Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/252

246 Sunday, August 8, 1847.—This morning I could still hear our men grumbling and swearing on account of our disappointment. Lieut.-Col. Black again insisted on his resignation, and to join the advancing army, and go even as a private, but Gen. Scott still refused to accept it; and at the same time told Col. Black, that he must not be uneasy, and not to think that he will have no fighting to do; that he, Col. Black, will find it out, and that before long; that he will have enough of fighting to do before the war is over, also, that he, Scott, noticed our six companies on parade ground, to be the best drilled and disciplined body of soldiers in the whole volunteer division, they being used to hardship and fatigue, and that we were the kind of troops he wanted to garrison one of the main points on his line of operation. Good-bye, Colonel! and may God protect you and your gallant little band in the discharge of your duties.

About 9 o'clock,, we were ordered to form in front of the Alameda Park, to salute the officers and division as they pass out. This is the Fourth Division under the command of Gen. John A. Quitman, it's called "the Volunteer Division of Gen. Scott's army." Our little band, when the advance were coming, played the "Star Spangled Banner," "Hail Columbia," and "Yankee Doodle." Finally, our late Brig.-Gen. James Shields came riding along at the head of his First Brigade, he was received with six cheers and a regular yell which lasted for several minutes, which made his horse rear on his hind feet, in regular Jackson style. The General took off his hat with one hand, and with the other returned the salute, saying in a loud voice, "Good-bye!"

Gen. Shields is one of the most popular Generals in our army. As Gen. Quitman passed, he was also received with three hearty cheers, and directly after him came our great chieftain, Maj.-Gen. Winfield Scott, our men would not cheer him on account of his keeping us here as a garrison, but of course, he received a present arms; this he returned by a wave of his hand. Our band played "Hail to the Chief."