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ing and the dead, with tin' promise of a in Ilorer and bloodier conflict for I he tnormu ,That light the Mexicans retinal toReaaca do\t -Pnlme, /Their loss waa two Hundred killedand four hundred wounded ; and otim was four men killed, three officer#, and fldrfy-Heven men wounded, aeveral mortally, amiamong the lnltet, Major Ringgold and CpL“A Map of Busy Life; Its Fluctuations and its Vast Concerns.”Pagemr*%VOL. IWARREN, PA.: TUESDAY, AUGUST 15. ISIS.NO. 4.Gen. Taylor’s heating in the battlo ws«marked by every trait teat etiohlea a hero.Rut. Ins victory had not relieved him from theFrom Gralmni’s Magazine, July, 1647.GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLORA memoir of Gen. Taylor's life is, to onevho writes it with no purpose but to do jus-ice to n bright particular star in the constel-laurels, and the first brevet, of the late warthe oldest brevet in the army«Fort. Harrison, a rude structure, was garrisoned by fifty men, though but ten or fifteen were in health and effective; and it wasnnd had with him about one thousand men.—-1 Gen. Taylor soon rejoined the army ; a josi- danger that overshadowed his little host. litHe had learned that the Seminole* and Mick- I tion was occupied opposite Mntnmorns, and 1h*«l g^ry, hut not safety. Bhould hlt;nsaukies, under their chiefs, Alligator and the army proceeded to fortify their camp. On ] a U aneo, it must, bo against an enemy overSam Jones, had selectod a jost deemed im- the 11th of April, Gen. Ampudin, in command i powering in his superiority of numbers, ampregunlde, and that they challenged him to at Mntamoms, summoned Oon.Taylor to break with an advantage of position. A counciat ion of our country’s patriots, a pleasant and■nsy task ; for his career and character pre-ont no inconsistencies to he reconciled, nocts that crave vindication. Ilia actions formiis eulogy ; nnd the severest narrative of whatio is, nnd what he has done, is the most apropriatc tribute to his modesty ami merit, ando the gratitude and admiration of his country.Zachary Tnvlor is deccmled from one of tholdcst nnd most distinguished families of thosecrowded with the sick, with women and chil- the encounter. Advancing with caution hut up his rnmp, nnd retire beyond tho Ncuces was held on the enrfj morn of the next daydrcn. Every precaution liad been taken, I celerity, and overcoming every obstacle, he ! within twenty-four hours, adding that if he its advice was ngainst nil advance; Gen though It was impossible to raise a guard of | arrived on the 25tli December at the point §c~ j did not, arms alone must decide the question, j Taylor do ed its deliberations by dcclnriifmore than six men and two commissioned officers, It was known that the Indians, inlooted by the enemy, upon the lnke of Okec-chobec. They were concealed in a thickIn reply, Gen. Taylor informed him that his that, if living, lie would sleep that night iiInstructions would not permit him to retro- Fort Brown. The army advanced against thgreat strength, were in the vicinity ; and at hammock, which could only be approached by grade from tho position he occupied.foe.11 o’clock on tho night of September 3d, 1812, 1 a swamp three quarters of a mile in breadth, the attack was made. The odds were fearful; covered with grass live feet high, nnd kneeCol. Cross of our army, having been murThe next morning disclosed tho retreat cand the fort, though it contained many souls,vho, two centuries since, settled in Virginia ;nd is kindred to James Madison, John Taylorf Carolina, Judge Pendleton, and others, thenost ardent and spotless patriots of their time.could boast few* prepared to meet the exigencydeep in inud nnd water. Our forcos advanced; tho volunteers were received with a fire fromThe night was dark, nnd tho forest, rung withth*' yells of hundreds of Indians. The littletho hammock, ami after a brief resistance, re-drred wIi.ii .burnt nn.1 .lour, mo .li.Uinro Mmrieniw. Krit.forccl by 9000la •%• % • •from the cnnqi, a pnrty was, 011 the 17th, sentto discover and seize the murderers. TheyThe regulars how-lis father was one of the pioneers of Ken-ucky, one of those who worshiped with theirifles beside them, and listened, in tho pauses*f their labor, for the yell of the Indian. Gftin d across the swamp.band forewarned of their danger, were nt their lever, persisted in advancing, ami drovo theBut scarcely had the attack been | enemy back. The struggle was terribly se-Ourpostsmade, before a broad glare of light, rising inthe gloom of midnight, informed the feeblogarrison that the blockade connected with thehe heroes of the dark and bloody ground he isfort had been fired by the Indians. Every be-aid to have been the most darinir. To thathevilderness of wo, for such it then was,)oro his family, including Zarharv, who wasing, save ’Taylor, within the fort, was panic-stricken at this terrible intelligence. Thealternative seemed a death in the flames, or byvcro. The advantages were against uswere set upon by a large body of Mexicans, nnd some of them killed. On the IfRh Gen.Taylor blocknded the Rio Grande, n measurewhich elicited nil itnnu'dinte protest, from Amofficers signalized themselves by their valor,and many of them fell. ’The battle la tedpud in ; and it was vindicated by Taylor asfrom half past twelve until throe 1’. M. Theimmediate command of Col. Taylor mi fie rodthe necessary result of the Mexican declaration of a determination to commence, nnd actually commencing, hostilitieMlHie clmrne-most severely; and his own preservation,couter of the two letters is in singular contrast,they hud selected a position of great utrongtwith a ravine in front, guarded by n pond oone flank, nnd the chnppnrnl 011 the othcdefending their position with eight pieces 1artillery, nnd with a vast stijieriority of foreithey awaited the approach of the Amenrnariny. Their ex|*ectntions were not ha fib nThe field is known, and will be remembcrias ltcsnca de la Palma.The advance of our army WMsreompank by every precaution, and nt length the proaspicttous as he was, lor lie refused to dismount,the tomahawks of the Indians. The yells oforn in Orange county, Virginia, in the year790. H was under these auspices that ththe Indians, the shrieks of the devoted women*’oung hero was educated. Ilis way to schoolvas beset by savage foes, and in one instance,me of his mates snatched from him by thoIndians. There could bo no hotter school tonnd children, heard nbove the reports of theIndian rifles, which poured a death-show orupon the fort, appalled the garrison, who, enveloped in smoke, and exposed by tho glare oform the mind and fix the character of thearrior, to tetich caution and though*fulnesa,the ennflngiution to the rifles of tlnr foe,shrunk nnd cowered. It was tho trial-hourmd to inspire enterprise and a cent, nipt ofLamrer. This education—4hc education of •arly Kentucky—has been admirably describedy Rvron, in his verses on Boonethat determined the character of the younghero.lied his fewlie rose above the exigency ; he raJ-disconncctcd thewas almost miraculous. Our victory waacomplete. The enemy received a blow whichmore than anything that occurred during thethat of Gen. Taylor being high-toned a ml cnce of tho enemy waa ascertained.tillery of Lieut. Rulgely moved rapidly to tl- ‘ * Tlmasterly hut moderate aiwl courteous, A colUnion had, from the first movonu ut to occupythe western bank of the Rio Grande, been infront and encountered that of tho enemyinfantry, meanwhile, [pressed upon those 1war, broke their spirits and prepared them lortvitublo *, and every day precipitated tht re- tho right, nnd though met w ith resolutio-ult. Addrc, lt;%?, over the signature of the succeeded in |onct rati tig through the elmsubmission, Tho loss of Col. Tnvlor was Mexican general, were scattered throughout parnl, aqd gaining his Hank ; wliileon the hHoveie. To use his own words, besides tinkilled, there lay one hundred nnd twelvewounded, officers nnd soldiers, who had accompanied me one hundred nnd forty-fivemiles, most,of the way through an unexploredIur camp, inviting desertion. The eommuni- u tnurduroiiH lire was kept up by our ndvncation * between Fort Brown nnd Point Labelwere forcibly interrupted by large bodies ofeing troops.mnintiiinedRut. in the eentre, the ©nanand destrnctivo flthe enemy. Th® war had begun. On thoassistants,Woek-house fromtlie fort, by throw ing ofl’theroof, subdued the fire, fortified the gap madeby the destruction of the block-hou. e, nnd,after a desperate encounter of seven hours,\nd tail and strong, nnd swift of foot were they,Beyond the dwarfing citiew’ palo abouion*, ,_ - , , . . - - - .n ^ilo ,, • 1 1 . drove oft the overwhelming force that belea-m canse their thoughts had never been the prey 4} . rl ^wildcrne *s, without guides, who had so gal-(ir.-t of May, Gen. Taylor took up his lino oflauUty bcnUnulkC ciwiuy, under my orders,, inhis strongest iioidtion.” Hih humanity was,however, as conspicuous as hit valor; andthough th' wounded were conveyed hack tomarch for Point Isabel, leaving a small hutMiffbrient foreeni Fort Brown. Ilisdeparturea steadyfrom which Gen. Tnylor, when entreateddo so, refused to rotire. Lieut. Ridg»dy, ulimbering, advanced from time to time, townthetliwaa the signal for a furious hut ineffectual nt-cnemy, discharging his canister nt nlance of one hundred yards upon the foe.fixtack, which resulted in tho death of the gal Tho Mexicans, however, w ith a well directOf care or gain; tho green woods wore tlairportions ;So sinking spirits told thorn they grew gray,No fashion made them apes of her distortions ;guerod him.Tho triumph was his* alone ; for all save he, had faltered under what seemed tintheir post with incredible difficulty and labor,every thing was done which the most delicateinevitable doom. In his after career he hasBonHlol.Vty could have suggested in their bo-half. Tho detachment commanded \»y Col.lant commander, Major Brown, and clt; utinueduntil the glorious return of Gen. Taylor.The course of Gen. Taylor in this tryingfire, continued to sweep our lines. At tl crisis Gen. Taylor ordered Capt. Maycharge the battery with his dragoon?. 1lias elicited the praise of theSimple they were, not snvuge ; nnd their rifles,fhough very true, were not yet used for trifles.Derived from such a stock, and invigoratediy such an education, he grew, as might bexpected, a man ardent but thoughtful, lioldmi guarded—-one likely to be successful ininy sphere, and if sfter life afforded the meansf maturing his powrers, certain to be eminent.His early life abounds in anecdotes cliaracter-stic of generous and noble qualities, which,hough derived from the best authority, our imits conqiel us to omit. From tho first todie last, I10 has been regarded by those whoencountered no darker danger ; and this Taylor in this desperate encounter numberedachievement, though small the numbers under afoom five hundred. The enemy were sevenhis command, forms a worthy opening to thedarinir nnd lustrous actions which followed.lie held tho fort until the population of thehundred strong, nnd from their concealment,and the extraordinary advantages of their po-VVcst gathering around him, rendered thoFor this achievement I10 wassition, confidently calculated upon a victoryTho battle was tho most successful of the war;post secure, brevetted by Madison, and admired by the nation ; hut, although glowing with a desire todistinguish himself in the fields that followed,and the victory was only won by an cxtraor-moro than one-fourthdinary effort of heroismof the whole number engaged being killed orhis orders compelled him to remain 111 the scatof dangers which he had proved himself soIn active andwell qualified to encounterperilous service in this section of the country,knew’ him as above the common stature of hisfellow men. I11 his retirement he wac ehar-he remained until the close of the war, andactcrized as one whose genius and powerwore adequate to any exigency, civil or military, and who lacked only an opportunity toleave his nameMA light and landmark on tho cliff of fame.”lie lias ever possessed those rare facultieswhich induce the trust of others ; to him hasalways been consigned the task which involved most of peril and demanded most of thelong after. A soldier of the republic, lie 1msnever repined at any duty imjiosed upon him,nnd never desired to gratify his ambition byabandoning nn humble post to win laurels inwounded,The government appreciated, nppiauded, andreworded the conduct and heroism of Taylorin this bloody conflict, and immediately promoted him to the brevet rank of brigadiergeneral, nnd gave him the chief command of the war. On taking this command lie fixedhis hcad-quarters at. Tampa Iky, nnd conti 11-other and more favorable fields. He was,however, distinguished in all the operationsin the west; and in the expedition of MajorGen. Hopkins, received, in the dispntclics olthat officer, thanks “ for a prompt and effect-power which overcomes it; and it is singularthat, overy prominent action of his life hasbeen a conflict with an adverse superiority, inual support in every instance.’Iftied to prosecute what was termed “a war ofnnd enterprisemovements,” with a vigorwhich 110 ordinary energy of mind and bodycould have endured. The foe, after the lessontaught at Okeechobee, afforded him no subsc-D 'quent opportunity of meeting them in a general battle ; but in the prosocution of a content peculiarly exhausting and dangerous, hoIn the wrar of 1832, against Black Hawkmanifested the raror qualities of patience, vig-aud his tribe Col. Taylor w’ns actively en-which he lias always triumphed. The great-gaged. He commanded the regulars, underGen. Atkinson, in the trying march throughilance, nnd unwearied promptitude and vigor*.emergencyY.*au**» surviving captain of the age iington. The exigency wnn n. fearful one.Wcl-words were, u Capt. May you mu»t lake iiThai gnllnut officer, saying to his com pa 1Surrounded by an enemy grently sujierior inforce, his supplies limited, and all communication cut off, he resolved, not on retreat—for“Mon, we must take if,” leapt to thocharfli Wt»K w»cOf«m»tV. Wivit vWmm\ wilt) uUtvilthe diselmrgo with which they w’crc met,sw’ept through the enemy’s line, and was 1he left hiu flag flying in face of the enemyhut on resuming hi* posilinn. He reachedPoint Isabel, May 3d, without, interruption }anti the Mexicans exulted in the division ofmediately followed and sustained by a fieionslaught from the infantry at the point of Ibayonet. Tho enemy's centre was brokiand the fortune of the day decided. This army—one jwirtion at Fort Brown, nndanother at Poi/Vt Isabel, nnd a su fieri or forceflight of the Mexicans became general, abetween them. Intelligence wnlt;? received atthis latter placo of the successful resistanceof Fort Brown, and the eniliodimont of vrfatmanses of Mexican troops to oppose I lie re-wiiH soon hurried into panic by the ardor tho victors. Every thing w’as left to thecoqueror ; nnd rushing on in one confused ninthe Mexicans trampled down each other in teagerness of fear. The victory was cmplote as it was wonderful. Never, in any fi«tun. of Con. T.ylor. I!« w»iu*l for no mi..-1 wn8 „,e u,nco of hcroisIIllauro,iennlforccmeulK, although ll.oy worn daily oxpcrt- dlspIoy(H|. and of tll0ro m0Bt cltali „„ed; he did not even take with him the untrained soldier? at Point Isabel—for the conflict was to be one in which the blenching ofa single company might he ruin. On tho7lhardent—in every elmum made by the ivmof the artillery—in every scene that demaded the cool dear intellect, nnd the dtuiiof May he moved forward, nnd the next dayheart—the foremost was Taylor.about noon, at Pa hi Alto, he found the erictny.His force consisted of Ic^s than 2309 mentho enemy had in the field GOOO regular troops,tho irregular force not known. He encoun-This conflict was one to be remembered.Taylor brought into the action hut 1700ried men, ngainst a forco of at leastwhich form so largo a part in the character oftercd the fiow’or of the Mexican army, fullyequipped, provided with ten pieces of artillerya great military leader.Cci geuemla of tho past have been applaudedas fortunate; but Taylor has triumphed, atevery step, with fortune against him. He hastrusted nothing to luck; his achievementsthe wilderness in pursuit of Black Hawk ; andwas at thoir head in the destructive and decisive battle of the Wisconsin. The resellIn 1840 ho was relieved from duty in Florida, and in the following year was assignednhave been the result of a genius fertile in resources, prompt in their application, resoluteto the exclusion of a doubt, nnd energetic tocompel the result which had been determineduponTho outrages of England upon our commerce fired every genercus spirit in the west,and as early as 1808, about the time when theoutrage upon the Chesapeake thrilled throughevery nerve of the republic, young Taylor determined to w ed his fortunes with those of hiscountry. The character and the influence ofhis family readily secured him a commissionas lieutenant in the seventh infantry. Head-dressed himself with characteristic ardor tohis profession, and before the war broke outof that battle was the capture of Black llawkand the Prophet, who were surrendered toCol. Taylor. This sanguinary conflict closedthe war.Col. Taylor remained in the West, in command of different posts, until the ]eriod of theFlorida War. In this long interval of ieaee,his attention was directed to study, and to theHe mar-improvemcnl of his privntc fortune, ried a lady of Maryland, who blessed bis fireside with one son and two daughters, one ofto the command of tho second department onthe Arkansas, in which station lie continued,performing his duties with characteristic diligence and success, until the difficulties withMexico opened a new and more glorious career for the dcvelopcmcnt of those jwiwcrematured by m long a career of arduous anddevoted service.J11 prospect of the annexation of Texas,Gen. Taylor recei ved from the Department anorder, dated 17th September,and confident of victory.Gen. ’Paylor paused a time, that his pantiinr host miaht j lake their liiirta in the waterwell disciplined, officered and conditioned.The enemy had every ndvantaj^e of poautiand that position waa not only strong, Iwas valiantly maintained. The victory wthe result of no sudden panic on the purl! t’aio Alts, and then moved on to the conflict. The enemy wero drawn in liiio of bat-the enemy ; it. was wrested from them by faoim ti bard liglitinir, Onr lo: s in this contiwas about 110 killed and wounded. Thatthe enemy was probably tenfold, though ntie, stretching a mile and ft had arrows the ; ascertained, os many perished in the river.ploin—the! 1* re pfendeut lancers in advanceon the loft, and their overpowering masse » ofinfantry, nnd baltcrfas of artillery forming therest of 1 lie line. On our side, Col. Twiggscomnmnded with the 3d, 4th, nnd 5th, infantrynnd Ringgold's artillery, on tho right; Col.Bolknap on tho left, with tho 8th, and Dunhold the troops under his command in rendi-whom married Col. Davis, of the Mississippiregiment, severely wounded at Buena Vista.During this period Col. Taylor, (for in 1832he was advanced to that rank,) established,throughout the entire west, a reputation forness to march into Texas, and repel any hos-cito's artillery; nnd Lieutenant ChurchillThe triumph was affluent in standards, artlery, prisoners and other evidences of vietoiTo use thejanguoge of Gen. Taylor’s dpatch—“ Our victory has been decisive.small force bos overcomo immense odds of tbest troops Mexico can furnish—veteran rriments, perfectly equipped aud appointed.”Gen. Taylor’s promise was fulfilled, acommanded tho two eighteen pounders in tne Fur| Brown r0lt;c„0,t. Bltt it WIU foucentre. Tho battle was almost wholly one oftile incursion of Indians. An “Army of observation” upon the south-western frontierhaving been determined upon, tho Adminis-)had arisen to the rank of captain. His firstcommission was granted by Jefferson, his sec-enlarged intelligence, bold sagacity, and highmoral character, which marked him out as theond and third by Madison, his fourth by Jackson, and his subsequent commissions by Polk.lie received the first reward of valor, grantedin the war—a brevet majority ; and his riseto his present lofty position has been gined,hero of an exigency. Such an one arrived, and secured for him the confidence ond admiration of the government and the nation.It is unnecessary to characterize the failures of the Florida War, or the war itself. Ittration selected Gen. Taylor for that command. The relations of our country rendoredit a post of great difficulty, requiring the highest qualities of civil and military intellect ;and the choice of Gen. Taylor in preferenceto those of sujierior rank, was a distinguishedevidence of tho confidence of tho Government.not from the patient indokffice of rank, butfrom brevets for victories.The most vulnerable point of our country,in the commencement of the last war, was thesparsely settled West, encompassed as it wasby ferocious Indians in the pny of tho BritishGovernment. This was naturally the sphereof exertion for tho young hero. In a wari3 sufficient to say that omr boldest and bestsunk under its hardships, and were left to tliewolf of tho wilderness, while no encounterHe was commanded to take a position betweenthe Nueces nnd the Rio Grande ; and in August, 1845, established his camp at Corpuswon laurels, and no advantage promised success. Col. Taylor vVds, iu 1836, ordered toFlorida, and soon became distinguished for bisenergy, perseverance, aud idouiitablo hardihood and ro.-.olution, Ilis determination wasabounding with almost daily and ever deadlyskirmishes with the Indians, he was, of course,exposed to a series of perilous adventureswhich e; capo the attention of tho historian.Ho was early appointed to the command ofone of the most important defences of the west,to bring the Seminoles to battle, and this wasChristi. Tho army remained in this positionuntil March Uth, 1816.Having received positive ordors take a position unoo the eastern bank of tho Ilio Grande,Gen. Taylor commenced his march. At theRio Colorado he was met with a stem rlt; ;uu-effected by cftbus of tiie imM extraordinarycharacter.On the 19th of December, 1837, he receivedtance, and assured that an attempt to cross would be followed by actual hostilities. It isscarcely neoeswiry to add that he crossed, uut-oitillery—and never did artillery such servicenn ours that day. ltinggold opened with terrible offect; the gallant cavalry oft the enemyfell as if smitten by lightning ; yet they recovered, and making a swoop, threatened ourimpossible immediately to follow up the vtory. Every obstacle was however by utiring energy and perseverance ovcrcomwhen on tho 17th of May, Arista offeredarmistice. Tt was n*\v too fate : the ofrear, whore they were met and repelled by theinfantry in square. While Ringgold mowedhis fatal harvest on the right, Duncan on theleft poured volley upon volley into tho reelingcolumns of the foe ; and in the centre, the twoeighteen pounders kopt up a steady and staggering fire. Still the .enemy, notvvithstand-vva* declined. The next day Taylor, witheresistance, took possession of Mutamoras.His instruction3 required his advance intho interior, but for a long period, a perifilled up by the Imro with impatient proteito the War Department, and entreaties Ifurther means of transportation, nnd anxioing tho obvious superiority of our artillery,maintained their fire with vigor, and urgedtho battle with determination. At length, asif to swell the horror of the scene, tho prairietook fire, and for a time veiled the combatantsfront e;w!i other, and stayed the contest.Win ti suddenly die liing, like incarnate spiritsefforts, on his part, to supply them, I10 wcompelled to remain inactive. Atlong!however, 1 lip army was set in motion. 1object was Moiitcroy, a placo strong by natuamply fortified, and maintained by an army7000 troops of the lino, ttfid 3000 irregulaiAgainst this stronghold lie marched with 1„ j J1# ■ j „ - 1 uthrough tho flames, which rose ten feet high.Duncan and his men took position on tho flunkintelligence that ull efforts for conciliation hadfailed, and being then in command o( the firstbrigade, ut Fori Gardiner, he struck into theF uM ii ni n. In thi po, t he won th*' fi*t 1 wilderness. He here hut twelve days' rations,withstanding. On the 21th, Gen. Taylor leftthe advancing army, and, with a body of dra-of the enemy, nnd opened with terrific, effect,roiling back the ranks of the enemy, u lio recoiled in confusion. AsMiilled in front nndgoons, repaired to Point Label, which plat e ho occupied, and received, from steamboats opportunely arriving, supplies for the nr»»y.flank, they ret;red into the chnpparal ; aud thus night found tlir* combatants—the victorsnramning whore they fought, amid *he dvarmy comprising 425 officers, and 6220 meAgainst the forty-two pieces of cannon of tMexicans, ho arrayed but 011c 10 inch morttwo 24 pounder ho wit zeros, and fmtr ligfield butteries of four guns each—the mortbeing the only piece satiable to the operatioof a siege.With these fearful mld agaithim he advanced upon Monterey.feoNlt; I HU ?• ! * (H'PIt'l it lt;o.t |* -■
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Warren Allegheny Mail
Warren, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, Aug 15, 1848
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