by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
THE GREAT STRATEGIST.
"What is it, captain? One of my aides-de-camp tells me you have askedfor an interview. Be brief with your business; I'm full of affairs justnow." I was not a favourite at head-quarters. I had no flattery forthe conceited septuagenarian who at this crisis commanded the Americanarmy.
Still his consent was necessary for my purpose. Without it I could donought to avenge the death of my friend. That granted, I had conceiveda scheme.
"What is it?" asked the general, with an air of impatience that auguredill for my success. "What is it you want?"
"Leave of absence, general."
"Why, you've been off duty for six months. How much more do yourequire?"
"Only six days."
"Six days! And for what purpose?"
"To punish these brigands who infest the road between here and Puebla.I presume, general, you've been informed of their atrocities?"
"Of course I have. But what can I do? If I send a troop, they see thesoldiers miles off, and won't stand to be attacked. It's like chasing awild goose."
"I think I have a plan by which they can be brought to close quarters,and some of them chastised. With your permission, I should like to maketrial of it."
"But I have no cavalry just now to spare--not a single sabre. TheGovernment is so stingy, they won't give me men enough to fill up theregular regiments. They think I can hold a great country like Mexicowithout horses--where the enemy are nearly all mounted too! No, Sir, Ican't spare a single dragoon--much less your own company; and I supposeyou would want to take that with you."
"On the contrary, general, I don't desire a single soldier from theranks; at least only three or four of my own, whom I know to be men ofcourage. There are some dare-devils among our camp-followers--just thesort for such a purpose as mine. With a dozen of them, I fancy we canhold our own with the biggest band of brigands to be found among themountains of Mexico."
"You are a brave man, captain; but I fear not much of a strategist."
Strategy was the god of this poor military simpleton, as it was of hisfavourite pupil, McClellan. It was the same sort of strategy thatcaused the rout at Bull's Run, and the consequent prolongation of theAmerican civil war. But for it the army of the North might have stackedarms in the streets of Richmond in three weeks after leaving Washington,and the long sanguinary strife have been shunned.
Well do I remember both preceptor and pupil. There was bad managementin Virginia; exactly what I should have expected from my experience oftheir tactics in Mexico. In our campaign through the country of theAztecs the latter was scarcely known, or only as a smart drill master.Nor would he ever after have been heard of, but for the patronage of hissuperannuated Chief--the "Grand Strategist," as he was desirous of beingdeemed.
The last remark of the general gave me the cue to flatter him.
In hopes of obtaining my end, I availed myself of the opportunity.
"General!" I said, with a look of real reverence, "I am aware therewill not appear much strategy in what I propose--at least to you, whoare capable of grand combinations. My idea is of the simplest."
"Well, let us hear it, captain. Perhaps it may show better in detail.A great deal depends upon that. An army brought into the field _enmasse_--as Napoleon would say--with its infantry here and its artillerythere, and the cavalry scattered over the ground, is like a machinewithout screws. It must soon fall to pieces. I never move mybattalions in that way. If I had--"
"If you had, general," I meekly interposed, seeing that he had made apause, "you wouldn't have been here now, as you are--conqueror of thecapital of Mexico."
"You are right, captain; quite right!" rejoined he, evidently beginningto like me, "Quite right, sir. And don't you think that Cortez'scampaign was inferior to that which _I_--_I_--have had the honour ofplanning; and of conducting, Sir--conducting?"
"A mere skirmish to it."
"A skirmish, sir--a skirmish! His enemies a crowd of naked savages--that's what they were--nothing but slings and bows with which to defendthemselves. Not a gun among them; while _I_--_I_, sir, have defeated agrand disciplined army, under the greatest general these Mexicans haveever produced; for, say what you like of Santa Anna, the rascal is athorough soldier--a regular, sir, a regular--not a volunteer. I detestvolunteers; and it's a great shame for the Government to have sent me somany of them. They've fought well, I admit; but they couldn't help it.They were properly handled, sir; and they had my old regulars alongsideof them. How could they hang back, when they saw who was at their head?My presence inspired them; and the consequence is, that they fought andconquered this great country in less than half the time it took Cortezto do it. Therefore I say, sir, that the conquest of Winfield Scottwill shine upon the page of history far brighter than that of FernandoCortez."
"No doubt of it," was my insincere response, scarce able to conceal mycontempt for the huge military _bavard_.
"Well, sir," said he, after he had paced once or twice across the floorin swelling grandeur, "you haven't stated your plans? Let's hear thedetail. My giving you permission may depend upon that."
"What I had intended, general, was to charter the _diligencia_; and useit, as if it were going on its regular trip between here and Puebla.The robbers are also troublesome upon the Toluca route; so I don't carewhich we try first. I should dress my twelve men in Mexican costumes;have a monk or two along with them, and at least a couple of ladies.The _reboso_ would disguise them sufficiently for our purpose. AMexican uniform or two might aid the decoy: since just before our cominginto the country no less than thirteen officers of their army,travelling in the stage-coach, were stopped by a band of only sixrobbers, and stripped even of their uniforms! I should have liked twoor three Mexican _militarios_ among my men; but just now it would scarcelook natural, and the bandits might suspect a _ruse_."
"Well, sir," said the general, evidently amused by my ideas, "What wouldyou do with these twelve masqueraders?"
"Arm each of them with a small battery of revolvers; give him a goodbowie knife to fall back upon; and, when the robbers make halt aroundthe stage-coach, let all spring out at once, and go at them with a will.I know of twelve men I can muster, who are just the sort for such anenterprise. All of them, one time or another, have done a little bit ofstreet fighting; and I'm much mistaken if there's one of their numberwho would shy from an encounter with Mexican brigands anything under tento one. Our only fear would be that too many of the bandits should beable to get off before we had time to give them a good thrashing.They're wonderfully quick on their little horses."
"By the word of Winfield Scott, sir, there's something in what youpropose. For my part, I shouldn't care to trouble about these robbergentry--who are perhaps only a little less honest than the rest of theircountrymen--but it don't look just the thing that we haven't put a stopto their depredations--especially as they've committed some outrages onour own people. Well, sir!" he added, after a pause, "I'll consideryour proposal, and give you an answer by to-morrow morning. Meanwhileyou may hold yourself in readiness--in case I should think proper toapprove of it."
"Shall I retain the _diligencia_, general?"
"No, no; not this trip--not for to-morrow. There will be time enough.I must think the matter over. It won't do to be charged with sillythings; and, as you ought to know, sir, I have enemies at Washington--foes in the rear, sir, as well as in the front. Besides, you wouldn'thave time to get your fellows ready before to-morrow morning?"
"In an hour, general; if your permission be given. I have sounded themalready. They would all be _en masque_ before midnight."
"I'll think of it; I'll think of it, as soon as I'm disengaged. Butthere's somebody waiting outside. A Mexican gentleman, my_aide-de-camp_ tells me. I wonder what _he_ wants. Safeguard, Isuppose, or some other favour. These people pester the life out of me.They think I've nothing to do but to look after every little affair thattroubles them. If one of our s
camps only steals a chicken, they mustsee _me_ about it. God knows I've given them protection enough--morethan they've been accustomed to at the hands of their own officers!"
And God did know it: for the statement was strictly true. Howevercontemptible I might esteem General Scott's military talents, I can beartestimony to the fact, that his enemies had no cause to complain of hisinhumanity. Never was conquered foe treated with such leniency as werethe Mexicans during that memorable campaign; which I do not hesitate topronounce the most _civilised_ that has found place upon the page ofhistory.
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I had made my salute, and was about stepping out of the "presence," whenI heard the command, "Stay, sir!"
In obedience to it, I once more faced towards the commander-in-chief.
"By the way," he said, "I may want you for a minute. I'm told you speakSpanish perfectly?"
"Not perfectly, general. I speak it, as the Spaniards say, _unpocito_."
"Never mind how--so long as you can hold a conversation in it. Now thatI think of it, my interpreter is out of the way; and there's none of my_aides_ knows anything of their lingo. The Mexican who's coming in isnot likely to understand a syllable I might say to him. So stay, andtranslate for us."
"At your command, general, I'll do the best I can."
"You may prepare yourself, I suppose, to hear of a hen roost having beenrobbed; and a claim for compensation. Ah! the claimant is there."
The door at that moment was opened from the outside; and one of the_aides_ entered, ushering a stranger, who stepped briskly in after him.
