1:
? wib .PM.r fnr the first.
.jreiw -H. Jh ' inar;r,i0n. Court Or-
. . ,f f r mgsi ""fl- " : -
11 l .:
Inr
hf it Av.isii ascertained that Iha
it j the BUiniore rUiot
asked
that
'had been selected by the Admini
a command of the expedition
-?!riYnlv''lbrcanlze4 to defend Texas
'TiAicAn invasion.
Ji Ji OJj VJDL.U.il'Mj'iJJ.i , .;.::Vv i HL .iilViiiA.l'o;
& JAMES,
Editors $ Proprietors.
"Keep a chec xtpos all tour
IS, SAFE." -
RULEKS. ;D0 THIS, AXD LiEEETT
i 1 Gtril. Harrison. ,
.1
NUMBER
NEW SERIES,
f VOLU1ME IV.
SALISBURY, N. C.,: FRIB AY !M AYxl7 , 1847
Gehl Taylor,? c.nxionsly .nslted or. Many fahiily and neighborhood i,an
.Uvbcnth rirjws arrived that the.' ecdotes are told of bis feats and hardihood
his adverituresi ' t i ii
i '-) :
rllnri Hr-nv; linljlcr his command, was ; and 1
(i-nc vVitlitlr'fctrdction by an over-j Night aftei night was he in the habit
''i . i f.. a? !ii!!na nn fnA T!in f nf cooinrr tlnv Kmim ha prion nuA iA U
fen.brcci" of
arms prepared to repel any attack that
'Ui4 lirtt. 1 ayiori: wonuermgiy nnu inigiu ue mauc utrniic uie morning Uayn-
VfiHvV?WmM pillions, not only in ! ed. Scarcely a wek passed ' that f 'twere
vfoontrj V -v'.",i,r "io : " ........... v nuiuai incursion
r! u xrrte rrWivrd that wilh consum- of Indians amongst ihe"settlements lEven
t uAW hndi 'gallrtntk. he had pxtrica- j on his way to school was he in danger of
On one occasion! some i of-; his scliool
. .i.:"-. , -.. : N i in;ii were umraureu ana sea nea bv the
' ?l s?omta of Monterey, esteemed Indians, vvithinl a hundred yards qf llhe
Uff)t ft . UMnlV,rT Ma uriuir iiir , --...w ' "ia UlUlUCia liau H"p
.Jr.:
kLr.nin. l!l FiriU IH'M iijii nwu.-j iu
';orvcw the jenemy beyond Hie
fi'-.inL'ticlurv achieved at Buena Vista,
''jirttWdlhaVfl nrtsw'flred the ques-
p at IcP Mfa(' OI j,,ia ariicie, "as ui unte
' i . I U I nla-MW i n I wrm n t inn
rffllcifed, andfiyet not enongh to
trb Hacentlerriariijpf wealth and fam-
!:Ytbo preCerf thej'hanens and chang
lof military Tliff-s jo an existence of idle-
i fiJ.n. 'i A nf f (riot tin !a n mnA-
4 ti nr, unosieniaiious and menronous
'I otftcpr. who. lias seen more service.
Jljfl.mpnj '-hard ! knocks, than any of
ffOjrrt tlie asjiesijof tie past, a re-
fcs fcnlfreu. iy iirn. in; oays pasr, ai
arated from them.
Who. can siylwhWt effect a boyhoo so
passed had in! the formation of the char
acter which has so wonderfully displayed
itself in Mexico 7 '. : :'t-&:.
Amongst his intimatep at school, were
his brother, Cpl. Jos. P. jTaylor," who dis
tinguished himself at the Battle of OkCe
cho bee, and has now the control of the
Commissary Departments in Mexico, arid
Col. Geo. Croghan, subsequently the ' He-
at .Qilcc-chc
m Black Hawk war.
q-bepi The army and
as Old Zack,"
he had previously filed, and Which from
his uninterruDted servings. th
and CUStom nf tYx Ti A
.scarcely have denied him. Ever self sa-
cfiiicing and, alwavs scruoulouslv atten
tive to even the shadow of duty, he gave
ujyjhis furlough, as he had before done,
when ordered to Florida, and entered en
ergetically uponhe work assisned him.
With his career since that time, 'glorious
and dazzling as it is, ihe country is fa
miliar. Yet few, comparatively strange
as jthe statement may at first view appear
--appreciate Gen. Taylor as he deserves.
Thje whole country rings with his fame
. i. r .... . j it -
ine greni anu sman, ncii anil poor, de
t ' i . . f t i
fightihim." j At Palo Alto he found Gen. had been his plan originally to send Gen
;Aristajwith CODO men prepared to fight him. Worth's division to the right of the town
"ls!0ATIj 19rManoU,lletl to! 2000 men, en iGe.n. Butler's to the left and rear, nnd to
cumbered with a long train of wagons, ihave retained Gen.Twiggsin front. These
iSKP ftnS in the fight only 1700 'positions were to haVe been taken on the
Fisen yel with; these he drove the enemy 21st." On the night of the 21st he, with
jfrpPB Hlr P0!'1'; With great loss, and ! Twigg's divisions wcjuld have carried the
slept upon :the battle field. On the morn- , citadrl. On the mornin of the 22nd the
PSIli tne Vn a council was called as to three divisions Were In hv mnvH imnL
or
jl lie; j0xpf dienc Wbf proceeding, for t i fyin
themse.lves and aVaitin'g' reinforcements,
prj jfjliijg jbiack to! Point Isabel. In the
couticil herb was a difference of opinion.
Geri. Taylor's decision deserves to be re
corded! in history If I live, I will sleep
In; Korf Urown to-niqrht. lie was as good
light to do him honor scarcely a breath j as his iiford, and thereby saved the noble
of PetraVtion mingles with the homage al- garrison which had defended Fort Brown
most universally awarded him yet, we against the unremitting attacks of the
repeati but few appreciate him as he de- j Mexicans lor five days and nights,
serves. Caught and blinded by the splen- j ! He resumed his march and continued it
iU of bis most astonishing victories, how until lie; reached the Itesaca or de la Pal
few consider the labors, the cares, the ! ma. llere he found the enemy, who hav
anxieties, the difficulties, he experienced j ing been reinforced now amounted to 9000
in nrnnotinn !n ! L ' 1: ..ill. i t
. iTi-T.a,-,Me' 111 oigaiiimg mis CAprui- uieu-, auyamageousiy postetl in a position
taneously to the attack from their various
position, and the citv'mnst hav fall
der this well digesteil plan. "Man pro
poses, but God disposes." It was a part
of the original plan pf Gen. T. to create
on me morning oi the 21st a diversion in I
the tavor ol
20lh been
LoUthe Ptos pas., and prert a f ,r
thrown throujtKthat upon ihe corr..;,
in hi rear. With tie n.
Gen. Tajlortbat he mighi occupy ,,.
er road through the mountains, the 'i
left garrison in Monterey and in
moved down with the remainder cf l.i
Victoria.- He at the same tirne crJ r
Patterson lo move with his fijrees !
coast, by that means protecting his
lor', flank and concentrating tii f c?
loria. With Tarnpico in our pos-fs i ;m
of operations would hate secured 1.1 ; ,
the possihiihyof redemption, tK? Stat
Leon and Tamaulipat.andtbe pis t
would have most effectually prrvn.ic:
my from penetrating intotbe Conn
j " "u jbb iDus inr ovjr . -
and our whole line defended by 10, V
the new levies in some measure m-; U
place of a portion of the regulars ui id Vi,
perienced Volunteers who miSVl have ! .
drawn from Point Isabel, .Marmora s
go, and even partly from Monterey,
dition might wisely hare been ,r
gainst era Cruz. Gen, Tai I..r b
st fill rfci-vinf yiln.l.. J
! " vtic.iru in LIS "'era':
j Victoria he receired from Gnu c i
; tion that he bad assumed Jthe conunr,
i milcitln C l ki. 1. -. 1 .1
muu i"i ait .us ir-uiiii VI 1. U lUT
ordered Jt- V Ue lunteer. who had seen any te i ,
oruered tol take un the nosition ! iK- :r .i . i -
contemplated as aboyedescr bed O.the'LF , . WTT;.,!:
n- . t j-on,. rr I iTr . V : and d,rc,ns to return to and ieu. i. -. :
n.ght o the 20th GTef. Worth having dis- terey. The scene here profited to .
covered that the opposition otTcrred him might touch the heart of the m-t i !
would be most formidable, wrote a note general who had or2at,ized and 1 1 i
to uen. lay lor urgtrtgjhim to make the troops suffered with them tie 1.
diversion a stron? oripJ In nirpriinr iV,;
CT . r -p ft 1-5
on the morning of the 21st, Garland's di
vision became involved. Tbsave it. Gen
ti6p,.ina country unprepared by policy ol their own selection, crossing the road Taylor found it would be necessary to
In 1808, after the affair of the Chesa
peake and Leopard, the subject of this
" " ' w a vuuiillissiuit ill r uio -itiiiiipO nn uiaucss Wllcll 111 Ills ! giunuus tllHI Complete. VlCtOTV
iuuij, auu v cvs rtjjuomieu uy iur. vuuer- tuauiji up auw ins men uesuiuiQ oi me com- ns arms. j ne enemy w.
move up the whole volunteer division.
On the instant he changed his entire pro
conceived plan 6f operations, and deter-
iniiieu 10 maKe ine uigni then, lie order-
. it I " ' .'IT
UVmilic Know Him
r i 1 i .1. .
fcMPa-vrh and Keadv. the Hero ol
fcVfltfcjls'Acn 1ft Palma, Monterey.
S'liWiHUrOpe of the Great Cap-
x;r.ici the Age, One with whose name
,fftt wai re,Vrr coupledr one who e-
1 .1
conceives his campaigns and
retries therh when conceived.
cvl describes therrtjwien executed. The
yt ffllrj of t htv co u ntry kn o v h i m a s 4 T h e
ibo hftver; suf lerjders.'
KMral'Xiicharyi ! Kylor was born in
"zrsi cou n ty, V i t g i ti i a , in the year 1790.
Ifc 'comes, from' an" ancient Virginia
and in fact, for entering intoa campaign. along which he must pass, liaving their
nOy lew think of the obstacles to be over-: li'ont protected by the ravine and their
come in the embarkation upon the march, flanks' by the thick chapparal. He did
;and in the camp. How few consider ! not hesitate to attack them and a mot
uisi-iecunKs nis uisiress When in his K onous and comn ctp y t- nmx.nn.
his arms. The enemv wpn. ,li-u-r,
son, then President of the United States, monest necessaries, dying, day alter day, lybnd the Uio Grande and that night Gen.
a 1st Lieutenant in the 7th Infantryj. ijHis frm disease and exposure. How few ap- j Taylor Slept in Fort Brown. The loss of
career irom in at time to the breaking out preciate his extended views of policy, his : the Mexicans in these battles, amounting
of the hostilities between i this (country ".jaftd great military plans since disclosed to usMHs believed, in killed and wounded to
iiigmuu, huj. uMt, iiiue, i lnierest ior ipe insnisaespatclies to the War Department, two thousand men (though Gen. Taylor's
public. AUendin-tbv the-roatineVot liis!- wjittc'ti-about that time. How few ap- '? modesty estimates the number less in his
duties, he but prepared himself for the preciate the readiness and abilitv with despatches. nroves that thev fought well, man could do hut u r ir.
! P 4 ' 't J 1 j , ! I - f f f , J D llt II LKU XJk muuicri y
active service of his profession, when Which he accepted and carried out the -l here were collected there the choice is the commanding General hp whn
iuo, nnu iniiuarv, nan poimcai, oi me iroops oi iuexico. Kank alter rank was pianncu me attack and ordered the detiils
gqvernment, trom the moment he landed ; mowed down, and replaced the guns he who where balls flew thickest and
2,
more
opportunity should offer.
' At the opening of the campaign hi 18
we find him ja Captain in command of
rort llarnsop, a rude and weak stockade
on the Wabash, with a small force riot
exceeding fifty men, most of whom were
like himself,- disabled by sickness from
doing duty. In this state, a body of 400
liritish and Indians endeavoured to i get
privations ot the most ardous portion ( !
paijn and fought three baltlci wl.u 'i !
vaifd the character of the conr.try r. :
endiirinji halo around the Americ . ;
parting from his army, wilh a niete
go into a retiracy which differed f;
ment only in name. Who has r.r t
ihies aroused for the old veteran, v !
I n 11 . . I
.,,1 n . i ...-.I .. , ur iuai iroop mat wastoeccmn; :
y cu i.uu,,u uie exception j waning his leave-taking he alJrc :
of h.s reserve pressed the enemy so in with whom he conquered on the Itio (I r ,
their fortifications as to force them to con- ! at Monterey in the feelin- and slim., -centrate
their forces, upon that part of the which have heretofore appearrd in :
town and thus leftito Worth a compar-S Gen. Taylor retired to Monterey. 1)
ulivchj easy task iri; accomplishing the nant of an army was left withi.ua, an
works intrusted to J his division. This directed to remain on the defensive. T.
W orth did grall;ntlvi as n-allantlv as a. i try supposed that he would either retire
. , , - - ,
army, or necessarily remain in in;
activity. He did neither.' His cov
not spare his services, and he felt i:
ty to give them whenever required.
at;Corpus Chnsti. throughout the war, but ! wereagain and.again captured, retaken, death was rifest. bore the brunt of the 1 tl,p' wore appreciated or nbt; lit wast;
mpre especially in his march to Matamo-j and manned, and the victory was only : battle. The hard fighting at Monterey 'V d,P'i,on to remain idl-, howev
ros-ihis conduct on the march and his ' complete when at least one seventh of the was on the left of town. means at his command might he.
II
course whilst at I ort Brown. At the risk whole Mexican Army had been placed
of his life, and that thing clearer than life, ; hprs du combat. The limits of this sketch
L!J . - I . . n ii .......
nis reputation, he swerved not in the ; will not allow us to speak lully Gen. l ay
slightest degree from the spirit of the line. ! lor's praises, nor to recount the thousand
l - i. : .. .i : i . i ' . hi ' .1 Jl'i ! ' ' i ; r ' t I . n . .. . . .
iiu5m;smuiiuuuis ueiences uy stratagem, qi poucy mariteu out tor him by his gov- acts oi gallantry displayed in these two
Wvi WliicJi! emigrated from England ' this they Were foiled by his wariness ernment. Who would envy him his feel- : tlaysj The first mail which tended to
ti othri friends lof liberty, and settled and caution.; 1 hey then on the 5th Sep- ings whilst in the face of an enemy, who,
etistrrn partjpfJVirginia, near two tember, 1812, attacked him and majde he ; knew, could make all preparations
rirso--a family which has since most strenuous efforts to carry his Wbrfesl atuHstrike him or remain friendly, at their
irrr erentlv distinguished in its branch-"! They succeeded in firing a block 'house own election, and at whatever time and
I .-..-. .'1 . ' T tl . . . - . . 1 ... I. l J ! ff I ! ' I ' t . -
h; tich is connected With or related to I wiucii consuiuteu one sae oi nis osiences,
miv4 IIHI3 uuuiiv u tl txy ; JUr 1 llclr clSSttUllb.
In spite ol this, his own sickness,' and the
inefficiency of his command, he succeeded
oriy-firt'fainilies of V irginia, the
rrftr. M'ldiHotisLees, Barbours, Pen-
QnCoinvrtys, Taiiafcrros, and num-
.... ' -i -iV . 1 ; h . 1
4r.! among thei orpaments such names
Ihmrs .vladisonl'; Kichnrd Ili-nry Lee,
iinTayW-ttf-Ciiriiline, Juilffe Pendleton,
iirvana uiim p'uariimir, uen. uames,
lahtjbfiTexAkkc.
LBis father, Uie lnd Tnvlor, went to
uaiaekjr within ja few months aftep
U espjored the country ; and then
fon Ulbt, procfeiled through the then
1 rcrssjjiow, cdnsti tutihg the States of
'"'a.:!v.isij)nj, 5ll,u 1'Ouisiana. to 1
Vdrrijf,jivherc5' he returned by sea I
rtppO nted a Golsnel in the
ff.:i' till'. h -s ; .1 . ..... . 1
riiinj .xiJiy.j nq sorveu wnn greaL i
ItoViitistj f thniugh the Revolution- !
ar,;nid,wns )i2aged in many of the I
cclibhted baUles of that Period,
'ns ujth VasMngton at Trenton on
Wrws Jayt 1776. In! 1700. Col. Tay
.tWh4rvvith (Jo s. Cro-han and Bul-
a.ffm)iffiMo: IvHitucky Zachary be
j?W tlm timn oijly it few months old.-
Staid VVS at 1 1 1 fLt timn llifl hunt in
Jofil!ic; Ind rint their battle field
if,rUlierrSelvds-4scene of their con-
and Idfiody jelxcurions against the'
.mainiiiir iti :thir laniruanre 4 The
irj and btookly gVrnitt4A- In the. battles
Indians, Coll Taylor -greatly dis-;
fiffflhmsclijafcd CJov, Grayson.-of
cky;i.,knovn o have said If l
tttoing ja? attack the gates of h I, I
want C.,!. iy,ck to lead the storm-'
'.n?n fteacp; Was established Col.
in repulsing them with considerable loss.
under whatever circumstances best suited
thim. while he must lay quiet and await
the blow ? Who can sufficiently praise
him for his foresight, forbearance and en
durance, when, although his camp was
relieve our anxieties brought us the news
of the brilliant victories. The. country
was electrified, the world astonished, and
Gen. Taylor was at once and deservedly
ranked amongst the great Captains of the
world. ; His indifference to danger was
attested by his being everywhere in the
thickest of the light, and the perfect cool
ness and calmness with which he survey
I'hey abandoned the Undertaking. F!or- almostia a state of mutiny, he refrained ed the field, and gave his orders; when
this gallant defence, Mr. Madison confer
red upon hirh the Brevet rank of Major-
the first Brevet ever conferred in our Ar
in ne commanded the regular
troops in the Black Hawk War, and, en
dured the hardships and privations of ihat
most vexatious campaign. For several
years after that he rem.-iined in command
of' Fort Crawford; at Prairie du 'Chien,
from crushing, as he could easily have
done, the small parties which first crossed
the Uio Grande? Had he done so. he
would have had on his hands an endless,
vexatious, guerilla war, and the glorious
battles of the 8th and 9th would have ne-
desired by his staff", to retire, from a posi
tiori where the balls fell thick he replied,
" Let qs move a little nearer and they
will pass over our heads' We cannot
refrain from telling one anecdote illustra
tive of his tact. A larire body of Mexi-
The first, shot fired jit Monterey was from
one of tbeJnng cuiviuiris, aimed al Gen. Tay.
lor himself, whilst recopnoilering. It struck a
short distant in front o( him and bounded over
his head. There ! f knew it would fall short
iA me," he cattily remarked.
One anecdote of Geji. Taylor at Monterey,
told by his fetaff, has never appeared in print.
Ill traversing the field of battle, it was neces
sary to cross a bridej which was constantly
swept by the Mexican artillery. When approach,
ing it. it was agreed' that ihey (ihe General
and his stall") should crss it singly at a gallop.
Four had crossed thuj!"when it came to be the
General's turn. Just i as he reached the mid
die of the bridge, and; when ffio balls were
showering around him,:Bomethih going wrong
in another part of the 'field attracted his atten
A- 1 1 ' w
uispKiea over again, most onnspicij
onre the noble generosity lof his charac"
unadulterated patriotism, and the grvat i
sagacity which have become synonym
his name. Scott was about attacking
Cruz he knew that any demonstration i
San Luis would aid in the success of t!.
taking. He himself had riot been e!; :
yet the best interests of the cou'itry :
served and he smothered all personal c
aiions. lie al once, perceived that M
was not the point at which his stan !
the defensive should bo rnade,-l
sonitjiii!t, instead of remaining in
and shielding himself behind his or.! t
might have dne, and inarched to Si! i
At that point he found the Volunif o i
constituted the mass of his fces fl i;
having the regulars withdrawn fiotn tl
ver been fought. As much as Gen. Tay- can cavalry was about charging a weak
lof deserves for those battles, (and who battalion, which was thrown into square to
will say he does not deserve greatly ?) he repel it. It being impo-ible for Gen.Tay
deserves ten-fold more for his conduct lor ih'the then stage of the light to detach
ft r ;icpi r us established Uoi.!
fl hiiH riiatTjj;h6norable and respon-
l'ati()ns. ll 'was one of the framers
l we '(Jrtri:t;u:i vJc.ti.. ...:: il
'f4t ' i Hl v"niuCKy repre-
Jfyr, copnfy and Louisville city
(built by him.) and kept in awe the Indian prior to the time when they were fought, any troops to its support, he himself, alone,
tribes in that quarter. By them he was Ane former showed him a General of skill, rode amongst thej
called " BigsChiefT j ' I
In 1830, as Colonel of the 1st Infantry,
he" went to; Florida relinquishing fur
lough (we think) .to do so. There he was
placed in command of a separate column,
composed ofthe 1st, 4thj and Gth Infantry,
some nriuiery. ana inp iuissoun voimv
them saying ,4 Men. I placi
coolness, gallantry the latter proved him myself in your square." The soldiers re-
not only a soldier, but a man of energy cognised their Gen., gave him a cheer, and
and endurance, one who could not only receiving the enemy with a well directed
c but wait, a man of strong mind capa- fire, repulsed them with loss,
ble of extending military and political For these battles Gen. Taylor received
views. the Brevet rank of Major General, the
To follow Gen. Taylor's course through thanks of Congress, and a gold medal com-
teers. On the. 25thiHv of TWpmhpr ! the Mexican campaign from the 7th of memorative of the events. Thanks were.
Christmas Bay '-.with" the above narned a-v' 1810, to the present time would be voted him, and swords presented him by
I & I 1 . ' 1171 i T . - !
lion. Stopping his horse, (much to the tli&eom- i disheartened hy the inactivity lot a
ntute ot those toilowii)g him.) lie tielnierately
took out and arranged -his ppy-glass, satisfied
himself, and then ciosijig it, rode on.
In the streets of the' town, where there w.is
not a foot of ground which was not riddled by
bulls, he was seen, walking deliberately lo and
fro, directing his men in their attacks upon the
barricades ari'l hou?esi
Any eulogintn we culd pas on the storm
ing of Monterey, wouldjfaM far short of the. re
aliiy. Barely to statl ihe facts, as we have
hastily anJ imperfeftly:'done, causes it to sound
winiotii any prospect ii aciionj I1M
restored their confidence as it lid ways 1
remarkable power of doing, -uch i- '
bounded contidence f the! soldiers i n 1 ;
gallantry and resource. For lit ;
couraging his men, and counteicti ' :'
pond ' icy incident to vobinleet s in in.t 'i
rentrived his camp to Agua Nimya "i i :
advance of SalliMo. ;Thc next ti - v.
are that his small array. of 10J0
10'Ml volunteers most of whor had u
in battle are about being ovcrw;, ',
!i;'!;e romance. Yet was it rejil a reality, al- 21,00,) Mexicans led by StntajAnu i
niost too real as many a saddened heait and (Jen. L'rrea with C000 caviajry iad tl n
vjicant seat round the firesides in our country, self in his rear by way of Vleldtji, .
can testily.
i-
stiating Gen. Taylor's wisdom in
troons. amodntinrr to alJnnt finn mPn. be i a work ol supererogation. What man
1 s. , ; - " I . i r I- ii
wiiu American neari ana leeimg neeu ue
reminded of achievements which have
done more to give us confidence in our
selves to raise us in the estimation of the
world than anything which has occurred
since the gallant actions during the war
of '1812? Through city and village un-
trom the highest to the
of Gen. Taylor has he-
attacked and defeated fat Okee-cho-bee.
seven hundred! Indians! under the com
mand of Sajn. Jones, Aligator, and Coa-cioo-chee.
r frHe ijlridiafts were strongly
posted, in a dense hammock, perfectly con
cealed, j.andj confident of victory.- The
hammnek crnssetl' in frnnt nml , n.-irtijillv
flankedSon either side, the only approach on hiU nd pl'lin
to tneir Ipositjont This approach was per- ; lowesf' lhc na.m? .
fjfCtly exposed, and led through a swamp
covered with s'ay-grass, in the mire of
which our men stink to the knee at every
sicp. Gen. jTaylor (then Colonel) Was
then -as now not to be deterred by difficul
ties and dangers
i - -if
come a household word his victories and
his despatches the theme of every tongue.
On the 8th and 9th of -May, were fought
the battles of Palo Altq and llesaca de la
Palma. ' Who has forgotten the anxiety
He attacked ttin nn- t whirh 'nervadril tbf piinntrv. vvlipn lhf
el-iniiNj branches of the ; my in thc,jr position, and after a- bloody ! news arrived that our little army at Mat
tltcl l T' "' LVa?a member .: of , lnd desperate engagement for three hours, 1 amoras was surrounded by three or four
ir0a f colleges.whtch voted for Jef- succeeded in driv ing them before him j times their number of the enemy, and their
.irr'Li0VV0Manu Via3 - with great slaughter, at the point of the communications cut oft I Some commen-
bayonet. Some idea may be formed of ced cavilling at the capacity of theGener
the severity of the contest from the fact, ai in command. The many inquired anx
that Gen. Taylor here lost Col. Thompson, , iously as to his character and capacities,
Col. Gentry,' Capt. Van Swearengen,Lts. j the very few (yet were some found) know-
1 Brooke and Carter, and 149 men more ing the man and recollecting his services
whole force. Major
breveted for his gallantry
red the swamp with a
T - 1 ..1 IT
Louisiana anu oilier states, lie was
subsequently appointed a full Major Gen
eral under -the Supplement war bill. A
few days afier these battles Gen. Taylor
crossed the Uio Grande, and took posses
sion of Matamoras. From that time to
the early part of September he was en
gaged in receiving, organizing, disciplin
ing his reinforcements, principally volun
teers j establishing depots collecting pro-
M IVll.'. -v-l A. V'l II Ulll .11 LIH'I.UIHIM'II ' , UIU iruco ..V..II'IVI. IIIUIV. I 1 '.i 4
at Monterey and do hiin justice is tho most dif- the whole country was kept' ia a '.
firult part of the duty we have undertaken. most intense onxiety for Ids faUi and i!
Were- it not that all who read this have stith- small, yet gallant, army. Illepitrt
cjent information to ekb out 'lhat in which we port now that he was defeated,- a-s
m y be at loss, or sufftfcent enthusiasm in the with great loss he had succeeded in r.. .'
subject to excuse it, v($ would abandon the at- , retreat to Monterey. His be.t pien !-.v
teni;)!. -I who had the greatest reliance i u;u 1.'
Gen. Taylor, from a! deficiency in means of capacity and readiness for every einrip-:
transportation, had been able to take with him tertained gloomy forebodings. and d i
r ' r - l .L.I .1 IJ I .
to Monterey, so little provisions and so few mu
nitions of war, and hisllitlle army was so cut
up in the battle and yorn out by its fatigues,
that, when the administration directed hiui to
terminate- the armistice which constituted
visions and munitions of war procuring one of the provisions--of the capitluation. h
' iPoliticiahs of Kentucky, he is
:crcd ns oi)Wf the; few inen of the
is V) rrly tvho could be elected
iuc exciteitwi t of the "Old Court
?i JHrt iuesli6n':'
l favlor di.i!A tii.
Win!.!?? i,,s l),an,al,on near jthan one-fourth his
'Sitnrec sons, (bis second : Xoel, who was
I'tiiei V" YWf ana v,l,,am ,av- in tliis action, entei
t
t
1
ft
t
J
I
1
4
.
if.
ii
a W. ihd -three daughters. Eliza-
Scarab Wk.i
Mb 'ill '1 ' i i.l
u t s nas heen erroneouslv sta-
'i.Dl( I 1 J
1 t - .
panv and had only seven men at
the close of the battle. This was the se-
in time past, predicted that all would be
done that skill and gallantry could effect.
Even the most hopeful inquired, the num
ber of rations in his camp, and calculated
how long he could maintain Fort Brown,
aiid when reinforcements could reach him.
veresl battle, and the last one in the Flor-
faylor, of Newport. (Ky..) j ida war. Gen. Taylor as is his custom,
was every where in tqie thickest of the ; these. He decided upon and performs a
fight. For this action) he received the coup de main, which at once stamped him
... . 1 ... i . 1 . . i ,-1 ...i, .i. ...
t? '"iwMKH, i nreve.L rank oi ir;sruuier ucuertu, anu uie , as a ucuciai, nun n muii wcaic liituimcu,
hiocLpdiznltetb. and F.milv. lmve I command iri Floridk, After four or five is the same suggested by the Duke of
.JllnArfVfhr- . . . , i . t ... .1. . . .... ' AL - --
t.t "( laeir tather. so that Joseph and years hard service amongst ine swamps Wellington in conversation, upon ine ar
- T,v iiir nniii h.kniiti.ii nnri tK-rnp ri i n I vc ill r nil itiri. iru. i n nn 11 1- - riua ill 1'iiii.iiiu til Liir iir v ill iiir: uui
" I I O I J I 1 1 1 . 1 llI . Ul IHIU lllJV.Ww v" T 7 J II" V.. ---- O ' " w " - -
means of transporting his army into the
interior of Mexico. These duties always
much more vexatious and laborious than
fighting, and at the same time less appre
ciated. After making every ell'ort in
his power he found in the. earl' part ol
September that he had early transposi
tion sufficient for the provisions, munitions,
and material, lor G000 troops. With this
number however he determined to move
forward to Monterey, the capital city of
the State of the Nuevo Leon. This he
found admirably fortified as well by na
ture as by art, and defended by 10,000
troops, besides the armed inhabitants. The
situation of this city rendered it defensi
ble. I ;
H There were strong works upon the
right and left of the town extending to the
In the city there is the Black Fort,
was unable to move onward. l o move
tip men and munition. to e.tablish depots
and extend properly ; his base of operations,
-to dispose of his forces so as to secure the
country which had fallen into his power with
taking of Monterey, required time and labor.
The administration about this time concluded
some degree the plan of the earn
r ihe first, time asked Gen. Tay-
lpr's views upon the subject, lie gave them
fully, clearly and sufiicjenily in a manner to
hope more than that be would by grt a1
lions be able to eicaiic with Iha rcia :
army into ihe Black Furl at Monler-'y.
as had been ihe case in May, wore c.i!
made as to the number of rations, in t!
and the length ol time his army, the r
up, wohld be able to subsist.
Did he think of defeat and retreat 1
had w eighed well every circumstance,
chosen his battle Geld. He knew i!, ..
per place to fight waa. iii front c f
He knew that should ihe 'Mexican
get him in Monterey, they would
to change in
1
naign, anu lor
their force threaten him and hold J.i
whilst the rest would pounce down u
pota at Camargo and Matamoras, c
communications, and destroy ins La?
challenge the admiration of ihe civilian as well I erations. He knew that ibey wou! J
as the soldier. Any orje, to rightly appreciate ) Uinconada pass, ihe pa - de bs
Gen. Taylor, must read, carefully and thought. ( and thence be able, with impunity, c
fully, his despatches ttJ the War Department to annoy his forces. Ho had more
from the time he entered Mexico tothe present, I ed himself at Agua Nuera tho pr.s. .
especially ibese. wrilten subsequently to the " uncy a m uC. r;'
fMnn.nv Thou ck 1,1m iKo rr,o ! ouish it without tome hard It hock:
mJl' Ui J vl 1 1 - J "t ' J . ' " .....a ,iw .11.11
ear.
He however entertained no such ideas as ) almost impregnable whenproperly man
ned. Besides all this their streets were
barricaded, and every house constituted a
fortress, beinsr looped for musketry No-
as well as the gene ral-fthe civillian as well as
the soldier. 1 heir great merit conciseness,
and the aptitude and pertiuancey of every word
and expression though in these they are mod
els but iu the extendedness of their views of
civil policy, the grateness of their concep-
lion's of military operations. j
Ihe administration, not approving what uen.
thing daunted, Gen. Taylor attacked this Taylor had done andjproposed doing, or for
T. i' " hC Ordvt hrntbnr
ML r nying.l ITdie descendants ol
Ti " '"cmucrs ot, Ihe lamiiy, wun
toils. Hi v n jind near Louis-
r . A
T. W..
'Gibralter," and after three days hard
ftfrhtirm enmnelled Gen. Amoudia the
"O -- - ---1 - 1 ,
composed of Louisiana
bama, Arkansas, &c, with
e uahgers and difncultiesofli Fortj Jesup. There
sired to be recalled, anfcl was assigned the j tion of our forces. Leaving in Fort Brown ! commandant to capitulate.-That he should
command of the 1st Military Department, j a garrison with instructions "to hold out J have succeeded against such odds, and un-
isiana, Mississippi; Ala- i to tbe last extremity," he with the main ! der such disadvantages, is as ne u.inu
his headquar-! body of his army moved down to Point ingeniously remarks, "one oi the unac
he remained, Isabel, put that post irt a state of security, ' countable e vents of the age. It was ac
Nfft!uiis!,lunt'sturdystraight"
I :t "iS ifirmness of nurnose
'aSs m for.,-:s!ght if
J auu rciiriiiK uciucau
13IIUIIVII IU ObllU fill CLII1IV IU LU . v.fcvy. u wu..v. .......
nf Tflxas. Gen Tavlnr wns selected to the nosition he had taken. To the war
command it. He was (we are informed) j Department he wrote detailing his pro
requested by the War Department to with- j ceedings, and saying f4 if the enemy ob
draw an application for a furlough which I struct my march, in whatever force I will
some cause not known! to us, determined to take
from him the control X the campaign, and to
commit it to Gen. Scdtt. Of this Gen. Tay
lor was ot course ignorant. He first threw for
ward Gen. Worth witji bis division lo occupy
Saltillo a point comjaandirlg ibo great pass
through which alone an! army of any size, with
artillery, kc, could make a demonstration up
on his position and lines of communication, and
operation. He next drtlejed Gen. Wool to oc
copy Parras, a position; where he commanded
,,a annroaches from the State of Chihuahua ;
cess which has few if any parallels in mo- and which would enable him to attack on the
dern warfare." Never was more consum- j flank any forcer marchbig from San Luis Potoai
friate generalship displayed than there
Was by Gen. Taylor on this occasion. It
n . i.t : i : :
unon oanuio. im in
and in chief, ihat ia the
ention
event
was morro: t? v: tv- r
ofan expedition J tougat uaiuo oi ''V 'J " 1
Santa Anna attack you, Oeneraj f ir.r
of his oOicers. Let him corns was t'
with a shrug of ihe shoulders, J be wi'.'.
faster than ho came." T Dr. Wo !,
in law, he wrote, I will fall back t- a
proper for the manoeuvring of my a:'.'.
then if Santa Anna wishes lo distin -i
self, I will give Litn a chaoce.?
He retired to the battle 6eld ! ha 1
Buen Vista. Santa Anna, appro:':! !
manded an unconditional surrender, i
was, "Come and take me.' On r
February the battle commenceu iM-i
regulars, picked troops, under ibeir f
der, "the Napoleon of ihe West'.
their ovn country forUirir homtJ,l eir i
their very txislencc, aud 5000 raw t ;
carrying on a var of inrastony i
tfw o-ijclosed upon ihe greatest ict.. i
ern times, and bebeld the .strengtl. .
broken her last hope destroyed. 1
of the 8th and OtU were esteemed w, t
These were eclipsed by tbe sionnirg
.
. .t
At
I A ,
1
.1
41
Hi
- i