Free Soldiers of Conquest by F. M. Parker Page B

and vital and looked forward to whatever assignments might be handed him.
    Generals Worth, Patterson, and Twiggs had been waiting on the shore and now came to meet General Scott. They appeared grim, with their eyes red rimmed and clothing dust covered from spending the night out in the fierce windstorm. The three saluted Scott.
    Scott returned the salutes. “What’s our situation?” His manner was brusque as he glanced about at the enclave of soldiers.
    â€œOur perimeter is well dug in and roving patrols are out in force,” Worth replied for all three generals since he was the senior one. “We’ll have no surprises.”
    â€œVery good,” Scott said to Worth. “I’ll establish headquarters here in your section.” He motioned at the three boats with their bows up on the beach and the sailors holding them against the surf. “Assign some men to bring the headquarters’ items ashore. Rig the tents there on that level ground above high tide?” Scott pointed at the location. “From here I can stay in contact with Commodore Conner and also with what is happening on the shore.”
    â€œCertainly, general,” Worth said.
    He called out to a lieutenant standing nearby self-conscious and listening. “Lieutenant Brodworth, take six men and get headquarters set up.”
    â€œYes, sir,” Brodworth replied.
    â€œNow we should have a look at Veracruz and its walls,” Scott said. “We need horses, have any been brought ashore?” His words came swiftly.
    Lee saw Scott look around as if expecting to see some of the animals. Lee had become aware of this characteristic of Scott, of asking a question with which he already knew the answer and didn’t like the one he was about to receive.
    â€œNo, sir, not yet,” Worth said. “The sea has been too rough. But two of the ships that went aground last night had horses and men are working to unload them now.”
    Scott’s face registered disapproval. “I don’t believe the sea is too rough for horses to swim. Send word to your quartermasters and cavalry commanders to drop them over the side to swim to shore. We need a company of cavalry on land and out on patrol.”
    He pulled out his watch and checked its face. “So that we may have a better chance of reconnoitering without drawing fire, I’ve asked for a few cannon balls to be thrown into the city to divert their attention. We have about half an hour before that begins.”
    *
    Grant and his men saved ninety-seven horses and he considered that number a miracle considering the destruction that had occurred inside the ships. Seventy-five had been found dead or so badly injured that they had to be shot. The officers owning those horses would have to walk until Grant could go foraging and find them replacements, or a company of Lancers were fought and killed and their mounts taken. In a separate ship’s hold they had found the saddles and bridles for the horses.
    Grant cast an eye over the fleet of transport ships, their masts bare and sails furled, anchored in an area stretching for a mile along the coast. Among them were the thirty empty troopships that Scott had not allowed to return to the States. Should the Americans suffer defeat, the ships would be needed to evacuate the men from Mexico. The seventy remaining vessels carried the provisions, arms, and medical supplies for the fighting that would soon begin. The cavalrymen would bring their horses to shore, and the artillerymen their weapons. Grant and the other quartermasters, were responsible for unloading and transporting everything else, and establishing a central supply depot. A week or more would be required to accomplishing that Herculean task.
    â€œMount up,” Grant called out and yanked himself astride one of the horses. Once their hooves had stepped upon solid ground, the horses had mostly shaken off most of their ordeal aboard the wrecked ship.
    His