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NEW SERIES—YOL. I,, NO. 1.
ATHENS, GA„ THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 1, 1817.
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3tlje Southern ttUjig.
ATHENS, GEORGIA:
Thursday Moraine, July 1, 1847.
LIFE or OtNtRAL TAYLOR.
We publish, this week, a sketch of the Lifo of
'• Old Roeghand Ready,” which, at this particular
time, will doubtless be read with interest. It was
written for, and originally appeared in Graham'
Magazine, from which excellent publication w
copy it. We ahall offer no apology for ita length, a
the subject of it occupies so prominent a place be
fore the publie eye, and in the hearts of the people,
that we believe we could not at thi* time lay any
thing more interesting before our readers.
0^- Professor Gourand, the celebrated teacher
of the art of memory, and who first introduced the
Daguerrean process of painting into this country,
died recently, at Brooklyn, New York, aged thirty-
DEATH Of O'CONNELL AND On. CHALMERS.
In onr last paper we mentioned that by the Cam
bria intelligence of the death of Daniel O’Cosnill
bad been received. We have since noticed that the
world-renowned and pioua Dr. Chalmsrs is
more! The extinction of these two shining lights
ia thus announced in the last number of Wilmer dt
Smith’s European Times:
M O’Connell is dead. The exit of this extraor-
s as remarkable as his career. His
j in tbe darkest hour of his
r , the moat beautiful trait
fact that Ireland’s tnisfor-
it he loved his Green Erin is
„ hand of heaven, that Wiffht-
t has mowed down her eons by
i twain his big heart. What
ever variety of opinion may exist respecting his
*’• i, tho energy of his character, the
raci'nw^oMhla^it'die extent of hia legal knowl
edge, and hia influence on society, ail admit A
peat mint hm dep*rtod—on. of earth’. moit ffilt-
•d nu. Be found bU country enslaved, and he
left itrm. Rising .uperior to meurim wrm*
thin., bn adfonted liberty and equality for all. With
out reference to clime, or color, or creed. Tbcop.
prewed bed in him n reedy edvocete, tyranny e
etoet foe. By bia poaiuon he wee compelled to
Ihdter thedeiecte of .is countrymen, inetemd of en-
-deaToring to correct tb-ra, lake oil demagogoea,
be Bred on popular grtemocee s but, in octiog e,
their expMtent.be directed the popular peuiooa in-
toe peaceful channel. Balancing Me good and
the worlclwlaerthan hefoundft. Thu ram. Ul-
enta in ony etetlon in lifo woold hem commanded
roepect and Inanred competence.
o greet agitator, he woefd here 1
Had be mA been
era a great judge
oca great states®**. Hia mind was essentially
practical, ami Us application was as continuous as
his intellect was powerful. There is no instance
* -the history of the world affords
CEN. TAYLOR- -THE ADMINISTRATION -A DEM
OCRATIC WITNESS.
The Hon. T. F. Marshall of Kentucky, while in
New Orleans, was requested to address the people,
which lie did 09 the evening of the ICth inst. A
large audience was present, snd the Orator’s speech
wax received with repeated and loud bursts of ap
plause. The fact that the speaker is an approved
democrat, gives to his testimony against the admin-
istration a power and force that commend it to the
.Miscellaneous.
From Graham's Magazine.
GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.
A Memoir ot Gen. Taylor’s life is to
one who wrrites it with no purpose but
to do justice to a bright particular star
in the constellation of our country’s pa
triots, a pleasant and easy task; for his
consideration of the intelligent and reflecting ot all career and character present no incon-
parties. The Delta says: handled Mr. Polk j sistencics to be reconciled, no acts that
xnA hit trevi/Hii Ho evidently 1 crave vindication. TT: — e L! *
His actions form bis
rose superior to party trammel*, and spoke out like ; eulogy; and the severest narrative of
a freeman and patriot, in referrace to the policy pnr-1 w hat be is, and what he has done, is the
aued by the mousing politicians mho-direct this go- \ mos t appropriate tribute to bis modesty
and merit, and to the gratitude and ad
vent ment, toward Gen. Taylor. Such sentiments
meet a warm response in the heart of every man
derate himself above mere partisanship
and take an impartial retrospect of the past.
The subjoined extracts from a sketch of the
speech, which appeared in the Picayune, will be
read with interest and profit.—Ckron. «$• Sent.
“ Mr. Marshall briefly alluded to tho embarrass
ing position in which he was placed—honoied in a
strange city with frequent requests '
val to address the citizens, but without a theme be
ing pointed out to him, said be was necessarily
forced to speak of his own experience as connect
ed with the war. He had been one of the londest
and most vociferous in advocating the annexation
agitated, and
of Texas, when the question
when be was told by hit eonslituenta'and his old
friends that the result of annexation would be war
with England, with France, or with Mexico, he ven
tured to predict no war would ensue. But war did
staring all his prophe-
follow the act and was
cies in the face.
M He would not disco
could have been avoided
the question whether the
r not, nor would he
miration of his country.
Zachary Taylor is descended from
one of the oldest and most distinguish
ed families of those who, two centuries
since, settled in Virginia; and is kin
dred to James Madison, John Taylor of
Caroline, Judge Pendleton, and others,
struggle was terribly severe. The 1
vantages were all against us. Our
cers signalized themselves by their val
or, and many of them fell.
The battle
lasted from half past twelve until three
P. M. The immediaie command of
Col. Taylor suffered most servely; and
rn preservation, conspio
his
great strength, were in the vicinity; and
at 11 o’clock on the night of September
3d, 1812, the attack was made. The
odds were fearful; and the fort, though
it contained many souls, could boast
few prepared to meet the exigency.—
The night was dark, and the forests rung
with the yells of hundreds of Indians.
The little band, forewarned of their dah-
ger, were at their posts.* But scarcely
had the attack been made, before a
broad glare of light, rising in the gloom
of midnight, informed the feeble garri
son that the block-house connected with
the fort had been fired by the Indians.—
Every being, save Taylor, within the
fort, was panic-stricken at this terrible
intelligence. The alternative seemed
a death in the flames, or by the toma
hawks of the Indians. The yells of the
Indians, the shrieks of the devoted wo
men and children, heard above the re
ports of the Indian rifles, which poured
Breath-shower upon the fat,appalled tin,-. His hu.uanhv was hew
• • - • r r - - ihR onrrisnn. who. pnvelonprf in sinnlro COUSpiCUOUS HS hlS Valor ; and though
their time. His father was inc of the I the garrison, who enveloped m smoke,
pioneers of Kentucky.-one of these who j end exposed by the glare of the confla-
'orshipped wilhlheir rifles beside them, gtel'on to the r Hesof tbe foe shrank
reel .l r .t„:. i„ ! and cowered. It was th<| trtal-bourthat
determined the character of the young
and listened, in the pauses of their la
bor, for the yell of the Indian. Of the
heroes of the dark and bloody ground
be is said to have been the most daring.
To that wilderness of wo, for such it
then was, he bore his family, including
Zachary, who was born in Orange coun
ty, Virginia, in the year 1790. It was
j whether the ordering of the army to the Rio under these auspices that the young he-
Grande was right or wrong, but he believed tiixt in 1 ro was educated. His way to school
t^ZZEZSSr* Ml * d “ UDy "°! beset by savage foes, and in one
carrying out a destiny
Mr.^anhalFnow'passed to his connection with! instance, one of his mates snatched from
the army. Having advocated the annexation of j him by the Indians. There could be
Texas, be felt boand to stand by the consequences. no better school to form the mind and
tie volnnteered bit services to the country,and soon o.. ... . 1
found himself at the seat ot war. Gen. Taylor the character of the warrior, to teach
fought and won the battle of Monterey. He ad-j caution and thoughtfulness, and to in-
vanced npon Saltillo, and preparatory to a descent j spire enterprise and a contempt of dan-
°pon San Lois Potosk and ultimately upon the city ger . This education—the education of
o* Hmjco itrelf, be ired marched to Victorra, to d«- “ or i y Rentucky-ha, been admirably
if there was any other pass in the mountains
but that of the Rinconada through which be could
advance and avoid tbe waterless desert beyond Bn-
Vista, or through which the enemy might en
ter the valley of the Rio Grande and (i
he (Mr. M.) waa ordered to proceed to Gen. Tay
lor’s camp with despatches. These were the des
patches which announced to Gen. Taylor that the
flower of his army wasto bo taken from him, to
operate 00 a new base, and ordered him merely to
stand on the defensive.
"Mr. Marshall said, great an opinion as be bad
formed of Gen. Taylor before he met him at Victo-
*■ totally unprepared for tbe loftiness of
I ki !-! .1 J.
ria, he . _. T .
character displayed by him on receiving those de
spatches. He, upon whose crest victory had perch
ed, the lion who was preparing for another spring
pon the foe, saw without a murmur that his claws
rcro to bo tom from him, that he was to be enfee
bled, to the defensive, and never, Mr. M. said, did
be conceive that a great soldier, fresh from the fields
of bis victories, could submit in the simple, uncom
plaining manner Gen. Taylor did to orders depriv
ing him of hisrigM
"The best of his troops were withdrawn from
him. With snch as were left under his immediate
command be retraced his steps to Monterev, and
shortly alter joined Gen. Wool at Saltillo. Dupli
cates ot the despatches had fallen into the hands of
the enemy, and, acquainted with the weakness of j
Gen. Taylor’s force, be soon made demonstrations
indicating an intention to advance and give battle.
, Mr. M. said, Gen. Taylor displayed
those qualities which proclaim him the greatest
military chieftain of the age. It was known that
tiie enemy was overwhelmingly superior in numbers
described by Byron, in his verses 1
Boone—
And tail and strong, and swift of foot were tl
Beyond tbe dwarfing cities’ pale abortions,
Because their thoughts had never been tbe prey
Of care or gain; tbe green woods were their portions;
rio sinking spirits told them they grew gray.
No fashion made them apes of her distortions;
Simple they were, not savage; and their rifles,
Though very true, were not yet used for trifles-
Derived from such a stock, and invig
orated by such an education, he grew,
as might be expected, a man ardent but
thoughtful, bold but guarded—one like
ly to be successful in any sphere, and if
after life -afforded the means of matur
ing his powers, certain to be eminent.—
His early life abounds id anecdotes
characteristic of generous and noble
qualities, which, though derived from
tbe best authority, our limits compel us
to omit. From the first to the last, he
has -been regarded by those who knew
him as above the common stature of bis
fellow men. In his retirement he was
characterized as one whose genius and
power were adequate to any exigency,
civil or military, and who lacked only
an opportunity to leave his name
"Alight end landmark on tbe cliff of fame
end commanded by their most skilful general, and i He has ever possessed those rare facul-
military critics declared the only courae to pursue 1 tics which induce the trust of others s
; to has always been consigned the
a atop, thought and acted otherwise. Fronting him | task which involved most of peril and
raemy 80,000 Mrong; in hia rear waa Ur-j demanded most of the power which
dal to a popular leader commencing life and contin
uing to ita dose tbe idol of thepeoplo.
** Dr. Chalmxxs ia dead. Tne light of the Free
Church—the learned and *
•tardy aseertoc of mini
pride, la fcctTof the 8cotish Church, is no more.
calmly, in Soottiand, the other day,
ma the?*beat ita mother’s breast—as>acid, resign
ed, contentedly. No previous intimation showed
that be was heir to nature’s infirmity; the hand of
disease was not upon him. Tbe brilliant intellect
was to have abed Ita light next day on the General
Assembly. He was a great m m-great in hia
power, in hia mental aaprcmacy, in his moral gran
deur. Foremost amongst one of the most enlight
ened and best educated nation* in the world, Dr.
Chalmers was his country’s idol—her favorite son.
Peaceto his memory! Be broke through the bt-
tersof s«lf4utore^inestablishingU»eFree Church,
and preferred the dictates of consience, the eenae
-of manly independence, to tbe smiles of power or
the blandishments oi a throne. In his life he was
nien d—in his death he is deeply, sincerely, af-
lurneil.''
population, wait’ng but tho appearance of success
their aide to take ap arms, and knowing that even
retreat upon Mocterev would be claimed as a vic
tory ; that then be would be beleaguered by an ar
my of 25,000 men, and that bis whole line would
he cat, he determined not to give an inch, but to
divine—the stake all upon a battle, in which everything was to!
be gained by victory, and disaster could not have
been increased by defeat. The result is known—
The courage of Gen. TavJor, said Mr. M., no one
disputed, but some deniedhim great mental powers.
He (Mr. M.) preteoded to some capacity in judging
of men • qualities, and if he ever saw genius, mili
tary genius of the highest order, he saw it in Gen.
Tsvlor. It may be thatGod, in great emergencies,
had inspired him with those thoughts which render
ed him invincible, but, said Mr. M., the result is
the same—there is no difference. To the great
soldier, Mr. M. said, in hia intercourse with Gen.
Taylor, lie found waa added the man of strict hon
or, and either as a man or as his commander he lov
ed him.
lectiosately m
IcxaM.
Chandler, Esq.—It is stated by the
of the Naw York 7Yt-
Pazatkzasb.—The popular melody of" Dance,
boatman, dance—dance all night till broad daylight
and go home with the girls in the morning,” is thus
~ into prose: ■ j . ’ , : r _ . . .
* Mingle In tbe mazes of tbe dance, tbon knight ia commission aslieutcnant in the seventh ^ itself. It is sufficient to say that our bold- ; assured that
, . ... :_r it. -.ij .t 1 ... 1—. t , » »•. 1 _ r.vi .1
font, thtt tbe proprfototx ofth. Itcnb African
b purchased tbe
newspaper,
zette, for tbe round
hereafter bo merged in tbe former paper
Jfr. Chandler’s withdrawal from the newspaper
pw, of which for • ions writ, of jnn. be ha
been » nhioinn light, will be felt «» . !o», not
atone bj hi. t*rty. end the Editorial fraternity, bat
by tbe whole country.
THE PRAIRIES.
to the Western Prai-
theme or one of Bryant’s
contained in a late ni
L) Free Press:
to or bottom fated,
e, rich as grease!
full as big as toads,
as big as geose !
|^£es prevail!
The first with dread.ul I ookingface,
i... „,;.L .t—i.rtfr.l tail !
The last with dreadful sounding tail!
I'd rather lire on Camel’s rump,
And be a yanke© doodle beggar.
Than where they never see a stump.
And shake to death with fever-n’ager !
Polk, 1
cent letter he remarked that his first choice for the
Presidency was Mr. Clay, and after him Mr. Crit-
JLT Yankee Doodle says, that the Whigs hare
date in tbe person of Gen. Taylor.—
r bears the following inscription:
O’ self-denying Christian ! thou
en shall surely go ;
it a President to the Whigs,
il to the foe! *
n returned to Tennessee,
every prominent acliou of his life has
been a conflict with an adverse superi
ority, in which he has always triumphed.
The greatest generals of the past have
been applauded as fortunate; but Tay
lor has triumphed, at every step, with
fortune against him. He has trusted
nothing to luck; his achievements hav
been tne result of a genius fertile in re
sources, prompt in their application, rc-
cupy the western bankofthe Rio Grande,
been inevitable; and every day precip
itated that result. Addresses, over the
signature of the Mexican general, were
scattered througout our camp, inviting
desertion. The communications be
tween Fort Brown and Point Isabel
forcibly interrupted by large bodies
YOLUME XY. NUMBER 12.
thoso
was, for he refused to dismount, was al- J of the enemy. The war had begun. O11
most miraculous. Ourvictory wascom- i the first of May, Gen. Tavlortook up his
plete. The enemy received a blow I line of march for Point Isabel, leaving
which, more than any thing that occur- j ® small but sufficient force at Fori
red during the war, broke their spirits I Brown. His departure was the signal
and prepared them for submission.—; fora furious but ineffectual attack, which
The loss of Col. Taylor was severe.— ! resulted in the death of the gallant com-
To use iiis own words, “ besides the! raander, Major Brown, and continued
killed, therelay one hundred and twelve I until the glorious return of Gen. Taylor,
wounded, officers and soldiers, who had j The course of Gen. Taylor in this
accompanied me one hundred and forty- j trying emergency has elicited the praise
five miles, most of the way through an \ of the greatest surviving captain ot the
unexplored wilderness, without guides,
fantry, meanwhile, pressed upon
*»n the right, and through met with reso
lution, succeeded in penetrating though •
who had so gallantly beaten the enemy,
under ray orders, in his strongest posi-
on, succeeded in penetrating though *
thechnppnral, and gaining his flank;
while on the left a .murderous fire was
kept up by onr advancing troops. But,
in the centre, the enemy maintained a
steady and destructive fire, from which
Gen. Taylor, when entreated to do so,
refused to retire. Lieut Ridgely, unlim-
hcritig, advanced, from time to time, to
ward the enemy, discharging his canister
at a distance of one hundred yards upon
the foe. The Mexicans', however, with a
well-directed fire, continued to sweep
our lines. At this crisis Gen. Taylor
ordered Capt. May to charge tho battery
with his dragoons. His words were,
“ Copt, May, you must take it'* That gal
lant officer,saying to his company, “ Men, *
age—W ellington. The exigency was a j we must take it,” leapt to the charge,
fearful one. Surrounded by'an enemy i It was successful. With those who sur-
hero. He rose above tl« exigency; he
rallied his few assistants, disconnected
the block-house from the fort, by throw
ing off’ the roofs, subdued the fite, forti
fied the gap made by the destruction of
the block-house, and, after a desperate
encounter of seven hours, drove off* the
overwhelming force that beleaguered
him. The triumph was his .alone ; for
all, save he, had faltered under what
seemed an inevitable doom. In his af
ter career he has encountered no dark
er danger ; and this achievement, though
small the numbers under his command,
forms a worthy opening to the daring
and lustrous actions which followed.
He held the fort until the
of the West gathering around
dered the post secure. For this achic v
ment he was brevelted by Madison, and
admired by the nation; but, although
glowing with a desire to distinguish
himself in the fields that followed, jiis
orders compelled him to remain in the
seat of dangers which he had proved
himself so well qualified to encounter.—
In active and perilous service in ibis
section of the country, he remained un
til the close of the war, and long after.—
A soldier of the republic, he has never
repiued at any duty imposed upon him,
and never desired to gratify his ambi
tion by abandoning an humble post to t
win laurels in other and more favorable so large a part
fields. He was, however, distinguished
in all the operations in the west; and
in the expedition of Major Gen. Hop
kins, received in the dispatches of that
officer, thanks «* for a prompt and effect
ual stirirvirf in nvprv insinni’p ”
the wounded were conveyed back to
their post with incredible difficulty and , 0 , . —
labor, every thing was done which the Point Isabel, May the 3d, without inter-
most delicate sensibility could have sug- • ruption ; and the Mexicans exulted in
gested in their behalf. The detachment the division of his army—one portion
commanded by Col. Taylor in this ties-j at Fort Brown, and another at Point
C erate encounter numbered, about five Isabel, and a superior force between
undred. The enemy was seven hun-! them. Intelligence was received at this
dred strong, and from their concealment, flatter place of the successful resistance
and the extraordinary advantages of j of Fort Brown, and the embodiment of
their position, confidently calculated { vast masses of Mexican troops to oppose
upon a victory. The battle was the the return of Gen. Taylor. lie waited
most successful of the war ; and the vie- for no reinforcements, although they
tory was only won by nil extraordinary ) were daily expected ; he did
effort of heroism—more than one-fourth • take with him the untrained soldiers at
of the whole number engaged being • Point Isabel—for the conflict was to be
killed or wounded. tone in which the blenching of a single
The government appreciated, np- j company might be ruin. On the 7th of
population i flict, and immediately promoted him to • the enemy.
il him, ren-j the brevet rank of brigadier general, than S$00 men—the enemy had in jhe
1 and gave him tlfCVhief command of the j field 6000 regular troops, tbe irregular
gular troops, the
On taking this command lit fixed I force not known. He encountered the
his head-quarters at Tampa Bay, and ! flower of the Mexican army, fully etjnip
continued to prosecute wlim was term-1 ped, provided with ten pieces of artiller-
of movements, ” w
ed “a war of movements, ” with a vig
or and enterprise which no ordinary en
ergy of mind and body could- have en
dured. The foe, after the lesson taught
at Okeechobee, afforded him no subse
quent opportunity of meeting them in a
general battle; but in the prosecution
of a contest peculiarly exhausting am!
dangerous, he manifested the
ities of patience, and vigilance,
greatly superior in force, his supplies | vived the discharge with which they were
limited, and all ccmmuuicattnn cut off'. | met, he swept through the enemy’s line,
he resolved, noton rctreat-rfor he left j atul was immediately followed and sus
his flag flying in face of the enemy—but j mined by a fierce onslaught from the in-
resuming his position. Ho reached fantrv at the point of the bayonet. The -
enemy’s centre was broken, and the*
fortune of the day decided. The flight
of tho Mexicans became general, ami
was Soon hurried into panic by the ardor
of the victors. Every thing was left to «.
the conqucrcr; and rushing on in
confused mass, the Mexicans tram|
down each other in tho eagcrnei
fear. The victory was complete as
was wonderful. Never, in any field,
was omnipotence of heroism more sig
nally displayed ; and oft hose most calm,
yet most ardent—in eveiy chasm made
by the swoop of the artillery—in every
scene that demanded the cool, clear in
tellect, and the daring heart the fore
most was Taylor.
This conflict was one to bo . remem
bered. Taylor brought into the action
but 1700 wearied men, against a" 1 force ^
of at least 6000, well disciplined, officer
ed and conditioned. The enemy had eve
ry ndvantageof position, and that position
was not only strong, but was valiantly * -
maintained. The victory was the result
of no sudden panic on the part of the
enemy; it was wrested from them by
fair, open, hard fighting. Our loss in
this contest was about 110 killed and
wounded. That of tho enemy was
probably tenfold, though not ascertain
ed, as many perished in the river. 4
triumph was affluent in standard;
lory, prisoners and other evidci
To use the language* 61
platided, and regarded the conduct and! May he moved forward, and the next
heroism of Taylor in this bloody con- ! day, about noon, at Palo Alto, lie found
His force consisted of less
lerv, and confident of victory.
Gen. Taylor paused a time, that his
panting host might slake their tlirist in
the water of Palo Alto, and then moved
on to the conflict. The enemy were
drawn in line of battle, stretching a mile
and a half across the plain—their re
splendent lancers in advance on the left,
qual- and their overpowering masses ofinfan-
‘ try, and batteries of artillery- form-
ual support in every instance.
In the war of 1832, agaiust Block
Hawk and his tribe, Col. Taylor was
actively engaged. He commanded the
regulars, under Gen. Atkinson, in the
trying march through the wilderness,
in pursuit of Black Hawk; and was
at tneir head in the destructive and de
cisive battle of Wisconsin. The result
of that battle was the capture of Black
Hawk and the Prophet, who were sur
rendered to Col. Taylor. This sanguin
ary conflict closed the war.
Col. Taylor remained in the West, in
command of different posts, until the
period of the Florida War. In this long
interval of peace, his attention was di
rected to study, and to the improvement
of his private fortune. Ho married a
lady of Maryland, who blessed his fire
side with one son and two daughters,
of whom married Col. Davis, of the
station he continued, performing his du
ties with characteristic diligence and
success, until the difficulties with Mex
ico opened a new and more glorious ca
reer for the developement of those pow
ers matured by so long a career of ardu
ous and devoted service.
In prospect of the annexation of Tex
as, Gen Taylor received from the De
partment an order, dated 17th Septem
ber, ordering him to hold the troops un
der his command in readiness to march
into Texas, and repel any hostile incur
sion of Indians. An “ Army of Obser
vation” upon the south-western frontier
liaving been determined upon, the Ad
ministration selected Gen, Taylor for
that command. The relations of our
country rendered ita post of great dif
ficulty, requiring the highest qualities of
civil and military intellect; and the
choice of Gen. T. in preference to those
of superior rank was a distinguished evi
dence of the confidence of the Govern
ment. He was commanded to take a
position between the Neuces and Rio
Grande ; and In August, 1845, establish
ed his camp at Corpus Christi. The ur-
Mississippi regiment, severely wounded
solute to the exclusion of a doubt, and i at Buena Vista. During this period
energetic to compel the result which had , Col. Taylor, (for in 1832 he was ad-
been determined upon. i vanoed to that rank)established, through-
The outrages of England upon our j out the entire west, a reputation for en-
commercc fired every generous spirit in j larged intelligence, bold sagacity, and
the west, and as early as 180S, about; high moral character, which marked him I my- remained in this position
tbe time when the outrage upon the j out as the hero ol an exigency. Such j March 11th, 1846.
Chcsapcak thrilled through every nerve an one arrived, and secured for him the j Having received positive orders to
of the republic, young Taylor determin- confidence and admiration of the go-j take a position upon the eastern bank of
ed to wed his fortunes with those of his! vernment and the nation. the Rio Grande, Gen. Taylor commenc-
<5ountry. The character and the influ- J It is unnecessary lo characterize the j ed his march. At the Rio Colorado he
cnce of his family readily secured him j failures of the Florida War, or the war 1 was met with a stern resistance, and
1 * attempt to c r oss would
ofthe oir..while tim re.tplendent laminaty ottiiej infantry. He addressed himself with j est and best sunk under its hardships,
foy !m withdrawn his. light from th£ euth, till j characteristic ardor to his proiession, and were left to the wolf of the wilder-
bright Aurora gilds the eutemikj with golden and before the war broke out, had
fight, and then with thy characteristic gallantry ac-; en to the rank of captain. His first
company the fair and unsophisticated participants
of thy pleasures to their parental
will sometimes do almost any-
when he is desperate. On tbe occasion t>f
the dinner given to Mr. Webster, in Richmond, a
vote was taken by the committee of mritation. in
regard to inviting John Tyler, who was then in the
city; arid but two votes were cast in fovor of tbe
invitation. Immediately after this, Mr. Tyler came
out with a letter in the Richmond Enquirer, claim
ing hi* share of the honor of annexing Texas 1—
That the loss of a dinner should have driven tbe
poor fellow to each a deyemte aTowal, must be
disagreeable to the two Tyler men in Virginia ; and
Mr. Tyler’s chance* for the next presidency, now
t *0 important on act of his life is remembered,
about equal to Mr. Polk’s. If these two wor
thies were to be shook up in one ofGsve Johnson’s
mail bags, it is difficult to guess who would come
out first.—Lynn News.
commission was granted by Jefferson,
bis second and third bv Madison, and
fourth by Jackson, and his subsequent
ness, while no encounter won laurels,
and no advantage promised success.—
Col. Taylor was, in 1S36, ordered to
Florida, and soon became distingushed
for bis energy, perseverance, and indom-
commissions by Polk. He received the itable hardihood, and resolution. His
GEN. TAYLOR * POLITICS
Concerning Gen. Taylor’s politics, the New Or
leans ike says: '
" That Genera! Taylor is a Locofoco we utterly Fort Harrison. In this post he won the
first reward of valor, granted in the last
war—a brevet majority; and his rise
to his present lofty position has been
gained, not from the patient indolence
of rank, but from brevets for victories.
The most vulnerable point of our
country^ m the commencement of the
last war, was the sparsely settled West,
encompassed as it was l>y ferocious In
dians in the pay of the British Govern
ment. This was naturally the sphere
of exertion for the young hero. In a
war abounding with almost daily and
ever deadly skirmishes with the Indians,
lie was, of course, exposed to a series of
perilous adventures whiqh escape the at
tention of the historian. He .was early
appointed tolhe command of one of the
roost important defences of the west,
first laurels, and the first brevet, of the
late war—the oldest brevet in the army.
Fort Harrison, a rude structure, was
tenden. or John M. Clayton, or Mr. McLean. If j garrisoned by fifty men, though but ten
any Locofoco is in favor of either one of these ger.- or fifteen were in health and effective ;
* “ * and it was crowded with the sick, with
women and children. Every precau-
tlemen for the Presidency, we should like to sec
him.”
8T A duel recency occurred at Montercy.be-
reen Lieut*. Mahon and Monford, of tho Virginia
regiment. They fcnght with muskets loaded with
buckshot ' * ’
determination was to bring the Semi-
noles to battle, and this was effected by
efforts of the most extraordinary char
acter.
On the 19ih of December, 1837, he
received intelligence that all efforts for
conciliation had failed, and being then
in command of the first brigade, at Fort
Gardiner, he struck into the wilderness.
He bore but twelve days* rations, and
had with him about one thousand men.
He bad learned that the Seminoles and
Mickasaukies, under their chiefs, Alli
gator and Sam Jones, had selected a
post deemed impregnable, and that they
challenged him lo ihe encounter. Ad
vancing, with caution but celerity, and
overcoming every obstacle, he arrived
on the 25th of December hi the point
selected by tbe enemy, upon the lake of
Okeechobee— They were concealed in
a thick hammock, which could only be
approached by a swamp three quarters
of a mile in breadth, covered with grass
five feet high. andknee a decpinmudand
water. Our forces advanced ; the vol
unteers were received with a fire from
the hammock, and after a brief resist
ance, retired across the swamp. The
regulars, however, persisted in advanc-
Tbe
; ,nd both fell moiuliy wounded- ' It.waa known that the Indians, in; inland drove the enemy back.
be followed by actual bostiUtie
scarcely necessary to add that he cross
ed, notwithstanding. On the 24tli, Gen.
Taylor left the advancing army, ami,
ed promptitude and vigor which form «ng the rest of the line. On our side, _
so large a part in the character of a great. Col. Twiggs commanded, with the 3d, Taylor’s dispatch—“ Our victor
military leader. 4th, and otii infantry, and Ringgold’s been decisive. A small force has
In 1840 he was relieved from duty in artillery, on the right; Col. Belknap on | come immense odds of the best ^
Florida, and iu the following yenr was • the left, with the Sth, and Duncan’s nr- Mexico can furnish—veteran regii
assigned to the command of the second 1 tiilery ; and Lieutenant Churchill com- 1 perfectly equipped and appointed.’^
department 011 the Arkansas, in which manded the two eighteen pounders in: Gen. Taylor’s promise was fulfiled,
* 1 ’ "*■’'* l ho centre. The battle was almost wind-!and Fort Brown was rescued. But it
ly one of artillery—and never did artil- ; was found impossible immediately to fol-
lery such service as ours that day.—, low up the victory. Every obstacle was,
Ringgold opened with terrible effect; however, by untiring energy and per-
t lie gallant cavalry of the enemy ft:ll as , severance overcome; when, on the 17tli
if smitten by lighining; yet they rccov-; of May, Arista offered an armistice. It
ered, and making a sweep, threatened I was now loo late: the offer was declined.
Aur rear, where’ they were met and re- ! The next day Taylor, without resji
polled hv the infantry in square. While 1 took possession ot Matamorasy-
Ringgold mowed his fatal Imrvast on the j His instructions required bis advance.
right, Duncan on the left poured volley
upon volley into the reeling columns of
the foe; and in the centre, the two eigh
teen pounders kept up a steady and
staggering fire. Still the enemy, not
withstanding the obvious superiority of
our artillery, maintained their fire with
vigor, and urged the battle with deter
mination. Al length, as if to swell the
horror of the scene, the prairie took
fire, and for a time veiled the comba
tants from each other, and stayed the
contest. When suddenly dashing like
incarnate spirits, through the flames,
which rose ten feet high, Duncan and
his men took position on the flank of
the enemy, and opened with terrific ef
fect, rolling back the ranks of the ene
my, who recoiled in confusion! Assail
ed in front and flunk, they retired into
the chapparal; and thus night found
the combatants—the victors encamping
where they fought, amid the dying and
the dead, with the promise of a bitterer
and bloodier conflict for the morrow.—
That night the Mexican* retired to Re-
saca de la Palma. Their loss was two
hundred killed and four hundretf wound
ed ; and ours was four men killed, three
officers, and thirty-seven mem wounded,
with a body of dragoons, repaired to j several mortally, and among the latter,
Point Isabel, which place he occupied, | Major Ringgold and Capt. Page,
and received, from steamboats uppor* Gen. Taylor’s bearing in this battle
tunely arriving, supplies for the army. I was marked by every trait that enonbles
Gen. Taylor soon rejoined the army ; a j a hero. But his victory had not relieved
position was occupied opposite Mata- j him from the danger that overshadow-
moras and the army proceeded tolorti- ~n- : - -*■'—
fy their camp. On the 11th of April,
Gen. Ampudiu, in command at Mata-
rnoros, summoned Gen. Taylor to break
up his camp, and retire bevond the
Neuces witlnn twenty-fours, adding that
if he did not, arms alone must decide the
question. In reply, Gen. Taylor inform
ed him that his instructions would not
permit him to retrograde from the posi
tion he occupied. .
Col. Cross, ol our army, having been
murdered when absent, and aloue, some
distance from the camp, a party was, on
the 17th, sent to discover and seize the
murderers. They were set upoit by a
large party of Mexicans, and some ol
them Killed. On the 19th. Gen. Taylor
blockaded the Rio Grar.de, a measure
which elicited an immediate protest from
Ampodia, and it was vindicated by Tay
lor as the neccessary result of the Mexican
declaration of a determination to com
mence, dnd actually commencing, hos
tilities. The character of the two letters
is in singular contrast, that of Gen.
Taylor being high-toned and masterly,
but moderate and courteous. A colli
sion had from the first movement to oc*
ed bis little host. He had won glory,
but not safety. Should he advance, it
must be against an enemy overpower
ing in his superiority of numbers, and
with an advantage of position. A coun
cil was held on the early . mom of the
next day. Its advice was against an
advance ; Gen Taylor closed it§ delib
erations by declaring that, if living he
would sleep that night iu Fort Brown.
The army advanced against the foe. .
The next morning disclosed the rc
treat of the Mexicans. Reinforced by j and turned a gun on one
2000 men," they had seleclrd n position j the Bishop’s Palace,
of great strength, with a ravine in ffont. j were 1 confident auguries
guarded by a pond on one flank, anti the { Meanu bile, a vigorous i
happaral on the other, defending their j upon the citv from bek
into the interior, but for a long
period filled up by the hero wilit
lient. protests to the War Depart
and entreaties for further means of trans
portation, and anxious efforts, on liis own
part, to supply them, he was compelled
to remain inactive. At length, however,
the army was set in motion. Its object
was Monterey, a place strong by nature,
-imply fortified, and maintained by an
army of 7000 troops of the line, am! 3000
irregulars. Against this stronghold
marched with an army comprising
officers, and 6220 men. Against ih
ty-two pieces of cannon of’.he Mexica
he arrayed but one ten inch mortni.V
24 pounder howitzers, and four light ii
batteries of fmir guns each—the moi
being the only piece suitable to the op
erations of a siege. With these fearful
odds against him he advanced up
Monterey.
Gen. Taylor arrived before the c
on the 19th, and established his camp
three miles from its defences. T
noissances were made, and il \t
possible to turn the position of
my,' and gain the heights iuins
The gallant Worth was del
this duty, mid Ip*,
works. From this-tr
lions became two-fc
ty of Worth being indeponde
command ofTaylor, and the objt
latter principally to divert
from Worth.
This order was given on the
and the next day at two o’clock ^
moved forward, and succeeded i
ing a position above the Bis
The succeeding morning, that 0
commence*! the conflict which d
ed the fate of Monterey. Worth
;ng forward, encountered the eu
force, fend overcame him; be g
the Saltillo road, nud cutoff hisc 3
mention?; and he succeeded ii
ing two heights west of tbe Salti
position with eight pieces of artillery,! under Gcu. Taylor,
and with-a vast superiority of force, | to attempt a desrriptn
they waited the approach of the Araeri-j as those ii tinted 1
can army. Their expectations were tint j bloody. compr*
baffled. The field is known, ami will from tho chafe
be remembered as Rcsaca de la Palma. |
The advance of our army was a
panied by every precaution, and at |
length the presence of the
certuincd. Thes
ly moved rapidh
countered that c