Well do I remember both preceptor and pupil. There was bad management in Virginia; exactly what I should have expected from my experience of their tactics in Mexico. In our campaign through the country of the Aztecs the latter was scarcely known, or only as a smart drill master. Nor would he ever after have been heard of, but for the patronage of his superannuated Chief--the "Grand Strategist," as he was desirous of being deemed. The last remark of the general gave me the cue to flatter him. In hopes of obtaining my end, I availed myself of the opportunity. "General!" I said, with a look of real reverence, "I am aware there will not appear much strategy in what I propose--at least to you, who are capable of grand combinations. My idea is of the simplest." "Well, let us hear it, captain. Perhaps it may show better in detail. A great deal depends upon that. An army brought into the field _en masse_--as Napoleon would say--with its infantry here and its artillery there, and the cavalry scattered over the ground, is like a machine without screws. It must soon fall to pieces. I never move my battalions in that way. If I had--" "If you had, general," I meekly interposed, seeing that he had made a pause, "you wouldn't have been here now, as you are--conqueror of the capital of Mexico." "You are right, captain; quite right!" rejoined he, evidently beginning to like me, "Quite right, sir. And don't you think that Cortez's campaign was inferior to that which _I_--_I_--have had the honour of planning; and of conducting, Sir--conducting?" "A mere skirmish to it." "A skirmish, sir--a skirmish! His enemies a crowd of naked savages-- that's what they were--nothing but slings and bows with which to defend themselves. Not a gun among them; while _I_--_I_, sir, have defeated a grand disciplined army, under the greatest general these Mexicans have ever produced; for, say what you like of Santa Anna, the rascal is a thorough soldier--a regular, sir, a regular--not a volunteer. I detest volunteers; and it's a great shame for the Government to have sent me so many of them. They've fought well, I admit; but they couldn't help it. They were properly handled, sir; and they had my old regulars alongside of them. How could they hang back, when they saw who was at their head? My presence inspired them; and the consequence is, that they fought and conquered this great country in less than half the time it took Cortez to do it. Therefore I say, sir, that the conquest of Winfield Scott will shine upon the page of history far brighter than that of Fernando Cortez." "No doubt of it," was my insincere response, scarce able to conceal my contempt for the huge military _bavard_. "Well, sir," said he, after he had paced once or twice across the floor in swelling grandeur, "you haven't stated your plans? Let's hear the detail. My giving you permission may depend upon that."