were the little children who had been added to the home life. Most of his home letters show his devotion to wife and children, and this affection made him love all little ones, while they, in turn, were always drawn to him.

MY DEAR MARY: -

LOUISVILLE, September 4th, 1840.

You do not know how much I have missed you and the children; to be alone, in a crowd, is very solitary. A few evenings ago, feeling lonely, I got a horse and took a ride. On returning, I saw a number of little girls, dressed in their white frocks, with their hair plaited and tied up in ribbons, running and chasing one another in all directions. I counted twenty-three, of nearly the same size. Then, as I drew up my horse to admire the spectacle, a man appeared at the door with the twenty-fourth in his arms.

"My friend," said I, ❝ are all these your children? ” "Yes," he replied; "there are nine more in the house, and this is the youngest."

Upon further inquiry, however, I found that they were only temporarily his, and that they had been invited to a party at his house. He said that, as I came up, he had been admiring them; and that he wished for a million dollars, that the children might all be his in reality. I do not think the eldest exceeded seven or eight years. It was one of the prettiest sights I have seen in the West, and perhaps in my life.

CHAPTER V

IN THE MEXICAN WAR

THE work accomplished in the Mississippi Valley was of so high an order that it added to the reputation of the young lieutenant of engineers. He was promoted to a captaincy, and stationed at an important point, Fort Hamilton, in New York Harbor. It was now Captain Lee's duty to make as strong as possible the fortifications of that growing city.

And this he did. He brought to bear upon the problems of harbor defense all the learning he had gained during his distinguished career at West Point, and all the judgment he had acquired by his hard experience at St. Louis. As the artist, in the well-known story, "mixed his paints with brains," so Robert E. Lee always mixed his acts, even the most commonplace of them, with a strong sense of duty; and the result was, a continuous record of excellence.

But more exciting days were at hand. Captain Lee was to make use of his skill on real fields of conflict. Difficulties had arisen between the United

States and Mexico. What is now the state of Texas had been part of Mexico. It had been settled by strong, determined men, who soon desired to become a part of the great republic of the New World; but the Mexican Government did not wish to lose so good a piece of territory. Then revolt followed, and warfare. Those were the days of fierce fighters, the days of Sam Houston and Colonel Bowie (inventor of the bowie knife) and the defense of the Alamo fortress. If this book were a history of Mexico or Texas, we might follow the exciting achievements of Colonel Frémont, General Phil Kearny, and General Zachary Taylor, "Old Rough and Ready," as he was affectionately called by his soldiers. Suffice it to say that events so shaped themselves that after General Taylor had won the battles of Palo Alto, Buena Vista, and others, in 1846-47, the officials at Washington decided to send General Winfield Scott, commanderin-chief of the national forces, to attack Mexico farther south, nearer the seat of government at Mexico City.

A landing was to be made at Vera Cruz, a seaport on the Gulf of Mexico, opposite the capital. Then would follow the advance across rough, hostile country, full of foes, and an attack on the one chief stronghold of the country. For such work as this

the skill of military engineers was essential; and General Scott gathered a notable list of young engineers about him; among these were McClellan, Beauregard, and Lee, all famous afterward in the Civil War.

It was at this time that our young captain (yet no longer young, for he was about forty years old) executed a scouting feat which rarely has been surpassed in war experiences. One day he heard General Wool express, anxiety about the position and plans of the Mexican general, Santa Anna. "There is a rumor," said General Wool, "that he has collected an immense army, and with it has crossed the mountain range, being now not twenty miles away from us. It is very needful that we know just where he is, and what is his purpose.

Captain Lee was the only man of the group of officers who responded. Saluting, he asked, “Shall I reconnoiter, and report to you as soon as possible?"

His commanding officer answered promptly and gladly, "There is nothing I would like more, Captain Lee. But there is much danger between here and those mountain peaks." And he pointed with his gloved hand toward the southwest, where the sky line was lofty and mist-enshrouded.

"Yes, doubtless there is," replied Captain Lee, "but I'll take the risk. We should know, for a cer

tainty, about that Mexican force. I must have some sort of a guide. Where are those two men that were under guard this forenoon?"

"They are a father and son," explained one of the officers, "and we thought, as we questioned them, that they knew this country very well."

"Those are the men for me," declared Lee. "Let's have a look at them." So he led the way to the guard quarters.

The two men were of the peon or laboring class, ignorant and hardy, but anxious for their own safety. Lee had a fair knowledge of Spanish, and he questioned them. "You are the father? And you are the son?"

"Yes, yes, sir," and they bowed respectfully. The son was about twenty and looked not only the stronger of the two, but the more intelligent.

"You know all the country around here?" asked Captain Lee.

"Yes, yes, sir," came the young man's reply. "Can you guide me safely ten or fifteen miles in that direction?" and Lee waved his hand toward the misty mountain range.

"Yes, yes!" The young fellow spoke eagerly. "Will you do that? And come back with me to this place?" asked the captain, with a searching glance from his keen brown eyes into the somewhat