Pershing’s western column consisted of the Seventh and Tenth cavalry regiments and Battery B of the Sixth Field Artillery. As the three thousand men and caissons moved through the black night, the jangle of horse tack and squeak and thump of artillery wagon wheels almost certainly could be heard a mile away. To top it off, six Dodge touring cars followed behind, their gasoline motors coughing and belching exhaust fumes. Riding inside two of them were a handful of reporters. I was glad I didn’t know any of them. I didn’t want to have to explain the major’s gold oak leaves on my shoulders.
“How are we supposed to Indian up on ol’ Villa when we’re making the worst noise since my old sow got her tit caught in the gate?” Charley asked.
When I looked around I noticed most of the men were sleep
