By this time the bullets were humming
merrily, but he directed his men to deploy to one side and approach
through thicker woods. At last they reached a clearing near the head
of the pond, and he ordered a charge. They captured the position
immediately in front of them, and made a few prisoners, including one
colonel. The engagement all along the line had been too brisk for the
Mexicans, and they broke and ran, leaving a considerable quantity of
guns and ammunition.
As for the little lieutenant, it was his first battle, and first
command of a company, and he had reason to feel satisfied with the
day's work.
As one result of the engagement, the Americans now crossed the river,
and became an Army of Invasion. And now that war had actually begun,
volunteers began to flock to the standard. The ensuing months of that
year were packed with incident and no little danger. In August, Grant
was made quartermaster and commissary of the regiment--a position of
responsibility which he held until the army was withdrawn.
Although Grant's duties were now such as to withdraw him from active
fighting, he was not the man to take advantage of the fact. The lively
battle at Monterey bears witness of this. After a hard encounter on
the outskirts of the city, the Americans stormed it from the north and
east, and began to drive the Mexicans out, street by street.
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