Into Mexico with General Scott / 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 Cera 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

by Edwin L. Sabin

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.

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:

“Who comes there?”

A voice answered shortly. Then the door opened, and the same voice—that of Adjutant Nichols—shouted:

“Men! Men! Wake up, all hands! First sergeants, parade your companies and call the rolls immediately. The officers will then take command.”

XVII
CLEARING THE ROAD TO THE CAPITAL

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.

“Beat the long roll, drummers!”

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.