Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/491

Rh our old hero. They asked me who Gen. Butler is and where does he came from. I could not answer.

In the evening I left for San Angel, all safe and sound.

Tuesday, February 15, 1848.—This morning it is reported that Gen. Scott has received no communication from either the President or Secretary Marcy in regard to his (Gen. Scott's) removal. All he knows is from what is published in the newspapers, and it is hoped that the reports of the removal may yet turn out to be false. But, as the fellow said, where there is smoke there is fire, and seeing that the President and his Secretary, William L. Marcy, have been firing into Gen. Scott's rear ever since he left Vera Cruz, and failing in having Gen. Scott and his little army either killed or driven back into the Gulf of Mexico, the likelihood of his removal may be too true, to make room for another General, but not a better one.

Gen. Andrew Jackson, though seldom wrong, was not very mealy mouthed in his language towards those who crossed his path of duty. The people supported and justified him, and so the people will justify Gen. Scott.

At noon we had some tall performance by Sergt. Zeigle and Corp. Peter Ahl, of First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Wednesday, February 16, 1848.—-This morning a party started out scouting on their own hook, they had not gone far before they came upon the dead body of a United States soldier, which turned out to be Mr. Barkley, of Co. B, First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, who has been missing from his quarters for several days. They brought him along, and turned him over to his company. After which they buried him.

To-day the court-martial is sitting, and the most important case was that of a deserter of the Massachusetts regiment. They found him guilty, with the sentence that he be drummed out of the United States service to-morrow. The only thing that saved him from being shot was that he proved that he, the prisoner, had been harshly dealt with by some of his petty officers, and that he would not take up arms against his brother soldiers of the United States.