Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-02-04
Mcclellan and BeaursgArd in Mexico.
Flrst Vermont Cavalry

L
Seated ia my tent, one evening, just before
the battle oi TIE CITY Of Mexico, lhe captain
came 20 me, Corporal, ] hese bcea rsqueeted
10 send trusty non commissioned olhceg 70 the
general council TO night az "a messenger Will
you got ! replied n the Affirmative, thank.
Iug tue captain ior has confidence. Our com
piay at that time, detached from IL, regiment,
was dong special duty al Gen. Scott head.
quarters. In the d ,cuarse 90 that duty. | had
made point Of being specially attentive, and
thereby gained thc confidence OF or captain
AID uLcs or twice Was commended by oli fass
and Feathers, himself. hrusheiupmv clothes
ANA frightened ruy shoes and brass plates m the
nea,,st manner possible that evening. and pre-
senied myself "a Tie aduNni-seueral for IN
structlou. i0uud that ths council about to
meet Tor ihe consideration oi Gen. Scutts plans
lor taking the city, Nas % BE composed Vi all
the ColJutls 10 tbc division, and that my duty
would be to 50 on errtnds and attend TO bring
lng chairs, paper %, whatever migb, BE r..
quited.
Well, the council me, aud ! was 20 NV post.
1t was the finest body % military mon | had
ever seen together, ami when they assembled
around that table, and the old general stood
towering high above the rest, could not hep
hat admire nun more thln ever Al,cr the eus-
tonary Salumuou and organization. they sat
down in regard 10 rank, beginning with General
Wool, and succeeding each other M seats. Us Sc.
norlJ OF rank gave tucm privilege IL was no
time Tor delay, and thc General spoke rapidly
ana with carneNtuass, occasionally referring To
some one on the night or lelt Tor Information or
CONFEDERATION. inus carefully and explicitly
NV.r In .,t,I n
AID Sortles, the whole plan developed. 50 that
all seemed to understand
But presently flaw was discovered, some
thing Was wrong, AMI saw by the perpcxed
look OF those around the table ,hat a very serl.
GUS mistake had been made, but from what
cause my knowledge of military affairs did no;
enable me To Judge dispute arose b,tween
some Colonel and the Engineer-in-C Chicf in re-
gard to the position and strength OF some bat
terry, and the topography OF the surrounding
country The Colonel said that frequent recon.
noisSancc o the ground, from the fact of his
being eneamped near the place in question, led
hlm even IN direct opposition to the char OF the
Engineer to protest against its truthfulngSs,
and he would urge upon the General to make
himself sure of the condition OF affairs before he
fully completed hls plan
But this would not do, it was necessary that
very important and vigorous movements should
take place upon that very section of the defence,
and without correct knowledge OF the place
action could not be carried on with safety or
certainty 1t seemed, in fact, to be main
point, ut which positive success would have to
tall to the American forces. Finally, the Colo
mel SAID there NaS u young man, a lieutenant,
IN his regiment, who had u correct chart of the
detcnces and the map OF the domain thereto adj
aeeut. The Engnoer-in Chief sneeringy said,
"Nery we'll, sir, you had better send for your
authority, ana let us see this great map" The
General nodded his approval, and the Colonel
gave The name and address OF the lieutenant
The encampment was not very lar away.
mounted my horse and rode oil IN haste 10 the
regimcn'al headquarters, and found the very