Page:Into Mexico with General Scott (1920).djvu/211

 "Oh, we'll take the city, of course, sir," Jerry agreed. "I don't know how, though."

"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."

"I'll remember, sir," Jerry promised.

"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."

"Yes, sir. I see it. Can't we take it like we took Cerro Gordo?"

"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