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city at four thousand. Further General Morales, commander of the city and fort, expects to soon receive substantial reinforcements that Santa-Anna has ordered from the twenty thousand man state militia.”
    â€œDo you think they will actually come?”
    â€œWho knows whether Santa-Anna has indeed ordered the militia here. He has believed for some time that you intended to invade Veracruz, but he may not know that you have arrived. And even if he has ordered the militia, will they come. Often the generals do what they want and not what they are ordered to do.”
    â€œAh, yes, General Antonio Lopez de Santa-Anna. What is your evaluation of him?”
    â€œHe’s a scoundrel. He’s hated by many in Mexico, disliked by most, and distrusted by nearly everybody, other governmental officials, army officers and the officials of the church. And let’s not forget husbands with pretty wives for he’s a woman chaser. And he’s a liar as you Americans fully know after him tricking your president into allowing him to pass through your blockade.”
    There were nods around the table. It was common knowledge among the officers that Santa-Anna had convinced the American Consul in Havana that should he be allowed to leave his exile in Cuba and return to Mexico that he could again become president and from that position negotiate a peace settlement with the Americans. The duped consul provided the information to Polk who then instructed Conner to allow Santa-Anna to pass through the blockade. Within weeks Santa-Anna was president of Mexico and general and chief of the army. He immediately marched north to battle General Taylor.
    â€œBut I must say this about him, for audacity and cunning he can’t be matched by anyone in the Mexican army or government. He can sway any crowd to his way of thinking for he is a master with words.”
    â€œHow large is the city’s food supply?” Scott asked.
    â€œGeneral, I know what you’re thinking and I tell you truthfully that you don’t have sufficient time to starve the city into submission before the yellow fever would strike your men. Further the people expect an assault and the streets are defended with cannon and barricades. Sandbags protect the doors and windows of the houses, and loopholes by the hundreds have been made in the walls. Now I have answered your questions truthfully and I ask you, how much time do we have before you make your attack upon the city?”
    â€œI believe you have been very forthcoming with me,” Scott said in an agreeable tone. “You may continue to take onboard your nationals and their possessions until further notice from me. As may the other neutrals.” Again his voice took on an edge. “However be warned that in no way will I allow anything to change my timetable or interfere with my capture of the city and fort. Once the battle begins any person, neutral or otherwise, entering or leaving the city or fort will be fired upon.”

CHAPTER 4
    Lee, engrossed in his letter writing, didn’t hear the scratch of the iron nib of his pen on the paper, nor the pen of his long time friend, Joe Johnston sitting across the table from him. The two men were in the below deck cabin they shared on the Massachusetts. A warm, moist draft of air flowed in the open porthole and out the open doorway. Above their heads a coal oil fueled ships lantern with its mica windows hung on its brass chain and pendulumed slowly to the motion of the ship. Light from the lantern casts distorted shadows of the men to roam about on the floor.
    Knowing tomorrow would bring battle and danger, Lee was preparing guidance for his wife Mary on the rearing of their children. His firm hand should be on the older ones, but that was impossible with his long army assignments in faraway places. He felt frustrated by his wife’s lack of discipline of the children, too lax, too inconsistent, and too yielding to them. With a frown he