two Manuels had housed -him in their shack, and had fed him, but only because -he worked for them. He had not seen them -this day—did not wish ever to see them again; they -had cuffed him on the ears, they thought little of -slapping him about. He had stayed with them because -there was nothing else for him to do. But -now his own people had arrived to teach these Mexicans -a lesson; had brought the Flag right to the doorway -of Mexico, and were knocking for admittance.</p> - -<p>If they really did not get in—of course they -would get in, but supposing they didn’t, and had to -go away and try at another place! Supposing, as the -Vera Cruzans said, the walls held out against the -cannon, and the yellow fever raged, then he would -be stranded the same as before. It was a long, long -way from Vera Cruz to the United States.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span></p> - -<p>So this was the time to make a dash for freedom, -while the way was short and the norther blew.</p> - -<p>At eight o’clock the darkness was dense with the -smother of dust. Nobody saw him as he ran low -like a rabbit, tacking from building to building and -corner to corner, until he had reached the wall at a -place nearest to the American cannon. The wall -was twelve feet high, here; at intervals it was built -into batteries, jutting outside and inside both; -but to-night even the sentries had been forced -under cover.</p> - -<p>The wall was very old; there were sections where -it had crumbled and could be climbed easily enough -by means of toe-holds and finger-holds. All the boys -of Vera Cruz knew that old wall perfectly; and it -was used as a promenade also by men and women -who strolled upon the wide top.</p> - -<p>The American cannon had done little damage to -it yet. The mortar bombs all passed over, to land -in the city. But Jerry remembered a spot where he -often had climbed before, in fun—and to show the -Vera Cruzans that their wall could not keep a boy in.</p> - -<p>He had to guess at the spot, in the wind and the -darkness. When he thought that he was there, he -shinned up. Here the wind struck him full blast, and -whew! He had to lie flat and crawl, clutching fast -with fingers and toes, feeling his way, and fairly -plastered to the rough top. If once he raised up, -away he would go like a leaf; for that wind certainly -meant business.</p> - -<p>At last, feeling ahead, he came to the crumbled -edge. And now, cautiously swinging about, he prepared -to slide over feet first. If this was the right -spot, he would land outside after a slide of only<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span> -about ten feet. But how to tell? There wasn’t any -way. It might be that this was not the right place -at all, and he would drop straight down more than -ten feet and break a leg. Still, he was bound to try. -So he backed like a crab, farther and farther, exploring -with his toes; he was over the edge, he was clinging -with his knees and hands and barking his shins—and -on a sudden the edge gave under his fingers and -down he slithered, fast and faster, all in the darkness, -with clatter and rasp and scrape, until—thump!</p> - -<p>No, it had not been the exact spot. Maybe by -daylight he wouldn’t have risked such a long slide, -on his stomach. But his clothes could not be hurt—a -few more rags made no difference, and he was -all right.</p> - -<p>He had landed on his back in the dry moat or ditch -which skirted the bottom of the wall. Under his feet -there was a heap of mortar from the wall, and a -stiff bush had almost skewered him. He picked himself -up, to claw out. In a moment the wind struck -him full, again—sent him reeling and sprawling, and -stung his cheek with sand and pebbles. Somewhere -before him there lay the dunes and the American -camp; but he could not see a thing, he had to -cross the flat, brushy strip half a mile wide, and -unless he kept his wits sharpened he would get -all turned around.</p> - -<p>Well, the wind was his only guide; it hit him -quartering, from the left or gulf side—came like a -sheet of half-solid air, to flatten him. Leaning -against it he bored on, trying to go in a straight line. -Ouch! Cactus! And more cactus. Ouch! A large -thorny bush. Ouch! A hollow into which he stepped -with a grunt.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span></p> - -<p>The plain was a whirlpool of whistling wind and -blinding sand that took his breath and blistered his -cheek. The cactus stabbed him, the brush tripped -him; every little while he had to sit down and rest. -One lone boy seemed a small figure in the midst of -that great storm, black with murk, especially when -he wasn’t dead certain that he was heading right.</p> - -<p>That was a tremendously long half mile. Was -he never going to get to the other edge? Perhaps he -would be better off if he stayed in one spot and -waited for morning. No; then he would be caught -between two fires—might be shot by one side or the -other, or else captured by prowling Mexican soldiers.</p> - -<p>After a while the wind slackened a little; the air -cleared, and so did the sky. A moon peeped forth -from the overhead scud. He thought that he could -see the dunes, in a dim line, and he pushed on for -them as fast as he could. He ought to be drawing -near to them, by this time, for Vera Cruz lay hours -behind him, according to the way his legs ached from -his stumblings and zigzaggings.</p> - -<p>Here came the wind, again—in a terrific blast as -if it had been only taking breath, too. The moon -vanished, everything vanished, and he was blinded -by the dust once more.</p> - -<p>Then, quite unexpectedly, as he was leaning and -gasping and blundering on, breaking through the -brush and never minding the cactus, he ran against -a mound of sand. He sort of crawled up this, clawing -his way—the wind seized him, on top, hurled him -forward, and down he pitched, headfirst, into a hole -on the other side.</p> - -<p>This time he landed upon something soft and -alive. It grabbed him tightly in two arms and he -heard a voice in good sailor American:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span></p> - -<p>“Shiver my timbers! Belay there, whoever you -be. Hey, maties! Stand by to repel boarders! -They’re entering by the ports.”</p> - -<p>“No, no! I’m a boy—I’m an American!” Jerry -panted. “There’s nobody else.”</p> - -<p>“A boy? Bless my bloomin’ eyes.” The grip -relaxed, but the voice growled. “Wot d’you foul my -hawser for, when I’m snugged under for the night, -with storm anchors out?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t mean to,” Jerry stammered.</p> - -<p>“Who are you, then? Wot’s your rating? Answer -quick, and no guff.”</p> - -<p>“I’m nobody ’special—I’m Jerry Cameron. I’ve -run away from Vera Cruz.”</p> - -<p>“Under bare poles, too, by the feel of you. -You’re a bloody spy, eh?”</p> - -<p>“No, I’m not,” Jerry implored. “I’m an American, -I told you.”</p> - -<p>“Where’s the rest of your boarding crew?”</p> - -<p>“There aren’t any.”</p> - -<p>“Does your mother know you’re out?”</p> - -<p>“She’s dead. So’s my father.”</p> - -<p>“Now if you’re one o’ them young limbs o’ -drummer boys, playing a game on me——”</p> - -<p>“I’m not,” Jerry declared.</p> - -<p>“Wot do you want here?”</p> - -<p>“I want to join the army.”</p> - -<p>“The army! Get out, then. Don’t you go taking -this for any landlubber mess. Avast with you! -Port your helm and sheer off.” And the -clutch loosened.</p> - -<p>“But where am I, please?” Jerry asked, -bewildered.</p> - -<p>“Wait till I put a half hitch on you and I’ll tell<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> -you; for if you’re putting up a game you’ll be -hanged to the yardarm at sunrise. That’s regulations. -Lie quiet, now. I’m hungry and I’m a reg’lar -bloomin’ cannerbal.”</p> - -<p>A cord was deftly passed about Jerry’s slim waist, -tightened, tied, and apparently fastened to his captor -also—who growled again as if satisfied. Flint and -steel were struck, and a lantern lighted—a lantern -enclosed in a wire netting—a battle lantern. It was -flashed upon Jerry, and at the same time flashed upon -his captor. He saw a very red face—a dirty face but -a good-natured face, under a shock of tow hair; and -a pair of broad shoulders encased in a heavy woollen -jacket. Two bright blue eyes surveyed him.</p> - -<p>“A bloomin’ bloody stowaway,” the man -growled, not unkindly. “That’s wot! Well, wot -you want to know?”</p> - -<p>“Where am I, if this isn’t the army?” Jerry -pleaded.</p> - -<p>“The army be blowed,” answered the man. -“This is the navy, young feller. Bless my eye, but -you’re in the naval battery, as you’ll soon find out, -and so’ll those bloody dons when we open up in -the morning.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. But I think I’d like to stay, anyway,” -said Jerry; for he was down under the wind, -and he was very tired.</p> - -<p>“Right-o, my hearty.” The man untied the rope. -“Now we can lie yard and yard, but mind you keep -quiet, ’cause I’m dead for sleep. One wiggle, and -out you go. All quiet below decks. That’s discipline -and them’s man-o’-war orders.”</p> - -<p>The sailor turned down the lantern, and settled -himself with a grunt.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="IV">IV<br /> -<small>JERRY MAKES A TOUR</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The norther certainly was slackening off, as if it -had blown itself out. The wind died to a fitful -breeze, and this itself finally ceased. There was a -dead calm. Overhead the stars sparkled again. It -seemed to be a great relief to everything—this calm, -after the lashing and the howling and the general -strain. Only the gulf surf roared dully in -the distance.</p> - -<p>Now voices sounded, right and left and behind, -as if the American camp had aroused and the men -were issuing from their coverts. They had weathered -the storm. Jerry carefully raised, to look. -He could see the occasional flash of a lantern. Then -he lay down. In the calm he was more exhausted -than ever. That had been a tough trail through the -brush, fighting the wind at every step. Before he -knew, he was asleep, beside the snoring sailor; and -the next that he knew, he was awakened into gray -dawn by a bustle around him.</p> - -<p>Where was he? Oh, yes; he was safe with the -Americans. So he got up, shook himself, and -took stock.</p> - -<p>He was still out in the plain, instead of at the -edge of the dunes; the trench which sheltered him -was six feet wide and the same in depth, and was -screened by brush outside the dirt thrown out. It -ran right and left, as if connecting with other -trenches. Figures of sailors and their officers hurried<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span> -back and forth, scarcely noticing him. There -were gruff orders. He had to see what was going -on; so he fell in with the busy files, and in a moment -he had arrived at the breech of an enormous cannon, -surrounded by sailors stripped to the waist and tugging -and heaving to move the cannon into place.</p> - -<p>Beyond it there was another cannon, already in -place, its muzzle pointing out through sandbags, its -squatty solid iron frame resting upon little wheels -which fitted a pair of iron rails bolted to a plank -turn-table upon a platform. Beyond that was still -another great gun. And to the rear there was the -sand-bagged roof of a low hut, sunk deeply almost -on the level with the surface of the ground. This -was a battery, then; and that probably was the -powder house—the magazine. And all had been -dug out, and erected, here, between the dunes and -Vera Cruz, in point-blank range of the walls!</p> - -<p>By the hurry and bustle something was going to -happen very soon. A smart naval officer in blue and -gold, with sword drawn, was overseeing the work -of setting the first gun into position. A boatswain, -his shirt open upon his hairy chest and a whistle -dangling at the end of a cord, was bossing. Everybody -was a sailor, so it must be the naval battery.</p> - -<p>The boatswain saw Jerry staring; and he stared -likewise.</p> - -<p>“Hi! What you doin’ here, young ’un?”</p> - -<p>“Just watching,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Where you from?”</p> - -<p>“Vera Cruz. But I’m an American.”</p> - -<p>“Shiver my tops’ls!” uttered the boatswain; -and the other sailors briefly paused to wipe their<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span> -brows and grin. “A bloomin’ American from Very -Cruz.” He saluted the officer. “Recruit for the -navy, sir. What shall I do with him?”</p> - -<p>“Send him to the rear. This is no place for -boys,” rapped the officer. “What’s your name, lad?”</p> - -<p>“Jerry Cameron.”</p> - -<p>“How did you get in here?”</p> - -<p>“I ran away from Vera Cruz last night. I don’t -belong there.”</p> - -<p>“Too much Yankee music in that city, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. It’s awful.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it will be worse. If you’ve come to join -the band you’ll have to go to the rear. We can’t -take care of you here. Things will open lively in a -short time, now.”</p> - -<p>And as if to prove his words the air shook, a dull -boom sounded, a louder boom rolled from the dunes. -Vera Cruz had awakened to action again.</p> - -<p>“You follow that trench and keep going,” the -officer ordered. “March, before your head’s -blown off.”</p> - -<p>“Boom—<em>Bang!</em>” A great mass of sand and -brush spouted up not fifty yards to the front, and -the shock sent everyone staggering. A shell from -Vera Cruz had landed near indeed. “Boom—<em>Bang!</em>” -That was another. The Mexican batteries -were trying.</p> - -<p>“Handspikes, there! Put a block under that -transom, bo’s’n,” barked the officer, never noticing.</p> - -<p>“Aye, aye, sir!” The men jumped to their work. -Jerry turned and headed back through the trench. -He was glad that he was not to be in Vera Cruz -this day. Those guns looked mean.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span></p> - -<p>The trench, higher than his crown and wider than -he was tall, led obliquely toward the dunes. To -have cut such a trench must have been a prodigious -job—and the queer part was, that from Vera Cruz -the work had not been seen.</p> - -<p>Judging by deep wheel tracks the cannon had -been dragged through the trench, to the front.</p> - -<p>For a little way he met nobody. Now the shells -from the city and castle were bursting all around -him, well-nigh deafening him; and from a distance -the American guns were replying. Next, he came -to a squad of sailors, sitting in a side gallery and -eating breakfast. They hailed him.</p> - -<p>“Ahoy! Where bound, young ’un?”</p> - -<p>“Nowhere,” Jerry answered.</p> - -<p>“Heave to, then, and come aboard with your -papers. Where you from?”</p> - -<p>“Vera Cruz.”</p> - -<p>“Lay alongside.” So Jerry turned in. “What’s -your colors? Speak sharp. Report to the admiral.”</p> - -<p>“Red, white and blue,” asserted Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Blow me, but he is American, by the cut of his -jib,” one of them exclaimed. “Where’s your convoy, -young sloop-o’-war?”</p> - -<p>“Nowhere. I ran away last night.”</p> - -<p>“Homeward bound in ballast. Can’t you see he’s -floating clean above loading mark?” said another. -“He’s empty to his keel. Fall to, my hearty. Line -your lockers.”</p> - -<p>They were a jovial party, grimy with sand and -sweat, their blue sailor shirts open, their faces red and -their big hands tarry and scarred. They passed -him hard biscuit and meat and a cup of coffee—and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span> -every now and again the earth shook to the explosion -of a shell. While they were asking him questions -about himself, and Vera Cruz, and the Mexicans (for -whom they appeared to feel much scorn) there was a -fresh hullaballoo, somewhere in the main trench. -Up they sprang, to crowd and gaze.</p> - -<p>“Another pill-tosser to feed the bloomin’ dons,” -they cried. “Hooray!”</p> - -<p>And here, through the trench, there came one of -the great naval guns: first, rounding an elbow, a -long double file of sailors, stripped to the waist, -leaning low to a rope and tugging like horses; then -the breech of the gun, then high wheels upon which -it had been mounted, with other sailors wrestling at -them; then the immensely long barrel, with still other -sailors pushing at this clear to the muzzle.</p> - -<p>A bo’s’n trudged beside, urging the work. When -the gun stuck for a moment crowbars were thrust -under the wheels—</p> - -<p>“Heave-ho! Together, now! Heave-ho!”</p> - -<p>“Aye, aye! Heave-ho!”</p> - -<p>“Heave, my bullies!”</p> - -<p>And they panted a song:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“’Way down Rio, Rio, Rio!</div> - <div class="verse indent1">’Way down Rio, Oh!”</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>The gun went surging by.</p> - -<p>“We’ll be needed up for’d, maties,” said one -of the sailor squad. “Young ’un, you set your -course the direction you were steering.”</p> - -<p>They mopped their mouths with the backs of their -tarry fists and lurched on after the cannon.</p> - -<p>Jerry proceeded. Next, but not much farther,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span> -the trench was cut by another trench, crossing it at -right angle and extending without end on either hand. -This trench on right and left was lined with blue-capped, -blue-coated soldiers, crouching low, or daringly -peering through openings they had made in the -ridge of sand thrown out in front of the trench, their -long-barreled muskets leaning against the wall, beside -them. Jerry kept on, following the wheel tracks.</p> - -<p>His trench grew shallow; and the wheel tracks -wound through low places amidst the dunes. He -left the trench behind him. Next, he began to see -soldiers in squads—messing, shaking their blankets -free of sand, clearing out small trenches that had -almost filled during the storm; and so forth and so -forth. And tents, some blown flat and being hoisted -again; and the United States flags, and regimental -flags; and stacks of muskets in rows.</p> - -<p>The soldiers appeared to be of the rough-and-ready -order; many of them bearded or stubbly, their -uniforms worn carelessly, their caps set at an angle; -some were barefoot, as if easing their feet; some had -on shoes, and some had one trouser-leg tucked into a -boot-top; and several who seemed ill were sitting enveloped -in Mexican blankets.</p> - -<p>They were singing—these soldiers—in groups, -as they lolled or worked at various tasks; singing not -very musically, but gaily:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent3">“Green grow the rushes, O!</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Green grow the rushes, O!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">The sweetest hours that e’er I spend</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Are spent among the lasses, O!”</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>That was the chorus of one group nearest to -Jerry, as he sidled through the camp. It was not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span> -much of a song, although as good as most of the -Mexican songs. He saw a flag, of blue and gold, -which said “First Tennessee Volunteers.” A soldier -was shaking it out from its folds.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m in the army, anyway,” Jerry thought, -to himself. “But I guess I’ll go on, to the beach, and -see what’s there.”</p> - -<p>So although the men hailed him, as the sailors -had, only in different language, he shook his head -and did not stop.</p> - -<p>Pretty soon he came to a cleaner camp, within -easy sight of the surf beyond the dunes, and of the -ships at anchor off Sacrificios. There were many -soldiers, here, too, but more orderly and better -clothed. The camp appeared to stretch clear to -the beach; and while he was wandering and gazing, -somebody challenged him.</p> - -<p>It was another boy, in uniform—a red-headed -boy, spick and span and as smart as a new whip.</p> - -<p>“Hey, you! What you doing?”</p> - -<p>He wore a tight blue jacket and lighter blue -trousers; the front of the jacket was crossed by a -lot of red braid, a high collar held his chin up, upon -his head was perched a jaunty blue, red-decorated -round cap with leather visor, and a short sword hung -at his right thigh.</p> - -<p>“Nothing special,” Jerry answered back.</p> - -<p>“Come over till I investigate. We don’t allow -camp followers in the lines.”</p> - -<p>Jerry went over.</p> - -<p>“I’m not a camp follower,” he retorted. The -soldiers who heard, laughed.</p> - -<p>“Then what’s your regiment?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span></p> - -<p>“Haven’t any, yet. I left Vera Cruz only -last night.”</p> - -<p>“You did! Huh! That’s a likely yarn. How’d -you get into the lines, then?”</p> - -<p>“Just walked. I skipped out, over the wall, and -crossed the plain in the storm.”</p> - -<p>“What’d you skip out for?”</p> - -<p>“Because I’m an American. I don’t like it in -Vera Cruz.”</p> - -<p>“Guess you didn’t. Guess nobody does—and -they’ll all like it less, to-day. We’re to give ’em -a jolly good shaking up. Got any folks?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“Anybody come with you?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what’s your name?”</p> - -<p>“Jerry Cameron.”</p> - -<p>“That sounds all right. What did you do in -Vera Cruz?”</p> - -<p>“Lived there with my father until he died from -yellow fever. Then I worked for two Mexicans, -until I had a chance to run away.”</p> - -<p>“Mind you don’t lie.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not lying. Should think you could see -I’m American.”</p> - -<p>“Guess you are. Guess you’re O. K., Jerry. -I’m Hannibal Moss, drummer boy, Company A, -Eighth United States Infantry,” said the boy, with a -little swagger of importance. “That’s what. Best -company in the best fighting regiment of the whole -army. What you intend to do? Join us?”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to, mighty well.”</p> - -<p>“Where’ve you been since you got in?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span></p> - -<p>“Out there with the sailors and the big guns. -That’s where I landed. But they sent me back.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s the navy battery. What’d you think -of it?”</p> - -<p>“They’re the biggest guns I ever saw.”</p> - -<p>“Guess they are. Guess they’ll fix those dons—blow -their walls to pieces. They’re sixty-eight-pounder -shell guns and thirty-two-pounder solid shot -fellows. You bet! The army’s got some just as -big, but they haven’t come yet, so the navy’s going -to help us out. We’ve a battery of twenty-four-pounders -out there, though. Only seven hundred -yards from the walls. Wait till you hear the music.”</p> - -<p>“The walls haven’t been hurt yet; or they hadn’t -been, when I left,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“That’s because we weren’t ready. We’ve had -to use mortars; but throwing bombs into houses isn’t -what we’re here for. Old Fuss and Feathers—he -knows what he’s about. That’s why he called on the -navy, when his own siege guns didn’t arrive. He -wants to finish things here and march on into the -mountains before the yellow fever starts up. Say, -it’s been pretty hot in Vera Cruz, hasn’t it, with all -those bombs bursting?”</p> - -<p>“It certainly has,” Jerry answered soberly. -“They’ve killed people who weren’t fighting, and -knocked down a lot of houses.”</p> - -<p>“Well, that’s war. The Mexicans ought to have -surrendered when they had a chance. They can -surrender any time. All they need do is to hang out -a white flag. Fuss and Feathers is going to take their -city. He doesn’t want their houses, though, and I -guess he’s sorry to hurt non-combatants. The civilians<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span> -ought to have moved their families out. After -we’ve breached the walls proper and forced terms, -we’ll have Vera Cruz as a base and we’ll march -straight to the Halls of Montezuma.”</p> - -<p>“Who’s Fuss and Feathers?”</p> - -<p>Hannibal stared.</p> - -<p>“You don’t know anything about the army, that’s -sure. Fuss and Feathers is Major-General Winfield -Scott, commander-in-chief of the United States -army. We call him Fuss and Feathers, for fun. Not -when he’s around, though. M-m-m! You bet not! -He’s a stickler for discipline. But he’ll take us to the -Halls of Montezuma.”</p> - -<p>“Where are they, Hannibal!”</p> - -<p>“My eye, you’re green! The Halls of Montezuma -are the capitol in the City of Mexico, of course. -Guess you’ve a lot to learn. Want me to show you -about? Maybe I can find you a job if you’re an -American. Looks like you need a suit of clothes—but -you aren’t much worse than some of those Mohawks -are already. Come on; let’s walk.”</p> - -<p>“You see, I’m off duty,” Hannibal explained, as -he strolled with Jerry in tow. “We had to work -half the night, digging trenches. We just got back. -Golly, but that was a storm, wasn’t it! Filled us up -as fast as we could dig out. But no storms are -going to stop this army. Say; do you know where -you are?”</p> - -<p>“In the American army.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, siree, and in the First Division, too. This -is Brigadier-General William J. Worth’s division of -Regulars: Fourth Infantry, Fifth Infantry, Sixth -Infantry, Eighth Infantry, Second and Third Artillery. -The Eighth Infantry—that’s my regiment—is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span> -in the Second Brigade. Colonel Clarke’s our commander. -Garland’s commander of the First Brigade. -They’re both good men—and so’s General -Worth. My eye! Isn’t he, though! You’re lucky -to have struck the Regulars. If you’d stayed with -the Mohawks—my eye!”</p> - -<p>“Who are they, Hannibal?”</p> - -<p>“The Volunteers. We call ’em ‘Mohawks’ because -they’re so wild. They’re General Patterson’s -division, the Third: the Palmettos—those are the -South Carolinans; the First and Second Tennessee -Mountaineers; the First and Second Pennsylvania -Keystoners; the Second New Yorkers; the Third and -Fourth Illinois Suckers; the Georgia Crackers, and -the Alabamans. Guess they can fight, but they’re -awful on discipline. Won’t even salute their officers. -Expect you passed through them on your way -from the naval battery.”</p> - -<p>The sun had risen, flooding all the chaparral and -glinting on the gulf surges beyond the fringing beach. -The uproar of the cannon in castle and city had -welled to a deep, angry chorus; the American guns -were answering; the morning air quivered to the -quick explosions; and over city and strip of plain a -cloud of black smoke floated higher and higher, -veiling the sun itself. Now and then a piece of shell -droned in, skimming the sand hills and kicking -up puffs of dust. A round-shot of solid iron actually -came rolling down a slope and landed at their very -feet. Jerry stooped to feel of it. Ouch! It was -still hot.</p> - -<p>“Shucks!” Hannibal laughed. “Put it in your -pocket.” He cocked his cap defiantly. “It’s a dead -one. When you’re in your first battle you think<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span> -every gun is aimed at you; and after that you -don’t care.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve been in other battles, Hannibal?”</p> - -<p>“I should rather say! We’re all veterans, in this -division. We were with Old Zach—he’s General -Zachary Taylor—when he licked the dons at Palo -Alto and Resaca de la Palma in Texas last May, -and we helped take Monterey in September. We’d -have been licking ’em again if we hadn’t been sent -here with Old Fuss and Feathers.”</p> - -<p>“But General Taylor’s been licked since, hasn’t -he? At Buena Vista?”</p> - -<p>“He? Old Zach? Do you believe that story? -It’s just a Mexican lie. I wasn’t there, but the New -Orleans papers say he wasn’t licked at all. There -can’t anybody lick Old Zach. He just wears his old -clothes and sits his horse sideways, and tells the men: -‘The bayonet, my hardy cocks!’ When we joined -Old Fuss and Feathers we knew he was all right, -too, but we expected to have to dress up and shave. -I tell you, there was hustling. Regulations say that -officers’ and men’s hair has got to be cropped—cut -short, you know; whiskers can’t grow lower than -the ears and nobody except the cavalry can wear -moustaches. Old Davy—that’s General David -Twiggs of the Second Division of Regulars—he had -a white beard reaching nearly to his waist, and he -shaved it all off and cut his hair. Looked funny, too. -But the regulations aren’t being enforced, after all. -We’re in Mexico to fight. Wait till you see General -Worth’s side-whiskers. But let’s climb a hill, farther -front, and lie down, and I’ll show you things. No! -Wait a minute. Listen to that cheering. I guess -there’s news. Come on.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span></p> - -<p>They ran back, toward the camp. Cheers could -be heard—beginning at the beach edge of the dunes -and traveling inward. The soldiers were running, -and gathering. An officer on horseback attended by -other mounted officers was riding slowly on, among -the dunes and occasionally stopping. Whenever he -had paused, fresh cheers arose.</p> - -<p>“That’s General Worth, and Captain Mackall, -division adjutant,” Hannibal informed. “Golly! -Wonder what’s up. Something special.”</p> - -<p>They hastened until they had joined a crowd of -the men, all waiting expectant, for General Worth -and party were coming on.</p> - -<p>“Mind your eye, now,” Hannibal whispered. -“If you know how to salute you’d better do it. -You’re with the Regulars.”</p> - -<p>The soldiers stiffened to attention—Hannibal -like the rest, and Jerry trying to imitate. Every -hand went to a salute. General Worth was as fine -a looking man as one might ever see—tall and straight -in the saddle, with handsome face, dark complexion, -flashing black eyes, and side-whiskers of graying -black. Rode perfectly.</p> - -<p>He halted again, returning the salute.</p> - -<p>“By direction of General Scott you will listen -to good news, men,” he said.</p> - -<p>Whereupon another officer, who evidently was the -division adjutant, unfolded a paper, and read:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“The commanding general of the Army of Invasion -takes prompt occasion to announce to his -fellow soldiers that by battle of February Twenty-second -and Twenty-third, at Buena Vista, northeastern -Mexico, Major-General Zachary Taylor, with a -force of less than forty-five hundred, decisively defeated<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span> -the Mexican general Santa Anna and twenty-three -thousand of the best troops of Mexico. The -commanding general desires to congratulate his -army upon this great victory of the successful -General Taylor.</p> - -<p>“By command of Major-General Scott.</p> - -<p class="noic">“<span class="smcap">H. L. Scott</span>,</p> - -<p class="right">“Assistant Adjutant-General.”</p> -</div> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!” cheered the men.</p> - -<p>General Worth and staff rode on, leaving excitement -in their wake.</p> - -<p>“I told you so,” Hannibal cried. “Old Zach had -mostly Volunteers, too. But that made no difference. -And now you’ve seen Worth. Just like him -to publish those orders this way, instead of waiting -for parade. And fight? Oh, my! I guess <em>so</em>!”</p> - -<p>“I’ve seen him before,” Jerry exclaimed, remembering. -“He jumped ashore first when you all -landed on the beach.”</p> - -<p>“He did that. The First Division led and his -boat beat and he was first out. But did you see us -land? Where were you?”</p> - -<p>“Here in these sand hills, cutting brush.”</p> - -<p>“Wasn’t that a landing, though! We set a record. -General Scott and Commodore Conner of the -navy put twelve thousand men ashore in ten hours, -and all we got was wet. Never lost a life. That’s -discipline for you. Whoo-ee! Listen to those guns -talk! The dons are right angry to-day. Guess -they’ve discovered those batteries out in front. Come -on, now, if you want to see the fun.”</p> - -<p>They left the camp; trudged fast until they approached -the edge of the dunes, toward the city,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> -crossed a shallow trench or road that wound along, -and climbing to the top of a sand hill were in view -of the plain and the Mexican batteries. A number -of soldiers were here, watching. They had dug little -hollows, as a protection from shell fragments.</p> - -<p>The firing had increased. The city and the castle -of San Ulloa were shrouded in the dense smoke; -the plain was spouting earth and brush, but it was -spouting smoke and shot and shell also, for American -batteries were replying. And the entrenched line -of blue-coats, supporting the artillery, might -be glimpsed.</p> - -<p>“Those dons are trying to find our guns,” -asserted Hannibal. “That plain is full of trenches. -Golly, but it was a job to dig them. We Regulars, -and the Mohawks, too, had to work by night, in -shifts; and we got jolly well peppered, you bet. We -didn’t dare use lanterns; worked by the feel, in the -cactus and brush, and the northers near smothered us, -besides. We were marched out after dark, and -every man grabbed a spade and his orders were to -dig a hole eight feet long and five feet wide and six -feet deep. When the holes were connected they made -a ditch all ’round the city, five miles not counting -the sand-bags and parapets and battery emplacements -and caves for magazines. Then we and the sailors -dragged the guns clear from the beach, three miles -and more, through the sand and swamps. We -haven’t guns enough yet. Only sixteen out of about -sixty that the general expected. The most of ’em -are ten-inch mortars, and they’re no good for breaching -walls. The castle’s firing thirteen-inch shells -at us—sockdologers! But the navy’s helping the -army with three six-inch solid-shot guns and three<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span> -eight-inch Paixhan shell guns, for direct fire into -the walls. Wait till that Battery Five opens. It’s -point-blank range of the walls on this side.”</p> - -<p>“Is the army all ’round the city?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, siree, boy. The First Division has the -right of line, starting at the beach. That’s ours. -Patterson’s Third Division Mohawks have the center. -They’re the Voluntarios. Twigg’s Regulars of the -Second Division have the left, reaching to the beach -on the other side of the city. We’ve got the Mexicanos -cooped up. They can’t sneak out.”</p> - -<p>It was a great sight—those bursting shells and -those bounding solid shot, some of which ricochetted -to the dunes and rolled hither thither. Now and -then shell fragments flew past, and an occasional -long-range shell burst behind. The soldiers appeared -to enjoy the view. They seemed to know what was -coming; they all had been under fire before, and -every few moments a shot or shell might be seen -sailing above the smoke.</p> - -<p>“Look out, boys! There’s a bomb—a thirteen-inch, -from the castle!”</p> - -<p>“Here comes a solid shot. Lie low.”</p> - -<p>“There’s an eight-inch, again.”</p> - -<p>Suddenly a lull occurred in the shouts and jokes. -The men stiffened as they lay poking their heads -up. A brilliant group of officers were riding -along the shallow trench or road at the inside -base of the sand hill parapets. The foremost -was a very large man, broad shouldered and erect -and towering high upon his horse. He had a square, -stern, wrinkled face, smooth shaven except for grey -side-whiskers of regulation trim; wore a plumed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span> -chapeau upon his grey hair, full uniform of dark blue, -with gold buttons in a double row down the front, -heavy gold epaulets on the shoulders, and broad -gold braid following his trousers seams. A sword in -engraved scabbard hung at his left side; his left -arm was curiously crooked. A splendid horse bore -him proudly.</p> - -<p>All the other officers were in full uniform, too, -and kept behind him.</p> - -<p>“That’s Scott! That’s General Scott! Old Fuss -and Feathers himself!” Hannibal whispered. “Now -mind your eye. No foolishness, boy.”</p> - -<p>General Scott turned his horse and rode boldly -right up the sand hill, until he sat looking at the -plain and the enemy through his spy-glass. The men -promptly stood up, at salute.</p> - -<p>“Keep down, keep down, men,” he gruffly -ordered. “You shouldn’t expose yourselves -this way.”</p> - -<p>A solid shot whistled by him, and he never stirred. -A shell burst in front, and he never stirred. He -sat, gazing.</p> - -<p>“Sure, sir, you’re exposin’ yourself, ain’t you?” -somebody called.</p> - -<p>General Scott snapped his glass together, and -smiled grimly. Jerry could see his grey eyes, as he -glanced at the man. They were of a keen grey, but -kindly. There was something fatherly as well as -severe about him.</p> - -<p>“Oh, as for that,” General Scott answered, -“generals, nowadays, can be made of anybody, but -men, my lad, are hard to get.”</p> - -<p>He leisurely rode back to his staff; and how the -soldiers cheered!</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="V">V<br /> -<small>IN THE NAVAL BATTERY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Listen!” Hannibal cried.</p> - -<p>He had sharp ears. The beat of drums and the -shrill of fifes could be faintly heard, sounding from -the rear.</p> - -<p>“That means us. It’s the Eighth Infantry march, -as a warning signal. Expect I’m wanted. Golly, -hope I haven’t missed musicians’ call. Old Peters—he’s -drum major—will be mad as a hornet. A drummer -never gets any rest, anyhow. Good-by. See -you again. You look me up.”</p> - -<p>Away ran Hannibal, and most of the soldiers -followed.</p> - -<p>“More trench work,” they grumbled.</p> - -<p>The place seemed very empty. Jerry hesitated, -and wandered after. Before he got to the camp he -met a double file marching out to tap of drum, their -muskets on their shoulders. Hannibal and a fifer -led, behind a sergeant. Hannibal wore his drum, -suspended from a pair of whitened cross-belts that -almost covered his chest. He gave Jerry a wink, as -he passed, sturdily shuttling his drumsticks.</p> - -<p>Jerry fell in behind, at a respectful distance; soon -he lost the file and the sound of the drum, but he -kept on, guided by wheel tracks. Next he had -arrived among the Volunteers again, where they -were laughing and lounging as before, except that -these were a different batch, at this particular spot—grimy -as if they had just come out of the trenches,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> -themselves. Decidedly it was easy to tell a Volunteer -from a Regular, by the clothes and the untrimmed -hair and the free off-hand manners.</p> - -<p>The sun was high and hot; a perfect day had -succeeded to the stormy night. Jerry continued, -until he struck the big trench scored by the broad -tracks. He was heading back for the naval battery; -and presently there he was, once more, his farther -way blocked by the great guns and a mass of sailors.</p> - -<p>Nobody noticed him. The cross-trench for the -battery was ringing with orders and with the crash -of shells from the castle and city. The magazine -was open—a squad of sailors stood beside each gun—the -cannon were being loaded—the charges were -rammed home by two sailors to each rammer—there -was a quick order, repeated by the bo’s’ns, who -blew their whistles; and as if by magic all the brush -fringing the cannon muzzles was swept away with -cutlasses and brawny arms.</p> - -<p>With a cheer the sailors holding the rope tackle -hauled hard and the enormous cannon darted silently -forward, so that their muzzles were thrust beyond -the parapet.</p> - -<p>A sailor behind each breech drew his cord taut. It -was attached at the other end to a large lever, like -a trigger, connected with an upraised hammer.</p> - -<p>A gunner sighted—screwed down, screwed up, -sprang aside—</p> - -<p>“Aye, aye, sir!”</p> - -<p>“Aye, aye, sir!” announced the other squinting -gunners, one to each piece.</p> - -<p>“Fire!” shouted the battery officer, with dash -of sword.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span></p> - -<p>The lock strings were jerked viciously. Such a -thunderous blast tore the air to shreds that Jerry’s -ear drums felt driven right into his head, and the suction -of the air, following the report, dragged him -upon his nose.</p> - -<p>The smoke gushed wider and higher. He could -see the officers standing and peering through their -spy-glasses, at the city; they shouted—he could not -hear a word, but the smoking guns had recoiled inward -until checked by ropes and chocks; the rammers -swabbed with the swab ends of their long ramrods; -other sailors thumbed the vent holes; the swabbers -reversed their tools; sailors rapidly inserted a flannel -bag of powder into each muzzle; in it went, forced -home by the ramrods; shells for some guns, shot for -others, had been handed up—were rammed down—out -rolled the guns, to the haul on block and tackle—</p> - -<p>“Aye, aye, sir!”</p> - -<p>“Fire!”</p> - -<p>“<em>Boom-m-m!</em>”</p> - -<p>The sailors appeared to be cheering as they toiled. -The guns thundered and smoked—recoiled as if -alive and eager, were sponged and loaded and run out -again; every man was on the jump, but they all moved -like clockwork. Cowering there, back of the magazine, -and glued to the side of the trench, Jerry stared -roundly. Nobody paid any attention to him. All -were too busy to take heed of a ragged boy.</p> - -<p>“<em>Bang!</em>” A return shot had arrived. It was -a shell, and had burst so near that the fragments and -the dirt rained down.</p> - -<p>“<em>Bang!</em>” Another. The naval battery had -been discovered, and Jerry was under fire.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span></p> - -<p>The naval guns and the guns of the city forts -answered one another furiously. What a clangor -and turmoil—what a smother of hot smoke from -the cannon muzzles and the bursting shells! Solid -shot thudded in, too. They ripped across the parapet, -cutting gashes and sending the sand-bags flying. -They bounded into the trench, and lay there spinning, -ugly and black. It was hard to tell whether they -were really solid or were going to burst. Horrors! -One of the men passing ammunition had lost his -head! A solid shot skimming through the same -slot out of which a cannon muzzle pointed had taken -the man’s head off; he crumpled like a sack, and -Jerry felt sick at the red sight.</p> - -<p>When he opened his eyes and had to look again, -shuddering, the body was gone; another sailor—a -live one—stood in the place, and the guns were booming -as before.</p> - -<p>All the guns of the city forts on this side seemed -to be firing at the naval battery. Several sailors -had been wounded; a young officer was down and -bleeding. The wounded were staggering to the rear; -one stopped and sank beside Jerry. He had an arm -dangling and crimsoned, and a bloody head.</p> - -<p>“Ship ahoy, matie,” he gasped. Jerry recognized -him as his first friend of the night preceding. -“You’re here again, are you? D’you know where -the sick bay is?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“It’s aft some’ers down this bloomin’ trench. -Lend me a tow, will you? I’ve got a spar nigh shot -off and a bit o’ shell in my figgerhead. Hard for me -to keep a course, d’you see?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span></p> - -<p>“All right. You tell me where to take you.”</p> - -<p>“Right-o, my hearty. Steady, there. P’int due -sou’-sou’east. The sick bay and the bloody sawbones’ll -be some’ers abeam. You’ll smell the -arnicky.”</p> - -<p>With the shells exploding and the cannon-balls -pursuing they made way down the trench, the sailor -leaning with his sound arm on Jerry’s shoulders.</p> - -<p>The sick bay, or hospital, was a sandbag-covered -room at one side; not a pleasant place—oh, no, for -wounds were being dressed and things were being -cut off by the navy surgeon and his assistant. Still, -it seemed to be safe from the shot and shell, and -there were not many wounded, yet; only four or five. -So Jerry lingered, until the surgeon espied him and -set him at work picking lint, serving water, and -so forth.</p> - -<p>The reports from the battery were encouraging, -judging by the conversation. The six guns were all -in action, together: the three Paixhans, which threw -shells eight inches in diameter and weighing sixty-eight -pounds, and the three solid-shot pieces, which -threw balls, six inches in diameter, and weighing -thirty-two pounds. These were the heaviest American -guns firing yet, for breaching.</p> - -<p>“Yes, shiver my timbers!” growled Jerry’s -sailor to one of the other wounded. “Scott axed -for ’em, didn’t he? Would the commodore please -to land a few o’ the navy toys and furnish the bass -in this here music? Would the navy lend the army -some genuyine main-deck guns, of a kind to fire a -broadside with and send the bloomin’ dons to Davy -Jones? ‘Bless my bloody eyes!’ says the commodore.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span> -‘Sartinly I will, general. But I must fight -’em.’ And ain’t we a-fightin’ of ’em? Well, I guess -we are, matie!”</p> - -<p>So being navy guns, they were being “fought” -by the navy. From seven hundred yards their shot -and shell were tearing right through the walls of the -city. The astonished Mexicans were fighting back -with three batteries, all aimed at the naval battery, -to put it out.</p> - -<p>The army was erecting another battery, nearby—Battery -Number 4, of the heaviest army cannon, -sixty-eight-pounders and twenty-four-pounders. -Pretty soon these would join with the navy fire.</p> - -<p>The work in the sick bay slackened, and Jerry -stole up “forward” again. The din and the rush were -as bad as ever. The sailors, bared to the waist, were -black with powder grime and streaked with sweat, -on faces, bodies and arms. The guns were alive and -alert—they were monsters, belching, darting back, -fuming, while they waited to be fed, then eagerly -darting to belch once more.</p> - -<p>After each shot the gun squads cheered, peering -an instant through the fog.</p> - -<p>“Another for the dons’ lockers!”</p> - -<p>“Hooray, lads! We’ve cut his bloomin’ flag -away.”</p> - -<p>“No, no! It’s up again.”</p> - -<p>Yonder, across the heaving plain, the figure of a -Mexican officer had leaped upon the parapet of a -bastion fort set in the walls and was fastening the -Mexican flag to its broken flagpole. It was a brave -act. Cheers greeted him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span></p> - -<p>The crew in front of Jerry reloaded at top speed. -The great gun spoke.</p> - -<p>“They’re serving those pieces like rifles,” said -somebody, in Jerry’s ear. “By thunder, they’re -planting shot and shell exactly where they please.” -That was the surgeon, who had come forward for a -view. “But the enemy’s making mighty good practice, -too. He has German artillery officers.”</p> - -<p>Suddenly the surgeon yelled, and grabbing Jerry -forced him flat.</p> - -<p>“Look sharp!”</p> - -<p>The parapet of the battery was scored ragged. -The gun platforms and the trench were littered with -shell fragments and spent solid shot. Now there -had sounded a soft “plump” or thud. A round black -sphere as large as Jerry’s head had landed in the -bottom of the wide space behind the guns—it was -only a few feet to the rear of the quarter-gunner who -stood holding in his arms a copper tank containing -the powder charges. Each charge weighed -ten pounds.</p> - -<p>He heard the thump, and what did he do but turn -and stoop and put his hand upon the thing! Evidently -it was hot—it was smoking—a shell! Down -dived the quarter-gunner, quick as a wink, plastering -himself against the ground. There was a chorus -of startled shouts, and—“<em>Boom!</em>” the shell -had exploded.</p> - -<p>The tremendous shock drove Jerry rolling over -and over. As seemed to him, the trench and the -emplacements and the battery and all the men had -been blown to bits. But when he picked himself up -amidst the dense smoke, instead of seeing bloody<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span> -shreds everywhere, he saw the men likewise picking -themselves up and staring about dazedly. The ammunition -chest had exploded also, but even the quarter-gunner -had not been harmed. One lieutenant had -had his hat-brim torn off; that was all.</p> - -<p>“A thirteen-inch bomb, from the castle,” the -surgeon remarked. “Young man, we’d better get -out of here, and stay where we belong.”</p> - -<p>“Send that boy out of fire,” an officer barked. -“Now, my hearties! Show those fellows we’re -still alive.”</p> - -<p>Cheering, the sailors jumped to their task.</p> - -<p>His head ringing, Jerry stumbled back with the -surgeon. And at the hospital he got a quick dismissal.</p> - -<p>“You heard the orders, youngster. Follow your -nose and keep going.”</p> - -<p>That was good advice, when such shells were -landing and he could be of no use. So Jerry scuttled -back down the trench, hoping to run upon Hannibal -somewhere.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VI">VI<br /> -<small>SECOND LIEUTENANT GRANT</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The Volunteer section of the trenches, extending -right and left back of the naval battery, had not -escaped the fire of the Mexican guns. It was filled -with the blue-coats and blue-caps, as before; but -shot and shell had ripped it, squads were repairing -it, under fire, by throwing up fresh sand and stowing -the sandbags more securely. The other men -crouched nervously, their muskets grasped, as if -they were awaiting the word to charge. Some of -them grinned at Jerry, when he paused to look in; -they leveled jokes at him.</p> - -<p>“Did you get blown up, bub?”</p> - -<p>“How’s the weather, where you’ve been?”</p> - -<p>“Does your maw know you’re out?”</p> - -<p>But Jerry pressed on again, “following his nose,” -and trying to dodge shell fragments; tried a short -cut among the dunes, rounded one of the numerous -lagoons or marshes, where soldiers off duty were -washing their socks; and sooner than he had expected -he had entered the camp of the Regulars, -once more.</p> - -<p>He could tell it by the looks of it. The men -were better “set up” than average, seemed well -cared for, acted business like; their older officers -were brusque, the younger were stiff-backed and -slim-waisted, and as a rule they all sat or stood apart -from the soldiers.</p> - -<p>The hour was after noon; he knew this by the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> -sun, dimly shining through the drifting smoke cloud, -and by his empty stomach—amazingly empty now -that he thought about it. But he had not laid eyes -upon Hannibal, yet, nor anybody else that he ever -had seen before.</p> - -<p>He happened to stop for a moment near a young -officer. The officer was composedly standing by -himself, his hands in his pockets as if he were not at -all concerned about the racket at the front. He had -a smooth-shaven, rather square face, dark brown -hair and blue-grey eyes, and was stocky but not large. -In fact, was scarcely medium. He had a thoughtful, -resolute look, however—a quiet way, that is, which -might make anyone hesitate to tackle him for trouble.</p> - -<p>He gave Jerry a slow, quizzical smile.</p> - -<p>“Well, my lad, what do you want here?”</p> - -<p>“Will you please tell me if this is the Eighth -United States Infantry?” Jerry asked.</p> - -<p>“No. That’s in the Second Brigade. This is -the Fourth Infantry, First Brigade.”</p> - -<p>“Then where is the Eighth Infantry?” asked -Jerry.</p> - -<p>“The Eighth is posted with the Second Brigade, -farther on. You’ll see the regimental flag. What -do you want with the Eighth Regiment?”</p> - -<p>“I know a boy there. He promised to get me -a job.”</p> - -<p>“What kind of a job?”</p> - -<p>“He didn’t say, but he’s a drummer boy.”</p> - -<p>“You reckon on being a drummer boy? Better -not. There’s one with his arm shot off, already.”</p> - -<p>“Not Hannibal!” Jerry exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“Hannibal who?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span></p> - -<p>“Hannibal Moss. He’s the boy I mean.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no; not that young rascal of the Eighth. -Another boy by the name of Rome, over in the -Twiggs division. Now he’ll be a cripple for life.”</p> - -<p>“Will he have to go home?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Jerry, “I’d hate to have my arm -shot off, but I’d hate worse to have to go home and -miss all the rest of the fighting. Could I get his -job, do you think?”</p> - -<p>The officer laughed. When he laughed, his face -lighted up.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe that this army can wait until -you learn to drum. We’re liable to be busy from now -on. Where did you come from? Where are your -folks?”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t any. I’ve been in the naval battery.”</p> - -<p>“You have! Belong to the navy, do you?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir. I don’t seem to belong anywhere. I -ran away from Vera Cruz last night. I’m an -American.”</p> - -<p>“So I see. Well, how do you like the naval -battery?”</p> - -<p>“It’s pretty lively,” said Jerry, shaking his head. -“They didn’t want me, there, so I came back to -the army.”</p> - -<p>“You’d better go on to the rear; go down to the -beach, and some of those camp followers will take -care of you.”</p> - -<p>“Are they a part of the army?”</p> - -<p>“Not exactly,” the officer grimly answered. -“Their duty seems to lie in raking in the army’s -money as fast as they can bamboozle us. Still, the -laundresses are rather necessary. I’ll speak to some<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span> -laundress about you, when I have opportunity. Are -you willing to scrub clothes in a tub?”</p> - -<p>“No,” Jerry declared honestly. “I think I’d -rather join the army and help fight. Are you -a general?”</p> - -<p>“I?” The young officer acted astonished. “Not -yet. I’m only Second Lieutenant Grant. I’m about -as far from being a general as you are.”</p> - -<p>“But you’re fighting, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Not very fiercely, at present. The artillery is -doing the fighting. After the artillery has opened -the way, then the infantry will have a chance.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Jerry, “I guess I’d better be -going on.”</p> - -<p>“Look here,” spoke Lieutenant Grant. “I’ll -wager you’re hungry. Aren’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“You see that tent at the end of the row?” And -Lieutenant Grant pointed. “That’s my quarters—mine -and Lieutenant Sidney Smith’s. You go there -and you’ll find a darky; or you’ll find him if he isn’t -somewhere else. He’s Smith’s servant. You tell -Pompey that Lieutenant Grant sent you to get something -to eat. Then you can tidy up my things. I -reckon,” added Lieutenant Grant, stubbornly, as if -to himself, “that I’ll show Smith I can have a bodyguard -as well as he can.”</p> - -<p>“And shall I stay there?” Jerry asked eagerly.</p> - -<p>“You say you want to join the army. So if -you’re willing to play understudy to a mere second -lieutenant instead of to a drum major, maybe we -can come to some agreement. At any rate, go get -a meal.”</p> - -<p>Jerry hustled for the tent. The flaps were open,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> -nobody was within, but on the sunny side, without, -he discovered a young darky asleep, on his back, with -a bandanna handkerchief over his face to keep -off the flies.</p> - -<p>The darky was dressed in a torn whitish cotton -shirt, a pair of old army trousers, sky-blue, tied -about his waist with a rope, and gaping shoes from -which his toes peeped out.</p> - -<p>He was snoring. But Jerry had to get something -to eat, according to orders.</p> - -<p>“Hello,” he said, gazing down.</p> - -<p>The bandanna rose and fell; the snores continued. -Shot and shell and big guns made no difference -to this darky.</p> - -<p>Jerry considered. He broke a twig from a scrap -of bush and tickled the toes. They twitched, the -snores changed to grunts, the bandanna wriggled, -and on a sudden with a prodigious “Oof! G’way -from dar!” the darky blew off his bandanna and -sort of burst into sitting up, staring wildly, his -eyes rolling.</p> - -<p>“Who you?” he accused. “Wha’ fo’ you do -dat, ticklin’ me like one o’ dem t’ousand-leggers? -I’se gwine to lambast you fo’ dat, you white limb -o’ Satan!”</p> - -<p>“Lieutenant Grant said you’d find me something -to eat,” Jerry explained. “I didn’t mean to -scare you.”</p> - -<p>“Scyare me? Oof! I shuah felt one o’ dem -t’ousand-legger centipeders crawlin’ right inside my -shoes. Huh! I don’t give house room to no t’ousand-leggers. -What you say you want? Who-all -sent you?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span></p> - -<p>“Lieutenant Grant. He said you were to find -me something to eat.”</p> - -<p>“Where am dat Lieutenant Grant?”</p> - -<p>“Over there. He was there, but he’s gone now.” -For Lieutenant Grant had disappeared.</p> - -<p>“Done issued me ohders, did he? I don’t belong -to no second lieutenant. I belong to Lieutenant -Smith. He fust lieutenant. If he say to feed white -trash, I got to feed ’em, but I ain’t takin’ ohders from -no second lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll go back and tell him,” Jerry proffered. -“There he is.” Lieutenant Grant was in sight, talking -with another officer. Once he glanced toward the -tent; and his glance could be felt.</p> - -<p>The darky hastily sprang up.</p> - -<p>“Reckon I’ll find you sumpin. Yes, suh; when -anybody’s jined the ahmy he’s got to ’bey his s’perior -offercers. Come along, white boy. Where you -from, anyhow?”</p> - -<p>“Vera Cruz.”</p> - -<p>“You from Very Cruz? What you do dar?”</p> - -<p>“Worked for my keep. Last night I ran away.”</p> - -<p>“You an American boy?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, of course.”</p> - -<p>“Hi yi!” Pompey chuckled “’Spec’ Very Cruz -ain’t a place to lib in, dese days. Hi yi! Guess -when dose big bombs come a-sailin’ dey say: ‘Where -dose Mexicans? Where dose Mexicans? Here dey -be, here dey be—Boom! Now where dey be?’ Yes, -suh, white folks better get out. Bombs cain’t take -time to ’stinguish color. Gin’ral Scott, he in berry -big hurry to march on to City ob Mexico. Gwine -to spend Fo’th ob Jooly in Halls ob Montyzoomy,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span> -eatin’ off’n golden platters. Come along, white boy. -Ain’t got nuffin’ but cold cohn pone an’ salt hoss, but -I’ll feed you. You gwine to jine the ahmy?”</p> - -<p>“Hope to,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“What’s yo’ name?”</p> - -<p>“Jerry Cameron.”</p> - -<p>“Any kin to the No’th Car’liny Camerons?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. I haven’t any folks.”</p> - -<p>“Sho’, now! Dem No’th Car’liny Camerons are -mighty uppity people. Dat Lieutenant Grant, he a -fine man, too. But I’m ’tached to Fust Lieutenant -Smith, Fo’th United States Infantry. If you get -’tached to Lieutenant Grant, I’m uppitier than you -are, remember. When you work ’round with me -you got to ’bey my ohders. I’m yo’ s’perior offercer.”</p> - -<p>“All right, Pompey,” Jerry agreed.</p> - -<p>He munched the cornbread and salt beef, and -Pompey chattered on.</p> - -<p>“Listen to dem guns talk! Oof! Talkin’ a way -right through dem walls, laike the horn ob Jericho. -Mebbe to-morrow Gin’ral Scott wave his sword, an’ -Lieutenant Smith an’ me an’ all the rest de ahmy, -we fix bagonets an’ go rampagin’ ’crost dat patch ob -lebbel ground an’ capture all dem Mexicans. What -you gwine to do den?”</p> - -<p>“Go, too, I guess,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“We don’t ’low no nuncumbatants along when -we-all charge,” Pompey asserted. “Ob co’se I got -to stay with Massa Smith. I’se part the ahmy. But -when dose cannon balls come a-sayin’ ‘Hum-m-m, -where dat little white boy?’, what you gwine to -do den?”</p> - -<p>“I’d dodge ’em,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span></p> - -<p>“Wha’ dat? You dodge ’em? Now you talk -foolish. Guess you nebber fit a battle yet. We-all -am vet’rans. We-all belong to the Fo’th Infantry. -We-all fit under Gin’ral Taylor. The Fo’th Infantry -done licked dem Mexicans out o’ Texas an’ clyar -into Mexico till dar warn’t any more to lick; den -Gin’ral Scott, he said: ‘I got to have dat Fo’th -Infantry to whup Santy Annie an’ capture the City -ob Mexico.’ If you gwine to jine the Fo’th Infantry, -boy, you meet up with a heap o’ trouble. We -don’t dodge cannon balls. We hain’t time. We -jest let ’em zoop an’ we keep a-goin’.”</p> - -<p>“All those cannon balls don’t hit somebody,” -said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Um-m-m. How you know? You talk laike -you’d been sojerin’. Where you hide yo’self, after -you leave Very Cruz? ’Way back on the beach?”</p> - -<p>“No. I’ve been in the naval battery.”</p> - -<p>“Wha’ dat?” Pompey’s eyes stuck out. “Out -dar, with dose big guns? You lie, boy. How you -get dar?”</p> - -<p>“I tumbled into it, last night.”</p> - -<p>“Befo’ the shootin’?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; but I went back this morning. I stayed -as long as they’d let me. Then a big shell burst -right inside and an officer made me get out.”</p> - -<p>“Sho’!” Pompey exclaimed. “You been under -fiah? ’Pears laike you don’t talk more’n Lieutenant -Grant. He’s the least talkin’est man I ebber did -see. He shuah don’t take any back seat in fightin’, -though. Um-m-m, no indeedy! Dar at Monterey -he rode so fast Mexican bullets couldn’t ketch him. -Powerful man on a hoss, dat Lieutenant Grant.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> -But you ’member, now, if you stay ’round hyar, -waitin’ on him, I don’t take ohders from you. You -take ’em from me. I’m sarvent to a fust lieutenant; -yo’ man’s only a second lieutenant. He may be -good man; but dat’s ahmy way. I’m yo’ s’perior in -the ahmy.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” Jerry agreed again.</p> - -<p>“Now I’m gwine back to sleep, an’ don’t you -tickle my toes. No, suh! I ain’t ’feared ob bombs, -but I’se drefful scyared ob t’ousand-leggers. Dar’s -yo’ side the tent, where Lieutenant Grant sleeps. -You kin tidy it up, if you gwine to stay.”</p> - -<p>Pompey went to sleep, as before. Jerry found -little to do. Lieutenant Grant’s side of the tent was -in apple-pie order, not a thing misplaced. The whole -interior of the tent was as neat as a pin. There -were only a couple of cots, two canvas stools, a -folding table, two blue painted chests, with canteens, -overcoats, and a few small articles hanging up.</p> - -<p>After fiddling about, Jerry strolled out. Pompey -was snoring, the guns of batteries and city and castle -were thundering, soldiers were drilling or sitting in -groups. Lieutenant Grant came walking hastily.</p> - -<p>“Did that darky treat you well?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. I had something to eat.”</p> - -<p>“That’s good.”</p> - -<p>“But I didn’t find much to do in the tent.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose not. Well, I’m on quartermaster -detail, and I may not be back to-night. You’ll have -to look out for yourself.”</p> - -<p>“Can I stay?”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“With you and the Fourth Infantry.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span></p> - -<p>“I shouldn’t wonder,” Lieutenant Grant smiled. -“How are you at foraging?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. I’ll try.”</p> - -<p>“Pompey’ll teach you. He’ll take eggs from a -setting hen. If Lieutenant Smith turns up and asks -who you are, you tell him you’re attached to the -Fourth Infantry as chief forager for Lieutenant -U. S. Grant.”</p> - -<p>“Sha’n’t you need me any more to-day?” -Jerry asked.</p> - -<p>“No. You can report in the morning. You -may sleep in my bunk to-night unless I’m there first. -That will keep the fleas from getting too hungry.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to find the Eighth Infantry and tell -Hannibal Moss I’m in the army.”</p> - -<p>“Go ahead.”</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant hurried on. He mounted a -horse and galloped for the beach. Jerry went seeking -the Eighth Infantry.</p> - -<p>The sun was much lower in the west. The bombardment -had dwindled. It was said that ammunition -for the mortars and other guns had run short -until more could be landed through the heavy surf -from the ships. The firing of the naval battery guns -had ceased entirely.</p> - -<p>By the time that Jerry had found the Eighth Infantry -the sun was setting and throughout the camp -the company cooks were preparing supper. A detachment -of sailors marched up from the beach, at -their rolling gait, to relieve the crews in the battery. -They were given a cheer.</p> - -<p>“Hello, there!”</p> - -<p>It was Hannibal, again. He stood up and beckoned. -Jerry gladly went over to him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span></p> - -<p>“Where you going?”</p> - -<p>“Looking for you, is all.”</p> - -<p>“Good. Wait a minute, till after retreat. I’ve -got to beat retreat.”</p> - -<p>“Do you have to retreat?” Jerry blurted, aghast.</p> - -<p>“Naw; not that kind. Not for Old Fuss and -Feathers. Cracky, but you’re green! It’s evening -roll-call and parade.”</p> - -<p>Through the camp drums were tapping, fifes -squeaking, horns blaring. Officers were striding, buttoning -their jackets and buckling on their swords. -Soldiers were seizing muskets from the stacks and -forming lines under their gruff sergeants. Hannibal -himself ran and grabbed his drum from a stack of -muskets, and disappeared around a tent. Sergeants -were calling the company rolls. And in a few moments -here came the regiment’s band, and the fifers -and drummers, in a broad, short column, playing -a lively march tune; led by a whopping big drum -major, in a long scarlet coat, gay with gilt braid and -cord, on his head a shako which with nodding plume -looked to be three feet high, in his hand a tasseled -staff.</p> - -<p>The music formed on a level space, the band to -the fore, then a rank of fifers, then a rank of drummers—with -all the little drummer boys bursting -through their tightly fitting uniforms of red-braided -snug jackets and sky-blue long trousers flaring at the -bottoms, their swords by their sides, their drums -slung from their white cross-belts, their caps tilted -saucily. Hannibal was there, rolling his drumsticks -as lustily as the others.</p> - -<p>The regiment followed, marching by companies,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> -the stars and stripes and the regimental flag of blue -and gold at the head. The companies changed direction -into line three ranks deep, on the left of -the music.</p> - -<p>“Eyes—right! Right—dress!”</p> - -<p>It was funny to see those eyes.</p> - -<p>“Front!”</p> - -<p>The eyes gazed straight before.</p> - -<p>A man on horseback, who must have been the -colonel, sat out in front.</p> - -<p>“Support—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Carry—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Right shoulder—shift!”</p> - -<p>“Shoulder—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Present—arms!”</p> - -<p>The band and field music marched up and down, -playing bravely. The two ranks stood motionless, -the soldiers as stiff as ramrods, their muskets held -perpendicularly in front of them. Why, compared -with these Regulars the Mexican Regulars, even the -famous Eleventh Infantry of the Line, were -only slouchers.</p> - -<p>The music resumed position; the drums rolled, a -bugler lilted a kind of call.</p> - -<p>Pretty soon the colonel turned his horse and -left; the company officers barked snappy orders, and -the companies were marched back to stack arms again -and be dismissed. Hannibal came rollicking without -his drum.</p> - -<p>“I’m off till tattoo at half-past nine,” he announced, -to Jerry. “No guard duty. Our company’s -to rest. If I wasn’t a drummer I wouldn’t -have anything to do till to-morrow. But a drummer<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span> -never gets much rest. He has to be Johnny-on-the-Spot -all the time. Just wait till you’re a drummer. -What you want to do? Where’ve you been -since morning?”</p> - -<p>“I was up in the naval battery.”</p> - -<p>“Under fire, you mean?”</p> - -<p>“Guess so. A big shell burst right in front of -me, inside the battery; in the middle of us all. Didn’t -kill anybody, though. Then an officer made me get. -But I’ve joined the army.”</p> - -<p>“You have? How? Already?”</p> - -<p>“You bet. I’m in the Fourth Regiment.”</p> - -<p>“What do you do there? A drummer? Who’s -teaching you? Old Brown?”</p> - -<p>“No, I’m not a drummer. I’m with the officers. -I’m attached to Lieutenant Grant.”</p> - -<p>“Aw——!” and Hannibal stared. “What you -mean now? How ‘attached?’”</p> - -<p>“That’s what he said. I take care of his tent -and I go along with him and the Fourth Regiment.”</p> - -<p>“You do? That’s not soldiering; that’s only being -a follower. But what did you join the Fourth -for? Maybe I could have got you into the Eighth. -You ought to be a drummer. A drummer gets nine -dollars a month and he’s some pumpkins, too. He’s -no private. He wears a sword like an officer, and -has his own drill. I could have taught you the taps -and flams and drags and rolls. They’re easy. Then -maybe you’d be a drum major some day. That’s -what I intend to be.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I can learn to be an officer. Lieutenant -Grant will teach me,” Jerry answered.</p> - -<p>“You’ve got to be a soldier first, before you<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> -learn to be an officer. You ought to enlist or go to -school. Nearly all the company officers in the Regulars -went to school at West Point. The old fellows -were appointed or rose from the ranks, but most of -them fought in the War of 1812 or in Florida. Some -of the fresh civilians are jolly green when they join. -My eye! I know more than they do. But anyhow,” -Hannibal continued, as if not to be disagreeable, -“the Fourth is a good regiment, next to the Eighth. -You’ll learn, I guess. I know Lieutenant Grant. I -know all the officers. He’s got a funny name. Ever -hear it? Ulysses! That’s it. He’s not very big, -but you ought to see him stick on a horse. Come -along. Let’s go up on top of one of the hills and -watch the shells.”</p> - -<p>Then, as they trudged:</p> - -<p>“Here come the sailors from the battery. Jiminy, -but they’re black! It’s no sport, serving those -big guns. I’d rather be in the artillery than in the -infantry, though, if I wasn’t a drummer.”</p> - -<p>The tars from the naval battery trooped wearily -by, for the beach and their ships. Black they were, -with powder, and coated with sand, so that their -eyes peered out whitely.</p> - -<p>“Did you give ’em Davy Jones, Jack?” Hannibal -called smartly.</p> - -<p>They grinned and growled; and one of them answered -back:</p> - -<p>“Aye, aye, young hearty. Blowed their bloomin’ -bul’arks all to smash, that’s wot. Hooray for -the navy!”</p> - -<p>“Hooray!” Hannibal and Jerry cheered.</p> - -<p>The sand hills were being occupied by officers and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span> -men, gathered to watch the show. The best point -seemed to be awarded to a special little group—</p> - -<p>“Say! We’ll have to take another,” Hannibal -exclaimed. “There’s General Scott, again—and his -engineers, too. We’ll get as close as we can. Wait. -They’re coming down. You mind your eye and I’ll -show you a fine officer.” The group, with the commanding -figure of General Scott to the fore, gazing -through glasses, seemed about to leave. “You see -that officer who’s just turned our way? Talking -to another officer? He’s Captain Robert E. Lee, of -the engineers, on Scott’s staff. He laid out these -trenches and batteries—he’s the smartest engineer in -the army. The officer he’s talking to is Lieutenant -George B. McClellan, graduated from West Point -only last summer. I know him—I knew him when -we all were under Old Zach, in the north of Mexico, -before we came here with Fuss and Feathers. He’s -smart, too, but he gets funny sometimes. Captain -Lee is the smartest of all.”</p> - -<p>Upon leaving their hill the group passed nearer. -Jerry might see that Captain Lee was a slender, -dark-eyed, handsome young officer; Lieutenant McClellan -was not so good-looking—had a long nose -and a pinched face, and a careless, happy-go-lucky -manner; was slight of build. General Scott towered -over them all. What a giant of a man he was—and -with what a voice when he spoke in measured -sentences!</p> - -<p>They mounted horses held by orderlies, and cantered -away, probably for headquarters where General -Scott’s large tent stood, back of the First Division -camp.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span></p> - -<p>Jerry and Hannibal climbed to the crest of the -sand hill. The evening had fallen; the west was -pink, and the tops of the sand hills and the towers -of the city glowed, but the dusk was gathering on the -plain and over the gulf. Down in the plain the -mortars were firing slowly, as before, one after -another, as if timed by a clock; and the city and -the castle were replying in same fashion. As the -dusk deepened the bombs could be seen. They rose -high, sailed on, leaving a streak of red from their -burning fuses, and dropped swiftly—and all the city -was lighted luridly by the burst of flame.</p> - -<p>The Mexican shells crossed their tracks with -other streaks of red; and they, also, burst with great -lurid explosions, illuminating the sand hills and the -dark lines of trenches below. Sometimes there were -four and five bombs in the air at the same time, going -and coming.</p> - -<p>It was a grand sight, from the outside. Jerry was -glad that he was not in Vera Cruz; and he was glad -that he was not one of the soldiers in those little -detachments that now and again hustled silently -through the hills, to enter the trenches, and do outpost -duty and repair the works, under fire.</p> - -<p>“Guess to-morrow the army heavies will be helping -the navy thirty-twos and sixty-eights,” Hannibal -remarked. “Then we’ll have the walls breached, -and we’ll all go in and capture the whole shebang. -General Scott won’t sit around here, waiting. He’ll -storm the walls and have the business over with before -the yellow fever starts up. We’ve got to get -away from this low country.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p> - -<p>“What are we fighting about, anyway, Hannibal?”</p> - -<p>“Fighting about, boy! To whip Mexico, of -course. Got to fetch her to time, haven’t we? ‘Conquer -a peace’—that’s what General Scott says. The -Republic of Texas has come into the United States, -and as long as Mexico says she sha’n’t, and keeps -pestering Americans and won’t pay for damages, the -only way to get a peace is to conquer it. Besides, -Mexico fired first, at the Rio Grande—killed some of -the dragoons and captured Lieutenant Thornton and -a lot more. Guess we had to fight, after that, -didn’t we?”</p> - -<p>“Mexico says we invaded her.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, shucks!” Hannibal scoffed. “So do some -of the home papers. That’s politics. When once the -army gets to shooting then talk isn’t much use till -one side or the other is licked. They all ought to -have arranged matters before the fighting started.”</p> - -<p>Until long after dark they two crouched here, -together with other soldiers, watching the bombs. -The night was clear and still, except for the smoke -and the guns. And when the castle spoke with a -thirteen-incher, and that landed, then—<em>Boom!</em></p> - -<p>“Well, I’ve got to go for tattoo,” said Hannibal, -with a yawn. “You’d better skip, too, or you won’t -be let in if you don’t have the countersign. After -tattoo everybody’s supposed to be bunked for -the night.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe I’ll see you to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“See you in Vera Cruz, boy,” Hannibal promised. -“Bet you the Eighth will beat the Fourth, -if we storm. Sorry you aren’t one of us, in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span> -Eighth. That’s General Worth’s regiment. He was -our colonel before I joined.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll stay with the Fourth,” Jerry retorted. “I’ll -go sharpen Lieutenant Grant’s sword.”</p> - -<p>Hannibal laughed.</p> - -<p>“Those toad-stickers aren’t meant to be sharp. -They’re just for looks. But I keep mine sharp, all -right. To-morrow I’ll capture a Mexican with it.”</p> - -<p>Jerry found the tent. Everything here was -quiet, except Pompey, and he was snoring. So Jerry -snuggled down upon Lieutenant Grant’s cot, under a -blanket, intending to stay awake to make certain that -it was all right; but while listening to Pompey, and to -the steady cannonade, dulled by distance, he drowsed -off—dreamed of charging and throwing shells while -he ran, with Hannibal beating a drum and the Mexican -army lying flat and shooting bullets that burst -like little bombs.</p> - -<p>In the morning he was aroused by drums and -fifes. He was still in the cot. Pompey was -about to shake him, and a tall officer in undress -was laughing.</p> - -<p>“Hi, you white boy! Wha’ fo’ you sleepin’ in -an offercer’s bed?” Pompey accused. “Hain’t -you manners? Heah dat reveille—an’ me cookin’ -all the breakfus! Turn out. When Lieutenant Grant -come, what he gwine to do fo’ a place to sleep?”</p> - -<p>“You’re Grant’s boy, are you?” the tall officer -asked. “I’m Lieutenant Smith. And in absence -of your superior officer I politely request that you -help Pompey with the breakfast. Lieutenant Grant -will be here at any moment. He’ll appreciate a -warm bed, but he’ll want it for himself.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VII">VII<br /> -<small>HURRAH FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE!</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“A truce! A truce! They’ve surrendered!”</p> - -<p>It was afternoon again. All this morning the -cannon of both sides had been hammering away; but -the new army battery, Number 4, of four twenty-four-pounders -and two sixty-eight-pounder shell -guns or Paixhans, had joined with the naval battery. -The fire seemed to be battering the walls to pieces. -The men from the trenches, and the officers who -watched through their spy-glasses, declared that the -shells and solid shot were dismounting the Mexican -guns and tumbling the casemates and parapets upon -the heads of the gunners. The mortars were still -blowing up the buildings and the streets. The Mexican -fire was growing weaker.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant had come back just after reveille, -from all-night work in the quartermaster -department, overseeing the landing of stuff on the -beach from the transports in the offing. He had -gone to bed and had slept until noon.</p> - -<p>“Do you think we’ll charge on Vera Cruz to-day?” -Jerry asked at his first opportunity; for -Pompey had been prophesying, and the waiting infantry -appeared to be a little nervous, and the old -sergeants would say neither yes nor no.</p> - -<p>“That’s not for me to answer,” Lieutenant Grant -replied. “We’ll obey orders.”</p> - -<p>“Vera Cruz has got to surrender, though, hasn’t<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span> -it? And if Old Fuss and Feathers says to charge, -we’ll charge.”</p> - -<p>“Look here,” the lieutenant rapped, severely. -“Don’t let me catch you using that nickname again. -You’re speaking disrespectfully of the commanding -officer. He’s Major-General Scott. Remember -that: Major-General Winfield Scott, chief of the -United States army, and commanding this Army -of Invasion. Where did you get that name?”</p> - -<p>“The men call him that; even the drummer boys -do,” Jerry apologized. “So I thought I might.”</p> - -<p>“Well, the men don’t do it out of disrespect. -They know him. All the old soldiers are proud to -serve under General Scott. The drummer boys are -young rascals, without respect for anybody. So -don’t pattern on them.”</p> - -<p>“Is General Scott as good a general as Old -Zach—General Taylor, I mean?”</p> - -<p>“I’m not supposed to express an opinion. A -second lieutenant has no opinions to express about -his superior officers. I served under General Taylor -in Texas and northeastern Mexico. General Taylor -won all his battles; that’s the test of a general. He’s -an old hand at fighting. So is General Scott. They -were appointed to the army at the same time, 1808. -As far as I may judge, their methods are different -but equally effective. General Taylor I was privileged -to see in action. He is experienced in emergency -fighting, learned from his campaigns against -the Indians in the War of 1812 and in the Florida -War. He apparently does not plan far ahead, but -meets the emergencies as they come up, on the field, -and handles his forces in person. General Scott,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span> -who attained high reputation for bravery and skill -against British regular troops in the War of 1812 -and is a hard student of war—in fact, has compiled -the system of tactics in use by the United States -army—relies more, I understand, upon having his -orders carried out as issued in advance and covering -the whole field. He is regarded as a master of tactics, -which, you know, means the moving of troops -upon the field, in the presence of the enemy. Strategy -is the science of moving troops to advantage before -contact with the enemy; the getting ready to fight. -Tactics may be learned in books, but strategy is -largely a gift. General Taylor is named by the -soldiers who admire him ‘Old Rough and Ready,’ -and that well describes him. He is a straightforward -fighter, and opposed to all display; he places -dependence upon the natural courage of his men, -rather than upon drill. His tactics are successful. -The tactics of General Scott have brought the army -to a fine state of discipline. The American regular -army is the best in the world, and the Volunteers -will soon be not far behind. As I have not served -long under General Scott, of course I cannot say -much about his strategy when in command of a large -body of troops. One thing is sure: he has the ablest -engineers yet produced, to help him carry out his -plans, and a splendidly trained army, both officers -and rank and file, to perform his plans; and officers -and men are confident that his plans will be thoroughly -sound.”</p> - -<p>With this military lecture, Lieutenant Grant -strode away.</p> - -<p>Pompey chuckled.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span></p> - -<p>“Hi yi! Nebber did heah Lieutenant Grant talk -so much at onct. Didn’t say nuffin’ much, neither.”</p> - -<p>At noon the fire from the city had ceased. There -were rumors that the Mexican general wished to surrender. -About two o’clock the American batteries -ceased, also. Cheers spread from the advance -trenches back to the camps. A white flag had been -borne from the city to General Scott’s headquarters.</p> - -<p>“A truce! A truce! They’ve surrendered!”</p> - -<p>Out on the front the soldiers could be seen -scrambling from the trenches and cheering; and the -officers of the batteries stood upon the sandbags to -examine the walls at leisure with their glasses.</p> - -<p>The truce, however, did not last long. The -Mexican flag went back. The general officers, who -had been called into council with General Scott, returned -to their divisions; and one of them—a burly -short-necked, red-faced, lion-looking man who was -General David Twiggs of the Second Division of -Regulars, said, in plain hearing as he rode:</p> - -<p>“Humph! My boys will have to take that place -with the bayonet yet.”</p> - -<p>The mortar batteries opened again. It was reported -that General Scott and Commodore Perry -(Commodore Conner had gone home) of the navy -had agreed upon an assault of the city to-morrow, -March 26, by soldiers and sailors both.</p> - -<p>The mortars fired all night, in slow fashion, as if -for reminder. The city forts and the castle answered -scarcely at all. Evidently the time for the assault -was ripe. About midnight another norther came; -the worst norther to date. In the morning half the -tents were flat, everything and everybody were covered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114"></a>[114]</span> -with sand, and the trenches and the city could not -be seen through the sand cloud.</p> - -<p>“We gwine to attack, jest the same,” Pompey -proclaimed. “We cain’t see the enemy; enemy can’t -see us. Fust t’ing dey know, dar we’ll be. Wind -cain’t stop bagonets. No, suh! Oof! Don’t believe -I laike dis country, nohow. If Gin’ral Scott -don’t take us away, I’se gwine back to Virginny. -Yaller feber’s done arriv. Dey’s got it yonduh -in Very Cruz, already. Mebbe we don’t want dat -Very Cruz. I ain’t pinin’ to stay ’round hyar. Nigger -don’t stand no show ’gin yaller feber. Dey say -dar’s a big passel ob Mexican sojers collectin’ in -back country to capture us when yaller feber an’ -dese no’thers gets done with us. So if Gin’ral Scott -don’t quit foolin’ an’ mahch away, I’se gwine -by myself.”</p> - -<p>Soon after breakfast, or about eight o’clock, the -firing stopped once more; another white flag had -been taken in to General Scott. This time it proved -to be in earnest, for the batteries did not reopen -during the day, nor during the night.</p> - -<p>The surrender was set for the morning of the -twenty-ninth, at ten o’clock sharp.</p> - -<p>Jerry looked up Hannibal, and learned more news -from him than he could get by listening to Lieutenant -Grant and Lieutenant Smith talk, or to Pompey -chatter.</p> - -<p>“We bagged ’em both,” Hannibal asserted. -“City and castle, too. General Scott didn’t start -in to say anything about the castle. All he wanted -was the city, and then the castle would have to surrender -or starve. But the Mexican general offered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span> -the two, and so of course we took ’em. General -Worth, of our division, and Pillow, of the Tennessee -Volunteers in the Third Division, and Colonel Totten, -chief of engineers, did the talking. The surrender’s -to be made at ten o’clock in the morning, day after -to-morrow. Who did you say the Mexican general -was?”</p> - -<p>“General Morales.”</p> - -<p>“Well, he isn’t. He escaped and left another -general, Landero, to foot the bill. But you’ll see a -great sight when all those Mexicans march out and -pile up their guns. We took that city easy, too. -Had only two officers and nine men killed in the -army and one officer and four men killed in the navy, -and less than sixty wounded. That’s pretty good -for twenty days’ skirmishing and investing.”</p> - -<p>“The Mexicans have lost a thousand, I guess,” -proffered Jerry.</p> - -<p>“They ought to have surrendered sooner. The -longer they held out the worse they got it. We were -going to storm the walls this very day. The navy -was to carry the water front and the army the sides; -and there’d have been bullets and shells and solid -shot and bayonet work, all mixed.”</p> - -<p>The morning for the surrender dawned clear and -calm. The orders had called for every officer and -man to clean up and wear his best uniform. So there -were preparations as if for parade.</p> - -<p>“Sech a polishin’ an’ scourin’ an’ slickenin’ I -nebber did see,” Pompey complained, as he and Jerry -worked on the belts and swords and uniforms of their -lieutenants. Through all the regiment and division -the soldiers were scouring their muskets and polishing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span> -their buttons and whitening their cross-belts and -shining their tall leather dress-hats.</p> - -<p>The drums beat the assembly, which was the -signal for the companies to fall in. The troops, under -the stars and stripes and their regimental colors, -were marched to a green meadow south of the city -walls. The sailors had come ashore. They wore -their white flapping trousers, and short blue jackets, -and white flannel shirts with broad blue collars, having -a star in the corners. They, and the Regulars, -were spick and span, because they had been trained -to take care of themselves and their things. The -Volunteers were not so neat, but that was the fault of -their officers.</p> - -<p>The sailors and the Regulars were drawn up in -one long line, extending nearly a mile; the Volunteers -were drawn up in another long line, facing them. -The dragoons were at the head of the double line, and -so were two mounted companies of Riflemen, and -the Tennessee Horse. By this time a great stream -of Mexican men and women and children and loaded -burros were filing out of the city gate, taking their -goods with them. General Scott had promised not -to interfere with the citizens, but nevertheless the -people were afraid.</p> - -<p>Jerry himself, hastening with Pompey and a -throng of the camp followers, had his first chance -to see the whole army.</p> - -<p>The generals all were here, with their staffs: General -Scott, of course, the most imposing of any, by -reason of his great size and his full uniform; the -swarthy, flashing-eyed General Worth, very handsome -on a prancing horse—he had been appointed to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span> -receive the surrender, which was an honor to the -First Division; the white-haired, lion-like General -Twiggs (Old Davy), of the Second Division of -Regulars—his whiskers on his cheeks were growing -again, which, with his short neck and stout shoulders, -made him look more like a lion than ever; General -Robert Patterson of the Volunteer Third Division—an -old soldier of Pennsylvania, who had a rugged -face and high forehead and was known as a fighting -Irishman; and Colonel William S. Harney of the -Dragoons—another giant of a man, almost as large -as General Scott, with sunburned face and blue eyes, -and a quick, bluff manner, which just fitted a -bold dragoon.</p> - -<p>Then there were the brigade commanders: -Colonel John Garland and Colonel Newman S. -Clarke of the First Division; Colonel Bennet Riley -(who had risen from the ranks) and General Persifor -Smith (the colonel of the Mounted Rifles), of -the Second Division; General Gideon Pillow the -Tennessean (a slightly built man and the youngest -of all the brigadiers), General John A. Quitman the -Mississippian (a slender man with elegant side-whiskers), -and General James Shields from Illinois -(a black-moustached Irishman), of the Volunteers.</p> - -<p>But the Regular cavalry took the eye: The one -company of the First Dragoons, under young Captain -Phil Kearny, the six companies of the Second -Dragoons, and the nine companies of the Riflemen -under Major Edwin V. Sumner of the Second Dragoons, -while their own colonel, Persifor Smith, was -serving as brigadier. Only two companies of the -Riflemen were really Mounted Riflemen; the regiment<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span> -had lost most of its horses in a storm on the -way, and not all the dragoons were mounted, either, -for the same reason.</p> - -<p>The uniform of the dragoons was short dark-blue -jackets piped with yellow, and light blue trousers with -yellow stripes down the seams, and buff saddle reinforcements -on the inside legs; cavalry boots, and -dress helmets floating a white horsehair plume. The -Riflemen (who carried rifles instead of muskatoons) -had green trimmings. It was said to be a dashing -regiment, equal to the dragoons.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, at ten o’clock precisely, in the city -and at the castle of San Ulloa, down fluttered the -Mexican red, white and green tricolor flags, while -the Mexican cannon fired a salute to them; the red, -white and blue rose in their place, and the salute by -the army and navy guns was almost drowned by -the great cheer from Jerry and all the rest of the non-combatants. -The two ranks of soldiers and sailors -did not dare to cheer without orders, but they swelled -with pride.</p> - -<p>And here came the Mexican army, in a long column, -out of the southern gate, with a lot more women -and children (the soldiers’ families) trudging beside, -carrying bundles.</p> - -<p>There were five thousand—infantry, artillery -and cavalry—led by their bands. Their uniforms -were dazzling: green and red, light blue and white, -blue and red, whitish and red, red and yellow—many -combinations, the officers being fairly covered with -gilt and bright braid.</p> - -<p>“Shuah, dey’s most all gin’rals an’ drum-majors,” -Pompey exclaimed, admiring.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span></p> - -<p>In comparison, the United States uniforms of -plain navy blue and sky blue, with a little white and -a little red and a little yellow and green, looked very -business like—even the gold epaulets of the officers’ -dress coats.</p> - -<p>General Worth and General Landero severely -saluted one another. General Landero drew aside -with his staff. The whole Mexican army marched -down between the two lines, and out beyond the end -they were shown where to stack their muskets and -deposit their belts and other equipment and the flags. -A regiment of lancers, in green, with tall red caps -and yellow cloaks, brought up the rear, on foot, to -pile their lances.</p> - -<p>Some of the Mexican soldiers looked sad; some -looked rather glad to have the matter ended. They -all were pledged by their officers not to take part in -the war again, unless exchanged for American prisoners. -Meanwhile they were permitted to go home.</p> - -<p>“Reckon dey mought as well plow deir cohn,” -Pompey chuckled. “’Case why? ’Case dar won’t -be anybody to exchange ’em fo’.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VIII">VIII<br /> -<small>INSPECTING THE WILD MOHAWKS</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>After the surrender the army camp was moved -out of the sand hills and to the beach. That was -a great relief—to be away from the swamps and -thickets and dust and the thousands of small flies -and millions of fleas. Some of the clever officers -had been greasing themselves all over with pork -rind and sleeping in canvas bags drawn tightly -around their necks; but even this did not work.</p> - -<p>General Worth was appointed military governor -of Vera Cruz; another honor for the First Division. -General Quitman’s brigade of Mohawks was put in -as garrison.</p> - -<p>The men were granted leave, in squads, to go -into Vera Cruz. And Vera Cruz was a sad sight, -as Jerry found out when he and Hannibal strolled -through. The bombs from the mortars had crashed -through the tiled roofs of the buildings, burst the -walls apart, and had made large holes in the paved -streets. It was dangerous to walk because of the -loosened cornices of the roofs. The beautiful cathedral -had been struck; it now was a hospital, containing -hundreds of wounded soldiers and civilians.</p> - -<p>But the most interesting thing to “military men” -was the wall on the side of the city toward the naval -battery. The sixty-eights and thirty-twos had hewed -two openings—had simply pulverized the coral rock -laid twelve feet thick; and a wagon and team might -be driven through either gap. The bastions, also,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span> -and the outlying batteries, had been knocked -to smithereens.</p> - -<p>Yet it was astonishing how quickly American rule -was bringing order. The streets were being rapidly -cleaned up by squads of soldiers and by the Mexicans -who were hired. Shops were doing a big business—the -soldiers, especially the Volunteers, were gorging -themselves with fruits and vegetables and cakes. The -harbor was again crowded with masts, of American -transports and merchantmen flying many flags. The -sea-wall was a regular market, piled with bales and -boxes and crates for the army, and thronged with -people white, yellow and black, who set up stalls, -or crowded around the huge naval guns hauled there -to be placed back upon the ships of Commodore -Perry’s squadron. A new wharf was being built, -extending out clear to the coaling depot that had -been erected upon the reef near the castle, at the -entrance to the harbor.</p> - -<p>Assuredly old Vera Cruz was being Americanized. -But although everything was under strict -martial law, and one negro camp follower who had -frightened a Mexican woman had been promptly tried -and hanged, Jerry never caught a glimpse of the -two Manuels among all the Mexicans who stayed -in safety.</p> - -<p>He was not now afraid of the two Manuels. They -had cuffed him and had sneered at the “gringos”—but -here the gringos were, unbeaten! And Vera -Cruz belonged to the Mexicans no longer.</p> - -<p>In a short time the camp was moved again, to the -plain between the city and the sand hills. The men -had been rested; they were set at work drilling. As<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span> -soon as horses and mules and wagons arrived from -the United States, the march for the City of Mexico -would be begun.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go over to the Volunteer camp and watch -the foot Mustangs drill,” Hannibal proposed, one -afternoon. “That’s great fun.”</p> - -<p>So they went to the Third Division camp. A -number of companies were being put through their -drill, according to the tactics of General Scott. The -Kentuckians (a regiment newly arrived) were exercising -in the manual of arms.</p> - -<p>“Eyes—right!”</p> - -<p>“Eyes—left!”</p> - -<p>“Front!”</p> - -<p>“Shoulder—arms!”<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="noi"><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> In Scott’s Tactics “shoulder arms” was the same as -“carry arms.”</p> - -</div> - -<p>“Secure—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Shoulder—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Order—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Rest!”</p> - -<p>“Attention—company!”</p> - -<p>“Shoulder—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Right shoulder—shift!”</p> - -<p>“Shoulder—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Charge—bayonets!”</p> - -<p>“Shoulder—arms!”</p> - -<p>“Load in twelve times—load!”</p> - -<p>Then—</p> - -<p>“Open—pan!”</p> - -<p>“Handle—cartridge!”</p> - -<p>“Tear—cartridge!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span></p> - -<p>Every soldier tore the end of the paper cartridge -open with his teeth.</p> - -<p>“Prime!”</p> - -<p>A little of the powder was emptied into the pans -of the guns.</p> - -<p>“Shut—pan!”</p> - -<p>“Cast—about!”</p> - -<p>At that, the soldiers dropped their guns upright, -and prepared to pour the powder in from the -cartridge.</p> - -<p>“Charge—cartridge!”</p> - -<p>The powder was dumped into the muzzles, and -the ball and cartridge paper for a wad, were forced -in after.</p> - -<p>“Draw—rammer!”</p> - -<p>“Ram—cartridge!”</p> - -<p>“Return—rammer!”</p> - -<p>“Shoulder—arms!”</p> - -<p>Or perhaps—</p> - -<p>“Ready!”</p> - -<p>“Aim!”</p> - -<p>And while one held one’s breath, expecting a -volley—</p> - -<p>“Recover—arms!”</p> - -<p>This left them at a “ready,” again.</p> - -<p>“That load in twelve times is only for discipline,” -Hannibal scoffed. “To teach ’em to work together. -Load in four times is the Regulars’ way, by count—one, -two, three, four. But mostly it’s ‘Load at will—load!’ -I’d hate to be a Volunteer. They can fight, -though. Yes, siree; they can fight. They’re not -much on discipline, and they yell and sing and straggle<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span> -while marching; but when they see the enemy—my -eye!”</p> - -<p>These Volunteers were indeed a lively and good-natured -if rather rough set. When drill was over -they raced for their messes and proceeded to loll -about and cook and eat and sing, as if they had no -thought in the world except to picnic. The rust on -their guns and the length of their beards never -bothered them at all.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Here’s a health to all them that we love,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Here’s a health to all them that love us,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Here’s a health to all them that love those that love them</div> - <div class="verse indent0">That love those that love them that love us!</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>This was the song of one group, who were drinking -from tin cups.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Molly is the gal for me——</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class="noi">sang another group. And—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Upon the hill he turned,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To take a last fond look</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Of the valley and the village church,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And the cottage by the brook.</div> - <div class="verse indent0">He listened to the sounds,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">So familiar to his ear,</div> - <div class="verse indent0">And the soldier leant upon his sword</div> - <div class="verse indent2">And wiped away a tear.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>A tall bearded Tennesseean was singing that, -while his companions listened soberly.</p> - -<p>But a chorus welled and spread until all the groups -were joining in.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">Green grow the rushes, O!</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Green grow the rushes, O!</div> - <div class="verse indent2">The sweetest hours that e’er I spend</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Are spent among the lasses, O!</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span></p> - -<p>“They sang that stuff all through Texas and -North Mexico,” said Hannibal. “It’s the Mohawk -war cry. And the Mexicans think it’s a sort of -national song, like some of theirs. You ought to hear -’em try to sing it themselves. ‘Gringo, gringo,’ they -say, instead of ‘Green grow,’ and they call the Americans -‘gringos’!”</p> - -<p>“That’s right; they do,” Jerry agreed, remembering -the two Manuels and other Vera Cruzans. -“They called me a ‘gringo’ whenever they were -mean, but it wasn’t Spanish and they didn’t seem to -know where it came from. ‘Gringo!’ Huh!”</p> - -<p>Now he understood at last.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ve got to go back for that blamed ‘retreat,’” -Hannibal grumbled. “Thunder! I never -did see the use in all this parading every day.” -Which was an odd remark for a Regular and -a veteran.</p> - -<p>They were just leaving the mess fires of the -Mohawks, when there was a great shout of laughter, -and out of the brush here came a big Illinoisan, a dead -turkey in one hand and his long musket in the other, -driving before him two ragged Mexicans.</p> - -<p>“What you got there, Bill?”</p> - -<p>“Part the Mexican army, boys. <a href="#i_125">’Peared like -they were going to ambush me and take this turkey</a>; -but I said ‘Nary, Mary Ann,’ and fetched ’em along -with help of old Sal.” And he flourished his gun.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="i_125"> - <img src="images/i_125.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><a href="#Page_125">“’PEARED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO AMBUSH ME AND TAKE -THIS TURKEY”</a></p> - </div> -</div> - -<p>“We meant no harm, good Americanos,” the -Mexicans whined. “We are only poor countrymen.”</p> - -<p>“Pass your turkey over to us,” the soldiers cried, -to Bill. “Tell your <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">paisanos</i> to git and come back -with the rest of their army.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span></p> - -<p>“I know them!” Jerry exclaimed. “They aren’t -in the army. They’re brush cutters.” He ran aside. -“Hello, Manuel.”</p> - -<p>The two Manuels had been cringing and smiling -and repeating: “Good Americanos! Valiant soldiers! -Do not harm us, and God will reward you.” -They saw Jerry, and recognized him. “Gringo -puppy,” they hissed. “Where have you been?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’m a gringo,” Jerry answered. “And -I’m in the army of the Americans. You said they -couldn’t take Vera Cruz. What do you say now?”</p> - -<p>“They took Vera Cruz by standing off and killing -all the people,” old Manuel snarled, in Spanish. -“But wait, till they try to march on. Our Santa -Anna and fifty thousand brave men are coming to -meet them. Hear that, gringito? You’ll wish you’d -stayed in the brush with old Manuel.”</p> - -<p>Jerry laughed. He told Hannibal what had been -said, and Hannibal laughed. As they went on they -looked back. The two Manuels were scuttling out of -the camp, unharmed, for the soldiers were more -interested in the turkey.</p> - -<p>Teams and cavalry mounts, and wagons and supplies -were very slow in arriving, so that the army -stayed in camp at Vera Cruz for over a week without -a move. The yellow fever increased—only -the fresh lively air blown in by the northers had held -it down; and as soon as the northers ceased then -the vomito would rage as usual. A large number of -the men, especially the Volunteers, were ill with disease -caused by drinking bad water and by over-eating.</p> - -<p>General Scott reorganized the army for the march -inland. The general orders changed the assignment<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> -of the regiments very little, and left them as follows:</p> - -<p>First Regular Division, Brevet Major-General -William J. Worth commanding: Light Battery A, -Second Artillery; Second Artillery, eight companies, -as infantry; Third Artillery, four companies, as infantry; -Fourth Infantry, six companies; Fifth Infantry, -six companies; Sixth Infantry, five companies; -Eighth Infantry, seven companies.</p> - -<p>Second Regular Division, Brigadier-General -David E. Twiggs commanding: Light Battery K, -First Artillery; howitzer and rocket company; -Mounted Rifles, nine companies; First Artillery as -infantry; Fourth Artillery, six companies, as infantry; -Second Infantry, nine companies; Third Infantry, -six companies; Seventh Infantry, six companies.</p> - -<p>Third or Volunteer Division, Major-General -Robert Patterson commanding: Third Illinois, -Fourth Illinois; Second New York, ten companies; -First Tennessee, Second Tennessee; First Pennsylvania, -ten companies; Second Pennsylvania, ten companies; -South Carolina, eleven companies; Kentucky, -and a detachment of Tennessee cavalry.</p> - -<p>The enlistment term of the Georgians and -Alabamans had almost expired, so they were -not included.</p> - -<p>The company of engineers, which contained -Captain Lee and Lieutenant McClellan and Lieutenant -Beauregard and other smart young officers, was -independent; and so were the ordnance or heavy artillery -company and the dragoons.</p> - -<p>Each division had been broken into brigades as -before; and although Jerry’s Fourth Infantry and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span> -Hannibal’s Eighth Infantry were still in separate -brigades they were in the First Division, anyway.</p> - -<p>Subtracting the General Quitman brigade of -South Carolinans (the Palmettos), Alabamans and -Georgia Crackers, and the Tennessee cavalry, who -were to garrison Vera Cruz, the army numbered between -eight and nine thousand officers and men—not -many for a march into Mexico and a fight with -General Santa Anna’s thirty or fifty thousand.</p> - -<p>Jerry proceeded to learn the drum, with Hannibal -as instructor. The drumsticks proved tricky—there -seemed to be a lot of rigmarole and Hannibal -was a hard drillmaster; but who might tell what -would happen in the coming battles? Young Rome, -drummer boy in the Twiggs division, had been disabled -already. So it behooved a fellow to be prepared -to fill a vacancy.</p> - -<p>For the army there were drills and evolutions “in -masse,” as they were styled, with General Scott himself -commanding. And a grand spectacle that was, -when the infantry wheeled, and the artillery galloped, -and the dragoons spurred, all upon the plain under -the walls of Vera Cruz crowded with townspeople, -gathered to view the sight.</p> - -<p>On the evening of April 7 there was a last parade -by the troops together, and a speech by General -Scott, in which he promised that if the men would -follow him he would take them through.</p> - -<p>In his gold-buttoned blue frock coat, and his gold-braided -blue trousers, with gold epaulets on his broad -shoulders and a gold sash around his waist and a -plumed cockaded chapeau upon his grizzled head, his -tasseled sword in its engraved scabbard hanging at<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span> -his side, he sat his horse and thundered his words -so that almost every ear could hear. He called the -troops “My brave boys”—and at the close of the -speech they roundly cheered their “Old Fuss and -Feathers,” the “Hero of Chippewa”—that battle -in the War of 1812 where he showed the enemy that -the American infantry was equal to the best.</p> - -<p>The march onward was supposed to commence -the next day, April 8; but—</p> - -<p>“’Peahs laike we Gin’ral Worth men ain’t -gwine,” Pompey complained. “I heah Lieutenant -Smith sayin’ we ain’t gwine yet. We-all got to stay. -Wha’ fo’ we-all called Fust Division, when we -ain’t fust?”</p> - -<p>Jerry had seen little of Lieutenant Grant lately; -the lieutenant had been acting as quartermaster of the -Fourth and was kept busy. Now when asked about -the march, he replied shortly:</p> - -<p>“Yes. The Second Division leads. General -Worth is required here; but you can depend upon it -we’ll be on hand for the fighting.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="IX">IX<br /> -<small>THE HEIGHTS OF CERRO GORDO</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“The general’s gone, as I suppose you know, -Grant,” Lieutenant Smith remarked to Lieutenant -Grant, at dinner this noon.</p> - -<p>The day was April 12. The camp was much -smaller than it had been throughout the week following -the fall of Vera Cruz. Early in the morning of -April 8 the Second Division had marched away, with -the fifes and drums and the bands playing Yankee -Doodle. Preceded by the two horse companies of -the Mounted Rifles the long column had wound out -over the National Road for the City of Mexico, two -hundred and seventy-five or eighty miles westward, -as the road ran.</p> - -<p>General Scott had been growing impatient with -the delays in the arrival of wagons and animals. -He wished to move all the troops to Jalapa, at least, -which was in the mountains about seventy miles west. -There they would be free of the dreaded vomito.</p> - -<p>So on the next day, April 9, the General Patterson -Third Division of Volunteers had started. General -Patterson himself was on sick list, and General Pillow -commanded in his place. The Mohawks had -stumped gaily out, singing and shouting.</p> - -<p>The general orders had directed that each division -take a wagon train carrying six days’ rations for the -men and three days’ oats for the animals. There -would be little forage on the way to the City of -Mexico until Jalapa had been reached, in the high -country. After the Mohawk division had left, there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span> -were plenty of wagons but few animals remaining -for the First Division. The Mexican horses and -mules were small, poor creatures. Beside them the -American animals were giants. A siege train of -six heavy guns was being prepared also. And the -First Division had had to wait.</p> - -<p>But now—</p> - -<p>“The general gone?” Lieutenant Grant answered. -“That’s good news. We’ll soon be gone, too, then.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and we’re in for a lively brush, according -to reports. Twiggs and Patterson have run up -against the whole Mexican army at Plan del Rio, -fifty miles inland. Santa Anna’s said to be there in -person, with all the troops he can muster, on the hills -commanding the road where it passes through a -gorge in climbing the mountains. So the general -has set out with Lee and Phil Kearny’s First Dragoons -to see for himself. We’ll be needed, all right.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll make application to be relieved of this quartermaster -duty and permitted to serve with my company,” -Lieutenant Grant declared. “I wouldn’t miss -that battle for a thousand dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Lieutenant Grant, he want to fight,” Pompey -chuckled, while he and Jerry cleared away the mess -dishes after dinner. “What you gwine to do, when -dey’s a-fightin’ dem Mexicans?”.</p> - -<p>“Going to keep along where I can see, anyhow,” -Jerry asserted.</p> - -<p>“Sho’, now; battlefield’s no place fo’ boys,” Pompey -rebuked. “Ain’t no place fo’ dis nigger, neither. -You an’ me is nuncumbatants. We got to tend to -camp, so’s to have hot victuals ready. Fightin’ is -powerful hungry work.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span></p> - -<p>This afternoon orders were issued to the regiments -of the First Division to prepare to break camp -in the morning. That was good news to everybody. -Hannibal was as jubilant as the rest. There were -all kinds of rumors but they sifted down to the one -fact: that General Santa Anna, who had been so -badly defeated by General Taylor on Washington’s -Birthday last February, at Buena Vista in northeastern -Mexico, had moved his forces eight hundred -miles across the mountains and deserts clear to the -City of Mexico, had rallied another large army of -Regulars, National Guards and Volunteers, and was -now fortified two hundred miles east of the city—and -all in time to confront the army of General Scott!</p> - -<p>The First started the next morning, April 13, -accompanied by the engineers and a detachment of -the Second Dragoons. Light marching orders was -the word—but at that, what with the muskets which -weighed fourteen pounds, and the cartridge boxes -which weighed eight pounds, and the haversacks and -knapsacks and blanket rolls and heavy belts, the canteens -of water, bayonets in scabbards, and so forth, -every man carried about forty pounds not including -his woollen clothing. The tents and the extra clothing -were left at Vera Cruz; Lieutenant Smith and -Lieutenant Grant left their chests and spare outfits—and -Jerry rejoiced, for he now had little to guard. -He could do about as he pleased, except he had to -tend camp when necessary. But everybody took -three days’ rations.</p> - -<p>Thereupon he boldly marched beside Company B, -Lieutenant Grant’s company.</p> - -<p>Only General Quitman, with the South Carolinans,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span> -the Georgians and the Alabamans and most -of the Tennessee horse, remained in Vera Cruz.</p> - -<p>The column of cavalry, artillery and infantry -stretched long. The canteens and the tin cups clinked, -the heavy shoes clumped, the dragoon horses clattered, -the artillery and the wagons rumbled, and the -dust rose in a white cloud.</p> - -<p>Trudge, trudge, trudge, with the bands and the -fifes and drums playing marching tunes—“Yankee -Doodle,” “Will You Come to the Bower” (the -Texas battle song of independence, that), “Turkey in -the Straw,” “Hail, Columbia!”, and so on, and the -men marching at will. The dragoons and General -Worth and staff headed the column, the guns of -Colonel Duncan’s flying battery came next, the sturdy -infantry and the artillery serving as infantry followed, -the wagon train toiled in the rear. And midway -Jerry, clad in an old cut-down pair of army -trousers, and an old army shirt, with a ragged straw -hat on his crown and no shoes on his feet, ambled -beside Company B, keeping as close to Lieutenant -Grant as he dared. Pompey was somewhere, probably -stealing a ride in one of the wagons.</p> - -<p>The road was a poor road for one called -“National,” the main road to the capital. It was -ankle deep in sand. Soon the soldiers were sweating -and panting. When a halt was made about three -miles out, at a stream, they began to overhaul their -knapsacks and haversacks, and throw things away. -Presently the route was strewn with stuff, although -the wise ones hung to their blankets and great-coats -and rations, if nothing else.</p> - -<p>Trudge, trudge, clinkity-clink, all that day, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span> -all the next day, while the mountains gradually -loomed higher and higher before. On the third -day they had arrived at the Puente National, or -National Bridge, where the road crossed the Antigua -River. Now the mountains and the Plan del Rio -were only sixteen miles onward.</p> - -<p>General Worth ordered camp here to rest the -division. He himself went forward to consult with -General Scott. This day of April 16 was a nervous -day in the bivouac. The men all were held together, -forbidden to wander from the lines. But the dragoons -who reconnoitred ahead said that they had -seen the Twiggs and Patterson divisions encamped -and waiting down near Plan del Rio village beside -the Rio del Plan, at the foot of the mountains—probably -right under the Mexican army.</p> - -<p>An aide brought back orders from General -Worth. Hannibal saw him come galloping, and -soon knew what was up.</p> - -<p>“Reveille is to sound at eleven-thirty to-night, -and we’re to move camp in the dark.”</p> - -<p>“Then what, Hannibal?” Jerry asked.</p> - -<p>“Tell you later. A battle, I expect. Old Fuss -and Feathers will have a scheme.”</p> - -<p>The men slept on the ground without tents, -Lieutenant Smith and Lieutenant Grant did not -undress, for what was the use? Reveille sounded at -eleven-thirty, the assembly followed, and the companies -fell in, the men yawning and grumbling. The -night was pitchy dark; the column went stumbling -up the road, with the soldiers staggering aside as if -asleep on their feet. It seemed as though that night’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span> -march never would end; and at daybreak, when -halt was sounded, everybody was glad indeed.</p> - -<p>But what a panorama that was as the sun rose. -It was well worth staying awake for. Yonder, below -the slope up which the night’s march had led, there -appeared the camps of the two other divisions, near -the little village in a level bottom or valley. The -river issued from a gorge in the mountains and flowed -rapidly down past the village, on the left or south. -There were precipices and high hills on both sides of -it; and on the right or north the National Road, obliquing -from the river and village, zigzagged up into -the hills, and crossed the mountains.</p> - -<p>This was the Pass of Cerro Gordo. The highest -crest—a huge round-topped hill—four miles distant -in the midst of the other hills along the road, was -Cerro Gordo itself: Big Mountain, or Telegraph Hill. -The officers said that with their glasses they could see -the Mexican flags floating from its very summit, over -batteries, and over a stone tower.</p> - -<p>“Gin’ral Scott, he got to shed his coat an’ get -to work, I reckon,” declared Pompey, who had appeared -at each night’s camp. “How we-all gwine to -trabbel on with dose Mexicans rollin’ rocks down on -us? An’ dar ain’t no road ’t all odder side the ribber. -’Spec’ we mought have to make wings an’ fly ober -dose mountings. Don’t see no odder way.”</p> - -<p>Aha! The troops below were already in motion. -At any rate, one column was moving out, and filing -into the hills on the north of the road. Marched -like Regulars; must be the Second Division! Was -the battle about to begin, before the First Division -received orders? But when, after a hasty breakfast,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span> -the division hurried down and camped near the -Third Division, soldier talk explained matters.</p> - -<p>The Second and Third Divisions had been here -two or three days, lying low and wondering how to -get past Cerro Gordo. When the Third had joined -the Second, General Twiggs had decided to storm -Cerro Gordo, anyhow, and had given instructions to -General Pillow. He was a fighting man, this General -Twiggs. But General Patterson had heard and had -galloped forward from his bed to take command -and veto the orders. Being a major-general, he outranked -Old Davy, who was only a brigadier. The -men had been rather glum at the idea of storming -Cerro Gordo from the road—that looked like a sure-death -job; and when they learned that nothing would -be done until General Scott came in, they felt -mightily relieved.</p> - -<p>General Scott had arrived on the fourteenth. He -immediately sent Captain Lee of the engineers out to -examine the country. Captain Lee reported that by -following a deep brushy ravine around to the northwest, -if the guns and men could be got through then -Cerro Gordo might be flanked and attacked from the -rear. Santa Anna faced the road, of course, thinking -that the principal attack would be made from -that. The Americans were not goats or rabbits; -they would have to march by the road. And Cerro -Gordo and the other batteries (quite a number) commanded -all the zigzags and switchbacks by entrenchments -and breastworks two miles in length. His -artillery and his muskets, manned by twelve or thirteen -thousand soldiers, would simply pulverize -that road.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span></p> - -<p>It had looked like a problem to General Twiggs -and Generals Pillow and Patterson; but Captain Lee -seemed to have solved the problem. General Scott -approved the plan. Pioneers were dispatched at once -to open a trail around to the north that cannon might -be hauled; the Second Division had marched this -morning, to take position and seize, as was said, a hill -that the Mexicans had neglected to fortify.</p> - -<p>The day, April 17, was a fine one, with just -a little sea breeze wafting in from the gulf and Vera -Cruz, fifty miles east. The stars and stripes fluttered -over the camps of the First and Third Divisions; -but the Second Division apparently did not -intend to come back. Upon the mountain crests three -and four miles west the Mexican flags fluttered. All -was quiet there. General Santa Anna seemed to -have no suspicion that anything especial was happening. -He waited for the Americans to advance. -General Scott knew exactly what was happening and -what was going to happen. He issued his orders -for battle.</p> - -<p>First they were given to the division commanders. -The division adjutants furnished copies of -them to the brigade commanders; the brigade adjutants -transmitted them to the regimental commanders; -and soon the company officers who were -keen knew them also.</p> - -<p>“Now we gwine to see what kind ob strateegis’ -Gin’ral Scott am,” Pompey pronounced. For -Lieutenant Grant had made a copy of the orders -where posted, and he and Lieutenant Smith discussed -them.</p> - -<p>“The enemy’s whole line of entrenchments and -batteries will be attacked in front, and at the same<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span> -time turned, early in the day to-morrow—probably -before ten o’clock <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>,” said the first paragraph of -these General Orders No. 111.</p> - -<p>“Hi golly!” Pompey chuckled. “We gwine -to slam him in the face an’ in the back, same time. -Dat’s proper.”</p> - -<p>“The Second Division of Regulars is already advanced -within easy turning distance toward the -enemy’s left. That division has instructions to move -forward before daylight to-morrow, and take up -position across the National Road in the enemy’s -rear, so as to cut off a retreat toward Jalapa.”</p> - -<p>“We got dose Mexicans retreatin’ already,” -chuckled Pompey, while Jerry listened with all -his ears.</p> - -<p>The Second Division was to be reinforced by -General Shields’ brigade of Volunteers.</p> - -<p>“The First Division of Regulars will follow the -movement against the enemy’s left at sunrise to-morrow -morning.”</p> - -<p>“Hi! Dat’s us,” Pompey announced. “We -gwine to be dar fo’ the leavin’s.”</p> - -<p>General Pillow’s brigade of Volunteers was to -attack from the front, or the river side, as soon as -he heard the sounds of battle in the north.</p> - -<p>“The enemy’s batteries being carried or abandoned, -all our divisions and corps will pursue with -vigor. The pursuit may be continued many miles, -until stopped by darkness or fortified positions, toward -Jalapa. Consequently, the body of the army -will not return to this encampment, but be followed -to-morrow afternoon or early the next morning, by -the baggage trains of the several corps.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span></p> - -<p>General Scott therefore was confident. He had -no notion of being beaten; he made no mention of -what to do in case that his troops were driven back. -All his order read: “Go ahead.”</p> - -<p>“Twiggs has the honors this time,” Lieutenant -Smith remarked. “Why, that old fire-eater will capture -the whole bag before the rest of us ever catch up -with him!”</p> - -<p>The Second had a good head start, at least. Then, -shortly after noon, a wave of heavy gunfire rolled in -from the northwest—the direction taken by the -Twiggs division. Great clouds of smoke welled up, -three miles distant; the heights of Cerro Gordo were -veiled, and the smoke extended down and rose again.</p> - -<p>The Second Division was in battle! General -Scott evidently had expected this. In about an hour -the long roll beat for General Shields’ brigade, in -the Volunteer camp; out they went, at quick time—the -Second New York and the Third and Fourth -Illinois, and three twenty-four-pounders.</p> - -<p>General Scott himself might be seen, sitting his -horse, upon a little rise of the valley bottom, gazing -steadily at the smoke through his glass. Very calm -and collected he appeared. His aides galloped forward -as if to get the news.</p> - -<p>All that afternoon the booming of cannon and -the drumming of musketry continued. No bad news -came back. At sunset the firing died away. An aide -from General Twiggs raced in and reported to General -Scott. Speedily there were cheers.</p> - -<p>Captain Gore of the company hastened forward -to learn what he might. He returned.</p> - -<p>“The movement by General Twiggs has been<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span> -entirely successful, men. The American flag is now -established upon a hill directly opposite Telegraph -Hill, within easy range of the rear of the enemy’s -defenses. Colonel Harney’s Mounted Rifles and the -First Artillery, supported by the Seventh Infantry, -carried it in gallant style, and General Shields’ brigade -is reinforcing with men and guns. The first -stage of the battle has been won.”</p> - -<p>“An’ will we get into the foight, cap’n, plaze, -sorr?” old Sergeant Mulligan asked.</p> - -<p>“We’ll do our level best, sergeant. All we want -is the chance.”</p> - -<p>This was an uneasy night. The men persisted in -talking among themselves until late. The veterans -who had fought in other battles cracked jokes and -told stories, and the few new men were nervous. -The sergeants and corporals in vain cautioned: -“Silence! Go to sleep.”</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant lay under his blanket in the -open, for the tents were far behind. The night was -sultry; showers of rain fell, wetting the blankets. -Pompey himself chattered less than usual and Jerry -felt serious. To-morrow there was going to be a -great battle of eight thousand American soldiers -against twelve thousand Mexican soldiers, strongly -fortified on the hills.</p> - -<p>“Cerro Gordo hill is the key to the field,” Lieutenant -Grant had said “That of course must be -taken, and all the operations will concentrate upon it.”</p> - -<p>The First Division did not know till later, but -all this night the Illinois and New York Volunteers -were working like Trojans, dragging the three -twenty-four-pounders, under direction of Captain<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span> -Lee and Lieutenant Hagner of the Ordnance, through -the brush and over the rocks and tree trunks, and -up the hill. The men were divided into two detachments. -One detachment rested while the other detachment -hauled and shoved; then the working -detachment blocked the wheels and lay panting while -the first detachment buckled to. It was not until -three o’clock in the morning, that amidst the darkness -and the rain the three guns were placed in position -to open fire upon Telegraph Hill.</p> - -<p>Down in the camp at Plan del Rio reveille was -sounded before daylight. Breakfast was eaten in the -pink of dawn. And listen! The day’s battle had -commenced! Cannon were bellowing from the Second -Division’s hill—sending grape and solid shot into -the Mexican entrenchments upon Telegraph Hill. -The Mexicans were replying.</p> - -<p>Huzzah! The long roll sounded, signaling to the -men to be alert.</p> - -<p>“Fall in! Fall in!” the sergeants shouted; and -the assembly was not needed. Company B was ready -in a jiffy, the men with muskets in hand, their cartridge -boxes and bayonet scabbards in place, their -knapsacks and their haversacks with two days’ rations -hanging from their shoulders. They formed a -single rank facing to the right.</p> - -<p>“Front face!”</p> - -<p>They faced together, in company front.</p> - -<p>“In three ranks, form company! By the left -flank! Left face! March!” barked First Sergeant -Mulligan.</p> - -<p>That done, Company B was three men (or files)<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> -deep; and Sergeant Mulligan turned it over to Captain -Gore.</p> - -<p>“Number off!” the captain ordered.</p> - -<p>The men numbered.</p> - -<p>“Shoulder—arms! To the rear, open order—march! -Front!”</p> - -<p>Now the company was in opened ranks. The -lieutenants and the first sergeant quickly passed behind, -examining the cartridge boxes to see that all -were filled.</p> - -<p>“Fix—bayonets!”</p> - -<p>“Close order—march!”</p> - -<p>To the color had been sounded.</p> - -<p>“By the right flank—right face—forward—march!” -And Company B marched to its position -at the head of the Fourth Regiment, for it was -the color company.</p> - -<p>Jerry followed. He had no idea of being left -behind; he determined to keep his eyes upon Lieutenant -Grant, and he paid no attention to the whereabouts -of Pompey.</p> - -<p>General Worth, stately and handsome, his black -eyes flashing, was sitting his horse. Colonel Garland, -of the First Brigade, issued sharp orders, which were -repeated by the galloping brigade adjutant to the -regimental commanders, and by them to the company -officers. The gunfire among the hills had waxed -tremendous. The General Pillow brigade of Volunteers -was about to move.</p> - -<p>General Worth lifted his sword—his orders had -meant “Forward!” The companies broke into platoons -and away they tramped, at quick step, in long -column again, the fifes and drums playing merrily.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span> -The Pillow brigade was coming. Those Pennsylvanians -and Tennesseeans had been directed to storm -Telegraph Hill from in front, if possible; they had -several batteries to carry, first. No pleasant job, -that; and all as a feint to hold the Mexicans occupied -on the roadside.</p> - -<p>The First Division branched to the right, and into -the brush through which the pioneers had hacked a -rough trail. The faces of the soldiers were stern; -some white, some red, with excitement. The battle -clamor arose so loud that the drums and fifes could -scarcely be heard. A dense cloud of smoke covered -the hills before. Were those cheers, mingled with -the bellowing of cannon and the roll of muskets? -From whom—the Mexicans or the blue-coats? Jerry -stumbled as he half ran, trying to stay close to -Lieutenant Grant.</p> - -<p>The trail was cumbered with tree trunks and rocks -and cactus. After a time the Fourth Regiment -rounded the base of a hill, and emerged at a ravine -running crosswise, at the very foot of Telegraph -Hill itself. Upon the top of the first hill cannon were -thundering. And look! The hither slope of the -other hill was alive with men, toiling up in ragged -lines, following the colors. They were blue-coats—Regulars! -The standard of the Mounted Rifles -waved on the left, in the ravine. The Mexican batteries -and entrenchments were shooting down upon -the storming columns, the Rifles were deploying and -facing a charge upon the stormers’ flank; and from -the top of the first hill the twenty-four-pounders -were pouring grape and ball across, into the higher -hill, El Telegrapho.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span></p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!” The First Division -quickened pace, so eager the men were to get -into the fight.</p> - -<p>“Form company! First platoon—right oblique—quick—march!” -And—“Left into line, wheel!” -the adjutant shouted.</p> - -<p>“To the left, into line—quick—march!” shouted -Captain Gore to Company B.</p> - -<p>The men obeyed at a run. The division was -forming line of battle.</p> - -<p>“Forward—center guide—quick time—march!”</p> - -<p>The drums tapped briskly. They had crossed the -head of the ravine, they began to scramble up the -slope, at last, in the wake of the Second Division -stormers. The brush and rocks were reddened, -strewn with knapsacks, and dotted with dead and -wounded; the climb was very steep. A perfect pandemonium -raged above. Bullets and grape-shot were -whistling overhead. The men gripped their muskets -and peered and panted. Huzzah! But what’s the -cheering for? For General Scott! Here he stood, -as large as life, in his full uniform, gazing through -his glass up the hill, marking the progress of the -charge. He looked as cool and confident as if -watching a parade.</p> - -<p>“Huzzah for Old Fuss and Feathers! Huzzah! -Huzzah!”</p> - -<p>Company B passed close to him. He waved -encouragingly.</p> - -<p>“On, my brave boys!” he said.</p> - -<p>Next there were breastworks, bloodied and trampled. -The Mexicans had already been driven out of -these. Scrambling inside, Jerry almost stepped upon<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> -a drum—a drum, drumsticks, cross-belt harness and -all. It was a Mexican drum, but differing little from -a United States outfit except the Mexican eagle instead -of the American eagle upon the brass plates. -So he grabbed it up quick, and lugging it on, trying -to sling it, he pursued the line.</p> - -<p>The slope continued. A breeze was wafting away -the smoke; the stars and stripes and the regimental -flags of the stormers had advanced far; and the blue -ragged line, rushing, resting, and rushing again, -pressing after the streaming folds and after a single -figure, who, sword flashing, kept in the lead.</p> - -<p>The drum bothered Jerry. When he had slipped -into the cross-belts they were so long that the drum -struck his shins, and the best that he could do was -to carry it in his arms. His own battle line had -forged well ahead of him; and when, dipping into a -hollow, and clambering up out, still following Company -B, he might glimpse the stormers again, he -heard a hearty burst of cheers and yells.</p> - -<p>Huzzah! Huzzah! The hurrying First Division -was cheering—echoing the cheers from the top of the -hill. From the stone tower above a blue regimental -flag was flying—and the stars and stripes; the Mexican -flag had come down. The American soldiers -were springing upon the breastworks just beyond, -wielding their bayonets as they disappeared—other -American flags had been planted—the red caps of -the Mexican defenders surged backward, and eddying -and tossing broke into numerous rivulets flowing -tumultuously across the hill, to the south, for the -road below.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="X">X<br /> -<small>JERRY JOINS THE RANKS</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>El Telegrapho Hill—Cerro Gordo, the Big -Hill—had been taken. When Jerry, lugging his -precious drum, joined the Fourth Infantry the blue -coats were swarming over the flat top, taking prisoners, -and the Mexican rout was tearing down in the -south making for the Jalapa road.</p> - -<p>From the northwest edge of the hill another -storming column had entered. This was the Second -Infantry and Fourth Artillery, under Colonel Bennet -Riley, of the Second Brigade, who had been ordered -to make a half circuit. But they had arrived too -late. Colonel Harney, the dragoon, and his Third and -Seventh Infantry and First Artillery had captured -the hill themselves. Those were the flags of the -Third, the Seventh and the First. The flag of the -Seventh had been raised first. Quartermaster-Sergeant -Henry, of the Seventh, had been the man who -had hauled down the Mexican flag from the flagpole -on the stone tower, and the Seventh’s color-bearers -had instantly raised their own standards.</p> - -<p>The battle was won, but not all over. Colonel -Riley at once launched his column in pursuit of the -fleeing Mexicans. General Shields’ Volunteers—the -Third and Fourth Illinois and the New Yorkers—were -attacking in the west, to seize the batteries there -and cut in to the Jalapa road. Cannon were booming -in the south, where General Pillow’s Tennesseeans -and Pennsylvanians and a company of Fourth Kentuckians<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> -were being held at bay still. But the hill -of Cerro Gordo commanded all the country; it was -the key, and in the Mexican batteries around white -flags were being hoisted. Detachments were sent by -General Worth, who was senior officer here, to take -possession. The firing died away.</p> - -<p>On the top of the hill all was excitement. The -dead and wounded were thick. The Rifles came up -from the ravine where they had checked a charge of -the Mexicans to turn Colonel Harney’s left; their -band was bringing a lot of prisoners, to the tune of -Yankee Doodle. The men of the storming columns -were loud in their praises of Colonel Harney. It -was he who had led, bare-headed and sword in hand. -The fifteen hundred of them had taken the hill, defended -by breastworks and the stone tower and -six thousand Mexican soldiers. Huzzah! Huzzah! -Huzzah!</p> - -<p>And now here was General Scott, on his horse. -The men ran for him, the wounded crawled nearer -or feebly cheered; tears were flooding his grizzled -cheeks; he removed his hat, and his voice trembled.</p> - -<p>“Brother soldiers! I am proud to call you -brothers, and your country will be proud to hear of -your conduct this day. Our victory has cost us the -lives of a number of brave men, but they died fighting -for their country. Soldiers, you have a claim on -my gratitude for your conduct this day which I will -never forget.”</p> - -<p>He beckoned to Colonel Harney, and held out -his hand to him.</p> - -<p>“Colonel Harney, I cannot now fully express my<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span> -admiration of your gallant achievement, but at the -proper time I shall take great pleasure in thanking -you in proper terms.”</p> - -<p>He put his chapeau back upon his grey head and -slowly rode on. Every few paces he halted to bend -and speak with the wounded.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant was untouched; so were Captain -Gore and Lieutenant Smith; the Fourth Infantry, -and in fact, the whole of the First Division had -escaped all accident save by a few spent balls. It was -said that General Shields of the Volunteers had been -mortally wounded by a bullet through the chest—had -a hole in him the size of one’s fist! Major -Sumner of the Second Dragoons had been wounded. -Lieutenant Thomas Ewell of the Rifles, but serving -in the charge, had been the first officer to spring upon -the breastworks at the tower and had been shot down. -He and Colonel Harney and Quartermaster-Sergeant -Henry (who had hauled down the Mexican -flag there) were the heroes of the hour.</p> - -<p>Santa Anna had fled, when he saw the hill being -taken. General Vasquez, of his infantry, was lying -dead here (a fine looking man, who had fallen shot -through the head, but his face to the foe); other -generals were surrendering—General Vega, who had -been fighting off the Pillow Volunteers, near the -river, had surrendered all his force. How many -Mexicans had been captured and what the losses -were on both sides nobody yet knew.</p> - -<p>Hugging his drum and roaming over the battlefield, -Jerry met Hannibal. They shook hands -and danced.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span></p> - -<p>“What you got there, boy?”</p> - -<p>“A drum. Found it on the way up.”</p> - -<p>“Mexican drum, huh? Going to keep it?”</p> - -<p>“Guess so. Can’t I?”</p> - -<p>“Sure you can. You may get a chance to be a -drummer. We can fix it over. But hurrah! Didn’t -we do the business, though? Took the works just as -Fuss and Feathers said. Never a hitch. Pillow was -licked, at first, but that made no difference; nobody -expected him to do more than hold the enemy’s -attention. Twiggs and Riley’s brigade are cleaning -up the country west, and the dragoons are right on -Santa Anna’s heels. Now we won’t stop again till -we’re in the Halls of Montezuma. There’s the long -roll for the First. Good-by. We’re moving. Hang -on to that drum.”</p> - -<p>The First Division had been directed to march for -the road and support the Riley brigade in pursuit of -the Mexicans. It was now mid-afternoon. Reports -came back that the dragoons were pressing hard -down the road, and that the Mexicans were too long-legged -for the infantry. Camp was ordered for the -night, just beyond the little village of Cerro Gordo, -in the pass.</p> - -<p>General Santa Anna’s headquarters camp had -been here also. It and the village had been seized -by the Shields Volunteers and they were highly excited. -They had found Santa Anna’s carriage—a -large gilded coach, patterned after the State coach of -Napoleon Bonaparte. But General Santa Anna was -not in it. He had cut the team loose and had fled -upon one of the mules.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span></p> - -<p>The Volunteers were passing a wooden leg -around; said that it was Santa Anna’s leg—</p> - -<p>“No! His leg is cork.”</p> - -<p>“Well, this may be his reserve leg, mayn’t it? -Next time we’ll capture the cork leg and then he can’t -run so fast.”</p> - -<p>And a group of other Volunteers were having -a rough and tumble over something upon the ground.</p> - -<p>It was a chest, burst open; a chest of Mexican -money for the expenses of Santa Anna’s army. The -military chest, that is. The soldiers were grabbing -at the money; officers were trying to separate them. -Suddenly all stood aside and saluted, for General -Scott was towering above, upon his horse.</p> - -<p>“Let the boys have what is on the ground, officers,” -he said. “They’ve fought and worked all -day and deserve what they get. The remainder will -be placed in charge of the chief quartermaster.”</p> - -<p>Pompey (Jerry had forgotten Pompey) arose -from the bottom of the heap, his black fists crammed -with bills. He certainly had arrived here very -quickly; no doubt had come in one of the wagons -sent forward to receive wounded.</p> - -<p>“Yes, suh. Sojerin’ is powerful hahd work fo’ -mighty little pay,” he pronounced. “We-all near -captured Santy Annie. We done made him pore; -he’s gwine to beg his victuals, that’s shuah.” Pompey -saw Jerry and grinned. “Howdy, boy. Where -you been?”</p> - -<p>“Climbing Telegraph Hill with the troops.”</p> - -<p>“Huh!” Pompey grunted. “Wha’ fo’ you go to -all dat work? I come ’round by the road an’ ketch<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span> -Santy Annie hyar. He run so fast he forgit his laig -an’ all his money. Jest slashed his mules from dat -coach an’ skadoodled. Where you find dat drum?”</p> - -<p>“In some breastworks.”</p> - -<p>“What you gwine to do with it?”</p> - -<p>“Keep it.”</p> - -<p>“’Spec’ you set big sto’ on bein’ a drummer.”</p> - -<p>“Shouldn’t wonder, Pompey.”</p> - -<p>“Dis chile’s so rich now he can be a gin’ral,” -Pompey chuckled. “He don’t have to sojer common. -Yes, suh; Gin’ral Scott am a great strateegis’.”</p> - -<p>The baggage train had not come in yet from Plan -del Rio, and the camp was only a plain bivouac of -blankets and haversack rations. Having little to do, -Jerry was cautiously trying out his drum, when -Lieutenant Grant spoke to him.</p> - -<p>“You’ve won a drum, I see.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Can you play it?”</p> - -<p>“A little, is all; but I’m learning.”</p> - -<p>“You want to be a drummer boy, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you have a chance. One of the drummers -of the Fourth broke his leg on the way up the -hill. He got in front of a spent solid shot. You -might report to Drum Major Brown and see if he -can do anything for you. I hope,” the lieutenant -added, with a smile, “you can drum better than you -can cook or make a bed.”</p> - -<p>“Hope so, too, lieutenant,” Jerry answered. -“Thank you, sir. Hooray!”</p> - -<p>Tall Drum Major Brown of the Fourth looked -him over.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span></p> - -<p>“Lieutenant Grant sent you, eh? What can -you do?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” Jerry acknowledged. “I -can’t cook.”</p> - -<p>“Looks like he’s found that out. Whenever a -man’s good at nothing he tries to join the band or the -field music. Humph! Where’d you get that drum?”</p> - -<p>“On the way up the hill.”</p> - -<p>“What were you doing there?”</p> - -<p>“Just following along, sir, to keep with the lieutenant -and the company.”</p> - -<p>“You’re the same young fellow who was in the -naval battery, aren’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Can you drum?”</p> - -<p>“Not much yet, but I’ll learn.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s hear you. Sound a roll.”</p> - -<p>Jerry did, after a fashion.</p> - -<p>“Tap common time.”</p> - -<p>Jerry did.</p> - -<p>“Now quick time.”</p> - -<p>Jerry did.</p> - -<p>“You’ve got a pretty good ear,” the drum major -approved. “I’m a drummer short. I’ll see what I -can do for you, but of course I’ll have to ask the -adjutant. Anyway, you can fall in with the field -music in the morning for the march. Are those -your best clothes?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe we can rustle a uniform for you, and -have a tailor fit it.”</p> - -<p>“Could I stay in Company B?”</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span></p> - -<p>“That’s my company, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! Is it! Well, as happens, the vacancy is -in Company C, and there you go unless Sykes of -Company B will exchange with you, and the company -officers don’t object.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Mr. Brown.” Jerry sped away to -find Hannibal and practice a few wrinkles. The two -worked a long time, shortening the cross-belts and -adapting the drum so that it would hang properly.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XI">XI<br /> -<small>IN THE WAKE OF THE FLEEING ENEMY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>General Scott had lost three officers and sixty -rank and file killed, thirty officers and three hundred -and thirty-six men wounded, with one private missing. -The Mexican killed and wounded were over one -thousand; five generals and three thousand other -officers and men had been taken, together with four -or five thousand stands of small arms and forty-three -pieces of artillery.</p> - -<p>The surgeons thought that General Shields might -get well; he had a fighting chance. Major Sumner -of the dragoons was going to travel in the Santa -Anna coach until he was strong enough to ride a -horse again.</p> - -<p>The First Division was to push right onward, -following up the retreat of the eight thousand Mexicans -who had escaped. The main part of the Second -Division and the ill General Patterson, with a portion -of the Volunteers, were camped farther along, up the -road, but it was understood that the First would -soon have the honor of the advance, because its men -were fresh. And that was what the First desired: -to get ahead. It was tough to have missed out in -the battle of Cerro Gordo. Still, nothing could have -stopped old Colonel Harney, once he was started -up that hill.</p> - -<p>Reveille had been ordered for four-thirty; and -when Musicians’ Call sounded for all the regimental -field music to assemble at the guard tent for roll-call,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> -Jerry boldly appeared to answer the drum-major’s -inspection. Not much of a figure he cut, -either, in his rags, and he had no little fun poked -at him; but he stuck and kept his place when the -drums and fifes formed at the head of the regiment -for the march.</p> - -<p>It was a fine morning. General Scott had ridden -on, with an escort, to make his headquarters at -Jalapa, sixteen miles beyond the pass. The road -was all littered with the spoils of war. The fleeing -Mexicans had thrown away everything: guns and -overcoats and cartridge boxes, knapsacks and haversacks. -And soon worse signs of battle were to be -noted. Bodies of Mexican soldiers, cold and bloody, -became thicker and thicker. The dragoons had -spurred along here, hot in pursuit of the enemy. -The skulls of most of the dead men had been split -asunder by sabers. The bodies were mainly those -of Mexican lancers who had tried to cover the -retreat; but evidently the lancers had been no match -for the Second Dragoons led by Major Ben Beall, and -Captain Phil Kearny’s one company of the First.</p> - -<p>The bodies lay in the road and upon both sides -all the way to Encerro, eight miles. The majority -of the dragoon horses had given out here; but from -Encerro (which was General Santa Anna’s country-place—or -one of several such places) to Jalapa there -were still a few bodies, for some of the dragoons -had kept on through the whole sixteen miles.</p> - -<p>The road climbed. It was a paved road, broken -into holes by the rains. Beyond Encerro the country -grew much better. More mountains loomed before, -huge and blue. As the road wound upward, there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span> -were green trees and lively streams that emptied -into an irrigating ditch skirting the road; and corn, -coffee, plantain and banana plantations with neat -white houses, instead of the cactus and brush and -bare ground and huts of the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">tierra caliente</i>—the -warm land of the lower yellow-fever district. It all -looked pretty good.</p> - -<p>“We’ll not starve hereabouts, that’s sure,” remarked -the drummer who was plying his sticks on -Jerry’s left.</p> - -<p>By the time, early evening, that Jalapa was in -sight the men were tired again, and Jerry’s fingers -were blistered with the drumsticks. Now the road -was lined on both sides with flowering shrubs and -vines, and the birds were singing loudly.</p> - -<p>General Worth directed the adjutant to have -camp made on a piece of high ground near the road. -The drums beat the halt. The day’s up-hill march -had ended a short mile out of Jalapa.</p> - -<p>After the guards had been posted and supper had -been eaten, everybody was glad enough to turn in. -Tattoo, to extinguish lights and be quiet, was -not needed.</p> - -<p>When reveille sounded at daybreak, the drummers -and fifers saw a beautiful scene indeed. The -camp was above the clouds. Below, in the east or the -direction of Vera Cruz, a thunderstorm was raging; -the lightning darted through the clouds, which were -white on top with the rays of the unseen sun. Only -twenty-five miles in the south old Orizaba Peak -shone like silver. Jerry frequently had seen it from -Vera Cruz, but never had it appeared so wonderful. -And on before, in the west, there was Jalapa, located<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span> -between hills, with its white houses and red roofs set -amidst orchards and gardens.</p> - -<p>“Well, now I say that like as not we all were -killed at Cerro Gordo and have arrived in Heaven,” -Drum Major Brown said.</p> - -<p>“That’s right; for according to the Spanish, -they have a saying: ‘Jalapa is a small piece of Heaven -fallen to earth,’” a fifer asserted.</p> - -<p>“You’re wrong there, and so are they,” corrected -somebody. “Look beyond. We’re going to be -nearer Heaven than when down at Jalapy.”</p> - -<p>Back of Jalapa the real mountains began. They -rose straight up, it seemed, in a series of purple -masses until their crests touched the sky.</p> - -<p>Halt was made at pretty Jalapa only long enough -for General Worth to receive fresh instructions -from General Scott; and out the First Division -marched, leaving the Second Division behind, and -the Patterson Volunteers, and most of the dragoons. -The First was in the advance at last.</p> - -<p>Rumors stated that the First was to take the castle -of Perote, twenty-five miles on. Perote ranked second -in strength to only San Juan de Ulloa itself. But -if one brigade of the Second Division had been able to -take Cerro Gordo Hill, the two brigades of the First -felt able to take Perote.</p> - -<p>The road climbed and climbed. The horses of -the Duncan flying battery of the Second Artillery, -and those of the wagon train, had all they could do, -even when helped by men at the wheels. But the day -was clear, and an inspiring sight that was to look -before and behind, and see the serried column winding -on, Captain Kearny’s Company K of the First<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span> -Dragoons ahead, General Worth and staff following; -the artillery afoot, and the infantry and their bands -trudging gallantly after, and the white-topped -wagons bringing up the rear.</p> - -<p>“We’re surely bound to ‘see the elephant,’ as -the Volunteers say,” uttered Jerry’s neighbor, the -thin drummer.</p> - -<p>That evening when bivouac was made they were -almost six thousand feet in air. The views had been -marvelous. Jerry hastened to find Hannibal, as -usual, for talk and practice. On the way he passed -Lieutenant Grant, who stopped him as he saluted.</p> - -<p>“How do you like your new job by this time?”</p> - -<p>“First rate, sir. I’ll learn, the drum major says. -Haven’t done so awfully bad, but of course they’re -easy on me. I don’t know much about the drills yet.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t wonder. You were thrown right into -things without previous instruction on that line.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. Do you think we’ll have a fight on -the road, sir?”</p> - -<p>“There’s a chance. If the pass beyond, called -La Joya, is held in force it may give us a little -trouble. But we can depend upon General Worth, -you know.”</p> - -<p>“Guess <em>so</em>, sir. How’s Pompey, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Pompey? That black rascal? Oh, Pompey lost -all his money the first night to those gambler camp -followers, and he’s down to plain cooking.”</p> - -<p>The lieutenant stepped on; Jerry saluted again -and ran along.</p> - -<p>“La Joya? Sure thing,” Hannibal said “It’s -like Cerro Gordo, and we’re the men to take it.”</p> - -<p>The next day’s march was another stiff climb.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span> -Cherry trees and apple trees were giving place to -pines and firs. The soldiers puffed and complained -that their ears throbbed. It was slow work, toiling -up the long winding road. To-night there was -rain, which by morning had hardened to a heavy -white frost.</p> - -<p>La Joya was not far now. The dragoons reconnoitred -ahead; the gunners of the Duncan battery -rode with slow matches lighted. Presently the road -was about to skirt the base of a round-topped hill. -The hill looked as though it had been fortified, but -when the Fourth marched by it was seen that the -breastworks had been abandoned.</p> - -<p>Beyond La Joya the road continued through a -gorge two miles in length. No guns were fired, no -rocks were rolled, no Mexican flag was sighted. -The whole Mexican army had disappeared as if -broken by the defeat at Cerro Gordo. In fact, General -Scott had announced in his dispatches: “Mexico -no longer has an army.” But when camp was made -this evening, at a deserted village, the men began to -talk hopefully of Perote.</p> - -<p>Perote, ten or twelve miles westward and down, -certainly would furnish a fight. It was a town and -a mountain and a fort, or castle. Everybody living -in Mexico knew of that famous castle, where prisoners -were confined in dungeons. And the mountain, -called the Chest of Perote, was the square black peak -seen from Vera Cruz. The town, upon a plain under -the mountain, had a church with a very tall tower, -visible for a great distance from several directions.</p> - -<p>Jerry also banked on Perote, for he had been -promised his uniform there if the division stayed long<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span> -enough to have it fitted. He needed the uniform. -His clothes were rather thin for use seven thousand -feet up in the mountains, and besides, what was a -drummer boy without a uniform? Luckily he had -gained a pair of shoes from the spoils captured at -Cerro Gordo; and at Perote he would be full rigged, -with sword, cap and all; and Dick Sykes, the drummer -of Company B, had agreed to exchange companies -with him.</p> - -<p>General Worth was in a hurry. He moved the -division early in the morning. About noon they saw -Perote town, near at hand on the plain; and the -great castle, detached from it, guarding the road and -the Chest.</p> - -<p>The column hastened, eager for action. The castle -remained grim and silent. General Worth sent -forward a staff officer to demand its surrender. The -Mexican flag fluttered down. The staff officer returned. -Perote had yielded.</p> - -<p>General Worth established his headquarters in the -town, but the camp was ordered upon the plain, near -the castle, about a mile from the town. Colonel -Vasquez, of the Mexican army, had been left here by -General Santa Anna to turn the castle over to the -Americans—and that seemed odd, for it contained -fifty-four cannon (one of which had a bore of seventeen -inches across), eleven thousand balls, fourteen -thousand bombs and hand grenades, and five hundred -muskets. It covered two acres; and when the men -were permitted to inspect it they found that the walls -were eight feet thick and sixty feet high, surrounded -by a moat fifteen feet deep and seventy-five feet wide.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, the castle sat by itself on the plains;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span> -and while it might have kept part of the army back -to capture it, the rest of the army could have marched -on. General Santa Anna probably had his reasons -for abandoning it; he of course would make a stand -somewhere else.</p> - -<p>During the few days’ camp at Perote Jerry got -his uniform and equipment—regulation cap, sword -and buckles included—and felt privileged to strut -like a drummer boy indeed. Swapped companies -with Sykes, too. Took occasion to parade before -Pompey, who scoffed at him.</p> - -<p>“Gwan, white boy. Who you? All stripes an’ -no rank, dat what you be!”</p> - -<p>The outfit had come to him only just in time. The -First Brigade was to march on by itself at once. -General Quitman had arrived at Jalapa from Vera -Cruz; the Second Brigade was to wait for him and -his detachment of Volunteers, while the First Brigade -pushed ahead to open the country farther.</p> - -<p>It was said that General Worth had received instructions -from Old Fuss and Feathers to proceed -and seize the large city of Puebla, one hundred miles -westward and only ninety from the City of Mexico. -Puebla had sixty thousand people. Whether the -First Brigade was to do this nobody in the ranks -knew, but the men all were ready to try.</p> - -<p>“If you fellows need help send back for us,” proffered -Hannibal, whose regiment, the Eighth, remained -to help hold Perote and to wait for the -Quitman Mohawks.</p> - -<p>“We don’t figure on needing help, boy,” Jerry -retorted. “Next time I see you maybe it’ll be in the -Halls of Montezuma.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span></p> - -<p>The First Brigade set out gaily; General Worth -and staff; Company A, engineers, with Acting Captain -George W. Smith, Lieutenant J. C. Foster and -the sprightly Lieutenant McClellan; Light Battery A -and Companies B, C, D, F, G, H, I and K, Second -Artillery; Companies B, G and K, Third Artillery; -A, B, C, D, E and I, Fourth Infantry. They marched -up the National Road through fields of grain, around -the base of dark Pizarro Mountain (a lone peak -higher than Perote Peak), and had covered eighteen -miles when halt was made for the night at a homely -mud village.</p> - -<p>The country again grew better, displaying fruit -orchards and green ranches. A fight was rather -expected at the pass of El Pinal, where the road -threaded a third narrow gorge in a range of bare, -granite hills; but although rocks had been heaped in -readiness to be rolled down upon the heads of any -enemy, nobody was here to roll them.</p> - -<p>Beyond El Pinal the road issued upon a high, -flat ridge. The column suddenly forgot its weariness. -Another stately view unfolded. In the west -there uplifted two splendid mountains. The highest, -shining with snow, was the famous Popocatepetl, or -Smoky Mountain, three miles high. The other, its -comrade on the north of it, was—well, a jaw-breaker: -Iztaccihuatl. It, too, was a famous peak. The -two of them overlooked the City of Mexico.</p> - -<p>And between the flat ridge and the range of the -two peaks there lay the beautiful green valley of -Puebla, dotted with the white-walled country-houses -of wealthy ranchers; and in the midst of the valley,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span> -the roofs and spires of Puebla itself, twelve miles -distant from the ridge.</p> - -<p>So the column quick-stepped manfully, and with -the fifes and drums pealing descended to the pretty -town of Amozoc, ten miles from the city of Puebla.</p> - -<p>Amozoc proved to be a pleasant surprise. That -had been a long and hard march from Perote: with -the days warm and showery, and the nights cold and -frosty, and the men sleeping on the ground in the -dirt, without tents, and trudging by day through -mud and dust both. But here at Amozoc, the alcalde -or mayor met General Worth on the outskirts of the -town and invited him in, and when the column entered -the women came running from their adobe -houses, bringing fruit and pitchers of cold water.</p> - -<p>“They call Puebla the City of the Angels, do -they? Faith, what’s the matter with Amozoc? Here -be rale angels.”</p> - -<p>“The first white women we’ve seen since Jalapy.”</p> - -<p>“Bless their purty faces an’ black eyes.”</p> - -<p>Such were the comments by the ranks behind the -Fourth Infantry music.</p> - -<p>An aide came galloping back to Colonel Garland.</p> - -<p>“The general’s compliments, colonel, and he -directs that you quarter your infantry battalion in -the town corral, near the plaza. I will show you.”</p> - -<p>Presently the Fourth had stacked arms in -the corral.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XII">XII<br /> -<small>AN INTERRUPTED TOILET</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The orders were to clean up, as if for inspection -and parade. General Worth was sending word forward -to the city council of Puebla, giving notice -that he intended to occupy the city at once. Evidently -he wished to march in in style to make a -showing, for Puebla was the second largest city -in Mexico.</p> - -<p>Jerry played in luck. He had kept his new uniform -in the best of shape. It would get shabby -soon enough, like the other uniforms. His drum -shone. So he was done with his prinking early. -The men generally were taking their time, to rest and -munch fruit. When he asked permission to go for -a stroll, Drum Major Brown said, having eyed him -and seen nothing wrong:</p> - -<p>“All right. Report in thirty minutes.”</p> - -<p>Tommy Jones, another smart drummer boy, from -Company I, joined him.</p> - -<p>“What you lugging your drum for, Jerry?”</p> - -<p>“So nobody’ll spatter mud on it, of course.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a greenie yet,” Tom asserted. “When -you’ve carried a drum as long as I have you’ll be -mighty glad to drop it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I sha’n’t leave it, just the same. Some -of those fellows would put up a job on me to see how -much I’ll stand.”</p> - -<p>Jerry continued, with his precious drum. The -mud-fenced corral was an odd sight as he and Tom<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span> -hastened through to the gate. The men finally had -settled to work. They were in all stages of undress: -some of them were washing their faces and handkerchiefs -and shirts at the watering troughs, some were -shaving, some were sitting and polishing their jacket -buttons with their “buff sticks,” which held each button -in a slot while rag and powder were used; some -were shining their buckles, or whitening their cross-belts -with soap-stone, or cleaning their shoes; and -a number had their muskets apart and were scouring -the rust and dirt from locks, barrels and bayonets.</p> - -<p>Pompey was hard at it on the outfits of Lieutenant -Smith and Lieutenant Grant.</p> - -<p>“Where you gwine, stripes?” he demanded. -“’Peahs laike you drummers ain’t got nothin’ to do. -I shuah’d laike to jine the music. Jest tootle an’ -thumpity-thump while we-all work. Where you -gwine now, so importinent? Mebbe Santy Anne -done sent fo’ you to s’render.”</p> - -<p>“Mind you shine those buttons or you’ll get a -whaling,” Jerry answered. “I’ll be back to inspect.”</p> - -<p>“You go ’long, stripes,” growled Pompey. “I -ain’t no sojer. I’se with the offercers. Who you, to -be so uppity? All stripes an’ no rank; that you!”</p> - -<p>With Tom, Jerry hurried out.</p> - -<p>“Pobrecitos! Aqui, pobrecitos—here, poor -little boys,” the kind-hearted women greeted, inviting -them to eat. But they had no time for that if they -wished to see the town.</p> - -<p>Somehow, the people of Amozoc were overcordial -to an enemy. The North Americans were invading -their country—at Cerro Gordo probably had -killed Volunteers from this very place; and yet the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span> -citizens smiled and bowed as if to friends. It struck -Jerry as a game; he couldn’t put much stock in all -that palaver. He remembered the two Manuels.</p> - -<p>The town was not anything great to look at. It -manufactured saddles and fine inlaid spurs, and the -best building was the principal church. The church -sat inside a fenced yard shaded by immense yew -trees covered with crimson-flowering vines—very -curious. Two or three officers were gazing about -and talking with the priests. The doors were open. -Taking off his cap Jerry sidled in; Tom followed.</p> - -<p>“Dare you to climb that,” Tom challenged.</p> - -<p>It was a ladder, seen through the doorway of a -closet in one corner, and extending almost straight up -into the belfry.</p> - -<p>“Never take a dare. You watch me,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“I’ll hold your drum.”</p> - -<p>“No, you won’t!”</p> - -<p>Lugging the drum slung behind him, Jerry was -out of breath when he emerged into the dusty belfry, -beside the great copper bell. But he was glad that -he had come. What a view! He could see the road, -in the east, connecting with the plateau that they -had crossed from El Pinal; he could see the top -of Pizarro Peak at Perote; and he didn’t know but -that he could see the dust of the Second Brigade -and the Quitman Mohawks coming on one day’s -march late.</p> - -<p>He crept around the bell, and could see the brigade -camp below. The men, like specks, were washing -up and mending clothes and whitening belts in the -corral and in the plaza where the artillery companies -had been quartered. He could see the specks of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167"></a>[167]</span> -pickets, posted at the edge of town. There in the -west were snowy Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl, sentinels -over the Halls of Montezuma. And there, on -this side of them, was the city of Puebla of the -Angels, sparkling in the afternoon sun.</p> - -<p>Then, as his eyes traveled, they lighted upon a -real dust cloud, slightly in the north, between Amozoc -and Puebla.</p> - -<p>The cloud was advancing; yes, and rapidly. -Whew! Cavalry, sure as shooting. Mexican lancers! -No other horsemen could be expected from -that direction, not in such a mass. The outpost -guards had not seen them yet.</p> - -<p>Like lightning Jerry twitched his drumsticks from -his belt, jerked his drum to the fore, and beat the -long roll. R-r-r-r-r-r-r! R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r! -And R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r! The stunning -noise in the hollow belfry deafened him. It -must have fallen like a thunder clap upon the ears -of the camp. As he plied the drumsticks with his two -hands he saw that the grouped specks had frozen -stone still, as if staring about to locate the alarm.</p> - -<p>He didn’t delay. Down he slid, down the -ladder, never caring how he landed—and he landed -plump into somebody’s arms. They were Lieutenant -McClellan’s.</p> - -<p>“<a href="#i_frontis">You young rascal! What’s the meaning of this -racket?</a> Who authorized you to——?”</p> - -<p>“The enemy, sir!” Jerry panted, not waiting. -“They’re coming.”</p> - -<p>“How do you know?”</p> - -<p>“I saw their dust——”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168"></a>[168]</span></p> - -<p>“Between here and Puebla—about five miles out—lancers, -sir.”</p> - -<p>Away ran Lieutenant McClellan.</p> - -<p>“Golly!” blurted Tom, who had been listening -with his mouth open. He, too, ran, and Jerry after. -They got to the corral just in time. All the town -had seemed to be excited, the pickets were firing -alarm shots, the long rolls were beating for artillery -and infantry, officers and men were hustling, and in -the corral the Fourth Infantry was falling in, helter -skelter, the soldiers wrestling into their trousers and -jackets and shoes, buckling on their belts and cartridge -boxes, seizing their muskets.</p> - -<p>An aide spurred through the corral gate.</p> - -<p>“Colonel Garland! Oh, Colonel Garland! The -general directs that you take four companies of the -Fourth, unite with the Second Artillery, and commanding -in person, march out upon the Puebla -road until in touch with the enemy or he has -been dispersed.”</p> - -<p>Captain Nichols, the adjutant, rapidly called the -companies: A, B, E, I. Company B was into it! -Jerry sprang to his place. Drummer and fifer stuck -to their company on detached duty like this.</p> - -<p>“Company B, by the right flank! Right face! -Company, forward—march!” Captain Gore bawled.</p> - -<p>In double file (two ranks formation) Company A -marched out through the corral gate.</p> - -<p>“By platoon, into line! Quick—march! Guide -right.”</p> - -<p>The other companies were close before and behind. -The Second Artillery, serving as infantry, -was double-quicking from the plaza, under Major<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169"></a>[169]</span> -Galt. Two guns of Colonel Duncan’s battery issued -at a gallop. In the plaza the remaining two cannon -were being hauled at top speed to opposite corners to -face the streets.</p> - -<p>At quick step the Colonel Garland detachment, -with the guns trundling at the rear, headed for the -Puebla road. And a funny spectacle the detachment -made: loose shoes flopping, jackets askew and half -buttoned, belts dangling, caps wrong side before, -muskets not all put together yet, and many of the -men only partly washed and shaved.</p> - -<p>The cloud of dust was plain and much nearer. -The Mexicans appeared to be swinging around, -northward, as if bent upon cutting the road east of -Amozoc. They could be seen easily: a great column -of lancers—looked to be two or three thousand, all -at a trot, their yellow cloaks streaming, their red -jackets glimmering, their lance points, muskatoons -and trappings flashing.</p> - -<p>“Form company! First platoon, right oblique!”</p> - -<p>Then—</p> - -<p>“Company, right turn—double quick—march!”</p> - -<p>The detachment was marching straight for the -lancers; down came the lancers, massing for a charge.</p> - -<p>“Column—halt!” Adjutant Nichols shouted.</p> - -<p>“Form square—right and left into line—quick -march—wheel!”</p> - -<p>With rumble and thud and cheer the two guns of -Flying Battery A dashed to the fore. They were -unlimbered and turned in a jiffy. The gunners -waved their slow matches, or linstocks, to brighten -the spark. The cannon were lined and pointed—an -instant more and with a gush and a boom a solid shot<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170"></a>[170]</span> -had whistled toward the gay lancers. Another—and -another. Whish! That was grape, and the -lancers scattered. One more dose of the murderous -grape and they had whirled, every man—they were -scouring like mad back for Puebla, a general (by his -epaulets) striving in vain to rally them. He was -carried along with the rest.</p> - -<p>“Santa Anna! There goes Santa Anna!”</p> - -<p>It was only a guess, but it proved true. Later -news said that General Santa Anna himself had gathered -cavalry, infantry and artillery at Puebla, in -order to stop the American advance; he had left the -infantry and artillery there, while with the lancers -he rode to cut off General Worth’s Second Brigade -from the First Brigade. In El Pinal Pass, for instance, -he might have done the job nicely. But he -had chosen the wrong time. A “rascal” of a drummer -boy had seen him from the church steeple.</p> - -<p>After all it was not much of a brush. Colonel -Garland took his column into Amozoc again and arms -were stacked; but the day was drawing to a close -and there was no more prinking. The camp had to -keep on the alert, with strong guards out, for the -Mexicans might be up to more tricks.</p> - -<p>In consequence of being half dirty and half clean -the men really looked worse than ever.</p> - -<p>General Worth waited for the Colonel Clarke -brigade and the Quitman Volunteers to join him. -They arrived the next morning. General Quitman -brought only two regiments, the New Yorkers and -Second Pennsylvanians. The First Pennsylvania -(Colonel Wynkoop’s “Dutch” regiment) had been -left at Perote. As for the other Mohawks—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171"></a>[171]</span></p> - -<p>“Did you know that Old Fuss and Feathers -hasn’t more than six thousand men all told?” Hannibal -demanded, after first greetings.</p> - -<p>“No!”</p> - -<p>“That’s right. We’ve lost five thousand Mohawks -since you left Perote. Got only the First and -Second Pennsylvania, the Palmettos and the New -Yorkers. The others were twelve-months men and -their time is out soon. The Alabamans and Georgians -are still at Vera Cruz; and at Jalapa General -Scott let the Third and Fourth Illinois and the Tennesseeans -and Kentuckians go. They said they’d stay -till the last day, but then they wouldn’t re-enlist; they -wanted to get home. So he thought they’d better -start right away, before the yellow fever got bad at -Vera Cruz. We’re garrisoning Jalapa and Perote, -and that’s all. Have a big sick list and a lot of -desertions, too, but not as many as in Texas and -northeast Mexico. Up there the Mexicans kept tolling -the men over by promising high pay and officers’ -jobs. Some of ’em are fighting under Santa Anna -now, I bet, because they’re afraid to come back. If -they’re captured they’ll be shot or hanged.”</p> - -<p>“Where’s General Scott?”</p> - -<p>“He’s coming from Jalapa with the Second Division. -General Pillow’s gone to Vera Cruz to look -after reinforcements, and General Patterson has gone -home because he hasn’t men enough for a division. I -suppose Quitman or Pillow will command the Mohawks -now. So you fellows didn’t have much of -brush with those lancers, you say?”</p> - -<p>“No. They ran off.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you did your best, boy. You gave the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172"></a>[172]</span> -alarm. I guess those smart officers will quit calling -us ‘rascally drummer boys.’ Anyhow, hope we -beat the Second Division into Puebla. There’s no use -in this whole division sitting here, only ten miles out. -We don’t need the Second.”</p> - -<p>The restless General Worth decided the same -thing. The scouts who reconnoitred reported that -all Santa Anna’s forces in Puebla had vanished on -the road to the City of Mexico; the mayor of Puebla -sent the same word. Before noon the First Division -and the Quitman two regiments of Mohawks -marched for Puebla. The day was May 15.</p> - -<p>A short distance out of Puebla the mayor and city -council met General Worth to escort him in. There -was to be no fight. The road changed to a magnificent -paved highway leading between pillars of shining -stone like colored marble.</p> - -<p>“Close order—march!”</p> - -<p>Those were the company orders. The ranks -closed up and the men took to the cadenced step, -all feet moving to the taps of the drums.</p> - -<p>“Column, close in mass—quick—march!”</p> - -<p>Each company closed in upon the company before, -so that there was a solid column of platoons, -every musket at a right shoulder shift, every foot -planted in unison with the other feet.</p> - -<p>“Guide—right!”</p> - -<p>This did not prevent the men from glancing aside, -as they marched shoulder to shoulder. The tune for -the fifes and drums was Yankee Doodle but the regimental -bands played Washington’s March.</p> - -<p>The paved road led through a broad gateway in -the city wall. The top of the wall had been crowded<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173"></a>[173]</span> -with Pueblans, and now the streets were lined with -more, and the balconies of the buildings were fringed -with men and women gaily dressed, peering over to -see the North Americans. The women waved their -handkerchiefs and fans, the men flashed white teeth -while they puffed their cigarettes and made remarks.</p> - -<p>It was a pity that the toilet at Amozoc had been -interrupted. Many of the muskets were still stained -from the battle of Cerro Gordo and the rains; some of -the rank and file had not had time to shave. Uniforms -were dingy, belts half whitened or whitened -not at all, the buttons and buckles and the band instruments -were tarnished. Yes, and faces were not -especially clean, for the grime of the marches through -dust and mud was deep. Besides, a number of the -soldiers had been ill.</p> - -<p>It was evident that the Pueblans were disappointed. -They had expected to see glitter and show -as in their own troops, instead of this collection of -thin, long-haired, shabbily clad troops marching -under rain-stained, wind-torn flags.</p> - -<p>But no troops in the world could have marched -with better discipline. This was a veteran division, -even the Mohawks. Those holes in the flags were -bullet holes, the stains were powder stains. Cerro -Gordo was behind, so was Perote, here was Puebla, -and the next entry would be that into the City -of Mexico.</p> - -<p>Halt was made in the large plaza, in the very -center of the city, bordered on one side by the great -palace or governor’s house, six hundred feet long, -and on another by the cathedral, covering a block. -The Pueblans surrounded the plaza in dense ranks,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174"></a>[174]</span> -staring and commenting. General Worth showed -not the slightest hesitation. The division stacked -arms here, cannon were placed at the corners, guards -were posted, and the companies dismissed. It was a -pleasant spot. The men comfortably stretched out. -They were only three thousand Americans in the -midst of sixty thousand Mexicans, with the whole -Mexican army somewhere about; but in a few minutes -two-thirds of them were sound asleep.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175"></a>[175]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIII">XIII<br /> -<small>GETTING READY AT PUEBLA</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“The ‘old man’ ’s coming!”</p> - -<p>It was now May 27. The First Division and the -Quitman Volunteers had been holding Puebla for -more than a week and a half. There had been alarms. -One day all the troops had stood under arms, from -morning until night, with guns loaded and with three -days’ rations in their haversacks, expecting an attack -by Santa Anna; but Santa Anna had not appeared. -General Worth seemed nervous—and little wonder.</p> - -<p>Word had arrived at last from General Scott -that he would be here to-morrow at noon. This was -his custom: to send a warning ahead whenever he -rode up the line, so that the regiments might be ready -to turn out and receive him in proper style.</p> - -<p>The Eighth Regiment (General Worth’s “own”) -was selected to do the honors. This peeved Hannibal, -but it let Jerry and the Fourth out to see things -as they occurred. Luckily, the Fourth was quartered -near the east gateway of the National Road from -Vera Cruz and Jalapa, and a fellow could climb the -wall here and look right down upon the road.</p> - -<p>First, about half-past eleven, General Worth and -General Quitman with their staffs, a-glitter in their -full-dress uniforms of blue cloth and gold trappings, -white plumes floating from their chapeaus, went -trotting to meet the chief.</p> - -<p>All came back together: General Scott, tall and -massive, upon his prancing horse, in full uniform<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176"></a>[176]</span> -complete from his plume to his shining boots; General -Worth on his right, General Quitman on his left, -the staffs following; Captain Phil Kearny’s company -of the First Dragoons and a detachment of the -Second Dragoons in column of fours as escort. With -only these two hundred and fifty dragoons General -Scott had ridden ahead of the Twiggs division, clear -from La Joya, one hundred and twenty miles.</p> - -<p>The soldiers upon the wall at either side of the -gate gave Fuss and Feathers a rousing cheer. That -pleased him. He took off his chapeau and bowed -right and left to his “boys.”</p> - -<p>Commander-in-chief’s headquarters were to be at -the palace on the plaza. On the way to it there was -a square of trees, the Alameda. The Eighth Infantry -had been drawn up on parade, in two ranks, in -front of the church San José, opposite the Alameda. -Colonel Clarke himself, of the Second -Brigade, commanded.</p> - -<p>“Present—arms!”</p> - -<p>The drums beat a roll, every musket came to a -rigid present, every sword to a salute, the colors -dipped, and General Scott, looking like the old hero -that he was, rode proudly along the line, his hand at -his hat, his eyes a little misty. The regimental band -played “Hail to the Chief.”</p> - -<p>The Second Division of Regulars did not get in -for a couple of days. General Childs, of the Third -Artillery, had been left at Jalapa with about one thousand -men, mainly Regulars of all the arms. Colonel -Wynkoop and most of his First Pennsylvanians -were still at Perote. Having only five thousand eight<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177"></a>[177]</span> -hundred active troops, General Scott was obliged to -mark time at Puebla while awaiting reinforcements.</p> - -<p>This was hard, for it gave General Santa Anna -plenty of leisure in which to gather another army -and complete his fortifications. And while Puebla -was a pleasant place, there seemed to be a discouraging -amount of sickness caused by the fruits and the -water. One-fourth of the soldiers were in the hospital -and many died.</p> - -<p>The well were kept busy, for General Scott believed -in exercise and drill. The army had its first -opportunity since leaving Vera Cruz to drill together. -Every day one or another of the brigades was -manœuvred out upon the Puebla military drill -grounds near the city walls; and three times a week -there was a full division review, under the eyes of the -commander-in-chief.</p> - -<p>The Pueblans always crowded to witness the -drills, and after watching they were free to admit -that the Americans knew how to soldier.</p> - -<p>It was no slouch of a job to be a drummer, as -Jerry found out all over again. He himself had a lot -to learn, if he would obey the drum major’s signals -made with the tasseled staff. The drummer’s especial -drill, for instance: Put up—drumsticks! Unsling—drums! -Ground—drums! Take up—drums! Suspend—drums! -Draw out—drumsticks! The marching -signals: By the right flank, by the left flank, wheel -to change direction, right oblique, left oblique, and -so forth. The beats: The marching taps, ninety steps -to the minute; the flam, or double beat, in pairs, at -one hundred and ten steps to the minute, used in -the evening retreat; the rolls, eighty beats to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178"></a>[178]</span> -minute for the troop call, and one hundred and ten -to the minute for quick time and the salutes; the -drag, one hundred and forty beats to the minute, -for double-quick time, and the long roll, in sections as -fast as one could work the drumsticks, for alarms.</p> - -<p>Then there were the many calls: The general, for -the whole camp to prepare to break up; the assembly, -for the companies to fall in; to the color, for the companies -to form regiments; the reveille, or first call, in -the early morning, to wake the camp up; the tattoo, or -last call, in the evening, to send the camp to bed; -the drummers’ call, or musicians’ call; come for -orders, and the call to the sergeants or corporals; -the retreat call, for evening parade; and in the field -the halt, the recall, the march in retreat, the run or -charge, and the commence firing.</p> - -<p>A drummer boy had to have a good ear and lots -of constant practice to do all these things, with -the drum major or some of the veteran drummers -criticizing.</p> - -<p>There were one drummer and one fifer in each -company of infantry and artillery, although the battery -sections usually had a bugler. The dragoons -had trumpeters. Drummers and fifers of each regiment -formed the field music and marched with the -band, when the regiment had a band. The Fourth -did not have a band, which was lucky. The Eighth -had theirs, and Hannibal claimed that it was a nuisance, -always getting in the way of the field music.</p> - -<p>The music was under the drum major. He acted -as first sergeant and received his orders from the -regimental adjutant. He called the roll at music -assembly, gave the signals with his staff, and saw<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179"></a>[179]</span> -that the musicians knew how to play. If there was -any instrument, from the drum even to the horn, -that “Old Brown,” the drum major of the Fourth, -could not play, nobody had yet discovered it.</p> - -<p>In regimental camp and manœuvres all the company -drummers and fifers generally played and -marched together—say ten drummers and ten fifers. -They assembled at the guard house for reveille, and -beating and tooting paraded around through the -camp, paying especial attention to the officers’ quarters! -The regimental calls were preceded by the -regimental march to draw attention, in case that -more than the one regiment was present. When -marching in column, the field music was at the head -of the regiment, the drummers behind the fifers. -But the drummer and fifer of each company messed -and camped with the company, and stayed with it -when it was detached.</p> - -<p>The drummers served each in turn at being posted -at the guard house to march with the guard on tour -and relief and to sound any signal that might be -required. The drummers, too, were used as markers -in the drills to indicate where the lines were to be -formed and dressed; and might be summoned for -orderlies or messengers.</p> - -<p>In fact, a drummer was an important personage. -The drummer boys got the pay and rations of a private; -wore a better uniform and a short sword.</p> - -<p>But not all the drummers were boys. There was -a sprinkling of boys and a sprinkling of grown men; -and when the field music had formed it made rather a -funny sight with a six-foot lath like Bill Sykes in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180"></a>[180]</span> -same short rank with a dumpy, strutty little “rascal” -like young Tommy Jones, aged only fourteen.</p> - -<p>The fifers were mainly men. Jerry’s partner, -Fifer O’Toole, outreached him by a foot.</p> - -<p>At rest intervals the troops were now given -chances to see the city and nearby country. Puebla -far surpassed Vera Cruz. The saying ran: “Puebla -is the first heaven, Mexico (the City of Mexico) is -the second.” The paved streets were many and -broad, flanked by splendid stone buildings and traversed -by the rattling coaches of the wealthy. There -were one hundred churches, and innumerable fine -stores; the markets teemed with fruits and vegetables. -The houses were thrown open to the officers -and men; General Worth had started in by not interfering -with the city government as long as it did -not interfere with him; General Scott continued the -system. He permitted the city watchmen to patrol -with their arms as before, so that at night there were -two sets of guards.</p> - -<p>The Mexican watchmen would chant:</p> - -<p>“Ave Maria! Son las doce de la noche, y -sereno,” which meant: “Hail, Mary! It is eleven -o’clock and quiet.”</p> - -<p>While the American sentries growled:</p> - -<p>“Post Number One (or Two, or Three). All’s -well.”</p> - -<p>Six miles out from the city were the ruins of the -ancient Aztec Indian town of Cholula, with a pyramid -of clay and stone blocks two hundred feet high, -mounted by one hundred and forty steps. When -Cortez, the conquerer, came through here in 1520 -the pyramid was used for human sacrifices, and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181"></a>[181]</span> -never-dying fire to the Aztec gods was kept alive on -top by the priests. But Cortez destroyed the city and -killed six thousand of the people. Now there was -no city, and no fire, and on top of the pyramid a -church had been erected.</p> - -<p>This was such a historic place that the troops were -marched out to it, a brigade at a time, for an excursion. -The Fourth Infantry with the First Brigade -of the First Division, under General Worth and -Colonel Garland, made the trip, one clear day, when -old Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl seemed to be within -musket shot instead of seventy-five miles away. Beyond -those two mountains lay the City of Mexico, -the goal.</p> - -<p>“We are the ones to get there,” thought Jerry. -The Regulars themselves were no discouraging sight—fifteen -hundred well-trained soldiers marching at -ease, bearing their veteran flags; the artillery officers -brilliant in red trappings, the infantry marked -by white, and the general staff gold-braided and -gold-epauletted.</p> - -<p>To be sure, whenever the troops started for anywhere -spies in Puebla immediately galloped into the -country to carry the news to Mexican lancers. But -who feared the lancers?</p> - -<p>General Scott came from behind. He and his -staff swept along the column of platoons, and slackened -to ride abreast half way.</p> - -<p>The officers there had been discussing the scenery. -Some gave the palm to glistening Popocatepetl, some -to Iztaccihuatl, some to the red-roofed city, some -to the fields of green, and some to the great pyramid -surmounted by the church. But General Scott said,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182"></a>[182]</span> -in his loud voice, so that the drummers and fifers -of the Fourth heard plainly:</p> - -<p>“Gentlemen, I differ with you all. My greatest -delight is in this fine body of troops, without whom -we can never sleep in the Halls of Montezuma, or in -our own homes again.”</p> - -<p>The speech traveled up and down the column and -everybody cheered. Old Fuss and Feathers certainly -appreciated good soldiers.</p> - -<p>It had been hoped that the army would “sleep in -the Halls of Montezuma” on July 4. But although -plenty of provisions had been collected the reinforcements -were still slow. So the Fourth of July was -passed at Puebla, with celebrations by the rank and -file, and in the evening a grand reception by General -Scott at the palace for officers and townspeople.</p> - -<p>Then, on July 8, General Pillow, who had been -promoted to a major-generalcy in the Regulars, -arrived from Vera Cruz with forty-five hundred men, -under Colonel McIntosh of the Fifth Infantry and -General George Cadwalader, a new brigadier, of -Pennsylvania. They had started in three detachments -and had had several skirmishes with guerillas -on the way; had lost fifty men in killed and wounded, -and a great deal of baggage.</p> - -<p>They brought up the Palmettos, the Mounted -Rifles, some of the Second and new Third Dragoons, -Company F of the Fourth Infantry, B of the Fifth -Infantry, parts of the Ninth, Eleventh and Fifteenth -Infantry (new Regular regiments), a few companies -of Voltigeurs or scouting riflemen, and a batch of -recruits for all arms.</p> - -<p>General Franklin Pierce (another new brigadier),<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183"></a>[183]</span> -of New Hampshire, arrived next, on August 6, with -twenty-four hundred men out of three thousand. -He had dropped six hundred by reason of sicknesses, -and had had six fights. His troops were the famous -Marine Corps of the navy, the remainder of the new -Regular regiments—Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, -Fourteenth and Fifteenth—and more recruits.</p> - -<p>The new regiments were rather raw yet; had -been mustered in only a few months, and only six -out of the four hundred officers had seen service. -The others were civilian appointees—many were -greener than Jerry. They made an odd sight as they -rode or walked about trying to act like old hands, but -bothered by their swords and spurs. The Marines, -however, were a snappy lot, officers and all, and took -no back talk from anybody.</p> - -<p>General Scott had called in the garrison from -Jalapa. It looked as though he was almost ready to -march on. He now commanded fourteen thousand -men in Puebla, but the sick list was tremendous. Two -thousand men were in the hospital, five hundred -others were just getting well. Nevertheless, the time -had come. For several days before the arrival of the -last reinforcements under General Pierce all signs -had pointed to an early break up. A council of war -had been held at headquarters, attended by Generals -Worth, Twiggs, Quitman and Pillow; aides and -orderlies had been racing through the streets, equipments -had been overhauled and wagons loaded.</p> - -<p>Reports said that General Santa Anna had gathered -an army again of thirty thousand and more, -and had fortified all the approaches to the capital.</p> - -<p>That made no difference to the army. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184"></a>[184]</span> -Regulars were eager to start. The Volunteers—the -Second Pennsylvanians, the New Yorkers and the -South Carolinans—gallantly proclaimed that they -wished to “see the elephant” beyond those next -mountains. These fighting Mohawks were bound to -go through, and compared with the new Regulars, -they were veterans.</p> - -<p>Colonel Childs, from Jalapa, was to remain in -Puebla with the sick and a garrison of five hundred. -The majority of the First Pennsylvanians stayed at -Perote to hold that. Counting out teamsters and the -like General Scott had, after all, only about ten -thousand seven hundred officers and men, with -whom to advance against General Santa Anna’s -thirty thousand.</p> - -<p>“We might better have chased right along with -what we had after the battle of Cerro Gordo, and -reached Mexico as soon as Santa Anna,” Hannibal -complained. “He’s had time to make ready for us, -and we’re cut loose from our base—haven’t men -enough to garrison a single place, except Perote, between -here and Vera Cruz, and the whole road is -worried by guerillas. Old Fuss and Feathers says -he’s thrown away the scabbard and is advancing with -the naked sword. It’s do or die. Well, anyhow, the -Second Division starts to-morrow. Those fellows -have the luck again. Hope we aren’t far behind.”</p> - -<p>This was August 6, the day of General Pierce’s -arrival. The army had been re-apportioned into -four divisions instead of three.</p> - -<p>The First Division was about the same as before: -Second Artillery, Third Artillery, Fourth Infantry,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185"></a>[185]</span> -in the First Brigade; Fifth Infantry, Sixth Infantry, -Eighth Infantry, in the Second Brigade.</p> - -<p>The Second Division (General Twiggs’) was -about the same also: First Artillery, Third Infantry, -and the Rifles, in the First Brigade; Fourth Artillery, -Second Infantry, Seventh Infantry, with the Engineer -company and Ordnance company, in the Second -Brigade.</p> - -<p>Major-General Pillow, who ranked next to General -Scott, now, as full major-general, commanded -the Third Regular Division. This contained the new -regiments. The First Brigade, General Cadwalader, -had the Voltigeurs or light riflemen, the Eleventh -Infantry, the Fourteenth Infantry, and Captain John -Magruder’s Light Battery I of the First Artillery. -The Second Brigade, under the handsome General -Franklin Pierce, had the Ninth, Twelfth and Fifteenth -Infantry.</p> - -<p>General Quitman commanded the Fourth Division. -This was the Volunteers and the Marines. -General Shields, who had recovered from his terrible -wound received at Cerro Gordo, had, of course, been -given the Volunteer brigade, composed of the Palmettos -under Colonel P. M. Butler, and the Second -New Yorkers under Colonel Ward B. Burnett. Lieutenant-Colonel -E. S. Watson, of the Marines, had -the Second Brigade—the Marines under Major Levi -Twiggs and the Second Pennsylvania (a fine regiment -equal to the Regulars) under Colonel W. B. -Roberts, with Light Battery H of the Third Artillery -under Lieutenant E. J. Steptoe, and Company C, -Third Dragoons.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186"></a>[186]</span></p> - -<p>Then there was the cavalry brigade, commanded -by the fire-eater, Colonel Harney, and containing -Company F of the First Dragoons, under Captain -Phil Kearny, nephew of General Stephen W. Kearny -who had marched the First to California; six companies -of the Second Dragoons, under Major E. V. -Sumner, who also had recovered from his Cerro -Gordo wound; and three companies of the new -Third Dragoons, under Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas -P. Moore.</p> - -<p>The Twiggs Second Division was to lead the way, -with Harney’s dragoons clearing the advance.</p> - -<p>Everybody turned out early the next morning, -Tuesday, August 7, to see the Second start for the -Halls of Montezuma. The dragoons were already -a short distance upon the road. A great throng of -soldiers, sick and well, and of the townspeople, -pressed around the plaza where General Twiggs -drew up his regiments on parade before the government -palace to be inspected by General Scott.</p> - -<p>Inspection over with, he faced the long lines and -raised his hat—and what a burly fighter he looked -to be, with his short neck and his sunburned red face -and his mane of white hair.</p> - -<p>“Now, my lads, give them a Cerro Gordo -shout!” he bellowed. “One, two, three—huzzah!”</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!” The twenty-five -hundred cheered with one voice in a deafening -burst. Jerry, Hannibal, and every comrade in the -crowd joined wildly. The bands blared, the drums -rolled, the fifes squeaked.</p> - -<p>“By company, right wheel! Quick—march!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_187"></a>[187]</span></p> - -<p>The division broke into column of companies.</p> - -<p>“Columns, forward—march! Guide—right!”</p> - -<p>“Break into platoons—march!”</p> - -<p>Away tramped the Second Division, bands playing, -drums beating, cannon rumbling, flags flying.</p> - -<p>“Hi!” Pompey chuckled, having squirmed up -beside Jerry and Hannibal. “Santy Annie, he done -heah dat shout, an’ he’s a-sayin’: ‘Dem Yankees is -comin’! Now where I gwine?’”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_188"></a>[188]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIV">XIV<br /> -<small>A SIGHT OF THE GOAL AT LAST</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The next morning the General Quitman Mohawks -and Marines marched jauntily out, headed -by Captain Gaither’s company of the Third Dragoons. -The Worth division was to leave on the -morning following; the Pillow Third Regular Division -would be the last.</p> - -<p>All Puebla gathered to see the First go. Not -a few of the Mexican women were crying. The -First Division was the favorite. The townspeople -had named it the “Pueblan Division.” They admired -the way the men had stacked arms and coolly -lain down to sleep in the plaza as if fearing nothing.</p> - -<p>General Worth, dark and flashing-eyed, sitting -his horse like a field marshal, called for three cheers.</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!”</p> - -<p>In column of sections five men wide the First -passed through the gate, and upon the National -Road to the City of Mexico.</p> - -<p>“Form platoons—march!”</p> - -<p>“Route step—march!”</p> - -<p>From close order of thirteen inches distance -the ranks fell back to twenty-eight inches, or one -pace, apart. The men might carry their guns at -will, always with the muzzles up; they need not keep -step and might talk.</p> - -<p>An aide from the general staff galloped in from -behind and said something to General Worth. The -order rang imperative:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189"></a>[189]</span></p> - -<p>“Column, close order—march!”</p> - -<p>So everybody came to a shoulder arms, the ranks -closed, the drums again tapped the cadence of ninety -steps to the minute.</p> - -<p>General Scott hastened by with his staff and -escort, and continued on to join the Twiggs advance, -it was said.</p> - -<p>“Route step—march!”</p> - -<p>The day, August 9, was sunny and warm. The -City of Mexico lay about ninety miles west, beyond -the next range of mountains. From the pass over -the range the Valley of Mexico and the city would -be seen.</p> - -<p>At the end of the third day’s march camp was -pitched amidst an icy drizzle, in a high valley named -the Rio Frio or Cold Water Valley. There had -been a stiff climb through pine forests but the pass -was near before. General Worth, riding his horse -among the regiments, directed that timber be cut -by the messes and fires built. Soon the dark rainy -valley was aglow with the log blazes of the First -Division bivouac, here ten thousand feet up, in the -Anahuac Mountains.</p> - -<p>Jerry was warm and comfortable, rolled in his -blanket beside the fire, his drum stowed in its oilcloth -housing.</p> - -<p>“Ah, weel, I’ve seen worse in Scotland,” Private -“Scotty” MacPheel remarked.</p> - -<p>“Sure, we’ll niver mind whin we’re all a-livin’ -cosy-loike in the Halls o’ Montezumy,” said Corporal -Finerty. “Faith, an’ they’re not fur now. -Jist over the top o’ the hill, an’ down.”</p> - -<p>The fires gradually died under the pelting rain.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190"></a>[190]</span> -When to the touch of a sergeant, Jerry awoke, shivering, -for reveille, his blanket was sheeted with ice, -and icicles hung from his drum cover.</p> - -<p>But this day they all were to cross the range and -would see the City of Mexico below, where General -Santa Anna waited with his thirty thousand men, his -artillery and his forts.</p> - -<p>To drum beat and fife note, playing the regimental -marches, the First Division stepped out briskly in -the crisp air. The way was up, and up, and up. -At every half mile the column had to stop and rest. -The men sweat under their muskets, knapsacks, -haversacks, cartridge boxes and blanket rolls. When -they reached the top they were almost eleven thousand -feet aloft.</p> - -<p>The pass formed a plateau about a mile long but -not wide. At noon the column halted at the western -edge for dinner.</p> - -<p>Nothing below could be seen except a heavy fog -extending like billows of cloud, while up here the -sun was shining. Nevertheless the Valley of Mexico -was underneath the fog bank.</p> - -<p>“Companies, fall in!”</p> - -<p>“By platoons, forward—route step—march!”</p> - -<p>Down they went upon a pretty fair road. The -fog was breaking, as they twisted and turned amidst -the pines. Now the sun commenced to shine into -the valley itself. Lakes glistened, green fields unfolded, -more mountains appeared.</p> - -<p>With rumble of wheels, tramp of feet and clatter -of hoofs the First Division descended. Nobody -could deny that the long column of cavalry, artillery, -infantry and wagons made a handsome sight. General<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191"></a>[191]</span> -Worth and staff, in their great-coats, upon their -horses, had paused. The general was eagerly surveying -the line. Then he exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Gentlemen! Look at that! Just look at that -column! Isn’t it enough to cheer the heart of -any man?”</p> - -<p>By mid-afternoon the whole valley was in view. -There were numerous towns; several large lakes; the -City of Mexico was disclosed as a patch of sparkling -towers and turrets, thirty miles distant. And after -a time the ranks began to pick out the camps of the -Second and Fourth Divisions, blue with soldiers and -slightly marked by the few tents of officers.</p> - -<p>“That first is Twiggs.”</p> - -<p>“No, it’s Quitman. I can see the Mohawks -’atin’!”</p> - -<p>“B’gorry, ’tis Twiggs; for there’s Ould Fuss an’ -Feathers, big as anny thray men!”</p> - -<p>“Column, close up—march!”</p> - -<p>The ranks closed, the men fell into the cadenced -step. Drum Major Brown ordered “Coming -Through the Rye”; and with the fifes and drums -of the Fourth Regiment playing “If a body meet a -body,” and the other music and the bands playing -what they chose, they all marched past the first camp -(that of the Quitman Volunteers and Marines); before -reaching the camp of the Second they turned -into a road branching off to the southwest, as if for -a round shining lake; and at sunset, while the clouds -promised rain, they made camp at a village named -Chalco, near the eastern border of the lake.</p> - -<p>The evening was rainy. Under orders from the -officers the company sergeants soon billeted the men<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192"></a>[192]</span> -in the village houses and shacks. Jerry’s mess—First -Sergeant Mulligan, Corporal Finerty, Fifer -O’Toole, Privates “Scotty” MacPheel, John Doane -(who had served in the British army) and Henry -Brewer from New Jersey—got quarters equal to -the best: the same being a room with stout clay walls -and mud roof, and a fireplace, and sheep pelts on the -dirt floor for softness. To be sure, the pelts smelled -rather strong when warmed up, but what difference?</p> - -<p>Sergeant Mulligan sent out Scotty and Henry -to forage, with Jerry as interpreter. They three -came back bringing a shoulder of mutton, two -chickens and an armful of corn. Under orders from -the sergeant, in a gruff voice, but delivered by Jerry, -the Mexican who owned the hut supplied firewood. -Speedily the mess was cooking and eating.</p> - -<p>“The only thing that bothers me now is, jest how -are we goin’ to call on Santy Annie?” said Fifer -O’Toole, munching; “for, as I understand, all the -roads leadin’ in to him are dikes, like, through -the bogs, wid wather on both hands an’ cannon -overhead.”</p> - -<p>“Why can’t you l’ave that to Gin’ral Scott?” -Corporal Finerty reproved. “Faith, he’ll find the -way in an’ we’ll take it. Meself, I ain’t paid to do -a gin’ral’s work; I’ve my own business, an’ that’s -fightin’ whin the officers give the word. They’re -the lads who know.”</p> - -<p>“By the way the folks in this town are acting, -keeping so aloof and not over friendly, they consider -us as good as licked already,” put in Henry Brewer. -“‘You are all dead men’—wasn’t that the comforting<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193"></a>[193]</span> -word from the black-faced villain who handed us -over the mutton?” he appealed to Jerry.</p> - -<p>Jerry nodded.</p> - -<p>“But they said the same about you in Vera -Cruz,” he added.</p> - -<p>“Yis, an’ they thought the same at Cerry Gordo,” -Sergeant Mulligan asserted. “An’ the same they -thought in Pueblo, whin the purty gurls cried to see -us set out. But for all that we’re still terrible able to -punish flesh-an’-blood victuals. Wid full stomicks -an’ Scott to lade us on we go.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194"></a>[194]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XV">XV<br /> -<small>OUTGUESSING GENERAL SANTA ANNA</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>In the morning the clouds had vanished. The -day was as warm as midsummer; in the east and -southeast the great peaks of Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl -stood out white and sharp and clear; large -Lake Chalco shimmered in lanes of water through -reeds and floating meadows; across it, and farther in -the northwest, the City of Mexico appeared plainly, -its towers and high roofs glistening in the sun.</p> - -<p>Everything looked peaceful. After the camp -had performed its fatigue duties, the men were set -at work cleaning their equipment. Jerry finished -early and was free to wander.</p> - -<p>By all talk throughout the regiment the situation -was serious. The City of Mexico was in sight, but -it was surrounded by lakes and bogs, and batteries -of heavy guns, and fortifications manned by thirty -thousand or more Mexican soldiers.</p> - -<p>After a while he espied an officer seated by himself, -apart, upon a pile of old clay bricks and studying -a map. It was Lieutenant Grant, busy figuring the -problem. Jerry went to him and saluted.</p> - -<p>“Well, my lad?” the lieutenant invited.</p> - -<p>“Beg your pardon, sir, but I was wondering -what we’re going to do,” Jerry ventured.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant smiled.</p> - -<p>“So are the rest of us. It’s a very pretty puzzle. -But General Scott will solve it, for here we are.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195"></a>[195]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ll take the city, of course, sir,” Jerry -agreed. “I don’t know how, though.”</p> - -<p>“N-no,” the lieutenant mused, eying his map. -Then he eyed Jerry. He was worn and thin, like -the soldiers generally. “You’re a bright boy. -Maybe if you look at this map you will understand -things better. But this is all confidential, you must -remember. The man in the ranks is supposed to -wait and obey orders; the field officers say what they -are. And as I’m only a second lieutenant I have little -to do with the planning of operations.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll remember, sir,” Jerry promised.</p> - -<p>“All right. Sit down. Here’s a sketch map that -I’ve borrowed from the engineers. It covers this -section. There’s the road from Puebla, over which -we advanced. There’s the Fourth Division camp, at -Buena Vista, which we passed before turning off; and -there’s the Second Division camp at Ayotla, three -miles along toward the city. Here we are at Chalco, -a short distance south of the Puebla road and the -two other camps, and there in the northwest is the -City of Mexico. You’ll see how we are blocked off -from going over the Puebla or National road, by -the fortress of El Peñon. There’s El Peñon, thirteen -miles west of General Twiggs’ camp, on the -main highway.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="i_194map"> - <img src="images/i_194map.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><i>The Campaign in the Valley of Mexico</i></p> - </div> -</div> - -<p>“Yes, sir. I see it. Can’t we take it like we -took Cerro Gordo?”</p> - -<p>“General Scott, I have been informed, would -rather not try. El Peñon is stronger than Cerro -Gordo was. You can see it from here. It consists -of one steep hill; mounts fifty-one guns by batteries -placed in terraces, and is surrounded by a ditch of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196"></a>[196]</span> -water twenty-four feet wide and ten feet deep. The -guns enfilade, or rake the length of the road for -a long distance, and we cannot avoid them by leaving -the road on account of marshes on either hand. -To force El Peñon would cost three thousand men, -and we would still be upon a narrow road, seven -miles from the city, and unable to manœuvre. But -southwest of El Peñon, and nearer the city, on a -branch road or cut-off from the main road, you see -another fortress called Mexicalcingo.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Mexicalcingo is a fortified town, commanding -the passage of a bridge through the marsh at the -head of Lake Xochimilco, which is the lake extending -into the northwest from Lake Chalco. Mexicalcingo -is scarcely five miles from the City of Mexico, -but otherwise it gives much the same problem as -El Peñon. We might carry the batteries and the -bridge, and then we’d still be on a narrow road, -flanked by marshes for four miles, before we struck -another main road to the city. General Scott is having -both fortifications reconnoitred, I believe, but -his spies have already posted him.”</p> - -<p>“Then what can we do, sir?” Jerry asked.</p> - -<p>“I’m not saying, although I am at liberty to have -my own ideas. Anybody is permitted to think, but -it’s against regulations to think aloud sometimes. -I’m telling you these things as man to man. When -you grow up you may be an officer yourself, with -maps at your disposal. Well, if we can’t get at the -capital from the east, there ought to be other ways. -Napoleon laid down as a maxim of war: ‘Never do -what the enemy expects you to do.’ Santa Anna<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197"></a>[197]</span> -expects General Scott to advance upon the city by the -eastern approaches, and I understand that he has -concentrated his batteries and men so as to defend -these approaches. Now you’ll see by the map that -beyond Mexicalcingo the cut-off road joins a main -road from the south, named the Acapulco road. And -that farther west there is still another main road -from the south.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” mused Jerry, pouring over the map -and following the lieutenant’s finger.</p> - -<p>“There is a way to strike the Acapulco road, or -the other road, without reducing Mexicalcingo. An -army might—I do not say it could—but an army -of brave men might march around south of Lake -Chalco, here, and away south of Mexicalcingo, over -a very rough country, and reach the Acapulco road at -the town of San Augustine, about thirty miles from -where we now are. Thus we should avoid El Peñon -and Mexicalcingo, and approach the city from an unexpected -quarter, either the south or the west.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe General Scott has thought of that, sir.”</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant smiled again.</p> - -<p>“No doubt he has. I rather surmise that he -thought of it at Puebla. I know he was busy gathering -information. But by all reports from our spies -and from the natives the route around south of Lake -Chalco is very bad, with lava rocks and sharp ridges -and bogs. It is so bad that the Mexicans themselves -rarely use it, and General Santa Anna has paid little -attention to it.”</p> - -<p>“The same way he didn’t pay much attention to -that first hill at Cerro Gordo,” said Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Cerro Gordo ought to have taught him, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198"></a>[198]</span> -apparently it didn’t. He’s fairly good at tactics -and poor at strategy. General Scott shines in both. -I have an idea,” continued the lieutenant; and he -suddenly asked: “Can you keep a secret, boy?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Very well. Do so. I am telling you a secret—or -what may be a secret. It is quite likely that the -march upon the City of Mexico will be made by the -south. Captain Lee, of the engineers, has reconnoitred -the trail around the lake to San Augustine -and thinks it passable.”</p> - -<p>“And we won’t have to fight, sir?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ll have fighting enough and to spare. -There are defenses over on the Acapulco road, and -Santa Anna will find out what we’re up to. It’s -simply a question whether he’ll dare move his forces -in time and leave the eastern approaches weakened. -You see Tlalpam, or San Augustine? North on the -road to the city there is the town of San Antonio, -which probably has strong batteries; and then Churubusco, -four miles from the city. After these are -taken, we should have to fight a way through the -interior line of defenses connected with the city -walls. But at San Augustine we shall be within nine -miles of the city and have the choice of several roads. -Yes,” smiled the lieutenant, folding the map, “we -shall be kept busy, officers, men and boys.”</p> - -<p>The Third Division, under General Pillow, bringing -the new infantry regiments and the Voltigeurs, -arrived this afternoon. They all passed on through -Chalco and encamped two miles south at Chimalpa. -Now if the attacks were to be made from the east, -then the Second Division and the Quitman Volunteers<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_199"></a>[199]</span> -and Marines would get in first, because they -already were on the main road. This put the First -and Third Divisions in the rear again, which was -not pleasing to them. But Jerry, hearing the talk, -smiled to himself, for he thought that he and Lieutenant -Grant knew different.</p> - -<p>And thus it came about; for—</p> - -<p>“Hooray, boys! The march is reversed. The -old First is to lead the way wance more.”</p> - -<p>That was the word from Corporal Finerty, at -noon mess the next day in the village of Chalco, on -the eastern shore of Lake Chalco.</p> - -<p>“An’ where do we go?”</p> - -<p>“Sure, I ain’t been told yet, but you can figger -for yourselves. It won’t be by the main road, that’s -certain, where the Twiggs lads are ahead of us.”</p> - -<p>The news set everybody on edge. The men -only waited for orders. In about two hours they -came from Brigade Adjutant Nichols, speaking for -Colonel Garland.</p> - -<p>“Beat the assembly, drum major.”</p> - -<p>At the initial taps the Fourth Regiment slung -haversacks and knapsacks and grasped muskets. The -other regiments were as alert. Drum Major Brown -signaled, and his drummers sounded To the Color.</p> - -<p>There was brief inspection. Ranks were closed, -platoons formed, the First Division moved out into -the south instead of into the north. That was just -as Lieutenant Grant had predicted.</p> - -<p>The Pillow division was under arms, two miles -on, but had not yet formed for a march. The First -trudged blithely by with good-natured jokes, and -left it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_200"></a>[200]</span></p> - -<p>When bivouac was made this evening in a cornfield -eight miles from Chalco the division was in -fine spirits. Old Fuss and Feathers and General -Worth were up to something, nobody knew exactly -what; but all, including Santa Anna, would soon -find out.</p> - -<p>The next day’s march rounded the lake and -turned into the west among olive groves. Emerging -from these the leading ranks broke into a cheer. -In the north, far beyond the lake, there might be seen -El Peñon hill, a dark, bulky mass, with the Mexican -flag still flying defiantly from its top. Across the -head of another lake, in the northwest, Mexicalcingo -village was just visible with the Mexican flags marking -its batteries also. The division was side-stepping -these forts out of range.</p> - -<p>“Faith, they don’t see us at all, at all. They’re -settin’ over their traps, an’ prisently we’ll be lookin’ -at their backs!”</p> - -<p>The road was getting bad. It wound along the -base of a bare mountain range that extended ridges -right into the new lake, Xochimilco. The horses -of Duncan’s battery had to be helped by hand; the -baggage train in the rear struggled with the steep -ravines cut into the sharp rock between ridges.</p> - -<p>At ten o’clock in the morning another village, -San Gregorio, was reached. Here an aide came up -with dispatches for General Worth; the word spread -that an attack had been made upon one of the columns -behind. The division was to wait for instructions.</p> - -<p>Then, at evening, all Colonel Harney’s cavalry -brigade, eight hundred dragoons, trotted in. They -said that a force of Mexican infantry and lancers<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201"></a>[201]</span> -had tried to cut off the Second Division, back at -Buena Vista on the way from Ayotla to march -around the lakes; but that Taylor’s battery of the -First Artillery had sent the red caps flying.</p> - -<p>The Second Division and the Fourth Division -were following the Third and the First. The whole -army was on the move, flanking El Peñon and -Mexicalcingo, aiming to strike the Acapulco road -into Mexico City from the south.</p> - -<p>The road to San Augustine grew worse. In -places there was scarcely space for the column to -pass between Lake Xochimilco and the mountain -slopes. The pioneers toiled. The Mexicans had -hastened to cut ditches and roll down logs; but the -artillery and the wagons were hauled through -and over.</p> - -<p>Captain Mason of the engineers rode ahead, out -of sight, to reconnoitre. When he returned it was -reported that he had entered San Augustine itself, -and had found no soldiers.</p> - -<p>“Column, attention! Close order—forward—march!”</p> - -<p>With cavalry, infantry, four pieces of artillery -and seventy-five wagons the First Division marched -into San Antonio on the afternoon of August 17.</p> - -<p>In camp this night many of the men thought that -now the way was open to the city. Remembering -the map and his talk with Lieutenant Grant, Jerry -feared different. So did others.</p> - -<p>“Not yet, not yet, my lads,” said Sergeant Mulligan. -“We’ll have our fights. You can rist sure that -Santy Annie knows afore this what we’re about. -Ain’t the country full o’ spies for him? ’Tis a long<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202"></a>[202]</span> -nine miles to thim Halls o’ Montezumy, an’ plenty -o’ room for batteries acrost the way. If I don’t miss -my guiss there’ll be troops an’ guns a-hurryin’ -already, ’round by the city an’ down to head us off. -I hear tell that not two mile north is the first o’ the -trouble—a place called San Antonio, bristlin’ wid -guns; an’ Cherrybusco beyant, lookin’ the same. An’ -bogs, an’ outworks, an’ the city walls beyant that.”</p> - -<p>“Weel,” quoth Private MacPheel, “may the bullets -be distributed same as the pay, an’ mony a -braw fallow win through.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203"></a>[203]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVI">XVI<br /> -<small>FACING THE MEXICAN HOST</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>At eight in the morning assembly was ordered. -The division formed column. This looked like business. -General Scott had arrived; the Second, Third -and Fourth Divisions were coming rapidly. When -the First headed out of San Augustine, upon a broad -road leading to the north, Jerry himself felt a queer -little thrill. In that direction lay San Antonio, only -two miles and a half; beyond San Antonio was -Churubusco; and beyond Churubusco, Mexico City.</p> - -<p>From San Augustine nothing could be seen of -the country north. The view was interrupted by a -great mass of blackish volcanic rock, thrown up like -lava, and cooled into all kinds of ugly shapes. It was -named El Pedrigal; was two miles north and south, -and three miles east and west.</p> - -<p>The road turned northward around the east end -of the lava bed. In another mile the west end of -Lake Xochimilco opened, opposite on the right—and -the column suddenly halted. The road continued, -but half a mile before there stretched across it the -Mexican batteries of San Antonio.</p> - -<p>Now the general officers consulted. In the column -heads wagged. With the marshes of the lake -upon the one hand and the jagged lava ridges upon -the other, and the road running between straight -into the breastworks, it did not look like a very -happy prospect.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204"></a>[204]</span></p> - -<p>“Order—arms! Battalion—rest!” barked -Major Francis Lee to the Fourth Infantry.</p> - -<p>The whole column might stand at ease while -General Worth and his staff, riding to a better position, -examined the ground through their glasses. -An aide came with orders for the brigade.</p> - -<p>“The general’s compliments, colonel, and you -will please encamp your brigade on the right of the -road,” he shouted, to Colonel Garland.</p> - -<p>The regiments were moved over. The Second -Brigade also went into camp behind. The companies -were cautioned to stay near their stacked arms in -readiness for action. The flags of the Mexican batteries -could be seen plainly; the notes of their bugles -could be heard. A cannon boomed, and a round-shot -whined down the road.</p> - -<p>“B’gorry, this day we make a horn or spoil a -spoon,” Corporal Finerty declared. “Who’s for -climbin’ over thim breastworks?”</p> - -<p>“I!” and “I!” and “Here’s your man!” were -the replies.</p> - -<p>“Less noise there, sergeant,” called Captain Gore.</p> - -<p>“You hear? Hould your breaths, for you’ll nade -’em,” Sergeant Mulligan rebuked.</p> - -<p>“Sure, sergeant, wan Cerry Gordo shout an’ -thim beggars’d be showin’ us their heels,” Corporal -Finerty grinned.</p> - -<p>“Here he comes! Old Fuss and Feathers himself! -’Tis like a smell o’ powder—the sight of him. -Are ye all primed, boys? We’re in for a fight.”</p> - -<p>General Scott and staff galloped up. General -Worth received him at division headquarters in a -ranch house near the rear; they all proceeded to examine<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205"></a>[205]</span> -the country again from the roof of the house. -Pretty soon the engineers under Major J. L. Smith -and Captain James Mason (said to be almost the -equal of Captain Lee in cleverness) set out to reconnoitre -over the lava bed on the left; Captain Seth B. -Thornton’s company of the Second Dragoons detachment -filed along the edge of the lava to support them.</p> - -<p>Both parties disappeared. The camp waited; -had dinner beside their stacked arms, the remaining -detachment of dragoons loafing likewise. Some of -the men slept in the warm sun. Jerry was dozing -off like an old campaigner, his shoulders bolstered -against his drum, when a “Boom! Boom” awakened -him with a start. The men around him were listening -and gazing, their faces a little paled. The officers -had stiffened, alert.</p> - -<p>A cavalry horse galloped down the road, its saddle -empty, its stirrups flapping.</p> - -<p>“Cap’n Thornton’s horse! It’s Cap’n Thornton’s -horse!”</p> - -<p>As the horse swerved for the dragoons, all might -see that the saddle was bloody. When the Thornton -troopers rode in, they brought Captain Thornton’s -body, cut almost in two by a cannon ball. They had -reconnoitred too close to a masked battery.</p> - -<p>The Mexican batteries were sending an occasional -shot in the direction of the division, bidding “Stand -off!” The engineers toiled back. They evidently -had found no route either by the left or the right of -the road, for toward evening the First Brigade was -moved a short distance aside and everybody knew -that the attack had been postponed. The Fourth<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206"></a>[206]</span> -Regiment secured quarters in a large stone barn—and -just in time. A cold rain began to fall.</p> - -<p>The Mexican batteries kept firing at the barn with -a twenty-four-pounder; once in a while a round shot -landed upon the mud roof or shook the solid walls, -but the rain and the gathering dusk made poor practice -for them, and after a time the men grew used to -the bombardment.</p> - -<p>Finally the shots ceased. Up the road the San -Antonio soldiers were having a celebration. There -was much singing and howling and squawking of -bands, together with the firing of muskets.</p> - -<p>“Now I wonder what’s the reason of all that?” -Henry Brewer of Jerry’s mess remarked. “Is it -because they killed one man, or do they think they’ve -beaten us off? Seems to me it takes mighty little -to make those fellows happy.”</p> - -<p>“Aye; and to-morrow they’ll be singing a different -tune,” said John Doane.</p> - -<p>“Did soombody obsarve this marn that we’d be -makin’ a spoon or spoilin’ a horn?” asked Scotty -MacPheel. “Faith, whin we carry yon batteries -I doot soom of us’ll no hae muckle mair use for a -spoon or any ither tool except a spade.”</p> - -<p>“Right-o, Scotty,” Corporal Finerty agreed. -“For me military eye tells me there’s a job ahead -of us, though I’m not sayin’ the First Division can’t -handle it. Sure it’s no secret what the ingineers -reported; all the officers know it, an’ I’ve an ear on -either side o’ my topknot. The Mexicans ferninst -us are snug an’ tight, wid a reinforcement o’ two -regiments from the north, an’ thray thousand men all -tould, an’ batteries fetched clear from El Peñon an’<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207"></a>[207]</span> -that other place, Mexicalcingo. Their right rists on -the lavy that only infantry can travel; their lift -ixtends clean into the bogs, where no man nor horse -can make way around. An’ in front we got to -charge in along this same open road, an’ belike have -to put up scalin’ ladders to get in wid for use o’ -the bayonet.”</p> - -<p>“You talk like an officer, Finerty.”</p> - -<p>“Yis, an’ I’m givin’ yez officers’ talk. If I had -me desarts a gin’ral I’d ha’ been before this. An’ -somethin’ else I’ll tell you. Yonder at the other side -those lavy ridges, an’ only thray miles, is another set -o’ batteries, an’ we can’t pass betwixt. There’s another -road, too, west’ard, an’ a cross road connectin’ -this and that, by way o’ Cherrybusco beyant San -Antonio. So if we do take San Antonio, an’ Cherrybusco, -won’t we have thim fellows on our backs? -Now I’m figgerin’ that the gin’ral staff is thinkin’ -a bit on how to carry the batteries yonder, first.”</p> - -<p>The night passed peacefully. Duncan’s battery -had been posted to command the road, the sentinels -regularly sang: “All’s well,” and the camp slept. In -the huge stone barn the Fourth Regiment was as comfortable -as could be.</p> - -<p>August 19, the next day, dawned bright and -warm. Word came that all the divisions were now -up as far as San Augustine. By the number of -aides and orderlies dashing back and forth between -the First Division headquarters and San Augustine, -something was due to happen.</p> - -<p>The orders of the day kept everybody close. -Jerry had no opportunity to look up Hannibal, and -Hannibal was unable to look him up, either. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208"></a>[208]</span> -air seemed filled with suspense. The Mexican batteries -up the road stayed very alert, expecting an attack. -But the brigade officers, within sight of Jerry, constantly -trained their glasses upon the lava field to the -west—really paying more attention to that than to -San Antonio.</p> - -<p>Then about the middle of the afternoon the dull -booming of artillery and the crash of musketry -came rolling across the bristling lava. Speedily two -clouds of smoke rose toward the sun; both were three -or four miles away. The larger one veiled a hill -that just showed itself above the lava field.</p> - -<p>It was a battle at last. The large cloud was from -the Mexican batteries, the smaller cloud from the -American guns.</p> - -<p>General Worth and a group of officers had issued -upon the flat roof of the ranch house headquarters -to gaze at the smoke. Division Adjutant Captain -William Mackall galloped in from the headquarters -to Colonel Garland; Brigade Adjutant Nichols bore -the orders to Major Lee of the Fourth Regiment.</p> - -<p>“The battalions are to stand in line, at rest, -major, prepared to move.”</p> - -<p>“Battalion, attention!”</p> - -<p>Officers ran to their places; the men, who had -been sitting down, sprang up.</p> - -<p>“Right—dress! Front! Order—arms! Battalion—rest!”</p> - -<p>So the regiments waited for the command to -march.</p> - -<p>“We’ll be going yonder and lend a hand.” This -was the hope. But although the firing grew heavier<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_209"></a>[209]</span> -and the smoke clouds denser, no further orders -arrived from headquarters.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless it was plain to be seen that things -were not altogether right in the west. General Worth -and staff still stood outlined upon the flat roof of the -ranch house, peering steadily through their glasses; -the brigade and regimental officers were anxiously -gazing, too; and presently the company officers -drifted into little knots and gazed and murmured.</p> - -<p>The smaller black cloud was stationary; it had -not advanced, the Mexican cloud had lessened not -at all. By the sounds the American batteries were -lighter in metal. The smoke clouds remained -separate—the American forces seemed to be getting -nowhere.</p> - -<p>The faces of the officers lengthened; the men in -the ranks began to mutter restlessly.</p> - -<p>“Send in the First. Sure, we’re the boys. Leave -those fellows in front of us, and we’ll tend to -’em later.”</p> - -<p>The First Division stood ready until sunset. -When the firing died away, the positions of the two -smoke clouds had little changed. The Mexicans -upon the hill certainly had held out.</p> - -<p>“You may break ranks, major,” the adjutant -called to Major Lee. “The men are to be dismissed -for supper.”</p> - -<p>This left matters very unsatisfactory. Before -supper Jerry sallied out from the barn. The officers -still were in little groups, talking earnestly. Whenever -any of the enlisted men came near to them, they -immediately quit talking, as if they had been discussing -bad news. Jerry waited until he had a chance<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_210"></a>[210]</span> -to catch Lieutenant Grant alone. Then he went up -to him.</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, lieutenant, but could you tell me -anything about the battle? The men are afraid it -hadn’t gone right.”</p> - -<p>“We don’t know much more than the rest of -you,” the lieutenant answered. “General Worth -probably is expecting news. But if you’ll promise -not to spread discouraging word among the men, -I’ll explain the best I can.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Very well. As far as I understand, General -Scott is operating on a triangle. The base of the -triangle is formed by this road, from San Augustine -to Churubusco, with San Antonio at about the middle -of it. The lava field occupies the inside of the -triangle. The point of the triangle, west across the -lava, is a hill called Contreras, which the Mexicans -have fortified strongly. We cannot pass San Antonio -by the road, without much difficulty, in order to get -at Churubusco beyond and open the way to the capital. -But while we mask San Antonio and keep it -on the alert, General Scott purposes to throw the -other divisions from San Augustine out along the -south side of the triangle, carry the Mexican fortifications -at the point, and then by marching eastward -again along the north side of the triangle strike -Churubusco and San Antonio at their rear, or in -reverse. We, of course, will be called upon for a -frontal attack at the same time. Now by the appearance -of things I fear, myself, that the general has -run against a stronger position than he anticipated, -and that matters have not gone according to plan.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211"></a>[211]</span> -He had the engineers under Captain Lee reconnoitring -the enemy yesterday. They found a mule trail -leading from San Augustine through the lava to the -batteries at Contreras. Evidently the ground has -proved difficult for artillery, as I noted the reports of -only three light guns on our side.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think we’ve been whipped, lieutenant?” -Jerry asked, his heart sinking.</p> - -<p>“N-no, not exactly whipped, in the true sense of -the word,” Lieutenant Grant soberly said. “There’s -been no call upon us for reinforcements, and it did -not sound like a very heavy battle. But the way this -army is fixed, cut loose from communications and -over two hundred miles in the enemy’s country, if we -don’t take a place when we really attack it we might -as well be whipped. We can’t afford to lose men -for nothing.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll win yet, then; won’t we, sir?”</p> - -<p>“General Scott is there. You may be sure that -he’ll find a way. A small force can hold San Antonio -in check. It is acting strictly on the defensive.”</p> - -<p>“If troops are sent for, I hope they’ll be the First -Brigade,” Jerry blurted.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” smiled Lieutenant Grant; “so do I.”</p> - -<p>The regulation night’s rain was commencing to -fall. Jerry hastened back for the stone barn and -supper. That was rather a gloomy mess. They all -somehow knew that the attack over at Contreras had -failed; all wondered what Old Fuss and Feathers -would do next; what regiments had been cut up, why -the First Division had not been given a chance, and -so forth, and so forth.</p> - -<p>“Ah, weel, to-morrow’ll be a bludy day, I’m<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212"></a>[212]</span> -thinkin’, lads,” spoke Scotty. “The gen’ral’s no -mon to gie oop. I vote for a gude sleep, mysel’, an’ -I sartainly peety them who hae their bivouac in the -starm. Gude sakes, leesten to the pour doon!”</p> - -<p>The rain had merged into a terrific storm of -thunder and lightning and gusty wind that lashed -the barn with giants’ flails. Luckily the Fourth -Regiment was snug within the dripping eaves; but -what of the troops camped in the open, covered -by only their blankets? They would be drenched! -And what of the men on the battlefield? The -wounded, and the weary!</p> - -<p>While thinking and listening to the rain, and -drowsily watching the smouldering campfires in the -great barn, Jerry dozed off. He awakened to the -sound of low voices. A group of non-commissioned -officers was squatting near him, beside a fire, and -talking guardedly among themselves—or seemed to -be interested in a story. All through the barn the -ranks were stretched under blankets upon the floor, -snoring and gurgling. Jerry promptly rolled out -and crept to the group. Sergeant Mulligan and Corporal -Finerty were there from his company.</p> - -<p>They stopped murmuring.</p> - -<p>“Who’s that?”</p> - -<p>“Jerry Cameron, is all.”</p> - -<p>“Get back to bed. We want no young rascal -of a drummer sittin’ in with us.”</p> - -<p>“’Asy, now. He’s not as bad as the rist of -’em,” Sergeant Mulligan said. “He’s all right; -knows how to kape a still tongue in his head. Sure, -I see him talkin’ wid Left’nant Grant, betimes, an’ -niver a word did I get out of him. Let him stay.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213"></a>[213]</span></p> - -<p>“Mind you, then, nothin’ of this to the men,” -Corporal Finerty warned. “Go on, Murray.”</p> - -<p>The center of the group was Corporal Murray, of -Company A, who had been orderly at headquarters.</p> - -<p>“Well, as I was saying,” proceeded Corporal -Murray, “the story of the battle is like this—just as -I got it with my two ears when the orderly from Old -Fuss and Feathers rode in with dispatches to division -headquarters and I listened through the door. General -Valencia, who ranks next to Santy Annie himself, -is over on Contreras hill, with twenty-two -pieces of artillery, mainly heavy guns, and with six -thousand infantry and lancers, blocking the way -around by the west the same as those fellows at San -Antonio are blocking our way north’ard. So this -morning the general-in-chief sent Pillow’s division of -new regulars, with Cap’n Magruder’s light battery of -the First Artillery from the Second Division and -Left’nant Callender’s howitzers, to open the trail -discovered by the engineers; and the Second Division -under Twiggs was ordered to support.</p> - -<p>“Well, and a time they all had, sure enough. -The engineers hadn’t been able by reason of the -nature of the ground to get clost enough to count -the batteries, or quite figger their positions, but they’d -took a scattering of prisoners before being driven -back, and Old Fuss and Feathers examined these. -Now the trail was fierce, in the open, like, all heaved -up into sharp rocks and broken by holes, and never -a bit of shelter once our men had climbed atop the -lava field. And at two thousand yards the Mexican -eighteens had a fair sweep, whilst Magruder and -Callender couldn’t reply at all.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214"></a>[214]</span></p> - -<p>“But the men and horses dragged at the guns and -took their medicine. The Mounted Rifles afoot were -sent forward to clean out the Mexican skirmishers, -and that they did. ’Twas not the sharp rocks and -the holes alone, but the cactus was something scandalous, -and down in front of the hill there were ditches -and corn patches, fine for skirmish work. Never -mind, the Rifles kept at it. Sure, boys, if Magruder -and Callender didn’t get their guns to within nine -hundred yards, and there they planted ’em, and -opened up.</p> - -<p>“Persifor Smith’s First Brigade of the Second -Division formed our left o’ line; that new general, -Pierce, marched into right of line with his Second -Brigade of Pillow’s Third Division, being the Ninth, -Twelfth and Fifteenth Infantry; the other new general, -Cadwalader, moved in to support with his -First Brigade, the Voltigeurs and the ’Leventh and -Fourteenth regiments; old Bennet Riley with the -Second and Seventh Regulars and the Fourth -Artillery of the Twiggs’ Second Brigade was sent -around by our right flank to take the Mexicans in -reverse and occupy a village north’ard on their -left rear.</p> - -<p>“There was a ravine in front of the line, and all -cleared of brush, with the Mexicans up the opposite -slope entrenched, their lancers and infantry covering -their flanks and a road leading north for the City of -Mexico. ’Tis the road which connects by a crossroad -with this road of ourn, at Cherrybusco. Our -infantry stood no show of storming the hill from in -front—not across that ravine; and for two hours the -batteries had a fearful time with twenty guns pounding<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_215"></a>[215]</span> -’em. Left’nant Callender, of the howitzers, was -bad wounded, Lef’nant J. P. Johnston, of Magruder’s, -got his death, and we could work only three -guns together, owing to the nature of the ground. -The Rifles lay flat, supporting the batteries; and so -did the gunners, and jumped up when they served the -pieces. ’Twasn’t long before the whole two batteries -were put out of action; hadn’t made any impression -upon the breastworks with their twelve-pounders, -and had to be withdrawn.”</p> - -<p>“Where was Scott all that time?”</p> - -<p>“Right there, up toward the front. Riley was -getting through, ’midst the lava, ’round the enemy’s -left, so as to take the village north’ards on the road, -and put a wedge betwixt Valencia and Santy Annie. -For I tell you Santy Annie himself was up the road -about two miles with twelve thousand more Mexicans, -ready to reinforce if necessary. He’d been -feeding in troops right along. Now to nip that in -the bud and to help Riley, Scott ordered Cadwalader -forward by like route, sent for Shield’s brigade of -Mohawks—the New Yorkers and South Caroliny -Palmettos in waiting at San Augustine—and added -Pierce’s Fifteenth Infantry. Pierce’s horse fell in -the rocks and hurt the general’s knee, but Colonel -Morgan took the Fifteenth to position. Old Davy -(Twiggs, you know) on his own hook had detached -Persifor Smith with the Rifles, First Artillery and -Third Infantry, to the same point. And at dark -there they all were, every regiment, under Smith: -posted near the village at Valencia’s left and rear—thirty-three -hundred of ’em, cut off from Twiggs -on the south by the six thousand of Valencia,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_216"></a>[216]</span> -and threatened on the north by Santy Annie’s -twelve thousand.”</p> - -<p>“What’s to be done nixt, wud ye think?”</p> - -<p>“Cap’n Lee, of the engineers, made his way back -to general headquarters at San Augustine. He got -in about eleven o’clock with dispatches—the only -officer out of eight that tried to open communication -between Smith and Scott. He came all the way from -Smith, some four miles across the lava, and through -the Mexican scouts—had to feel with hands and -knees, for it’s black as the inside of your hat, out -doors, and raining pitchforks. Smith intends to -attack by the rear at daylight, before Santy Annie -gets down from up the road; asks for a frontal -attack at same time to help him out. So I guess -we’ll all be in it, for Twiggs’ll need every man.”</p> - -<p>A little silence fell on the group. Jerry’s heart -beat rapidly. The situation seemed serious.</p> - -<p>“I pity those poor fellows yonder acrost the -lava,” Sergeant Mulligan uttered. “Hark to the -rain, now! It’s a crool night. An’ they’ve been -marchin’ an’ fightin’ all the long day, an’ likely the -most of ’em are lyin’ out soakin’ wet an’ hungry -besides. Did we lose many, have you heard?”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t heard exactly, sergeant. The batteries -lost fifteen officers and men and thirteen horses. The -infantry got off better, for the batteries took the -brunt of it. But to-morrow——. You see, at San -Augustine there are only the Marines and Second -Pennsylvania; and here we are. That’s the reserve, -except the dragoons—and they’re no good on the -lava. Twiggs has only the Ninth and Twelfth -Regulars of Pierce’s brigade in Pillow’s Third Division<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_217"></a>[217]</span> -in front of Valencia. To make a proper diversion -there and support Smith and mebbe hold off -Santy Annie he’ll need help. I’ll go you a month’s -pay we’ll be called on before daylight.”</p> - -<p>“Faith, if we’re in for a fight, I mane to sleep,” -Sergeant Mulligan growled.</p> - -<p>The group broke up. Jerry crept back to bed. -He scarcely had dropped off into an uneasy sleep -himself when the galloping hoofs of a horse aroused -him—just as if he had been expecting the very thing.</p> - -<p>The horse passed the barn in a hurry; bound -for Colonel Garland’s headquarters, perhaps. Orders! -In five minutes the sentry on post outside the -barn challenged again:</p> - -<p>“Who comes there?”</p> - -<p>A voice answered shortly. Then the door -opened, and the same voice—that of Adjutant -Nichols—shouted:</p> - -<p>“Men! Men! Wake up, all hands! First sergeants, -parade your companies and call the rolls immediately. -The officers will then take command.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_218"></a>[218]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVII">XVII<br /> -<small>CLEARING THE ROAD TO THE CAPITAL</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>There was something in the ring of the adjutant’s -voice which wakened every man in a jiffy, -as though they all had been dreaming of battle.</p> - -<p>“Beat the long roll, drummers!”</p> - -<p>But already the vast room was astir with voices -and figures. Fires were being kicked together, lanterns -and candles being lighted; the companies -formed in half darkness; they called off. Outside, -the rain was still pouring.</p> - -<p>“Where we going now?”</p> - -<p>“What time is it, anyhow?”</p> - -<p>“Two o’clock, my lad.”</p> - -<p>“B’jabers, we’ll nade cat’s eyes.”</p> - -<p>“Weel, there’ll be licht enow whin the powder -burns.”</p> - -<p>“Be it to San Antonio or to Contreras, I -wonder.”</p> - -<p>“What difference to you, whether up the road -or down?”</p> - -<p>“’Tis to Contreras, wid this early start. I’m -thinkin’.”</p> - -<p>“An’ do we go on empty stomicks?”</p> - -<p>“We’re to help out the other lads at Contreras, -boys,” said a sergeant. “Five or six miles is all. -So what does the matter of an empty stomach count? -You can eat from your haversacks as we march; -and by breakfast time we’ll be sampling the camp -fare of those Mexicans. We’ll be fair in time for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_219"></a>[219]</span> -breakfast with ’em, and the fires’ll all be made to -save us the trouble.”</p> - -<p>The company officers had bustled in; got the -reports from the first sergeants. There were orders.</p> - -<p>“Company A, by the left flank! Left—face! -For’d—march!”</p> - -<p>“Company B, by the left flank! Left—face! -For’d—march! Right oblique—march!”</p> - -<p>And so on. Thus they all filed out of the barn -door into the rain and the darkness, where the regimental -officers were waiting.</p> - -<p>“By company, into line—march! Left wheel—march! -Company—halt! Right—dress!”</p> - -<p>“Sure, how can a man right dress when he -can’t see?”</p> - -<p>“Silence in the ranks!”</p> - -<p>“Form platoons—quick—march!”</p> - -<p>“Close up on the leading company, captains!”</p> - -<p>It was a jumble. Jerry found his place with the -rest of the music by guesswork.</p> - -<p>“Is that you, Jerry?” little Mike Malloy, drummer -of Company A, whispered. His teeth were -chattering.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Mike.”</p> - -<p>“An’ are we goin’ into battle?”</p> - -<p>“Looks like it, Mike.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, murther,” Mike groaned. “We’ll all be dead -wid cold before we get kilt entoirely wid bullets.”</p> - -<p>“Battalion, forward—route step—march! Close -up, men; close up,” shouted Major Lee. “Don’t -straggle. Drum major, sound a march.”</p> - -<p>“How can we sound a march wid the drums -soaked an’ the fifes drownded?” Mike complained.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_220"></a>[220]</span></p> - -<p>The First Brigade was in motion, marching back -down the road for San Augustine. The music proved -a dismal failure. Presently, stumbling and slipping -in the mud, with clothes and knapsacks weighing a -ton to the man, the column was passing the camp of -the Second Brigade. The Second Brigade’s fires -had long been quenched, but sentries could be dimly -seen; beside the road figures were lying rolled in -blankets, lights were glimmering feebly in the guard -tent and brigade headquarter’s tent.</p> - -<p>The Second Brigade was not going! The First -Brigade had been selected! Hooray! And the -Clarke men would be sick when they knew. Jerry -chuckled to himself, thinking of Hannibal, who was -missing out. At the same time he wondered whether -he would see Hannibal again. But General Worth -was with the First. His voice had been heard. And -no doubt Old Fuss and Feathers was impatiently -waiting, bent upon victory.</p> - -<p>Slosh, slosh, slide and stumble, in the downpour -and the blackness.</p> - -<p>“Close up, men! Close up! Keep in touch.”</p> - -<p>After what seemed to be a long, long time they -were trudging heavily through silent San Augustine, -south of the lava field. Except for cavalry pickets, it -appeared to be deserted. The reserve there—the -Marines and Second Pennsylvania—had gone. General -Scott of course had gone. All the infantry and -artillery were being gathered at Contreras for a -decisive fight.</p> - -<p>Slosh, slosh, slide and stumble and grumble. -After another long time the darkness began to thin. -Pretty soon the column might see the muddy road<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_221"></a>[221]</span> -and the outskirts. The clouds were breaking over the -mountains in the south and the lava field in the north. -The road was thickly marked by footprints and by -furrows filled with water, where the artillery wheels -had cut deeply.</p> - -<p>The way veered sharply north into the lava field, -amidst curious ashy cones high with flat tops as if -they had burst open; the brush had been hacked down -and leveled and crushed. General Worth and staff -spurred ahead. The sun was reddening the east. -Jerry could see the men’s faces, pinched and dirty, -white and unshaven. The ranks were panting—their -shoes clogged with mud, their uniforms drenched -and smeared, their guns and knapsacks dripping. -How far were Contreras and the Mexican army now? -A fight would be warming, if nothing else. Any -instant a halt might be ordered to recharge the -muskets and get ready.</p> - -<p>Hark! The fresh morning air was set atremble -by another roll of cannon and musketry fire. Smoke -arose before, maybe two miles distant in the northwest. -The battle had opened again; the men strained -forward. Adjutant Nichols galloped back along -the ranks.</p> - -<p>“Hurry, men! At the double! Sound the -double, there, drum major! Come, come, men! -Double time—march!”</p> - -<p>Colonel Garland had turned and shouted and -waved his sword. Jerry essayed to join in beating -double time. The men tried to respond. They -surged into a shambling trot, but they could not keep -it up on the slippery road, carrying their soaked<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_222"></a>[222]</span> -clothes and knapsacks, their muskets and mud-laden -shoes.</p> - -<p>They grunted and panted and wheezed and stumbled. -The firing had increased under the smoke -cloud. It continued furiously for about a quarter -of an hour, while the First Brigade toiled at its best -and the officers urged. Then the battle tumult died -almost as quickly as it had been born; and there -were cheers, instead, not the shrill “Vivas” of the -Mexicans, but the hearty “Huzzahs” from American -throats.</p> - -<p>“Hurrah, boys! The works are taken. Hear -that? It’s victory!”</p> - -<p>“Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah!”</p> - -<p>The column actually quickened pace over the wet -brush and lava rocks, with faces flushed by excitement. -The sun beams touched the tips of the lava -cones—and see! Away off there, where the smoke -cloud swirled in the morning breeze, the Stars and -Stripes gleamed from the top of a hill. The firing -still persisted, lessened by distance, as if the Mexicans -were being pursued northward.</p> - -<p>Here came General Worth, splashing recklessly -down the rough trail, his horse lathered with sweat, -his dark, handsome face shining as he waved his hat.</p> - -<p>“Contreras is taken. Halt your column, -colonel.” Then his face stiffened. “What’s this, -sir? The orders were to leave the knapsacks on a -forced march. Now instead of being fresh for a -hard day’s fight my men are broken down already! -This is no way to bring soldiers upon the field. -Counter-march, sir, as soon as possible, to our old -position, and await further orders to advance on the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_223"></a>[223]</span> -enemy. Deposit the knapsacks there and let the men -rest, sir.”</p> - -<p>He spoke loudly and angrily. Colonel Garland -answered not a word, but whitened and saluted. The -general had been heard by half the brigade. They -gave him a cheer. He was a leader to be depended -upon when it was a matter of fighting. Rather nervous, -beforehand, but a reliable commander in -the field.</p> - -<p>Now for San Antonio, no doubt. Back they were -marched, through the mud, five miles—and every -foot of the way they feared that the Second Brigade -might be in ahead of them, after all. But it was not. -It was only under arms. They exchanged cheers -with it, as grimy and tired and hungry they plodded -by. Jerry saw Hannibal standing, drum slung, in -the field-music ranks of the Eighth, and reported to -him with a flourish of the arm.</p> - -<p>At the old camping place, near the big barn, the -First Brigade took time to swallow hot coffee, scrape -some of the mud off, and dry in the warm sunshine. -But all too soon orders were given to fall in, with -blanket rolls, and with two days’ rations of beef and -bread in the haversacks. The lieutenants and first -sergeants passed along behind the ranks, inspecting -every cartridge box, weeding out the cartridges that -looked wet, and inserting fresh ones. The loads -were withdrawn from the muskets; dry loads were -rammed home. Serious business was ahead.</p> - -<p>The ranks were closed. The regimental commanders -made short speeches to their men. Major -Francis Lee addressed the Fourth.</p> - -<p>“Men,” he said, “we are going into battle. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_224"></a>[224]</span> -First Division has the honor of forcing San Antonio -from the front, to open the road for the heavy artillery, -while the Pillow new regiments are taking it -in reverse or at the rear. But they have the longer -way to come, from Contreras, and the First Division -must get in first. Then we shall push right on to -Churubusco and join the fight there.”</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah!”</p> - -<p>“We have good news to support us, and do not -need any help from the Pillow men.”</p> - -<p>“No, no!”</p> - -<p>“Contreras entrenchments were taken in seventeen -minutes by only two thousand men. The Riley -Brigade of the Second Division, composed of the -Second and Seventh Infantry, the Fourth Artillery, -with the Rifles added, took it alone at the point of -the bayonet. General Cadwalader’s Eleventh Infantry -and Voltigeurs followed close. The remainder -of the Second Division, being the Third Infantry and -First Artillery, led by Major Dimick in place of -General Persifor Smith, who commanded the whole -movement, arrived in time to break the last resistance, -and the rout was received by General Shield’s New -Yorkers and Palmettos on the road north. But the -colors of the Seventh Infantry were again the first to -be raised. The Fourth Artillery captured two of its -guns that had been lost at Buena Vista last spring. -The entire Mexican force of seven thousand troops, -called the ‘flower of the Mexican army,’ was dispersed, -leaving two thousand dead, wounded and -prisoners, all the artillery, ammunition, provisions, -and the military chest. Our own loss is less than -sixty. The only fortified points between us and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225"></a>[225]</span> -the capital, seven short miles, are San Antonio and -Churubusco; and these are being enveloped by the -victors of Contreras. Let us push on, so that our -comrades of the other divisions shall not do all the -fighting. Now, three cheers for victory!”</p> - -<p>They cheered thunderously. The drums rolled. -The two other regiments—Second and Third Artillery—were -cheering. But see! The Second Brigade -had passed—was obliquing out over the lava field, -on the west or left, as if to make circuit and attack -the enemy’s flank. The ranks and their flags dipped -amidst the sharp ridges.</p> - -<p>“Companies, right wheel—march! Forward, -quick—march!”</p> - -<p>Huzzah! The First Brigade also was off. The -time was about eight o’clock in this morning of -August 20.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the breastworks of San Antonio -village were plainly visible not half a mile -up the road. They extended to the lava on the west; -on the east they stretched through marshy ground in -shape of a long quarter circle bending back so as -to front the bogs of the lake.</p> - -<p>The lava side was bad enough, but the other side -was worse. The First Brigade kept on by the road.</p> - -<p>“Fourth Battalion, by the left flank—march! -Hurry up, men!”</p> - -<p>Assistant Adjutant-General Mackall, of the division -staff, had shouted. The ranks of the Fourth immediately -left-faced. In double file they scrambled -down from the high road and formed company front -again in the muddy cornfield that lay between the -road and the lava field.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226"></a>[226]</span></p> - -<p>“Battalion, forward—quick time—march!”</p> - -<p>The drums tapped quick time. Now the Second -Brigade was well out in the lava, its line of battle -resembling a great flock of goats. The Fourth Infantry -was next, at the same side of the road but -below, hurrying through the boggy cornfield. The -remainder of the First Brigade stretched across the -road and was forging straight on.</p> - -<p>“Bang! Bang! Bangity-bang-bang-bang-g-g-g!”</p> - -<p>The Second Brigade was in action—perhaps driving -the Mexican skirmishers. Hannibal was there -with the Eighth. The firing increased to battle din; -cheers echoed, smoke drifted, and in the corn the -Fourth Infantry could see little except the green -stalks and the mud and the ditches that had been cut.</p> - -<p>“Trail arms! Double time—march!”</p> - -<p>How they hustled, almost dead with the ten and -more miles marched already, and with stomachs -curiously empty again. Beating the double, Jerry -and the other drummers had hard work to hold -their places. They and the fifers formed two ranks -behind the left center company; this was the field -music position in order of battle.</p> - -<p>“Battalion, ready! Stoop, men!”</p> - -<p>The musket locks clicked. Close before, between -the stalks of corn, breastworks could be seen, the -muzzles of cannon staring blackly. The Mexicans -were reserving their fire here; but out to the left -the firing had grown fiercer and was traveling on -toward San Antonio. Farther in the north other -firing swelled louder and louder. But here——! -Why didn’t the Mexican breastworks open? Anything<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_227"></a>[227]</span> -was better than this suspense, when a sheet -of flame was expected every moment!</p> - -<p>“Forward, men! Forward! Steady!” And -suddenly: “Fourth Infantry—charge!”</p> - -<p>“Hooray! Huzzah! Huzzah!”</p> - -<p>The drums beat the charge, Jerry pounding lustily -as he ran. The men yelled—a Cerro Gordo shout. -They stumbled, fell, splashed into ditches four feet -wide. Lieutenant Grant was running and waving his -sword in front of his company. All the officers were -cheering on their men. The breastworks loomed -higher, the cannon muzzles gaped wider.</p> - -<p>The line swept on; the front rank began to climb—the -men slipping and clutching and clinging, and -ever advancing their muskets to pull trigger. Over -they went with yells renewed; up and over went the -rear rank, and over went the fifers and drummers, -tumbling into the cheering mass.</p> - -<p>The breastworks were empty. Onward extended -the road, with the Mexican artillery and infantry, -mingling with horses and women, legging pellmell -in a mass for San Antonio town—through the little -town and out again.</p> - -<p>“On, men! On!”</p> - -<p>Now it was a race. Look! The Second Brigade -was closing in and firing. So rapidly it descended -from the lava, beyond the village, that it struck the -rout right in the middle—cut the mass in two. The -first portion broke and fled east, across the fields; -the Second Brigade halted in the gap, while the other -half of the Mexicans scurried faster up the road -for Churubusco.</p> - -<p>The Fourth Infantry joined the Second Brigade<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_228"></a>[228]</span> -at the instant when the remainder of the First Brigade -came in. Everybody was laughing and cheering, -but there was no time to be lost.</p> - -<p>“To the color! Beat to the color, drummers! -Battalions, form companies! Forward—double time—march!”</p> - -<p>The First Division ran on. The whole elevated -road before was a sight. The two miles to Churubusco, -lined by shade trees, was a solid jumble of -Mexicans—infantry, artillery, lancers, camp followers -and baggage wagons, flying for dear life. -Wounded were dropping out, guns were being abandoned, -teamsters and cannoneers were lashing their -horses. It was a rout indeed.</p> - -<p>And yonder in the northwest another rout pelted -in: Santa Anna’s reserves, from near Contreras, -pursued hotly by the Twiggs Second Division, all -aiming for Churubusco.</p> - -<p>The First Division was right upon the heels of the -San Antonio fugitives. The men were wild with -excitement; nobody thought now of weariness.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_229"></a>[229]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVIII">XVIII<br /> -<small>IN THE CHARGE AT CHURUBUSCO</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Churubusco, into which the Mexicans from the -south and from the west were pouring, bristled with -defenses. They seemed to be mainly on the left -or west of the road. First, there was the straggling -village, half encircled by breastworks, with an immense -stone church rising high above everything, -and already spouting smoke from its cannon mounted -upon the walls and the flat roof. There were cornfields -and fruit trees upon both sides of the road, and -beyond the church there was a stone bridge carrying -the road across what appeared to be a large canal, -reaching from the lake on the east into the cornfields -and meadows of the west. It was at least -a mile in length, piled with earth on either bank, -like a dike, and absolutely filled with infantry and -artillery, protected by the earthen parapets.</p> - -<p>The end of the bridge in front of the earthworks, -at the middle of the dike, had been built up into a -regular stone fort, containing a battery under cover. -While farther on, occupying the road after it had left -the village and the bridge, there were thousands -more infantry and lancers, swelled by the Santa -Anna force.</p> - -<p>The column had halted, the men ceased cheering, -and General Worth and staff surveyed Churubusco -through their glasses.</p> - -<p>It was an anxious moment. The enemy certainly -numbered twenty thousand, well stationed. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_230"></a>[230]</span> -bridgehead and the dike had opened with cannon balls -which came ricocheting down the road and splashed -the mud and water of the cornfields. But the men -paid little attention to them. Hooray! Here was -General Pillow, at last, with the General Cadwalader -brigade of Voltigeurs and Eleventh and Fourteenth -Infantry—toiling in from the west and uniting -with the First Division on the road. He had -arrived too late for San Antonio, but was in time -for Churubusco.</p> - -<p>The men were growing impatient. Within a few -minutes the gunfire from Churubusco had risen deafening. -The church was being attacked; it fairly -vomited smoke and shot and shell; every inch of it -seemed alive. The fields to the west of it were answering. -Infantry in thin lines could be seen stealing -forward; a battery was hammering hard.</p> - -<p>“Twiggs! Old Davy’s there, with Taylor’s -battery!”</p> - -<p>How the men knew, nobody could tell; but know -they did. The word passed that General Persifor -Smith’s First Artillery and Third Infantry were -attacking the church. They appeared to be suffering, -for they were within point-blank range of the roof-top -and the cupola, and had no cover except the corn.</p> - -<p>Another brigade—Colonel Riley’s Second and -Seventh Infantry—was hastening to the support of -General Smith. The firing had spread to the north, -as if an attack was being made all along the line of -the road. The time was nearing noon but the smoke -welled in such a cloud that it hid the sun. Amidst the -terrific uproar of artillery and small-arms the orders<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_231"></a>[231]</span> -of the First Division officers could scarcely be heard, -here half a mile away from the battle.</p> - -<p>“Column, attention! Forward—march!”</p> - -<p>The cannon balls tore in more and more viciously. -The musketry of the bridgehead also opened. Men -were falling.</p> - -<p>“Column, right half wheel—march!”</p> - -<p>In column of companies they left the road and -descended into the muddy cornfields again on the -right. One company stayed upon the road. It was -the gallant Sixth Infantry, advancing alone, moving -very steadily, the men gripping their muskets at right -shoulder shift. The bluff old Major Bonneville, that -bald-headed veteran who, on leave of absence in -1832, had been a fur hunter across the Rocky Mountains, -commanded the Sixth. He was a Frenchman, -but had graduated from the Military Academy in -1813, so he was no new hand at the fighting game.</p> - -<p>The Cadwalader Voltigeurs had been stationed in -reserve. The two other regiments—the Eleventh and -Fourteenth—had joined the Second Brigade. The -First Brigade, Colonel Garland leading a-horse, -swung out wider to the right, and on through the -corn, at the double, came the Second Brigade, to -march between the First Brigade and the road.</p> - -<p>Unless the Garland brigade hurried, the Clarke -column would strike the bridgehead first, on the -shorter inside track.</p> - -<p>The Sixth Regiment was drawing the bridgehead -fire. The companies were rushing forward, -muskets at a ready, but they met such a storm of iron -and lead that they crumpled, stopped, and firing -furiously, took shelter along the sides of the road.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_232"></a>[232]</span></p> - -<p>“On the first battalion, deploy column! Battalions, -right face—quick—march!”</p> - -<p>It was a wonder that the order, issuing from the -red face of Adjutant Nichols, could be heard at all. -The First Brigade extended to the right at a run, -and front-faced on line of battle. Jerry and the field -music of the Fourth were behind again; now the -positions of the lieutenants was two paces in the rear -of the rear rank of their companies. It chanced -that Lieutenant Grant was directly before Jerry’s -place in the rank of drummers. Jerry kept an eye -upon him.</p> - -<p>These cornfields were cut by ditches of water as -the others had been. The double line grew ragged -as the men leaped the ditches. The bridgehead and -the dike were firing—with patter and hiss the grape-shot -and bullets ripped through the corn. The Mexican -works were higher than the cornfield, so that -the division’s advance could be seen while the Mexicans -themselves were concealed.</p> - -<p>Oh, but it was frightful in that cornfield! “Center -guide, men! Keep up with the colors. Center -guide!” Lieutenant Grant and the other officers -shouted constantly. The color guard of the regiment -pressed stanchly, braced and holding the Stars and -Stripes and the flag of the Fourth Infantry above -the murderous hail. Men were falling fast; they -plunged, or reeled and sank, some of them in the -mud and some of them into the water. As quickly -as gaps occurred in the front rank, men from the -second rank sprang forward and filled the spaces. -The corn bowed to the withering blast. Ahead, -Mexicans were jumping up and dodging for cover<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_233"></a>[233]</span> -after firing. The enemy’s skirmishers were being -dislodged from their holes.</p> - -<p>What a noise! Thousands of guns, large and -small, near and far, speaking at once! The whole -American army, except a tiny reserve, was engaged -with the whole Mexican army in the field. It was -a fight to a finish of eight thousand against twenty -thousand. Somewhere General Scott directed. It -was safe to say that Old Fuss and Feathers knew just -what was going to happen; his plans had been made; -and although the First Division, with the help of -General Cadwalader’s two regiments, seemed to -have been given the toughest job in the taking of -the bridgehead and the opening of the road, Jerry -for one had not the slightest doubt of the result. -The Mexicans would be threshed, of course.</p> - -<p>On surged the double line and on; bending and -weaving and staggering, but ever on. The wounded -and the dead were left. There was blood, and -ghastly sights. A bullet sang so close over Jerry’s -head that he ducked. A shower of grape spattered -all around him. Drum Major Brown was down—his -leg had collapsed under him.</p> - -<p>“Never mind me, boys.”</p> - -<p>Jerry heard a cry—“Help! For th’ love o’ -Hiven, help, wan o’ yez!”</p> - -<p>He glanced behind. Corporal Finerty was bleeding -and struggling, on hands and knees, in a ditch -with the water almost over him. Jerry hustled back -and dragged him out; then ran forward. It was no -joke being a drummer boy in a battle, for a fellow -could do little with a musician’s short sword fit only -for frying bacon.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_234"></a>[234]</span></p> - -<p>“Double time, men! Hurrah!”</p> - -<p>How they all panted, and what a sight they were, -muddy and smeared with blood and sweat.</p> - -<p>“Commence—firing!”</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Give ’em Yankee Doodle, boys!”</p> - -<p>The darkly scowling faces of the rows of Mexicans -behind the dike breastworks could be seen. -Their white teeth flashed from their lips parted in -the swarthy countenances flattened against the gunstocks. -The musket muzzles belched smoke; so did -the cannon of the bridgehead to the left. The soldiers -in front of Jerry were aiming, firing, pausing -to load—to tear their paper cartridges with their -teeth, dump a little of the powder into the opened -pan under the raised flint, pour the rest into the muzzle, -ram the paper and the three buckshot and -a ball home with the ramrod; aim, fire, and run -again, loading.</p> - -<p>The blue line was slowly moving in. The men -worked like Trojans. Now the buttons of the rows -of red-capped Mexicans were showing, so near were -the trenches. Jerry stumbled along right behind -Lieutenant Grant, who never ceased shouting, never -ducked nor dodged, and somehow had not been -hit yet.</p> - -<p>The First Brigade advance had come to a standstill, -while the ranks fired more rapidly. The Mexicans -were leaking away—wounded and staggering, -or running scot free. A tremendous cheer arose -above even the other tumult. The Second Brigade -was into the bridgehead! A torrent of blue blouses, -firing and charging with the bayonet, the officers -leading and waving, had crossed a wide ditch at its<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_235"></a>[235]</span> -base on this side. The men were diving in through -the battery embrasures or scaling the walls like cats. -In they went—in by the road went the Sixth Infantry. -The flags of the Eighth and Fifth disappeared -over the top; soon the flag of the Sixth was dancing -to meet them. Out boiled the Mexicans, artillery -and infantry, and streamed in a tossing tide up the -bridge and into the north, or else into the trenches on -the west. The bridgehead had been taken by front -and side.</p> - -<p>“Now, men! On! Charge!”</p> - -<p>“The bayonet, lads! The cowld steel!” shrieked -old Sergeant Mulligan to Company B.</p> - -<p>The drummers beat the charge; with a volley -and a yell the Fourth Infantry and all the line ran -for the dike. The Mexicans in it answered with one -volley; out they bolted. Right through the canal, -shoulder deep with mud and water, the men scrambled, -and leaped over the other bank. The Mexican -red-caps, throwing away muskets and knapsacks, -were frantically crowding the built-up road where -it crossed the lowlands beyond the bridge.</p> - -<p>The bridgehead had been the key. The enemy’s -left was emptied; the trenches along the dike west of -the road were still fighting, but Duncan’s battery -had come into action. It had been unable to advance -through the cornfields; had continued by the road, -under cover of a mass of abandoned wagons from -San Antonio. It was firing from the road—never -had guns been served faster. The four pieces made -one continuous roar, cannonading the west trenches -that reached all the way to the great stone church set -in the midst of other field works.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_236"></a>[236]</span></p> - -<p>The bridgehead’s captured guns also were being -turned. That was too hot for the Mexicans. Out -they, too, boiled, fleeing madly through the fields -to the rear.</p> - -<p>Duncan’s battery and a four-pounder in the -bridgehead changed to the church and battered the -walls. The Second Division, with Taylor’s battery -of the First Artillery, was still battering from the -other side. A white flag fluttered in the smoke upon -the church’s flat roof. It vanished—it had been -hauled down. Now the Second Division line sprang -to its feet and charged. The church was surrounded -by double walls—the blue figures mounted the first -wall—the church cupola was crumbling under the -solid shot—the church was about to be taken—no! -The wall was cleared by the Mexican sharp-shooters -upon the roof. Yes! The wall filled again, the men -vaulted over and down and rushed for the second -wall—the sharp-shooters were leaping from the cupola -and off the roof—the Mexican cannon had been -silenced—there were more white flags—“Cease firing!” -pealed the artillery bugles, for the standard -of the Third Infantry, blue and gold, had unfurled -from the balcony. In a moment the standard of the -First Artillery was displayed beside it.</p> - -<p>The First Division, jumbled all together, the men -cheering and waving and even crying with joy, had -paused to watch—had paused for orders, maybe, to -assault the church itself. Jerry found himself -grabbed by Hannibal—a grimy, excited Hannibal, -wild with excitement, like the rest.</p> - -<p>“We did it, we did it! Hooray! And you and -I aren’t hurt.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_237"></a>[237]</span></p> - -<p>“But we lost a lot of men,” Jerry panted.</p> - -<p>“Fall in! Fall in! Form companies. Beat the -rally, drummers.” Those were the orders. Hannibal -scooted. General Worth was waiting no longer. -There was heavy firing in the north, where Santa -Anna was standing off the left of General Scott’s line.</p> - -<p>“Who’s yonder?”</p> - -<p>“Shields and his Mohawks, and the Pierce -Brigade. They’re hard pushed.”</p> - -<p>“Forward—double time—march!”</p> - -<p>The Cadwalader men had joined again. They -had entered the bridgehead closely behind the Second -Brigade. In column of platoons all doubled up the -road, which was strewn with bodies and plunder. -The rout was on before and extended as far as eye -might see; but a desperate battle was raging only a -mile distant.</p> - -<p>The column was in time; in fact, may not have -been needed. The flight from the bridgehead and -the church proved too much for the Santa Anna -soldiers. General Pierce’s Ninth, Twelfth and Fifteenth -Regulars, and General Shields’ New Yorkers -and South Carolinans, two thousand men, were having -a give-and-take with General Santa Anna’s reserve -of four thousand infantry and three thousand -lancers. But before the General Worth and General -Pillow column arrived, the Mohawks were seen to -charge—the Mexicans did not stand—their line wavered, -the Pierce Regulars struck it on right and left—the -center burst apart, all the line broke into -fragments, fleeing for the road; and when the First -Brigade, led by General Worth and Colonel Garland, -panted in the Santa Anna troops had mingled<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_238"></a>[238]</span> -with the vast throng of refugees from Churubusco.</p> - -<p>The Pierce Regulars and the Shields’ Volunteers -met the van of the First Division.</p> - -<p>“On, men! To the city!”</p> - -<p>No time was granted to the Mexicans to re-form; -their infantry, artillery and camp followers jammed -the road and flowed out upon either side. Lancers -protected the rear, and threatened the pursuit. -Matters looked good. The First Division, both of -General Pillow’s Third Division brigades (General -Cadwalader’s and General Pierce’s), and the Shields -Mohawks were united, a victorious little army, and -cared nothing about the lancers; the road to the capital -was open. Hooray!</p> - -<p>But—</p> - -<p>“Column, halt!”</p> - -<p>The drums beat, the bugles rang.</p> - -<p>The column was two miles and a half from -Churubusco, and only a mile and a half from the -city gate. The Mexican rout had attempted no -stand; the foremost of its dense mob were already -jostling in. General Worth evidently was uncertain -what to do—whether to follow right on or wait for -orders. He and General Pillow and General Shields -consulted together, sitting their horses. Huzzah! -Huzzah for the dragoons! Here they came at a -gallop, from behind, under Colonel Harney, and tore -in to General Worth.</p> - -<p>Colonel Harney checked them for a moment, and -exchanged a word with the general. General Worth -nodded. On spurred the little detachment—Captain -Phil Kearny’s company of the First, half a company -of the Second and two companies of the Third.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_239"></a>[239]</span> -Captain Kearny led. Their pennons streamed, the -riders leaned forward in the saddles, sabers were out -and flashing.</p> - -<p>Plain to view they struck the Mexican rear guard—dashed -the lancers to one side and the other, wielding -their sabers cut a lane clear to the city gate, -and disappeared in the midst of a seething mass. -Colonel Harney’s orderly bugler pelted vainly after, -blowing the recall. The Kearny detachment did not -hear. The battery and the muskets of the city gate -began to fire upon friend and foe alike. It looked -as though the dragoons were entering the gate itself. -No—back they galloped, Captain Kearny with his left -arm dangling and bloody, two other officers wounded, -and several troopers reeling in the saddle.</p> - -<p>An aide from General Scott hastened in with -dispatches. General Scott directed that the pursuit -cease. The column was counter-marched a short distance -and bivouacked. Dusk was descending from -the mountains, announcing the end of a long, long -day. Suddenly Jerry and everybody else felt exhausted. -They had been upon their feet since before -daylight; had been marching and fighting for sixteen -hours, with not much to eat.</p> - -<p>The first thought was “coffee.” As soon as -arms were stacked the First Division bustled to -gather wood. Down the road other divisions were -doing the same. The hospital men could be seen -searching the field of battle, far and near, for -the wounded.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_240"></a>[240]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIX">XIX<br /> -<small>BEFORE THE BRISTLING CITY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Before supper was finished the clouds had gathered; -darkness set in early, with every prospect of -rain again; the men were still too excited to lie down—they -collected in groups around the campfires and -talked things over.</p> - -<p>Jerry simply had to find Hannibal and compare -notes. On his way to the Second Brigade he met him -coming on. They returned together to the campfire -line of the Fourth Regiment and squatted there.</p> - -<p>The Fourth Regiment would never be the same -again. Just how many it had lost in killed and -wounded was not yet known, but in Jerry’s own little -mess Corporal Finerty was greatly missed. He and -Drum Major Brown had been put in hospital back -at Churubusco, it was said, and were due to recover.</p> - -<p>All agreed that of the Regulars the First Division -had suffered the most severely. In the Second Division, -which attacked the church from the open, the -First Artillery had lost five officers; the Second Infantry -had lost four; reports from the Third and -Seventh Infantry were not in.</p> - -<p>There was much praise for the new Third Regular -Division, and the Mohawks, of the Fourth Division. -In the Cadwalader brigade of the Third, -which supported the First Division against the -bridgehead, Lieutenant J. F. Irons, aide-de-camp -to General Cadwalader, had been killed. General -Franklin Pierce, leading the other brigade in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_241"></a>[241]</span> -march to oust Santa Anna, had fainted from pain. -That fall from his horse at Contreras had proved -to be very serious. The Shields Mohawks and the -Pierce Ninth, Twelfth and Fifteenth Regulars had -outbattled Santa Anna’s seven thousand. The South -Carolina Palmettos had formed center of line. Their -colonel, Colonel P. M. Butler, had been wounded, -had refused to leave, and then had been killed; their -Lieutenant-Colonel Dickinson had been mortally -wounded next, and Major Gladden had commanded. -Colonel Burnett, of the New Yorkers, had been carried -from the field. So had Colonel Morgan, of the -Fifteenth Infantry. Of the two hundred and seventy-two -Palmettos in the final charge one hundred and -thirty-seven had fallen. But General Shields had -taken three hundred and eighty prisoners.</p> - -<p>Out of the seven cavalry officers who charged -with the one hundred dragoons to the city gates, three -had been badly wounded (Captain Kearny’s arm had -been amputated at the hospital), and Lieutenant -Ewell had had two horses shot under him. Major -Mills, of the Fifteenth Infantry, who had joined as -a volunteer, had been killed.</p> - -<p>The whole army had been in action, except the -Second Pennsylvania and the Marines, who had -been kept at San Augustine with General Quitman to -guard the supplies; and the Fourth Artillery, who -had been ordered to stay at Contreras.</p> - -<p>“’Twas this way,” old Sergeant Mulligan explained -to the listening group at the campfire: “In -wan day we’ve done what no mortal army ever did -afore. We’ve fought foive distinct battles, by daytachments, -so to speak—eight thousand of us divided<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_242"></a>[242]</span> -up to lick thirty thousand Mexicans. An’ lick ’em -we did, ivery time, in spite o’ their breastworks an’ -forts an’ their chosin’ their own positions. We give -’em the field, an’ then we tuk it. First there was -Contreras: thirty-foive hundred Americans ag’in -seven thousand active enemy wid twelve thousand -standin’ ready to pitch in. Second, there was San -Antonio, where twenty-six hundred of us saw mainly -the backs o’ thray thousand. Third, the bridgehead -an’ thim entrenchments, where we were outnumbered -not more’n two to wan; an’ fourth, the church, wid -the Second Division stormin’, say thray or four to -wan; an’ fifth, the Gin’ral Shields foive rigiments of -belike two thousand breakin’ the hearts o’ Gin’ral -Santy Annie’s siven thousand. Now I’d like to hear -whut Old Fuss an’ Feathers has to say.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll hear him,” asserted a man from a searching -detail, who had come up from the rear. “At -Cherrybusco he is, still; proud as a king, the tears of -him choking his voice. He’s thanking every division -in turn; he’ll not forget the First that opened -the way.”</p> - -<p>“And where was he during the fracas?”</p> - -<p>“In the rear of Twiggs, directing the fight and -sending in the regiments. So fast he sent ’em forward -after Contreras that b’gorry he found himself -left all alone, and had to get some dragoons for -an escort.”</p> - -<p>“An’ whut does he say about the desarters, I’m -wonderin’?”</p> - -<p>“Desarters?” exclaimed several voices.</p> - -<p>“Sure, lads. Sixty-nine were taken: twenty-seven -at the church and the rest by Shields. The artillery<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_243"></a>[243]</span> -battalion o’ Saint Patrick they’re called—an insult -to the name. Every man once wore the United -States uniform, and this day they turned the guns -upon their own comrades. Tom Riley is their captain. -The most of ’em desarted from Taylor, in -north Mexico, with hopes of better pay and positions. -’Twas they who held out longest at the church. -Three times they pulled down the white flag, for they -well knew they were in a tight place. Hanged they’ll -be, as they desarve.”</p> - -<p>“I dunno,” spoke somebody. “Old Fuss and -Feathers has a soft heart in him for the enlisted man. -Now if they were officers he’d give ’em short shift.”</p> - -<p>“Did you find many wounded, poor fellows?” -the detail man was asked.</p> - -<p>“Not near enough before darkness. There’s like -to be a hundred of the First lying now in the cornfields—and -the rain closing down.”</p> - -<p>“That’s bad, bad. What with the mud and the -corn and the ditches, it must be a sore place to search.”</p> - -<p>“We’re doing our best.”</p> - -<p>“Well, lads,” Sergeant Mulligan uttered, “I’m -wet through already, an’ I’m goin’ to turn in, for -to-morrow we’ll likely take the city. An’ why we -didn’t go for’d an’ take it this evenin’, on the heels o’ -that mob, I dunno. Wid the help o’ Shields an’ -Pillow, the First could ha’ walked right along.”</p> - -<p>“An’ walked into a trap, maybe. But the gin’ral -had no orders, an’ he waited too long, undecided.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and the gen’ral-in-chief stopped him, too. -Like as not that United States commissioner, by -name o’ Trist, who’s been followin’ with headquarters -all the way from Puebla, is instructed ag’in any<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_244"></a>[244]</span> -more fightin’ than is necessary. ‘Conquer a peace’; -that’s the word. And if we’ve conquered it this -day, we’ll give Santy Annie a chance to say so, after -he’s calmed down a bit.”</p> - -<p>“Right, then,” Sergeant Mulligan agreed. “Let -’em think it over. For if we entered in too much of a -hurry ’twud be only a half-baked p’ace after all.”</p> - -<p>The group broke up.</p> - -<p>“Good-night,” said Hannibal. “Whew, but I’m -tired. It’s been a great day, though. Oh, my eye, -didn’t we thrash ’em!”</p> - -<p>“Rather guess,” Jerry answered. “I kept track -of Lieutenant Grant. He was right near me most -the time.”</p> - -<p>“Where’s Pompey?”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t seen him. He’s hunting another -money chest, like as not.”</p> - -<p>This night Jerry slept under a wagon, while -the rain beat down. But the thought of the wounded -lying out in the dark and storm bothered him. Battles -were not pleasant.</p> - -<p>After breakfast the First Division was marched -back to Churubusco. The other divisions were encamped -nearby. And what a sight that field of -Churubusco was! The bodies of Mexicans were -piled everywhere—in the road and in the breastworks -and in the muddy fields. All the trenches and -the causeway and the road north was a mess of -muskets, pistols, swords, bayonets, lances, haversacks, -cartridge boxes, knapsacks, great coats, blankets, hats -and caps, and drums, horns, fifes and the like, enough -to equip fifty bands.</p> - -<p>The Mexican loss was estimated at four thousand<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_245"></a>[245]</span> -killed and wounded and three thousand prisoners. -Thirty-seven pieces of artillery had been taken, together -with an enormous quantity of small arms -and supplies.</p> - -<p>The division was moved to the walls of the ruined -church. General Scott waited here, sitting his horse, -his rugged face now glad, now sad, but lighted -proudly. The church balcony contained a number -of captured Mexican officers, gazing down as if interested. -The general lifted his hand, while the division -cheered him. He seemed about to make a speech.</p> - -<p>“Silence, men! Silence in the ranks!”</p> - -<p>“Fellow soldiers,” the general shouted in his -loud voice—which trembled. “Fellow-soldiers of -the First Division. Your general thanks you from -the bottom of his heart. But a reward infinitely -higher—the applause of a grateful country and Government—will, -I cannot doubt, be accorded in due -time to so much merit of every sort displayed by this -glorious army which has now overcome all difficulties -of distance, climate, ground, fortifications and -numbers. To the First Division I say, as I have said -to the other gallant divisions, that by the abilities and -science of the generals and other officers, by the zeal -and prowess of the rank and file, you have, in a single -day, in five battles as often defeated thirty-two thousand -of the enemy. These great results have overwhelmed -him. The larger number of our own dead -and wounded are of the highest worth; the wounded -under treatment by our very able medical officers are -generally doing well. Again your general and fellow-soldier -thanks you, and he will add that this work -so well accomplished will not be concluded until<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_246"></a>[246]</span> -we place the flag of our country upon the Halls -of Montezuma.”</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!”</p> - -<p>The front rank broke; before the officers could -stop them the men had rushed forward and were -fighting to grasp General Scott’s hand, and even his -stirrups. He could only spur his horse in careful -fashion, and bowing and smiling, his wrinkled cheeks -wet, finally galloped away. In a few minutes he was -riding across country into the west, escorted by -Harney’s dragoons.</p> - -<p>About noon it was announced that all the -wounded had been found and the bodies of the slain -had been buried. The roll calls of the divisions were -tabulated. Out of twenty-six hundred men the -General Worth command had lost, in killed, wounded -and missing, thirteen officers and three hundred and -thirty-six rank and file; total, three hundred and -forty-nine. The Mohawks of General Shields had -lost two hundred and forty out of the two regiments. -The Second Division, Regulars, had lost two hundred; -the Pillow Regulars about the same. The grand -total was one thousand and fifty-six, in which there -were eighty-four officers.</p> - -<p>The First Division was marched west out of -Churubusco by a crossroad about two miles to the -next main road, which had been opened by the capture -of Contreras; then from this road, four miles -by another road northwest to a town named Tacubaya, -on the north slope of a hill only a mile and a -half from the southwestern walls of the city itself.</p> - -<p>General Scott was already here with the Harney -dragoons detachment. They and the First Division<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_247"></a>[247]</span> -had the advance position. It looked as though the -general was side-stepping again. Instead of moving -upon the city by the Acapulco road (the road from -San Augustine through San Antonio and Churubusco), -he was slipping around to the west and -keeping Santa Anna guessing.</p> - -<p>This evening word was spread that Santa Anna -had proposed a truce for the purpose of talking -surrender. The men grumbled somewhat. A truce -appeared to them a Mexican trick, in order to gain -time while guns and soldiers were shifted. The -United States Peace Commissioner, Mr. Trist, who -had accompanied the army from Puebla, held long -meetings with the Mexican commissioners, but the -two parties did not agree upon terms.</p> - -<p>The peace talks continued for two weeks. During -the truce neither army was to fortify further against -the other. Both were to get food supplies without -being interfered with. The Mexicans were to send -out for provisions; the Americans were to purchase -provisions wherever they could, even in the city.</p> - -<p>The First Division occupied the advance position -of Tacubaya, and had a good rest. Drum Major -Brown and Corporal Finerty, of the Fourth Regiment, -were able to hobble about and would soon be -fit for duty. The General Pillow Third Division was -a short distance south, at another village; the Twiggs -Second Division was farther south, at San Angel; the -Quitman Fourth Division of Volunteers and Marines -was down at San Augustine, in charge of the prisoners -and the extra supplies.</p> - -<p>In Tacubaya General Scott and staff were quartered -in the magnificent palace of the archbishop of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_248"></a>[248]</span> -Mexico, which from the western outskirts of the town -overlooked the whole country below. Tacubaya itself -was a kind of summer resort for Mexico City; -a number of English gentlemen and wealthy city -merchants lived here in great style, with villas and -out-door baths and large gardens, enclosed by walls.</p> - -<p>The slope of the hill fronted the capital. After -duties Jerry and Hannibal and the other First Division -men paid considerable attention to that view -from the slope, for many of the city defenses were -clearly outlined.</p> - -<p>To the north, directly in front of Tacubaya, on -the Tacubaya road to the city and only one-half -a mile distant by air, there was a huge mass of grey -rock, connected with the city walls by two short -roads. The rock mass was fortified from bottom to -top by breastworks, and fringed at its base by a long -wall and embankment. On the flat crown, about -one hundred and fifty feet up, there was a great stone -building—the Military College of Mexico. The rock -fell away steeply on the south and the east sides. The -engineers said that it was as steep on the north side. -The west side had a more gradual slope, covered with -cypress trees. The name of the rock was Chapultepec—or -in English, Grasshopper Hill.</p> - -<p>At the foot of the west slope—the timbered slope—there -was a long group of stone buildings, with -flat roofs and one or two towers. At night red -flames seemed to issue from one of the roofs, as if -the place was being used as a foundry, casting guns -and solid shot. The place was called El Molino del -Rey—the King’s Mill; and according to the people in -Tacubaya, it was indeed an old mill and a foundry.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_249"></a>[249]</span></p> - -<p>The western half of the group was the Casa-Mata, -or Casemate. And this was reported to be a -powder storehouse.</p> - -<p>The King’s Mill and the Casa-Mata were located -not only at the western foot of Chapultepec but also -at the foot of the hill-slope of Tacubaya village. -The guns of Chapultepec covered them; covered the -Tacubaya road which at the base of the rock mass -ran into the two short roads onward into the city—one -entering the city at the southwest corner, the -other farther north, on the west side; covered the -main road east of Tacubaya—the Contreras road.</p> - -<p>To silence Chapultepec—perhaps to climb to its -top with only eight thousand men—looked like a -job. The King’s Mill and the Casa-Mata at its base -might have to be taken. The city gates were defended -by batteries, and they, too, would have to -be stormed.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant good-naturedly lent his spy-glass -to Jerry; through it there might be seen the -faces and costumes of the Mexican soldiers upon -Chapultepec. The castle or college itself loomed -menacing with cannon, and thick high walls and the -Mexican coat of arms in colors over the wide portico. -Numbers of boys were moving about in neat -uniforms. These were the military cadets, being -educated for Mexican army officers. Some did not -appear more than fourteen years old.</p> - -<p>Evidently they had practiced on Chapultepec hill, -for as said, there was no end of ditches and breastworks, -from the college buildings down to the last -wide ditch and wall at the bottom.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_250"></a>[250]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XX">XX<br /> -<small>THE BATTLE OF THE KING’S MILL</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Dar’s trouble hatchin’.”</p> - -<p>It was afternoon of September 7. The men of -the First Division were lying around. Pompey had -come forward to where Jerry and Hannibal were -sitting with several others, debating the course of -events. There had been no fighting since August 20, -when Churubusco fell.</p> - -<p>“Gwan, you black crow!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sars. But I knows what I knows, gen’i’men. -Dar’s trouble hatchin’. Dat armorstice done -busted an’ we gwine to pop it to ’em ag’in.”</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“Sartin. Dis chile don’t mix up with offercers -for nuffin’. The armorstice done been busted by -Gin’ral Scott hisself. Dose Santy Annies been fortifyin’ -’gin the rules, an’ gettin’ reinforcements; an’ -Gin’ral Scott he sent a note dis berry mornin’ sayin’ -dar ain’t any armorstice any mo’ an’ Santy Annie better -look out fo’ hisself. Santy Annie, he a big liar, but -Gin’ral Scott, he a big strateegis’ an’ nobody gwine -to fool him. I heah offercers talkin’; I heah Lieutenant -Smith an’ Lieutenant Grant talkin’, same as -odders. Dar’s gwine to be a monster fight, sars.”</p> - -<p>“B’gorry!” old Sergeant Mulligan exclaimed, -slapping his thigh. “That’s right; sure, that ixplains -matters. ’Tis why Cap’n Mason, of the ingineers, -was off yonder to the front this mornin’ rayconnoiterin’; -an’ there go Mason an’ Colonel Duncan<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_251"></a>[251]</span> -an’ Worth an’ Gin’ral Scott himself on another trip. -I’ve a feelin’ in me bones that a fight’s due.”</p> - -<p>“Guess we’ll have to take Grasshopper Hill for -exercise,” said Hannibal, lazily.</p> - -<p>“Faith, then why don’t you tell Gin’ral Scott?” -the sergeant rebuked. “Belike he’s only waitin’ for -some smart drummer boy to make his plans for him.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we’ve got to take it, haven’t we?” Fifer -O’Toole asked.</p> - -<p>“Yis, barrin’ a better way. ’Tis the city we’re -after, an’ what wid? Wid an’ army o’ less than eight -thousand, to-day, outside a walled city o’ two hundred -thousand an’ dayfinded by twinty thousand, -snug beyant ditches an’ stone. A job that, me lads, -to open the gates. Thim dons know we’re up to -somethin’. Did yez mark quite a movement o’ troops -down below this mornin’? Says I to meself: ‘Gin’ral -Santy Annie is startin’ out to envelop our lift, -or else he’s rayinforcin’ the mill so as to get his -cannon matayrial finished up.’ Faith, there’s a -storm brewin’, but I’ve been in the service too long -to daypind on camp gossip. I’ve my own ways o’ -findin’ out.”</p> - -<p>So the sergeant arose and strolled off.</p> - -<p>“Same here,” Hannibal declared. He darted -away for his brigade camp.</p> - -<p>“I’ll get the correct news meself at the hospital -when I ask the doctor to take wan more look at my -leg,” Corporal Finerty, asserted, starting out with a -great pretense at hobbling.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll bide a wee jist where I am,” spoke -Scotty MacPheel, smoking his pipe. “I’ve gotten a -dream, this nicht past, an’ I ken mysel’ there’ll be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_252"></a>[252]</span> -gey hot wark soon. When it coomes, I’ll no be the -last up yon hill.”</p> - -<p>All seemed very peaceful in town and camp and -upon Chapultepec rock. The flags floated languidly -above roofs and tents and battlements. But danger -brooded in the air. The armistice had been broken; -everything indicated that. The engineers were reconnoitring, -as they always did before a battle. -The Mexican forces appeared somehow more alert. -Now Jerry himself got up and started out. Pompey -followed him.</p> - -<p>“Where you gwine?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, just taking a walk.”</p> - -<p>“You gwine to find Lieutenant Grant, huh? You -gwine to pester him. Lookee hyar, white boy. Don’t -you say nuffin’ ’bout me. If he or Marse Smith -find out I been tellin’ ahmy secrets, I get coht-martialed. -Understan’? Mebbe I get hanged up, like -dem desarters gwine to be.”</p> - -<p>“Are they to be hung?”</p> - -<p>“Sartin. Dat’s what. A coht-martial done try -’em, an’ done say dey’s to be hanged up, fo’ desartin’ -in face ob the innimy an’ shootin’ deir own men.”</p> - -<p>“Whew!” Jerry whistled. He hastened on.</p> - -<p>He did not find Lieutenant Grant; Corporal Finerty -had learned little, Hannibal did not come back, -and Sergeant Mulligan kept mum. But all the remainder -of the afternoon the excitement in the camp -increased; the old soldiers there “smelled powder.” -The reconnoitring group returned, and there was -a council of general officers at commander-in-chief’s -headquarters. Furthermore, in the early evening -General Cadwalader’s brigade of the Voltigeurs and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_253"></a>[253]</span> -the Eleventh and Fourteenth Infantry with Captain -Drum’s battery of the Fourth Artillery had marched -in from the General Pillow’s Third Division camp, -three miles south.</p> - -<p>After retreat old Sergeant Mulligan plumped -himself down at the supper mess with the words:</p> - -<p>“We attack at daylight to-morrow, lads.”</p> - -<p>“Where, man?”</p> - -<p>“The King’s Mill an’ the Casa-Mata.”</p> - -<p>“And Chapultepec?”</p> - -<p>“Not as I know of. The Mill an’ the Casa-Mata -be the First Division’s job, helped out by the Cadwalader -brigade. Sure, the ould man—an’ I’m -manin’ no disrayspect—had been a-lookin’ at yon -mill from headquarters, an’ he says, snappin’ his glass -together, says he: ‘I must daystroy that place.’ -Whereby he sends in the First Division, o’ course, -wid the Cadwalader troops to watch an’ see how -it’s done.”</p> - -<p>“An’ what does he want of those old buildin’s, -when we might better be takin’ Chapultepec?”</p> - -<p>“Becuz he can l’ave Chapultepec to wan side, if -he likes, an’ march into the city by another way. But -Santy Annie’s short o’ guns an’ solid shot—haven’t -we captured most of his movable artillery?—an’ the -report is that he’s been meltin’ up the church bells -for cannon iron. Faith, we’ll go down an’ take them, -too, before he can put ’em to use.”</p> - -<p>“Wid Chapultepec firin’ into us?” Corporal -Finerty asked.</p> - -<p>“Oh, what do we care for the likes o’ Chapultepec? -Ain’t ye soldier enough to know that downhill -firin’ is mighty uncertain work, especially wid<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_254"></a>[254]</span> -Mexican gunners? An’ they’ll be killin’ their own -men, wance we’re inside the walls. Then wid the -fut o’ the hill cleared, we can march up all the ’asier, -in case such be the orders.”</p> - -<p>“How many Mexicans this time, I wonder?”</p> - -<p>“Well, the ingineers an’ Ould Fuss an’ Feathers, -not to spake o’ Gin’ral Worth himself, haven’t discivvered -many, for all their reconnoiterin’ the long -day. Seems like there are cannon in the mill, an’ in -that ramshackle Casa-Mata; an’ a line o’ breastworks -are connectin’ the two. But scarce a sign o’ much -of a supportin’ force of infantry. An’ I’m thinkin’ -that by an ’arly mornin’ attack we’ll walk in after -the fust scrimmage. Annyhow, we’ll get our orders; -an’ it’s soon to bed, for me, an’ a bit o’ sleep.”</p> - -<p>Jerry managed to get over to the Eighth Infantry -and find Hannibal; a rather sober Hannibal.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t see you before,” said Hannibal. “I’ve -been on detail. But you know now; we’re to take -the Mill and Casa-Mata. Three o’clock in the morning -is the hour, and no reveille. So good-by and -good luck, if we don’t meet up again.”</p> - -<p>“Why’s that. Will it be much of a fight, you -think, Hannibal?”</p> - -<p>“I dunno. But I’m in the storming column—five -hundred picked troops from all the regiments. -We charge first and break the center. Major Wright, -of the Eighth, commands. About half the Eighth -is chosen. The Eighth is General Worth’s own regiment, -you see, and he knows what we can do.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe I can get in it, too,” Jerry blurted.</p> - -<p>“Don’t think so. The First Brigade has only -seven hundred and fifty men; the Second had eleven<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_255"></a>[255]</span> -hundred and fifty, so we’ll furnish the most stormers. -You fellows will have enough to do, anyhow.”</p> - -<p>With a “Good-by and good luck—see you later,” -Jerry shook hands and hustled back for his company. -But the men from the Fourth had already -been picked.</p> - -<p>Fortunately there was no rain this night. When -Jerry, like the others, was aroused by the non-commissioned -officers passing from mess to mess, the -stars were shining brightly. The First Brigade -formed by itself, under Colonel Garland, in the early -morning gloom, and presently was marched down -the slope by a road, as if straight for the King’s -Mill. By the slight rumble of artillery wheels a -battery (Drum’s battery, it was, from the Cadwalader -brigade) followed. The other brigades might be -heard, also moving, with creak of belts and cartridge -boxes, dull tramp of feet, and low lurch and -rattle of cannon carriages and caissons. Somewhere -on the left cavalry equipment faintly jangled.</p> - -<p>Colonel McIntosh, of the Fifth Infantry, was said -to be commanding the Second Brigade; Colonel -Clarke was ill. Major Wright, of the Eighth Infantry, -commanded the storming column of five hundred -men picked from all the regiments of the division. -General Cadwalader commanded the Third Division -regiments. Colonel Harney had supplied six companies -of the Second Dragoons and one company of -the Third, which with one company of the Mounted -Rifles, were under Major Sumner. There were two -twenty-four-pounder siege guns, under command of -Captain Benjamin Huger, chief of ordnance, and -three guns of Colonel Duncan’s First Division<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_256"></a>[256]</span> -celebrated battery, which accompanied the Second -Brigade.</p> - -<p>At San Antonio the First Division had numbered -twenty-six hundred officers and men; now it -was down to nineteen hundred, or two thousand, -when one included the Colonel C. F. Smith battalion -of Light Infantry attached to the Second Brigade. -General Cadwalader had brought about seven hundred -and fifty in his three regiments; Major Sumner’s -dragoons and Mounted Rifles numbered two -hundred and ninety, the three batteries one hundred; -so that General Worth was attacking the Mill and -the Casa-Mata with some thirty-one hundred and -fifty men.</p> - -<p>After a march forward of about a mile down -the hill slope from Tacubaya, the First Brigade was -halted in line of battle.</p> - -<p>“Lie down, men. Silence in the ranks.”</p> - -<p>While they lay, the east brightened slowly over -the City of Mexico and the citadel of Chapultepec. -The towers and steeples of the city began to be outlined -against the sky; Chapultepec caught the glow; -all the east became gold and pink, with the mountain -ranges black along the high horizon. Down here -it was still chill and dusky. Colonel Garland, dimly -seen from his horse, addressed the line.</p> - -<p>“My men,” he said, “the First Division is going -into battle as soon as there is light enough. General -Scott has appointed us to brush the enemy from those -buildings yonder. The First Brigade is to handle -the mill, where the enemy’s left rests. The Second -Brigade will assault the enemy’s right at the Casa-Mata. -The general assault will be opened after the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_257"></a>[257]</span> -artillery has prepared the way by the Major Wright -storming column, which will break the enemy’s center -and cut the communications between the mill and -that powder store-house. Our own job is to isolate -El Molino and prevent aid from Chapultepec. So -we must work fast. But once in there, you know -very well that we can’t be driven out. No, no; don’t -cheer. Silence! All I ask of you is to uphold the -honor of the First Brigade and the American arms.”</p> - -<p>The lower country was lightening, now. They all -could see the arrangements for themselves. The -First Brigade occupied right of line. Captain Drum’s -battery section of three six-pounders was posted a -little to the right of the brigade. Not far on the left, -or west, were the two twenty-four-pounder siege -guns of Captain Huger, with the Light Battalion -drawn up behind them in support. Beyond, in the -broken line that curved to the north so as to envelop -the breastworks and the Casa-Mata, there were the -five hundred men of the Major Wright storming -column, crouched in column of platoons, and behind -them the General Cadwalader brigade, in reserve. -Farther on in the west there was the Second -Brigade, and beyond it the Duncan battery section, -waiting in front of the Casa-Mata. And away on the -left of line in the northwest, there were the three -squadrons of cavalry.</p> - -<p>Nothing had been heard from the enemy; not a -movement had been sighted. Then, suddenly, a -bugle pealed; drums rattled like a volley. The sound -made everybody jump, but it was only the regulation -Mexican reveille upon Chapultepec. Never had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_258"></a>[258]</span> -it seemed so loud, it fairly echoed against the mountains -back of the city.</p> - -<p>“Boom, boom-m-m!”</p> - -<p>A flare of flame and a great shock in the air took -one’s breath.</p> - -<p>“Steady, men!” Lieutenant Grant and other -officers were warning.</p> - -<p>Huger’s siege guns had opened; and how they -bellowed, blasting the still air so that the city crashed -and the mountains rumbled.</p> - -<p>“Boom! Boom!” The solid shot might be -heard smashing through the stone walls of the old -mill five hundred yards before. Up on Chapultepec -the bugles and drums had ceased, as if frightened. -The mill did not reply. General Worth and staff, -back of the storming column, could be seen watching -the effect of the bombardment; from the mill dust -was rising into the dawn.</p> - -<p>“Column—attention!”</p> - -<p>The First Brigade had been craning anxiously; -the men scrambled to their feet at the command. -An aide from General Worth had galloped to the -battery; it stopped firing, and—huzzah!—the Wright -column was rushing forward at the double, down -the slope, for the bottom and the breastworks connecting -the mill and the Casa-Mata.</p> - -<p>That was a stirring sight to witness: this little -column of blue-jacketed, round-capped soldiers -charging, guns at the ready, their officers leading, -and the colors streaming overhead in the fore. -Everybody cheered—waved caps and hands; the -cheering spread from the First Brigade clear to the -farthest left.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_259"></a>[259]</span></p> - -<p>On dashed the Wright five hundred—and that -Hannibal was there, Jerry well recalled. They slackened—an -officer ran forward (he was Captain -Mason, of the engineers, who guided with Lieutenant -Foster)—he ran back, beckoning as if he had -seen nothing beyond the lines of cactus which -screened the trenches; the column hastened again, -was almost there when from a few yards the whole -fringing cactus spumed flame and smoke and a great -gush of grape and musket ball mowed the ranks down -like ninepins.</p> - -<p>But they didn’t stop. No, no! The ranks closed, -with bayonets leveled they plunged straight forward -into the cactus and over the embankments and into -the trenches. The Mexican infantry and artillery -were diving right and left for shelter in the Casa-Mata -and the mill.</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!”</p> - -<p>Now for the First Brigade and the seizure of the -mill! But look! A tremendous gunfire had belched -from the roof and the walls of the mill, directed into -the main trench; and a column of Mexican infantry, -numbering one thousand, had charged in counter-attack -from the rear ground.</p> - -<p>Out came the Wright fragments, driven back and -back and back, and lessening rapidly. There looked -to be scarcely any officers left. Major Wright and -both the engineers were down.</p> - -<p>Huzzah, though! The Light Battalion and the -Eleventh Regulars of General Cadwalader had been -launched by General Worth to the rescue—</p> - -<p>“Column, forward—trail arms—center guide—double -time—march!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_260"></a>[260]</span></p> - -<p>It was the word for the First Brigade at last.</p> - -<p>Chapultepec had opened with a plunging fire into -the valley. The First Brigade sped steadily down -the slope for the smoking King’s Mill.</p> - -<p>“Charge—bayonets! Run!”</p> - -<p>And run they all did, with a yell, Jerry and the -drummers and fifers pelting behind, the officers to -the fore, Drum’s battery following by the road. -Grape and canister and musket ball met them; men -fell; the firing was worse than that of the bridgehead -at Churubusco, but the Fourth Regiment luckily -found itself in an angle of the wall surrounding the -mill yard and could rally under protection. The -enemy was inside, sheltered by the walls of the mill -buildings and by sandbag parapets upon the flat roofs. -The shouting and the rapid firing announced thousands -of Mexicans.</p> - -<p>All the bright morning was dulled by powder and -rent by the cheering, the yelling, and the continuous -reports of muskets and cannon. From the angle of -the wall where the Fourth crouched, the battlefield -to the west stretched full in view—the soldiers charging -down across it, staggering, limping, crumpling, -but closing ranks as they tore on, their bayonets set. -The Cadwalader reinforcements and the Light Battalion -had mingled with the shattered Wright column; -they were bearing on together, and disappeared -in the cactus-fringed trenches. What of -Hannibal, Jerry wondered.</p> - -<p>But here was Drum’s battery section, dragged -forward by hand to a nearer position in the road. -It scarcely had been pointed and the linstocks applied -to the touch holes when every gunner was swept<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_261"></a>[261]</span> -away by the Mexican balls, leaving the guns alone. -Led by Corporal Finerty, out rushed a squad of the -Fourth, reloaded one of the guns and discharged it -again and again.</p> - -<p>The men plastered within the angle of the wall -were firing with their muskets whenever they had the -chance. Old Sergeant Mulligan was right out in the -open, lying behind a large cactus with broad spongy -lobes, and aiming and shooting and loading and aiming -once more. He did not seem to know that the -Mexican bullets were riddling the cactus lobes as if -they were paper.</p> - -<p>Amidst the hurly-burly orders came to leave the -cover of the wall.</p> - -<p>“Up, men! Battalion, by the left flank, left -face, double time—march!”</p> - -<p>That took them to the road again.</p> - -<p>“Battalion, forward! Through that gate, men! -Break it down! Hurrah!”</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah!”</p> - -<p>Another great cheer had arisen. The Wright and -Cadwalader column had won the trenches connecting -mill and Casa-Mata; the Mexicans were pouring -out, as before—their own cannon were being turned -upon them. Now was the time for seizing the mill -at one end and the Casa-Mata at the other.</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Inside wid yez!” Sergeant Mulligan -bawled, his face red and streaming dirty sweat.</p> - -<p>Fast work was made with the gate. Battered -by musket stocks and rammed by flying wedges of -human bodies it crashed apart. Through the opening -and over the walls on either hand the Fourth -Infantry surged inside.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_262"></a>[262]</span></p> - -<p>All was confusion. Jerry tried hard to stick -close to Lieutenant Grant. The yard had to be -crossed first—a very maelstrom of smoke and lead—before -the buildings themselves might be stormed. -The Mexican soldiers, firing from windows and roof-top, -gave way never an inch. They were obstinate -to-day; brave, too. But shooting, shouting, darting -by squads, the Fourth Infantry bored in. On the -other sides the rest of the brigade was fighting -stoutly also.</p> - -<p>It did not seem possible that anybody could live -to reach those angry buildings. Jerry—somehow -not a whit afraid, so excited he was—wormed after -Lieutenant Grant, who surely had a charmed life. -The Grant detachment rammed through a door and -into the first room of the first building. A pioneer -with an ax had joined. Lieutenant Grant pointed, -and the pioneer hacked a hole through a wall of the -room; the lieutenant vanished into it—they all pursued, -Jerry wriggling with the others, his drum -slung on his back, his eyes smarting and watering.</p> - -<p>Mexican soldiers were upon the roof above. -They could be heard yelling and firing. A door from -the second room led into an open corridor from -wing to wing. The lieutenant sprang back just in -time—a loud report had greeted him, and a bullet -had splintered the plaster in front of his nose. -Scotty MacPheel bolted forward, musket ready; another -bullet toppled him. They dragged him -into shelter.</p> - -<p>“’Tis nathin’, lads,” he gasped. “But bide a -wee, for if there’s ane there’s a dozen, jist -a-waitin’ above.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_263"></a>[263]</span></p> - -<p>“Careful, men. Watch for a red cap, and when -you fire, don’t miss,” panted the lieutenant.</p> - -<p>The squad ranged themselves within the doorway -and peered; now and then fired. Two Mexican -soldiers tumbled asprawl into the corridor. After -a few moments there were no answering shots. -One of the men—Corporal John Hale—saluted.</p> - -<p>“All clear, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“Follow me, then. On, boys.”</p> - -<p>So they passed through the corridor into the -next wing.</p> - -<p>By the noises the other troops were ransacking -rooms in the same way. The tumult, now loud, now -muffled, was filled with American cheers.</p> - -<p>The next room contained Mexican soldiers driven -to cover. At sight of the entering squad they dropped -their guns, even fell upon their knees, holding up -their empty hands. “Amigo, amigo—friend, -friend!” they cried.</p> - -<p>“Disarm these fellows and take them outside, -four of you,” the lieutenant ordered.</p> - -<p>On through a door and another room, and the -remainder of the detachment was outside also. The -mill yard was a mass of panting blue-coats and of -herded Mexican prisoners. The guns of Chapultepec -could not fire in with safety. The battle here -was over.</p> - -<p>Staring about in the north end of the yard Jerry -noted a group of red caps upon a roof.</p> - -<p>“There are some more, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“On that roof.”</p> - -<p>“I see.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_264"></a>[264]</span></p> - -<p>The lieutenant ran for the building, Jerry after. -There was no way of climbing atop.</p> - -<p>“Here, you men! Place that cart for me.”</p> - -<p>A broken cart was trundled to the wall of the -building; the heavy tongue just reached the top. -<a href="#i_264">Lieutenant Grant used this as a ladder.</a> He shinned -up, Jerry following, while the men below formed file -to join.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" id="i_264"> - <img src="images/i_264.jpg" alt="" title="" /> - <div class="caption"> - <p class="noic"><a href="#Page_264">LIEUTENANT GRANT USED THIS AS A LADDER</a></p> - </div> -</div> - -<p>But somebody had been ahead of the lieutenant. -He was one man: none other than Fifer O’Toole, -parading back and forth with a musket. Fifer -O’Toole grinned.</p> - -<p>“Sure, I’m saving ’em for you, lieutenant,” -he reported.</p> - -<p>They were a fat Mexican major and several -subalterns, with full a dozen privates; and they were -quite ready to surrender, for at sight of Lieutenant -Grant’s drawn sword they unbuckled their belts and -dropped their guns.</p> - -<p>“The fortunes of war, señor,” the major said in -good English, shrugging his shoulders. “We fight -like men, but you Americans fight like demons.”</p> - -<p>“Very good, sir,” the lieutenant answered -shortly, stacking the scabbards in his arms. “Crack -those muskets over the edge of the wall, lads, and -conduct these prisoners to the proper guard.”</p> - -<p>He himself lingered a minute upon the roof. -Jerry breathlessly waited. The mill had been taken. -There were only a few scattered shots among the -buildings, as the soldiers below or ranging the roofs -jumped Mexican skulkers from hiding places; but -to the west the battle was still raging furiously. -From the roof-top a good view might be had.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_265"></a>[265]</span></p> - -<p>The trenches connecting with the Casa-Mata had -been seized; their cannon were being used to quicken -the rout hastening into the wooded west slope of -Chapultepec. All the Casa-Mata, however, was -aflame with rapid discharges, and the Second Brigade -was recoiling in confusion from before it. The -Casa-Mata turned out to be a solid stone structure, -built like a fort, housing cannon and infantry, and -surrounded by ditches and breastworks.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant chanced to mark Jerry, standing -behind him.</p> - -<p>“They’re being cut to pieces,” he exclaimed. -“General Worth, and Scott, too, have been deceived. -We should have attacked in greater force.”</p> - -<p>The Second Brigade was in the open—could not -penetrate past the ditches and to the Casa-Mata walls. -The field was blue with bodies. Where was Duncan’s -battery? Then a sharp word from the lieutenant, -who had leveled his spy-glass, drew Jerry’s -eyes also to the northwest at very end of line.</p> - -<p>A dense body of lancers had sallied from the -Mexican right, and sweeping around was forming to -charge and turn the American left. The Duncan -battery section, with the Voltigeurs running to keep -up, was galloping to head the lancers off. And the -Sumner dragoons and Rifles were changing front to -meet the charge.</p> - -<p>The battery was there first—unlimbered in a -twinkling—the lancers, a mass of red and yellow, -their lances set, tore in for it. Colonel Duncan -waited—waited—and when his guns at last burst -into canister and grape, with gunners working like -mad, the close ranks of the Mexican cavalry melted<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_266"></a>[266]</span> -away in the manner of grain before a giant scythe. -The horses reared, fell, or, whirling, bore their gay -riders right and left and in retreat.</p> - -<p>A new gunfire crashed from the Casa-Mata. At -the Second Brigade again? No! The Second Brigade -was still streaming rearward in blue rivulets, -which swirled, eddied, jetted smoke as the men desperately -tried to stand and fight, then slowly flowed -on. The new gunfire had issued from a blind trench -along which the Sumner column was racing. Down -went horse and rider. Major Sumner pointed with -his saber, and never wavering, the little column, terribly -thinned, dashed on for the lancers, who had -re-formed as if to charge again.</p> - -<p>Back came the Duncan battery, leaving the lancers -to the dragoons and Rifles. Colonel Duncan -wheeled his guns into position before the Casa-Mata -once more. Quick work this was. He had not been -able to do as he wished here, because the Second -Brigade infantry had masked his fire, but now, with -his field cleared, his three pieces delivered one constant -sheet of smoke, out of which the solid shot and -canister sped, ripping through the walls and deluging -the parapets.</p> - -<p>In a moment, as it seemed, the Casa-Mata fire -slackened; the doors and windows and roof vomited -Mexican soldiers, fleeing helter-skelter, losing hats -and knapsacks and muskets; veering to the north out -of reach from the mill, they pelted on for the San -Cosme gateway of the west city wall.</p> - -<p>With a resounding cheer the Second Brigade -charged into the defenses. The flag of the Eighth -Regiment broke from the roof-top.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_267"></a>[267]</span></p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant closed his glass.</p> - -<p>“The battle is over,” he rapped. “Now we can -take Chapultepec. If General Scott has the rest of -the army in readiness we can take the city itself before -night.” Then, as he glanced quickly about: -“Aha! A counter-attack!”</p> - -<p>Another body of the enemy had appeared—five -or six thousand infantry, marching in along the north -side of Chapultepec. And the lancers were threatening -the Sumner column in the northwest.</p> - -<p>“We’re getting reinforcements, too, lieutenant!”</p> - -<p>Down from Tacubaya village a fresh American -column was hurrying, the Stars and Stripes dancing -at the fore. Now Duncan’s battery section, Drum’s -section, the Huger twenty-four-pounders, and the -guns of the captured Casa-Mata were all thundering -at the retreating Mexicans. Bugles were blowing, -drums rolling.</p> - -<p>“We’d better find our stations, boy,” said the -lieutenant. They two piled down by way of the -cart shafts.</p> - -<p>Jerry was scarcely in time to help beat the recall -for gathering the men. The reinforcements arrived. -They were the General Pierce brigade—Ninth, -Twelfth and Fifteenth Infantry—of the Pillow -Third Division. Advancing at the double, amidst -cheers, they deployed beyond the mill, challenging -the enemy to come on. The new Mexican column -hesitated, and well it did so, for here was still another -brigade, sent by General Scott; the Riley Fourth -Artillery, Second and Seventh Infantry, of the -Twiggs Second Division, who from the south had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_268"></a>[268]</span> -marched four miles, mostly up hill and at the double -time to Tacubaya, and thence over and down.</p> - -<p>Magruder’s battery, which had done such service -at Contreras, was with it; swerved to the -west and opened upon the lancers; dispersed them -in disorder.</p> - -<p>The Mexican flight continued; the Mexican reinforcements -countermarched around Chapultepec. -The battle had been won—won by the First Division, -the Cadwalader brigade of the Third, six companies -of cavalry, Huger’s two twenty-four-pounders, -Drum’s three six-pounders, and the Duncan spit-fires.</p> - -<p>The hour was ten o’clock. Who would have -thought that so much time had passed? General -Scott had come upon the field. He could be seen, -congratulating General Worth. It was not until noon -that the dead and wounded had been placed in wagons -for Tacubaya. And it was a tired but triumphant -column that finally trudged—many a man using his -musket for a crutch—up the hill and back to camp.</p> - -<p>At the start the Casa-Mata powder magazine -exploded with loud burst, according to plan. The -smoke drifted into the faces of the Mexican garrison -of Chapultepec, who peered down but stuck tight.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_269"></a>[269]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXI">XXI<br /> -<small>READY FOR ACTION AGAIN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>This afternoon the camp of the First Division -and Cadwalader Brigade was proud but saddened: -proud, when the men learned that with their thirty-one -hundred they had defeated fourteen thousand -concealed within ditches and behind walls or massed -for support, with General Santa Anna himself looking -on; saddened, when they learned what the victory -had cost.</p> - -<p>“The bloodiest fight, ag’in fortifications, in American -hist’ry,” old Sergeant Mulligan pronounced.</p> - -<p>General Worth had acted rather blue. Out of his -thirty-one hundred he had lost one hundred and sixteen -killed, six hundred and fifty-seven wounded, and -eighteen missing—probably dead or wounded; total, -seven hundred and thirty-one, almost a fourth of his -whole number. And the list of officers was appalling: -fifty-one of the one hundred and seventy had fallen.</p> - -<p>Of the First Brigade, Lieutenant Thorn, Colonel -Garland’s aide-de-camp, was severely wounded; so -were First Lieutenant and Captain Prince and Second -Lieutenant A. B. Lincoln and Assistant Surgeon -Simons, Fourth Infantry; Lieutenants Shackleford -and Daniels, of the Second Artillery, were dying, -Lieutenant Armstrong had been killed outright; -Captain George Ayers and Lieutenant Ferry, -of the Third Artillery, had been killed; Captain -Anderson wounded.</p> - -<p>In the Second Brigade brave Colonel McIntosh,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_270"></a>[270]</span> -who commanded, was wounded mortally; his aide, -Lieutenant Burwell, was dead. Lieutenant-Colonel -Martin Scott, leading the Fifth Infantry, had been -killed. Major Waite, commanding the Eighth Infantry, -was wounded. And so on, down through the -captains and lieutenants.</p> - -<p>In the storming column Major Wright, commanding, -and the two engineers, Captain Mason and -Lieutenant Foster, had been wounded. One volley -from the Mexican breastworks had felled eleven out -of the fourteen officers!</p> - -<p>The Eleventh Infantry had lost its commander -also—Lieutenant-Colonel Graham—killed. Major -Savage, of the Fourteenth, and Major Talcott, of -the Voltigeurs, had been wounded. Four officers -of the Sumner squadrons had been struck down.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant had escaped again; but Lieutenant -Frederick Dent, of the Fifth Infantry, whose -sister was said to be Lieutenant Grant’s sweetheart, -had been wounded, and the lieutenant was -much concerned.</p> - -<p>Jerry, too, was on tenterhooks until he found -out that Hannibal Moss, drummer boy, was not -among the casualties. He and Hannibal met while -looking for one another. A number of comrades -were looking for one another this evening. They, -too, shook hands thankfully, and sank for a talk.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Hannibal, “the First Division did it -again, but it was awful. Did you fellows have a -hard time?”</p> - -<p>“Did we! Not a one of us expected to -get away alive. Expect you other fellows had it -worse, though.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_271"></a>[271]</span></p> - -<p>“The poor old Eighth Regiment Foot,” Hannibal -murmured soberly. “That hurt General Worth, I -guess, to see us cut up so. We’ve lost ten out of -twenty officers. The storming column didn’t hear a -sound from those breastworks—didn’t see a sign of -life, hardly, beyond the cactus. It was the same with -the Second Brigade at the Casa-Mata. Then when -we were right at the trenches, the Mexicans opened -on us, just mowed us down. Eleven officers of the -fourteen! Think of that! I got two bullets through -my uniform and a handful through my drum. See -those holes? Talk about ‘brushing away the enemy!’ -My eye! Old Fuss and Feathers was fooled for once. -We didn’t gain much.”</p> - -<p>“We showed what we could do again.”</p> - -<p>“You can’t show those Mexicans anything. Listen -to that music?” For the bells of the City of -Mexico were ringing madly. “The bells weren’t -in the mill at all. Now they’re being rung for victory, -because we didn’t take Chapultepec. The Mexicans -think we stopped short, and they’re celebrating.” -Hannibal shook his grimy fist at the city. “You wait -till we get breath,” he warned.</p> - -<p>“Suppose we’ll take Chapultepec next.”</p> - -<p>“I dunno.” And Hannibal wagged his head. -“This division ought to be given a rest. We’re -reduced almost to fourteen hundred. Since we -started in at San Antonio we’ve lost eleven hundred -men, some sick, but mainly killed and wounded. The -whole army’s lost only nineteen hundred. I guess -the First has done its share of fighting.”</p> - -<p>“That leaves General Scott with about eight -thousand.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_272"></a>[272]</span></p> - -<p>“Nearer seven thousand in the field. And Santa -Anna has twenty-five thousand still, I’ll bet a cooky.”</p> - -<p>“We’ve licked that number before. Odds don’t -make any difference to Scott men.”</p> - -<p>“Not much they don’t,” Hannibal agreed. “One -more of these little ‘brushes’ and we’ll be in the -Halls of Montezuma.”</p> - -<p>All the able-bodied troops were paraded at nine -o’clock the next morning, September 9, to witness -burial. A long trench had been dug just outside the -village of Tacubaya. The wagons, covered with -United States flags and bearing the bodies of the -killed in the battle of the eighth, were escorted by -funeral squads from each of the regiments. The -fifes and drums and a band, playing the funeral -march, accompanied; the troops followed with -muskets at a support. The tattered battle flags had -been draped with crape. The cannon fired minute -guns in solemn fashion.</p> - -<p>General Scott and staff, and all the general and -field officers, stood with heads bared; the troops, in -a half square, presented arms, while the Episcopal -church burial service was read by Chaplain “Holy -Joe” Morrison. Then the sappers and miners filled -in the trench.</p> - -<p>It was a bright day. The high parapets of Chapultepec, -to the north, were thronged with Mexican -soldiers looking down upon the ceremony.</p> - -<p>“B’gorry, you’d better be attindin’ your own -funerals,” old Sergeant Mulligan growled at them, -when the parade had been dismissed.</p> - -<p>Following the battle of Molino del Rey, General -Scott seemed to be in no hurry to take Chapultepec.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_273"></a>[273]</span> -Rather, he acted as though he might side-step Chapultepec. -The First Division and the Cadwalader -brigade rested at Tacubaya. The other Third Division -brigade—that of General Pierce, who was still -in the hospital with his crippled knee—under General -Pillow himself had been moved about two miles east, -where with the Riley brigade of the Twiggs Second -Division it was covering the city’s southern gates.</p> - -<p>The engineers of Captain Lee were down there, -also reconnoitring.</p> - -<p>“Dar’s gwine to be anodder big battle,” Pompey -kept insisting. “Gin’ral Scott, he got somepin’ up -his sleeve.”</p> - -<p>Before daylight of September 12, Jerry, in the -camp of the First Brigade, was half-awakened by the -tread of marching feet in the dusky outskirts of -Tacubaya. At reveille they all might see that there -were two camps between Tacubaya and the city. The -Pillow camp had been transferred nearer and was -established down toward the King’s Mill in front of -the town; while a second bivouac appeared not far -on the east or right of it under Chapultepec.</p> - -<p>The General Quitman Fourth Division had -arrived at last from San Augustine: Brigadier-General -Shields’ New Yorkers and South Carolinans, -and Lieutenant-Colonel Watson’s Marines and Second -Pennsylvanians! Now the only troops left in the -rear were General Persifor Smith’s brigade of the -Second Division, being the First Artillery, the Third -Infantry, and the dismounted Rifles. But Taylor’s -light battery of the First had come up, it was said, -and so had General Twiggs.</p> - -<p>There was another suspicious sight. During the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_274"></a>[274]</span> -night batteries had been emplaced down in front of -Tacubaya and facing Chapultepec. They seemed to -be four sections, in pairs. One pair, about to open -up, was located on the right of the hill slope, near -the Quitman division and the road leading from -Tacubaya to the eastern foot of Chapultepec. The -other pair, not yet quite ready, was located near the -King’s Mill and the Pillow brigade. The engineers -and the artillerymen had worked all night planting -the batteries.</p> - -<p>It was Sunday morning, but—</p> - -<p>“Boom! Boom-m-m!” The heavy reports -jarred the breakfast cups and platters, and rolled -back from the castle and the city walls and the mountains. -Everybody sprang up to see the shots land.</p> - -<p>“Boom! Boom! Boom-m-m!” They were two -eighteen-pounders and an eight-inch howitzer of -Captain Huger’s ordnance—a twenty-four-pounder. -Dust from the pulverized stone and mortar floated -above the castle of Chapultepec—dirt and rock -spurted from the breastworks of the hillside—the -Mexican soldiers were ducking and scampering. The -men cheered.</p> - -<p>“Now let ’em tend to their own funerals, and -we’ll play ’em Yankee Doodle.”</p> - -<p>The other battery joined. The bombardment of -Chapultepec continued steadily. The Riley brigade -of General Twiggs remained in the east upon the first -main road from the south there, which entered the -gate in the southwest corner of the city wall—the -Belen gate. Old Davy’s two batteries, Taylor’s, and -Steptoe’s Third Artillery detached from the Fourth -Division, were peppering the gate and also firing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_275"></a>[275]</span> -upon the Mexican batteries protecting the Contreras -and Churubusco roads, still eastward. The ringing -of musketry faintly chimed in with the loud booming -of the cannon.</p> - -<p>And this was Sunday!</p> - -<p>Just what General Scott had “up his sleeve” nobody -among the rank and file knew. The officers -refused to talk. Matters looked as though Chapultepec -was to be shaken first, and when it had been -well battered, then of course there would be an -assault. But where? Perhaps upon the southern -gates, in defiance of the weakened Chapultepec.</p> - -<p>From the hill of Tacubaya the bombardment was -pretty to witness. The American guns poured in -their shot and shell with perfect aim, so that after -every discharge the stones and dust and dirt were -lifted in showers. From half a mile the citadel replied -lustily, at first with ten pieces, but the firing -was wild. Gradually the guns were being silenced; -the garrison was drifting out for safety, and a large -body of reinforcements from the city had halted part -way to the hill, waiting for a chance to enter.</p> - -<p>The First Division men off duty began to sift -down nearer to the batteries to get, as Corporal -Finerty remarked, “a smell o’ powder.” Jerry, -Fifer O’Toole and Hannibal caught up with the corporal -on the Tacubaya road. They four stood -behind battery Number 1, which was the two -eighteen-pounders and the twenty-four-pounder -howitzer, commanded by Captain Drum, of the -Fourth Artillery.</p> - -<p>A group of the Palmettos was here. It was good<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_276"></a>[276]</span> -to see the Mohawks again. Palmettos, New Yorkers, -and Keystoners—they had a fighting reputation.</p> - -<p>“Howdy?” the South Carolinans greeted easily. -They were a set of men who usually said little.</p> - -<p>“Same to you,” Corporal Finerty answered. -“An’ faith, you’ve been a long time comin’. For -why do yez trail through by night, wakin’ up a camp -that’s tired wid hard fightin’?”</p> - -<p>“Well, pardner, you talk like you want to hawg -all the fun,” they replied. “To-morrow we’ll see -who’s first up that hill—the Volunteers or you Regulars. -Even start, my bucko.”</p> - -<p>“If you know annything, out wid it,” Corporal -Finerty demanded. “Do we storm Chapultepec, -you say?”</p> - -<p>“Would we make a forced march by night for -less, Mister Regular?”</p> - -<p>“Sure, now, what’s the use o’ foolin’ wid Chapultepec?” -retorted the corporal. “Let the ar-r-tillery -tind to that, an’ wait a bit an’ we’ll open thim -southern gates for yez, so yez can come in at ’ase.”</p> - -<p>“Never you mind those south gates. It’s Chapultepec -or nothing, for the army’s going in by the -west. The engineers decided that long ago. We -heard the talk at the battery before you fellows -were up. Those roads from the south are no good, -Mister. Every one leads through marshes and is -flanked by ditches and cut by batteries and other -ditches, and there’s a thundering big canal running -’round the city walls. And the marshes and the -ditches and the canal are full o’ water. So ’tis this -way, Mister: we-all and the Pillow men scouted -about yesterday, backing up Twiggs, for a showing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_277"></a>[277]</span> -ag’in the south. But we were ordered to trapse hyar -in front o’ Chapultepec by night, leaving only Old -Davy and his Riley brigade for a feint. And to-morrow -we-all are going to see the elephant on top -o’ yonder hill.”</p> - -<p>“B’gorry, you could fetch no better news, lads,” -spoke the corporal. “There be fourteen hundred o’ -the First Division lift, to turn their backs on the rist -o’ the army an’ their faces on the enemy.”</p> - -<p>“Nary, corporal,” they answered. “The Palmettos -have something to say to that. It’s been -powerful slow, pardner, sitting in the south whilst -you fellows in the north have been burning powder. -The Fourth Division will be first up that hill or bust.”</p> - -<p>An aide from Captain Huger, who directed the -general bombardment, rode along the line of batteries -waving the spectators back.</p> - -<p>“You can’t stay here, men. By orders of Captain -Huger the field must be cleared. You’re furnishing -the enemy with too large a mark.”</p> - -<p>So they all had to leave.</p> - -<p>The bombardment, increased by the batteries on -the mill side, continued all day and closed only with -darkness. The citadel of Chapultepec appeared to -have been pretty well “shaken.”</p> - -<p>“’Tis cruel hard on thim young cadets,” said old -Sergeant Mulligan at supper mess. “I hear tell that -some of ’em are mere lads scarce able to showlder -a musket. Now I wonder if they aren’t bein’ sint -down to the city to their mothers, where they -belong. I’m hopin’ so. We don’t want to be after -killin’ boys.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_278"></a>[278]</span></p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant passed along the line of company -fires.</p> - -<p>“Parade the men for inspection at eight o’clock, -sergeant,” he instructed, “in light marching order, -with cartridge boxes filled and two days’ rations.”</p> - -<p>“For the love o’ Hiven, left’nant,” the sergeant -pleaded at salute, “tell me: Do we be takin’ -Chapultepec?”</p> - -<p>“The First Division has orders to support the -Pillow assaulting column on the west. The Quitman -division, supported by the General Smith brigade -of the Second, will assault on the south.”</p> - -<p>“Support, ye say, left’nant? But we get into it, -don’t we, sorr? They won’t l’ave out the ould -First Division?”</p> - -<p>“We haven’t been left out of anything lately, as -I notice,” Lieutenant Grant grimly replied.</p> - -<p>The sergeant reseated himself.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow, lads,” he said. “We’ve wan or -two good fights raymainin’ in our packs, I guiss. -Enough to shame those daysarters wid, I’m thinkin’. -You’ve heard they’ve been put through—a part o’ -thim—already?”</p> - -<p>“When?”</p> - -<p>“Two days since, back at San Angel in the Second -Division camp. Sixteen of ’em hanged, an’ -nine dishonorably dismissed by order o’ Gin’ral Scott, -wid a big ‘D’ branded on their cheeks. The rist’ll -be attinded to soon, now. But sure, boys, I’d rather -be amongst those who be hanged than amongst the -traitorous livin’, condemned to hear the sound o’ the -guns o’ Chapultepec firin’ on brave men bearin’ the -flag o’ my country.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_279"></a>[279]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXII">XXII<br /> -<small>STORMING CHAPULTEPEC</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The First Division spent the night at the King’s -Mill. The Cadwalader brigade joined its comrade -brigade of the Third Division, and General Pillow -moved down to the mill also, in readiness for the -assault by the west slope of Chapultepec rock.</p> - -<p>Before the First Division companies had been -dismissed for the night, by orders of General Worth -two hundred and fifty men and ten officers had been -told off as a storming party to serve with the -Third Division in attacking Chapultepec. Captain -McKenzie, of the Second Artillery, was to be -the commander.</p> - -<p>Old Sergeant Mulligan figured among the happy -ones accepted.</p> - -<p>“Hooray! Thirty years I’ve worn the uniform, -an’ to-morrow’ll be the best day o’ my life. Ah, boys! -I’d climb that hill by meself wid only a shilaly, -rather’n stay below.”</p> - -<p>“You have the luck of the mess, sergeant,” they -admitted. “Now, couldn’t you sneak a few of us -along with you?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, mebbe there’ll be work for you the same. -Not into the city we are yet. But I’ll have a grand -view of it from atop the big buildin’ high on -yon rock.”</p> - -<p>Except for the two hundred and sixty as storming -column, the First Division was to remain below in -reserve. That was a disappointment. Jerry heard<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_280"></a>[280]</span> -himself growling about it with the others. Hannibal -had not got in on the attack either—but Hannibal -had been with the storming column of September 8, -when the mill and Casa-Mata had yielded, and he -ought to be willing to give place to somebody else. -Captain Gore, and Lieutenant Smith, and Lieutenant -Grant had missed out also. The Fourth Regiment -had supplied Lieutenants Rogers and Maloney; -and Company B had supplied Sergeant Mulligan, the -“top” sergeant of the whole division.</p> - -<p>Jerry cogitated. The column had been made up—was -under orders to report to General Pillow before -the engagement in the morning. There seemed -no hope for the rest of them.</p> - -<p>The night was rather noisy, with considerable -skirmishing by outposts, and a constant movement -upon the hill, as though the enemy was getting ready, -too, for the morrow.</p> - -<p>In the pink of the morning the bombardment by -the heavy batteries reopened. General Twiggs’ -guns, on the roads from the south to the city gates, -likewise went into action. The Mexicans were trying -to reinforce Chapultepec again, and they had -occupied a long trench behind the wall at the foot of -the cypress grove just east of the mill.</p> - -<p>The two heavy batteries here, one in the mill and -one south of it, were firing away upon Chapultepec, -but General Pillow made other preparations. He -stationed two pieces from Magruder’s First Artillery -battery, under Second Lieutenant Thomas J. -Jackson, to watch the same cavalry column that had -threatened in the northwest at the battle of September<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_281"></a>[281]</span> -8 and now seemed inclined to come in<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>. -And he directed that two of Lieutenant Reno’s -mountain howitzers (of the Callender battery which -had won fame at Contreras) be placed to shell the -Mexican long trench.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="noi"><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> Second Lieutenant Thomas J. Jackson became the celebrated -“Stonewall” Jackson, Confederate general in the -Civil War.</p> - -</div> - -<p>The storming column of the First Division stood -formed, carrying scaling ladders, fascines or bunches -of fagots for filling ditches, pickaxes and crowbars. -The Voltigeurs and the Ninth and Fifteenth Infantry -under General Cadwalader were to support the -storming column. The Eleventh and the Fourteenth -were to support Lieutenant Jackson’s battery section -and head off the cavalry gathered in the northwest. -The other regiment of the Third Division, the -Twelfth Infantry, and the Third Dragoons had been -left to guard Tacubaya and one of the supply -bases south.</p> - -<p>Soon after breakfast another American column -appeared, marching in for the south side of Chapultepec. -It was the General Persifor Smith brigade of -General Twiggs’ Second Division: the First Artillery, -the Third Infantry, and the Mounted Rifles -afoot. The Quitman Fourth Division of Volunteers -and Marines and the Smith brigade were to assault -the rock of Chapultepec from the south and the -southeast, while the Pillow men assaulted it from the -west. The Colonel Riley brigade of the Second -Division—the Fourth Artillery, the Second Infantry -and the Seventh Infantry, with Taylor’s First -Artillery battery and Steptoe’s battery of the Fourth<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_282"></a>[282]</span> -Artillery—were to hammer the south gates as a blind.</p> - -<p>The army for action numbered about seven thousand. -The Mexicans were supposed to be defending -Chapultepec with seven batteries and seven breastworks, -manned by two thousand to six thousand -troops. And Santa Anna had fifteen or twenty thousand -troops in reserve.</p> - -<p>The wait proved very long. The heavy batteries -thundered, sprinkling the castle of Chapultepec and -the entrenchments with solid shot and shell. The -Lieutenant Reno howitzers paid especial attention -to the wall at the foot of the hill and the ditch behind -it. The roof-tops of Tacubaya and of all the buildings -extending along the Tacubaya road to Chapultepec -were black with spectators; the walls and roofs -of the City of Mexico were crowded like the seats -of an amphitheater.</p> - -<p>The sun was high when, at a quarter to eight -o’clock on this morning of September 13, two aides -galloped out from General Scott’s headquarters in -Tacubaya. Down they came, the one straight for the -Quitman column, the other for the mill. They paused -an instant to say something to the heavy batteries, -and continued at full speed.</p> - -<p>“General Pillow! The commander-in-chief’s -compliments, and he directs that when the batteries -cease firing, in a few minutes, you will at once proceed -with your column to the attack.”</p> - -<p>General Pillow faced his troops.</p> - -<p>“Attention! We are about to storm the hill, my -lads. We shall take it with the bayonet in thirty -minutes, remember.”</p> - -<p>“Huzzah!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_283"></a>[283]</span></p> - -<p>Suddenly every battery was quiet. The silence -fell like a blanket.</p> - -<p>“Voltigeurs, forward! Run!”</p> - -<p>In two detachments, led by Colonel Andrews and -Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph E. Johnston, the eight -companies of Voltigeurs or Light Riflemen sprang -out, rifles at a trail.</p> - -<p>“Ready, Captain McKenzie. Ready, General -Cadwalader.”</p> - -<p>Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston’s detachment had -charged on the right for a break made by the howitzers -in the wall. The Colonel Andrews detachment -charged straight ahead. So quick they all were -that they had received only one volley from the ditch -at the edge of the cypresses before the Johnston -men were through the break and inside the defenses, -and the Andrews men were scrambling over the wall -itself. The ditch had been enfiladed in a twinkling; -the Mexican infantry dived out and scampered into -the trees.</p> - -<p>The howitzers changed fire to the trees; one gun -limbered up to advance by rushes—</p> - -<p>“Stormers and infantry, forward! Double -time!”</p> - -<p>General Pillow dashed on with them upon his -horse. The storming column, bearing their fascines -or fagot bundles and ladders—two men to a ladder—passed -close to the Fourth Infantry. Without a word -Jerry darted from place (he simply could stand still -no longer) and beating his drum ran to the head -of the platoons.</p> - -<p>He thought that he heard shouts—angry shouts; -but he did not care. His heart was thumping and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_284"></a>[284]</span> -heavy batteries had opened again, deluging Chapultepec; -so he may <em>not</em> have heard.</p> - -<p>Captain McKenzie espied him.</p> - -<p>“What’s this? What are you doing here?”</p> - -<p>“You’ll need a drummer, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Who sent you in?”</p> - -<p>“Nobody, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Then go back immediately. Fall out!”</p> - -<p>Jerry stepped aside; the column hurried by. He -heard another voice. It was that of Sergeant -Mulligan.</p> - -<p>“Sure,” said the sergeant, with a wink, “we’ve -no time to waste argufyin’. Wance in the trees, an’ -nobody’ll see ye.”</p> - -<p>Captain McKenzie was before and busy; probably -had forgotten all about the matter. The other -officers also had eyes and ears mainly for the front. -The Cadwalader regiments were close behind. In -the scramble over the wall there was a mixup. Jerry -stuck. Worming on again he made for the storming -column once more.</p> - -<p>Rifles and muskets were cracking ahead. The -Voltigeurs, searching the trees, yelled and fired; the -enemy replied. The storming column, outstripped -in the race, pressed faster. Assuredly in this hubbub -no one would bother about a drummer boy.</p> - -<p>General Pillow on his horse pushed to the fore. -The Mexican skirmishers and the infantry from the -ditch could be glimpsed, scurrying out of the timber -for shelter higher up. The howitzers were coming—they -tore through, horses tugging, cannoneers shoving, -and from above the Mexican guns were throwing -grape and shell down the hill into the wood. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_285"></a>[285]</span> -boughs of the trees cracked and slithered; the -twigs flew.</p> - -<p>The storming column, laden with the ladders -and fascines and tools, did not move as rapidly as the -light riflemen. Jerry, excited to his finger tips, -scarcely knew what he was doing, but he wished to -get out of that awful mess of falling trees and blinding -smoke. Soon he found himself up with the -Voltigeurs, as they emerged into the rock-strewn -open at the farther edge of the wood.</p> - -<p>Now there was a redoubt or system of fortified -entrenchments halfway on to the castle. That it was -which was pouring out the canister and shell to -sweep the slope below it. General Pillow’s horse -reared and turned, while the general tried to control -it and shout his orders. The Voltigeurs, leaping from -boulder to boulder, taking what shelter they could -get, left a wake of dead and disabled. This fire -from above was fearful—a constant stream of lead -and iron. Was the attack to be stopped? Where -were the stormers and the two regiments of infantry? -Toiling up as fast as they could.</p> - -<p>General Pillow toppled free from his horse, which -bolted. Jerry reached him where he had half set up -bleeding from a grape shot through his chest, and -supported by an aide.</p> - -<p>“The reserve, quick!” he gasped. “Where’s -Worth’s aide? Tell him to have Worth bring up his -whole division and make great haste or he’ll be -too late.”</p> - -<p>The group scattered. Jerry, legging recklessly, -as luck would have it met Lieutenant Wood, General -Worth’s aide, galloping in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_286"></a>[286]</span></p> - -<p>“Lieutenant Wood! Here, sir. General Pillow -asks help. The whole division, sir. Quick!”</p> - -<p>“Did he say so?” demanded Lieutenant Wood, -reining short.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. He’s wounded.”</p> - -<p>“Who are you?”</p> - -<p>“Jerry Cameron, sir; drummer, Company B, -Fourth Infantry.”</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Wood whirled his horse and sped -down for the mill. Jerry panted back for General -Pillow, but the general had not waited. The Voltigeurs -were acting as if crazy. They were shouting -“Vengeance! Vengeance!” and were charging the -redoubt, a squad of them carrying General Pillow on -a stretcher of rifles and a blanket. He had refused -to be taken rearward.</p> - -<p>The rocky slope below the redoubt was alive -with the riflemen, yelling, firing, stooping and rushing. -But they slowed up—they took to cover—they -could not outface the blast of musketry and grape. -What next? Huzzah! Here was the support at last: -the storming column and the Fifteenth Infantry. -With a cheer and a volley the Fifteenth charged, -bayonets leveled, straight for the redoubt, while the -two howitzers, hauled by their cannoneers, unlimbered -against the north angle, and the Voltigeurs -rallied to storm from the right.</p> - -<p>On went Jerry behind the gallant Fifteenth. The -Fifteenth piled in, the Mexicans broke in flight to the -north and the city. Jerry piled in. A Mexican -officer had stooped to touch a slow-match to the -fuse of a mine, but the musket balls hurled him -aside, wounded.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_287"></a>[287]</span></p> - -<p>The redoubt had been seized. What now? The -ranks looked small, the castle wall was far above. -The charge had advanced only half distance to it. -The storming column had dropped their ladders in -their mad race to join the fighting. Here came -General Cadwalader to take command, his horse -afoam. While waiting for the ladders with which -to scale the castle walls, the men distributed themselves -as best they could for shelter from the plunging -fire of the castle. They and the howitzers replied -briskly. But here came the panting, cheering -Ninth, bringing the ladders.</p> - -<p>The heavy batteries in the valley were still bombarding -the castle.</p> - -<p>“The enemy’s weakening, men! Forward!” -General Cadwalader shouted. He may not have been -heard; the men knew, anyway. The Voltigeurs, led -on their left by Colonel Andrews, on their right by -Lieutenant-Colonel Joe Johnston, plunged into the -open, to fight up the steep slope to the castle.</p> - -<p>The storming column was hot after; deploying, -the Ninth and the Fifteenth followed hard. Jerry, -shouting and beating his drum regardless of tune, -ran with the rest. They were not going to wait for -the reinforcements from the First Division. Off to -the south another battle raged, where the Quitman -men were busy.</p> - -<p>The front line worked its way clear to the outer -wall of the castle. There the Colonel Andrews Voltigeurs -crouched in holes and behind rocks and picked -off the gunners and sharpshooters upon the parapets. -The detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Joe -Johnston filed rapidly to the right for the southern<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_288"></a>[288]</span> -face of the wall. Cheers drifted up from below. The -reinforcements were nearing.</p> - -<p>But the stormers and the Ninth and Fifteenth, -with the ladders, arrived first. The Voltigeurs had -been halted by a wide deep ditch at the foot of the -wall. The bundles of fascines were passed forward -and tossed into the ditch by the stormers for pathways; -squads of men rushed with the ladders; fell; -rushed again—Look! Lieutenant Armistead, of the -volunteer stormers from the Sixth Regiment, had -planted his ladder! Down he sank, wounded—his -men swarmed up nevertheless—other ladders were -in place—some lurched aside or were hurled back—the -Mexicans upon the walls threw hand grenades, -stabbed with swords and bayonets and fired downward, -but men were climbing to them hand over hand -like monkeys, paused for an instant to shoot and stab -and club, then disappeared. By tens and twenties the -files mounted and leaped over, faster and faster; -and the next thing that Jerry knew he was inside, -himself.</p> - -<p>Huzzah! The reinforcements had joined. They -were the Clarke Second Brigade—they bore the -colors of the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Infantry. -Jerry dimly saw Hannibal in the ranks of the Eighth. -There was a company of the Quitman New Yorkers, -also—and of Marines, who somehow had got mixed -in with the right of the brigade on the way up.</p> - -<p>The space within the walls on the west and southwest -of the castle formed a large yard. All the -yard fumed with smoke from the belching castle and -from the return fire.</p> - -<p>The Reno howitzers had been dragged in, the captured<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_289"></a>[289]</span> -guns of the outer wall were being reversed. -The storming squads with the ladders ran, heads -down, across the yard for the castle walls; the Voltigeurs -and the infantry regiments (the New York -company and the Marines, too) fired furiously from -cover or in the open, helping the cannon drive the -castle defenders from parapets and windows. The -clangor was prodigious.</p> - -<p>Jerry seemed to see everything at once: the -struggling flags, the waving swords of the officers, the -figures, rising, falling, rising and charging on; the -red caps of the Mexican soldiery and the pompons -of the boy cadets fringing the parapets and the windows; -the cannon and the muskets smoking, and the -bodies now and then sprawling in a lax heap.</p> - -<p>Huzzah! Somebody was up—an officer in blue, -his head bare, the flag of the Eighth Infantry at his -back. He was Second Lieutenant Joseph Selden, of -Hannibal’s company. A moment he stood, but for -only a moment. Down he fell, sweeping his party -from the ladder. The wall had been saved. Not for -long, though! Huzzah! The great embroidered -flag of the castle had drooped; a grape shot had -severed its staff. No—it was hoisted again; a slender -little fellow—a Mexican military cadet—had -wriggled up the staff and refastened the banner. -Brave boy! The troops cheered him.</p> - -<p>Now there was another, louder cheer. The parapets -were being occupied by fighting blue coats. Two -flags had been planted: a Voltigeur flag and a New -York flag, upon a terrace, by two officers. The -Voltigeur officer was Captain Barnard; the New -Yorker was said to be Lieutenant Mayne Reid. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_290"></a>[290]</span> -men were battling their way through, everywhere—into -the doors and windows and over the portico and -the cornices. Another officer—Major Seymour, of -the Ninth—springing high, tore down the Mexican -colors from the broken staff; the Stars and Stripes -rose in their place.</p> - -<p>The Mexican soldiers were crying “Quarter!” -or fleeing. Among them were many of the cadets. -There was another hearty cheer; the banners of New -York, South Carolina and Pennsylvania were tossing -over a mass of blue jostling through a breach in the -out-walls on the south and southeast, and charging -into the yard. General Shields was here, his left -arm reddened.</p> - -<p>The castle of Chapultepec had been taken, but -heavy firing continued in the east. The Marines -and the General Persifor Smith brigade, of the Second -Division, were being held by batteries down -toward the road on that side. The cannon of the -castle were turned in that direction; they and muskets -and rifles volleyed into the backs of the enemy. -Now the Marines were fighting hand to hand with the -nearest battery. The Mexicans burst from the breastworks, -went streaming for the northeast and the city. -The Marines came on.</p> - -<p>“Cease firing! Cease firing, men!” Officers -were running around, striking up the musket barrels -with the flats of their swords. “It’s all over. Don’t -fight; cheer. Leave those poor wretches alone.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_291"></a>[291]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXIII">XXIII<br /> -<small>FORCING THE CITY GATES</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>General Bravo, commanding the castle, had surrendered -his sword. A young New Yorker, Lieutenant -Charles Brower, was conducting him to General -Quitman, who had just arrived. General Pillow -was here, pale and breathing hard and unable to -stand. He had been carried right along with -the column.</p> - -<p>All was confusion, of shouting soldiers, waving -their caps and capering and shaking hands; of -wounded, both Americans and Mexicans—the -bravest among them being the little Mexican cadets; -of officers trying to rally their companies, and so -forth and so forth. Eight hundred prisoners were -assembled under guard.</p> - -<p>Jerry heard excited talk. The Voltigeurs of Lieutenant-Colonel -Joe Johnston claimed to have been -the first to plant a flag; the New York company, of -Lieutenant Mayne Reid, disputed. The Volunteers -were singing their “Green grow the rushes, O!” The -Palmettos had charged up the hill without firing a -shot; the bayonet was their weapon. News flashed -thick and fast. Colonel Ransom, of the Ninth Infantry, -had been killed. So had Major Twiggs, of the -Marines—brother to Old Davy—while leading a -detachment of Volunteers in the Quitman two storming -columns. The Quitman stormers had lost both -their commanding officers, for Captain Casey, of the -Second Infantry, had fallen also.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_292"></a>[292]</span></p> - -<p>In the Pillow storming column Lieutenant -Rogers, of the Fourth Infantry, was dying; so said -Sergeant Mulligan; Lieutenant J. P. Smith, of the -Fifth Infantry, was dead; Lieutenant Armistead, of -the Sixth, who had placed the first ladder, was -badly wounded.</p> - -<p>But here was Hannibal.</p> - -<p>“How’d you get on top?” he demanded.</p> - -<p>“Guess I ran off.”</p> - -<p>“And you’ll get a jolly good wigging for it. -You’ll get the guard-house. No, maybe you won’t—not -after a victory. But wasn’t that a fight?”</p> - -<p>“I should rather say!”</p> - -<p>“The old Eighth is cut up again. Lieutenant -Selden was first on the castle, though. They don’t -think he’ll die. Lieutenants Longstreet and Pickett -and Merchant are wounded. Longstreet was carrying -the regimental colors.”</p> - -<p>“Where’s my brigade?”</p> - -<p>“Down below. Worth had to keep somebody, -didn’t he? We aren’t into the city yet. Hurray! -There’s Old Fuss and Feathers!”</p> - -<p>General Scott had arrived. What a scene <em>that</em> -was! The soldiers acted more crazed than ever; they -thronged about his horse as they had thronged at -Churubusco; they cheered and waved and cried. He -tried to speak—he tried to grasp their hands—he -was almost dragged from the saddle. His cheeks -were wet, his eyes brimming.</p> - -<p>“Fellow soldiers!” he shouted. “You have this -day been baptized in blood and fire, and you have -come out steel.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_293"></a>[293]</span></p> - -<p>He made his way to the castle stairs, and dismounting -went inside through the portico.</p> - -<p>“Come on,” Hannibal bade. “Let’s go on up.”</p> - -<p>They followed in with the cheering men. The -roof of the castle was flat. General Scott had taken -position here, and was examining the country below -with his glass. It was a stirring view to all. To -the right or east there was a broad smooth road, -divided through the middle by a many-arched aqueduct -or stone conduit for water, connecting the east -foot of the hill with the city wall; to the left there -was another broad road, with aqueduct, diverging -northeast for the city wall farther in the north. -This was the longer road, say a mile. And both roads -were jammed with the Mexican troops retreating -from Chapultepec in two red and blue and yellow -and green currents, with the darker blue of the -American reserve swirling on, after an interval, -in pursuit.</p> - -<p>The roads were dotted with smoke bursts of gunfire -from batteries in action. The angle between the -two roads likewise was dotted with islands of smoke, -where other Mexican batteries essayed to stay the -American columns by flank fire.</p> - -<p>“Those are our fellows on that north road,” -Hannibal asserted. “There’s your First Brigade, I’ll -bet; ’Leventh and Fourteenth of the Third Division, -too. They’re making for the San Cosme gate. Some -of Quitman’s troops are following up on that -Belen gate road. Must be the Smith brigade of -the Second.”</p> - -<p>“I’m going down to my regiment,” Jerry exclaimed.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_294"></a>[294]</span> -“That’s where my place is, with -the Fourth.”</p> - -<p>General Scott had turned to an aide and was -speaking rapidly. His great form had swelled, his -keen gray eyes shone bright with pride and hope.</p> - -<p>“Direct General Clarke to march his brigade at -once and unite with the other troops under General -Worth. The Worth column is to push on as fast as -possible and clear the road to the San Cosme gate. -Heavy artillery will be sent to him from the siege -batteries.” And to another aide: “Direct General -Cadwalader to detach his Ninth Infantry, of the -Pierce brigade, to the support of General Quitman -on the Belen road. The Fifteenth Infantry will -occupy Chapultepec. With his own brigade he will -be prepared to support General Worth.”</p> - -<p>The two aides hastened away. Hannibal was -as quick.</p> - -<p>“Come on,” he cried to Jerry. “We’ll all be -there. You can fall in with the Eighth.”</p> - -<p>“No, I’m not afraid. I’ll go back with the -storming column.”</p> - -<p>They rushed down together into the yard.</p> - -<p>The recall for the Second Brigade regiments was -being sounded by the drums. The soldiers hustled. -Jerry found the Captain McKenzie stormers and -joined the ranks. The captain glanced sharply at -him and half smiled.</p> - -<p>“You’re liable to arrest, you young rascal, for -deserting your company,” he uttered. “Report to -your proper command as soon as we get down. -What’s your regiment?”</p> - -<p>“The Fourth Infantry, sir.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_295"></a>[295]</span></p> - -<p>“Very good.”</p> - -<p>In a few minutes they all were descending from -the hill top. The storming column took the route of -a long flight of white stone steps leading down to the -San Cosme road on the north. Several soldiers from -the First Brigade had come up to see the battlefield. -Jerry recognized Sergeant Reeves, of Company B, -of the Fourth.</p> - -<p>“Hello, sergeant.”</p> - -<p>“Hello, yourself. What you doing here? Absent -without leave, eh?”</p> - -<p>“I came with Captain McKenzie in the charge. -How’d you get up?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I just wanted to look around. The brigade -halted below for orders; and after a scrimmage -I ran up the steps.”</p> - -<p>“Will we take the city, now, you think?”</p> - -<p>“It’s the time,” said Sergeant Reeves, who was -a quiet man, enlisted from Ohio. “You’ll see the -First Division go in by the San Cosme gate before -sundown.”</p> - -<p>“Have you had much fighting, sergeant?”</p> - -<p>“Considerable with what force was left us. We -managed to get along after you quit us. One drummer -more or less—what does that amount to? I -hear that a general court-martial is going to sit on -you.” And Sergeant Reeves laughed. “Well, we -were ordered to turn Chapultepec by the north and -cut off the enemy in that quarter. Magruder’s battery -section got in a tight place in the advance. -Lieutenant Jackson lost all his horses and half his -men by grape. The Fourteenth Infantry supported,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_296"></a>[296]</span> -and Trousdale, its colonel, was shot twice. But the -road’s open to the next turn for the city.”</p> - -<p>The reinforcements from the hill of Chapultepec -caught up with the main column. The stormers -rejoined their companies. Drum Major Brown -scowled at Jerry as he fell in with the field music -of the Fourth, but had no time to say anything, for -there were orders.</p> - -<p>With the First Brigade leading, and the Fourth -Infantry as honor regiment at its head, the column -marched by platoons on up the wide San Cosme road, -divided through the middle by the stone arches of the -aqueduct. Six companies of Second Dragoons, -under Major Sumner, closed the rear, behind -Duncan’s battery.</p> - -<p>Mexican breastworks had been erected across the -road before. They reached from ditch to ditch. -The Fourth Infantry was deployed on right and left -as skirmishers, and stealing from arch to arch the -men advanced.</p> - -<p>But the battery had been abandoned. In the -final rush there were only a few scattered shots from -skulkers. The Fourth deployed again, Company B -first, and presently was fronted by a second battery, -located where the San Cosme road and aqueduct entered -a road from the west and turned with it straight -east for the city.</p> - -<p>The battery parapet had a single embrasure for -one gun. But at the juncture of the two roads -houses began, facing the south and then soon extending -thicker and thicker on both sides of the road clear -to the San Cosme gateway, five hundred yards. The -flat roofs were protected by sandbags and fringed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_297"></a>[297]</span> -with the red caps of Mexican sharp-shooters. The -battery and the fortified roofs looked like an ugly -obstacle, especially as the Fourth Regiment skirmishers -were working along swiftly and leaving the -column behind.</p> - -<p>Captain Gore and Lieutenant Grant, of Company -B, were well ahead of the skirmishers. Bullets droned -in, glancing among the arches. On the west side of -the San Cosme road, where it met the road from the -west, there stood a house in a large yard enclosed -by a wall. The wall skirted both roads. Now Lieutenant -Grant had daringly darted across to the south -end of the yard, scurried along the wall to the southwest -corner, and turning it, disappeared.</p> - -<p>He came running back to the road; must have -called for volunteers. The skirmishers of the Fourth -fired briskly at the red caps upon the nearest roof-tops. -Under cover of the firing a dozen men bolted -to the lieutenant; at a trail arms they all followed -along the wall again and turned the outside corner. -A company of the Second Artillery sprang out of a -ditch there and joined them.</p> - -<p>In about ten minutes there was a volley from -the road beyond the one house and the battery. -The Mexicans upon the roofs overlooking leaped off -and scampered for positions eastward. The battery -was evacuated in a jiffy. The Lieutenant Grant -squad and the Second Artillery company appeared -in the rear of the battery; by rushes among the -arches of the aqueduct they pursued the Mexicans.</p> - -<p>With a yell the Fourth charged to the support. -Huzzah! More roofs were being emptied. The road -east to the city gate opened. On, men! On! Third<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_298"></a>[298]</span> -Sergeant Bloss forged to the fore with the regimental -colors. The men tore after, Jerry and nimble little -Tommy Jones footing with the fastest. It was a -go-as-you-please, for the field music and all. Look -out! Look out! Another battery—and ready for -action, too. A blast of grape whistled down the -road, rattled against the arches in which the men -sought cover. Steady, men! Watch sharp. He’s -up to mischief this time.</p> - -<p>“Bang!” A cry arose. Bloss was flat! The -grape had met him when, bearing the colors, with -the color guard he had made a dash for shelter of -a vacant house across the road. The tattered blue -and gold banner of the Fourth was in the dust. Out -charged the Mexican infantry, yelling like Indians, -to capture the flag. That would be a trophy indeed. -In charged the nearest men of the Fourth to rescue -it. Bullets flew, hissing and spattering.</p> - -<p>Jerry thought of nothing but the flag. Somehow, -there he was, clutching at it in the hurly-burly—helped -by Tommy Jones, was dragging it aside, -while bullets sang in his ears and bayonets clashed -over him. And entirely out of breath he was safely -behind an arch, and delivering the flag to Captain -Gore!</p> - -<p>“You’ll get mention for this, sir,” the captain -panted. “The regiment would have been eternally -disgraced.” He ran for the mêlée again.</p> - -<p>“Are you hurt, Tommy?” Jerry gasped. With -a word and a slap on the shoulder Corporal Finerty -had taken the flag to carry it.</p> - -<p>“No,” said Tommy. “And you saved the honor -of the regiment. You were there first.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_299"></a>[299]</span></p> - -<p>“You helped.”</p> - -<p>“Bet you’ll never be hauled on the carpet for -skipping off this morning,” said Tommy.</p> - -<p>And Jerry rather thought the same. Whew! If -the Mexicans had got that Fourth Infantry flag, -which had been pierced with twenty-six balls at -Monterey and as many more at Churubusco and -the King’s Mill!</p> - -<p>The regiment and the Second Artillery company -had taken the breastworks, but the drummers before -were beating the recall. The Fourth numbered only -two hundred and fifty men, the Second Artillery company -only forty. The scant three hundred of them -were here alone, fronting the garita or gate of San -Cosme, not more than two hundred and fifty yards -down the road.</p> - -<p>Between the breastworks and the garita the road -was lined on both sides with the stone, flat-roofed -houses, defended by sandbag parapets and the Mexican -infantry. Another battery at the gate commenced -to pepper the road. Grape and canister -whizzed by.</p> - -<p>“Fall back, men! Fall back! We can’t hold -this now.”</p> - -<p>Running and dodging and pausing to fire, the -Fourth and Captain Horace Brooks’ artillery company -withdrew by way of the arches and the last -houses. Laughing and puffing, they reached the -head of the main column.</p> - -<p>General Worth had halted the column at the -juncture of the road from the south and the road -from the west, beside a large cemetery called the -Campo Santo. The cemetery was the one used by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_300"></a>[300]</span> -the English residents of the city for burying their -dead. General Scott and his staff had come up. -He and General Worth were sitting their horses at the -head of the column and surveying the road, which -from here stretched eastward five hundred yards -through the suburbs to the San Cosme gate.</p> - -<p>“You will press right on, general,” Old Fuss -and Feathers abruptly said. “Carry the gateway in -the shortest time possible and penetrate as far as the -Alameda, three squares from the grand plaza. General -Cadwalader is on his way and will act as reserve -while holding his brigade here in the Campo Santo. -Siege guns have been ordered up for you.”</p> - -<p>That was all. General Scott galloped back toward -Chapultepec. The Cadwalader Voltigeurs -and the Eleventh and Fourteenth Infantry were -double-quicking in, bringing the Reno howitzers. -The Eleventh and Fourteenth proceeded to take -position in the Campo Santo. The Voltigeurs were -directed to support the howitzers and attack with the -First Division. The dragoons had been ordered to -guard Tacubaya headquarters, it was said.</p> - -<p>Jerry felt hungry. The sun marked mid-afternoon -already. There was very heavy gunfire in the -southeast around the Belen gate. Clouds of smoke -enveloped the gate. The Quitman column had -stormed—officers with glasses were insisting that the -gate had been forced and that the Mexicans were -trying to drive the Quitman column out. But the -First Division had its own work now.</p> - -<p>“Colonel Garland!” Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp -Pemberton, from General Worth, was delivering -orders. “By direction of the division commander<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_301"></a>[301]</span> -you will kindly equip a sufficient detachment -of your brigade with pickaxes and crowbars, advance -your column by the right of the road to the first occupied -building, and using your sappers hew a way -straight through the line to the gate. The same -methods as at Monterey, colonel. When you reach -your objective break through the roof and open fire -from above the gate. The Second Brigade will be -doing likewise on your left.”</p> - -<p>The First Brigade, which had been hugging the -aqueduct arches, cheered the orders. The detachment -of sappers was told off, and supporting the -pick-and-crow men the Fourth Infantry, followed by -the Second and Third Artillery, rushed for the first -house. The skirmishers deployed, seeking cover behind -walls and sheds while they busily popped at the -Mexican red caps upon the roofs.</p> - -<p>The sappers hacked holes through the side of the -house; by squads the men dived in. Jerry stayed -out with the rest of Company B, his eye again glued -to Lieutenant Grant.</p> - -<p>Through the houses, and behind walls and around -corners, the First Brigade slowly traveled on. The -houses stood more and more closely, so that the burrowers -darted safely across the narrow spaces. The -enemy atop was helpless to stop them—and had no -time to attend to them anyway. Jerry soon overtook -Lieutenant Grant, who had halted at one side -and was gazing before from the angle of a garden -wall.</p> - -<p>He saw Jerry at his elbow.</p> - -<p>“You’re here, are you, young bodyguard?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_302"></a>[302]</span></p> - -<p>“That’s all right. I can use you. Supposing -some of us mounted a light gun in the belfry of that -church yonder. We ought to do execution. What -do you think?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. That would be a fine place,” Jerry -agreed.</p> - -<p>The church was located one hundred yards toward -the city wall and off at the south side of the -road. It had a flat roof and a belfry; but the Mexican -sharpshooters favored the houses that commanded -the road and had let the church alone.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Grant acted at once.</p> - -<p>“Very well, we’ll try it if we can get the gun. -You run back, sir, to the howitzer battery, and ask -for a gun and gun crew. Tell them I’ll be responsible -for the report to General Worth.”</p> - -<p>Jerry ran, ducking, and wondering whether he -would have to cross that fearful road up which iron -and lead were streaming from the San Cosme gate -battery. He was lucky; met, first, a lieutenant of -Voltigeurs—</p> - -<p>“Here! Where you going, bub?”</p> - -<p>“I want a howitzer, sir. I’m under orders from -Lieutenant Grant, of the Fourth.”</p> - -<p>“You are? What’s the trouble?”</p> - -<p>“He’s going to put it in the belfry of that church, -sir. Then we’ll be above the roofs and the gate.”</p> - -<p>The lieutenant took a look. He was as smart as -a whip.</p> - -<p>“By thunder, a good idea! I’ll get the howitzer. -You wait here.”</p> - -<p>“And a squad to serve it, sir,” Jerry anxiously -called after.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_303"></a>[303]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, we’ll serve it, you bet!”</p> - -<p>The lieutenant returned at full speed with the -gun dismantled and a squad carrying the pieces. -Lieutenant Grant’s face lighted as he saw them hustling -in to him.</p> - -<p>“Now for it, then! You’re Lieutenant——?”</p> - -<p>“Lieutenant Fry, of the Voltigeurs.”</p> - -<p>“I’m Grant, of the Fourth Infantry. Shall you -take command, or I, sir?”</p> - -<p>“You, of course, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“Follow me with the gun, men.”</p> - -<p>They all made a wide detour to the south to avoid -bullets. The ground was a marshy meadowland, -knee-deep with ooze, and cut by the usual ditches, -some of them breast deep. But nobody stopped for -these. When they arrived at the church they were -a slimy party. The rear door was locked. Lieutenant -Grant rapped with the hilt of his sword. A priest -opened, for barely a crack.</p> - -<p>“You speak Spanish?” the lieutenant asked of -Jerry.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Good! Tell the father that we wish to get -inside.”</p> - -<p>“He says that he’s sorry, but it’s impossible at -this hour,” Jerry interpreted after the priest’s answer.</p> - -<p>“Tell him that nothing is impossible to Americans. -Tell him we regret to trouble him and we do -not wish to damage property needlessly, but if he -doesn’t open the door we’ll break it down and he -may find himself a prisoner.”</p> - -<p>The priest opened and stood aside. He did not -look especially friendly as they trooped by him. Up<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_304"></a>[304]</span> -into the belfry they climbed, led still by Lieutenant -Grant. The men had hard work to hoist the pieces -of the howitzer up the ladder, but they did it. They -put the barrel upon the carriage and the carriage -upon the wheels, and proceeded to pass up the powder -cartridges and shells.</p> - -<p>When the gun had been assembled and the gun -squad was prepared, the belfry had little spare -space in it.</p> - -<p>The gun was loaded, pointed—Lieutenant Grant -himself squinted over the barrel. He stood back.</p> - -<p>“Give it to ’em!” he barked. “Fire!”</p> - -<p>“Bang!” The lock string had been jerked. The -shell flew true; exploded in the very midst of the -gateway battery.</p> - -<p>It created a little panic. The Mexicans seemed -to think that it had dropped from the sky. The -belfry squad cheered and reloaded.</p> - -<p>“Bang!”</p> - -<p>The lieutenant occasionally changed to the roof-tops -and sprinkled them with canister. He was -enjoying himself immensely. So was Lieutenant -Fry. Jerry likewise was glad that he had come. -Below the belfry the whole battlefield was outspread. -The church was almost directly south of the breastworks -that had been taken and left again. The -gateway—arched over between towers, was two -hundred and fifty yards at the rear of the breastworks. -It had mounted a heavy gun and a howitzer, -emplaced behind sandbags and stone abutments and -scoured the road with shell and canister and grape. -The square towers and the parapets of the wall on -either side of the gate were volleying with musketry;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_305"></a>[305]</span> -the roofs of the houses along the road gushed smoke. -The figures of the Mexican defenders, lying flat or -crouching, or stealing from point to point, could be -plainly seen amidst smoke spume.</p> - -<p>Up the street there were the Voltigeurs, supporting -the howitzers and springing from arch to arch. -Duncan’s battery, posted farther back but gradually -coming nearer, was responding hotly to the Mexican -battery. In the yards of the houses the skirmishers -of the Fourth, and of the Second and Third Artillery, -darted hither thither, picking off the Mexican sharpshooters -before them; every now and then the burrowing -squads burst out in a new spot.</p> - -<p>Across the street the Clarke brigade was doing -the same work. A second howitzer had been mounted -upon a high roof over there, in rivalry with Lieutenant -Grant’s howitzer. It, too, was dropping -shells into the enemy.</p> - -<p>And yonder, a mile and a half or two miles in -the southeast at the Belen gate, the other battle was -being waged, where the General Quitman column -appeared to have gained a foothold.</p> - -<p>The sun was touching the western horizon. The -ammunition for the little howitzer was almost spent. -But a great cheer arose from below. They gazed -quickly. Drawn by galloping horses, the gunners -astride and lashing, or sitting upon the caisson, a six-pounder -from Duncan’s battery was charging down -the road for the abandoned breastworks.</p> - -<p>The city gate spouted flame and smoke afresh. -Every Mexican musket, as seemed, was brought to -bear upon the bounding, thundering gun. Would -the gun make it—would it—would it? The two lead<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_306"></a>[306]</span> -horses were fairly lifted from their feet by the canister; -the other two horses dragged them, a mass of -mangled flesh. The gunners astride had been hurled -from their seats; the caisson showed gaps, as the -gunners sitting upon it wilted. Down sprawled the -horse of the young officer who commanded. He staggered -to his feet and ran on. An instant more and -the gun was safely within the shelter of the battery -parapet—was being unlimbered and turned muzzle to -muzzle with the gateway guns.</p> - -<p>Of the nine artillerists, five were out of action.</p> - -<p>“That,” said Lieutenant Grant, breathing fast, -“is Lieutenant Harry Hunt, of the Second. I -never saw a braver deed.”</p> - -<p>The roofs of the houses had been cleared well-nigh -to the city wall. Lieutenant Hunt’s gun opened -point blank upon the gateway battery. And listen! -See! There was another great cheer—suddenly -the roofs right against the wall on either side of the -gate had upheaved, a torrent of blue caps and blue -jackets spurted out like bursts of water, and broke -white with a terrific fire into the gateway battery -and even over the wall itself.</p> - -<p>The battery was silenced in a moment as the -gunners fell or frantically scuttled back through -the arched passage. Lieutenant Hunt’s gun again -belched grape. And here came the stormers, out -from among the houses and down the road, yelling, -firing, pouring through between the gate towers.</p> - -<p>“The gate’s taken, and so is the city,” Lieutenant -Grant rapped. “Come on, Fry. We’d better -join our commands. Disassemble the piece, men, -and report with it to Lieutenant Reno.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_307"></a>[307]</span></p> - -<p>He and Lieutenant Fry and Jerry tumbled below; -ran for the road. The Fourth Infantry was -well inside the gate; the men, breathless, laughing, -peering, asking what next. Save for a few shots the -place was singularly silent. General Worth arrived -in haste.</p> - -<p>“What regiment is this?”</p> - -<p>“Fourth Infantry, sir.”</p> - -<p>“God bless the Fourth Infantry. Where’s -Major Lee? Hold your position, major; you will -be supported.”</p> - -<p>“B’gorry, first in, an’ here we stay,” cried -old Sergeant Mulligan. “Hooray for the Fourth!”</p> - -<p>The enemy was rallying. His bugles pealed, his -officers were shouting and urging, a column boiled -into the street before. As quick as thought the -two guns of the gateway battery had been reversed—“Clear -the way, there!”—and a shower of grape -scattered the column.</p> - -<p>The bugles sounded again, with the Mexican -signal for recall.</p> - -<p>The other regiments thronged in: the Second -Artillery, the Sixth Infantry, the Eighth (with Hannibal -rolling his drum and cheering lustily), the -Third Artillery, the Fifth Infantry, the Voltigeurs; -all the Worth foot. Then, after the troops had -been assigned to position, Captain Huger, of the -ordnance, and two heavy guns, a twenty-four-pounder -and a ten-inch mortar came on; were -planted in the gateway, General Worth overseeing.</p> - -<p>Save for the tolling of bells, the distant cries of -frightened people, and the muffled notes of Mexican -drums and bugles, the city was quiet. Now what?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_308"></a>[308]</span></p> - -<p>“Get your range by the map, captain,” spoke -General Worth to Captain Huger. “Then throw a -few shell in the direction of the plaza and capital -buildings. I don’t particularly care where they -land, as long as they notify the authorities that we -are here and have the city at our mercy.”</p> - -<p>“Cut your fuses for sixteen hundred yards,” -Captain Huger ordered. “With shell, load!”</p> - -<p>“Number One, ready! Fire!”</p> - -<p>“Boom!” The twenty-four-pounder had -spoken. “Crash!”</p> - -<p>“Number Two, ready! Fire!”</p> - -<p>“Boom-m!” And—“<em>Crash</em>!”</p> - -<p>That was the big mortar bomb. Darkness had -gathered. The flames from the two guns redly illuminated -the gateway littered with spoil—shone upon -the bodies of the Mexican gunners who had fallen, -rammers in hands; the explosions of the shells -lighted the roofs and towers in the center of the -city, almost a mile eastward. The distant cries of -alarm echoed anew. Three shells were thrown -from the twenty-four-pounder, five from the mortar.</p> - -<p>“That will do,” General Worth bade.</p> - -<p>An aide from General Scott raced in.</p> - -<p>“General Worth! The general commanding -sends his compliments, and the information that -General Quitman is in possession of the Belen gateway. -You are directed to entrench yourself here -before the San Cosme gate, and await further orders -in preparation for a final assault in the morning, -if necessary.”</p> - -<p>General Worth smiled.</p> - -<p>“My compliments to General Scott. As you see,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_309"></a>[309]</span> -we have entered the city and have a clear road to the -plaza. My instructions were to penetrate as far as -the Alameda; but owing to the darkness we will -establish ourselves where we are, and march on -by daylight.”</p> - -<p>The aide delayed a moment.</p> - -<p>“General Quitman forced the Belen gate shortly -after one o’clock, general,” he said. “But he has -been held fast ever since, unable to advance by -reason of batteries opposing him. My congratulations -to you, sir.”</p> - -<p>“He was simply to threaten the gate, I understood.”</p> - -<p>“I had the honor of bearing him those very -instructions,” laughed the aide; “with the commander-in-chief’s -compliments. But before I had -delivered the message he snapped: ‘Tell General -Scott I have no time to listen to compliments,’ and -on he went.”</p> - -<p>“Well, sir,” General Worth responded, “you -will please inform Major-General Scott that there is -nothing to obstruct my command in a forward movement -to the plaza at daybreak.”</p> - -<p>The Colonel Riley brigade, of the Fourth Artillery, -Second and Seventh Infantry, and Taylor’s -battery, from the Second Division, marched in. -This night the Fourth Infantry was quartered in a -large house on the main street from the gateway. -The men reveled in the luxury of soft beds, thick -carpets, and rich food. They searched the rooms -for money but found none; and they did nothing -worse than pillage a pantry of sweet preserves.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_310"></a>[310]</span></p> - -<p>Major Lee and invited officers fell heirs to a -supper waiting for one of the Mexican generals.</p> - -<p>Jerry met Pompey wandering about, his black -face smeared.</p> - -<p>“Am dis one ob the Halls ob Montyzumy?” -Pompey asked.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think so, Pompey. But we’ll be there -in the morning.”</p> - -<p>“Not dis chile. No, suh! You-all can have -the rest ob dose Halls; I gwine to stay hyar as long -as dar’s any platters to lick.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_311"></a>[311]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXIV">XXIV<br /> -<small>IN THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p>At reveille it was reported that shortly after -midnight the mayor and city council had surrendered -the city to General Worth. They said that Santa -Anna had withdrawn his army into the country. -General Worth forwarded the delegates to General -Scott at Tacubaya, and he had just been directed -to march his troops to the Alameda. The Quitman -column was to occupy the plaza and raise the flag.</p> - -<p>This seemed hard, but General Quitman had -been first to seize a gate, and had lost heavily. -Besides, with his Mohawks and Marines he had -guarded the rear, at San Augustine, through a long -period, while other troops were winning honors.</p> - -<p>The First Division, the Voltigeurs and the Riley -brigade were halted in column of companies in the -green square or Alameda. Now all the way on -to the plaza, three blocks, the broad street was -crowded with the Mexican citizens, jostling along -the walks and thronging the balconies. The front -of many of the buildings flew the neutral flags of -England, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy.</p> - -<p>At seven o’clock music was heard and cheering. -The Quitman column appeared in sight: the handsome -General Quitman and bluff General Twiggs, -and staffs, with escort of cavalry, at its head; then -in serried ranks the Rifles, with the regimental flags -of the First Artillery, the Third Infantry, the New -Yorkers, the Marines, and the Ninth Infantry -following at the fore of their commands. Sections<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_312"></a>[312]</span> -of the Drum and Steptoe batteries rumbled behind.</p> - -<p>The drums of the Worth regiments rolled, the -men cheered gallantly. With measured tread the -Quitman column passed on, its bands playing “Hail, -Columbia!,” “Washington’s March,” and “Yankee -Doodle.” Presently there was a still louder burst of -cheers, and the united strains of the “Star Spangled -Banner.” From the flag pole of the national palace -the Stars and Stripes had broken out; raised, as was -afterward learned, by Captain Roberts of the Rifles. -He had been foremost in the Quitman storming -columns up Chapultepec hill.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Beauregard, of the engineers, bandaged -from a wound, dashed from the plaza, evidently -bearing dispatches. About eight o’clock the -clatter of hoofs sounded. The Dragoons were coming. -Then—</p> - -<p>“Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah for -Old Fuss and Feathers!”</p> - -<p>General Scott, plumed and girted and gloved, in -full uniform complete, towered at the front. Led -by Colonel Harney and Major Sumner, the dragoons, -their mounted band in the advance, at a carry -sabers, filled the street from curb to curb. They, too, -were spick and span.</p> - -<p>“Hail to the Chief!” That was the tune being -played. The general and escort swept by at a rapid -trot, while the bands and the field music of the -Worth column likewise played “Hail to the Chief.” -The Mexican spectators forgot themselves, and -cheered and clapped. No one could deny that the -chief and his cavalry made a splendid sight.</p> - -<p>“Column—forward—quick time—march!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_313"></a>[313]</span></p> - -<p>The Worth men might move in at last. The -street was so blocked that the end files of the companies -were obliged to brush the people from the -way. In the plaza the Second Dragoons band was -playing “Yankee Doodle.” The plaza also was -crowded. There seemed to be hundreds of blanketed, -dirty beggars under foot. The dragoons rode -right and left, clearing the plaza with the flats of -their sabers, but careful to harm nobody.</p> - -<p>“Column, halt!”</p> - -<p>Just as General Worth was about to give orders -a volley burst from the top of a building; the balls -pelted in, aimed at him and his staff; but they passed -over. Colonel Garland clapped his hand to his side, -and in Company B Lieutenant Sidney Smith -sank limply.</p> - -<p>As if the volley had been a signal other shots -sounded; paving stones rained down. It looked like -a trap. Here were five thousand Americans, almost -the whole army, in the plaza and surrounded by -buildings and two hundred thousand people.</p> - -<p>The orders were quick. In an instant Duncan’s -battery and the Reno howitzers galloped to the -plaza corners; Steptoe’s and Drum’s and Taylor’s -guns were being unlimbered. Aides from General -Scott were spurring hither thither; skirmish squads -were being told off, and ordered to search the streets -and buildings. The dragoons galloped. The howitzers -battered the building from which the first -volley had issued. Now all around the plaza there -echoed the clatter of hoofs, the thud of running feet, -and the ringing reports of musket and rifle.</p> - -<p>A number of leading Mexican citizens apologized<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_314"></a>[314]</span> -to General Worth and General Scott, and -offered help to put down the insurrection. The -trouble-makers were two thousand convicts who -had been set free by Santa Anna.</p> - -<p>The firing in the streets continued throughout -the day, while the reserves waited under arms. At -night things had quieted somewhat. The First -Division bivouacked in the Alameda. After strong -outposts had been placed the men might talk again. -What a two days, September 13 and 14, that had -been! And this was the end of the campaign in the -Halls of Montezuma.</p> - -<p>The Riley men, quartered with the First, could -tell the news from the Quitman column. They had -been at Chapultepec, and upon the road to the Belen -gate. The casualties were heavy. Major Loring, -of the Rifles, had lost an arm. The Drum battery -had been cut to pieces at the gate—Captain Drum -and First Lieutenant Benjamin killed. Lieutenant-Colonel -Baxter, commanding the New Yorkers, was -dying; Major Gladden, commanding the Palmettos, -was wounded. General Shields’ wounded arm was -in bad shape. General Pillow would recover; was in -the hospital at Chapultepec. The South Carolinans -were holding the Belen gate; the Second Pennsylvanians -were garrisoning the fort inside.</p> - -<p>Colonel Garland, it was said, would get well; but -Lieutenant Smith was dead.</p> - -<p>Jerry looked at his own mess. Brave Scotty -MacPheel was gone; so was Henry Brewer—he had -been shot down yesterday. Corporal Finerty bore -an honorable wound; Fifer O’Toole’s head was bandaged—a -musket ball had scraped it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_315"></a>[315]</span></p> - -<p>In taking Chapultepec and the city ten officers and -one hundred and twenty rank and file had been -killed; sixty-eight officers and six hundred and -thirty-five rank and file had been wounded; twenty-nine -men were missing; total, eight hundred -and sixty-two, of whom almost a tenth were officers. -The loss to the army since it had marched -out of Puebla was three hundred and eighty-three -officers, two thousand, three hundred and twenty -rank and file. Subtracting the garrisons and rear -guards, Old Fuss and Feathers had marched into -Mexico City with less than six thousand out of -his ten thousand with which he had left Puebla six -weeks before.</p> - -<p>And according to estimates, in the same time the -Mexicans had lost more than seven thousand killed -and wounded, thirty-seven hundred prisoners including -thirteen generals, some twenty flags, one -hundred and thirty-two pieces of artillery, and -twenty thousand small arms.</p> - -<p>So here the “gringo” army was.</p> - -<p>Instead of permitting his men to pillage the -city, General Scott levied a money contribution upon -it of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the -support of the troops. Adjutant Mackall read -to the First Division, paraded to listen, the following -orders:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p class="right"><span class="padr2 smcap">Headquarters of the Army,</span><br /> -Mexico, Sept. 14, 1847.</p> - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">General Orders No. 284.</span></p> - -<p>1. Under the favor of God, the valor of this -army, after many glorious victories, has hoisted the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_316"></a>[316]</span> -colors of our country in the capital of Mexico and -on the palace of the Government.</p> - -<p>2. But the war is not ended. The Mexican army -and Government have fled, only to watch an opportunity -to return upon us in vengeance. We must, -then, be upon our guard. Companies and regiments -will be kept together and all stand on the -alert. Our safety is in military discipline.</p> - -<p>3. Let there be no drunkenness, no disorders, -and no straggling. Stragglers will be in great danger -of assassination, and marauders shall be punished -by court-martial.</p> - -<p>4. All the rules so honorably observed by this -glorious army in Puebla must be observed here. The -honor of the army and the honor of our country call -for the best behavior on the part of all. The valiant -must, to win the approbation of God and our country, -be sober, orderly, and merciful. My noble -brethren in arms will not be deaf to this hasty appeal -from their general and friend.</p> - -<p>5. Major-General Quitman is appointed the civil -and military Governor of Mexico.</p> - -<p>By command of</p> - -<p class="noic"><span class="smcap">Major-General Scott.</span></p> - -<p class="right"><span class="padr35 smcap">H. L. Scott,</span><br /> -Act’g Ass’t Adj. Gen.</p> -</div> - -<p>“Well, boy,” said Hannibal, when he and Jerry -got together after dismissal, “you heard those -orders. Maybe the war’s not ended for General -Scott, but it’s ended for me. I want to rest up.”</p> - -<p>“It’s ended for Pompey, too, all right,” Jerry -added. “He’s still crying about Lieutenant Smith.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_317"></a>[317]</span> -Says he’s lost his ‘offercer,’ and he wants to -go home.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Hannibal mused. “And the war’s been -ended for Lieutenant Smith and a lot of good men -before him. That’s the way. War costs.”</p> - - -<p class="p2 noic"><span class="smcap">End</span></p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="tnote"> -<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> - -<p class="smfont">Except for the frontispiece, illustrations have been moved to - follow the text that they illustrate, so the page number of the - illustration may not match the page number in the Illustrations.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Obvious printer’s, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were - silently corrected.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INTO MEXICO WITH GENERAL SCOTT ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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