between hills, with its white houses and red roofs set amidst orchards and gardens.
"Well, now I say that like as not we all were killed at Cerro Gordo and have arrived in Heaven," Drum Major Brown said.
"That's right; for according to the Spanish, they have a saying: 'Jalapa is a small piece of Heaven fallen to earth,'" a fifer asserted.
"You're wrong there, and so are they," corrected somebody. "Look beyond. We're going to be nearer Heaven than when down at Jalapy."
Back of Jalapa the real mountains began. They rose straight up, it seemed, in a series of purple masses until their crests touched the sky.
Halt was made at pretty Jalapa only long enough for General Worth to receive fresh instructions from General Scott; and out the First Division marched, leaving the Second Division behind, and the Patterson Volunteers, and most of the dragoons. The First was in the advance at last.
Rumors stated that the First was to take the castle of Perote, twenty-five miles on. Perote ranked second in strength to only San Juan de Ulloa itself. But if one brigade of the Second Division had been able to take Cerro Gordo Hill, the two brigades of the First felt able to take Perote.
The road climbed and climbed. The horses of the Duncan flying battery of the Second Artillery, and those of the wagon train, had all they could do, even when helped by men at the wheels. But the day was clear, and an inspiring sight that was to look before and behind, and see the serried column winding on, Captain Kearny's Company K of the First
