The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-05-28
F 'N~i From the Nashville orthopolitan.
GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR,

so prominently before the public, that we feel
disposed 10 graf The strong desire, express
sed ed by many, bA.,giVhg some ofshe incidents
of his life. 5-. ,sr
Gen. TAYLOR entered the army in 1908,
Immediately after the attack on the Chesa-
peake, and has been in the service of his
country, from that time 10 the present.
Having entered the army a lieutenant of in
fantry, he had risen to the command of a
company, at the beginning ofthe last tDar.
For his gallant defence of Fort Harrison,
on the 4th September, 1879, President Mad
ison conferred upon him the brevet rank OF
Major, and he is now the oldest 6repet in the
army. qr .4ra .ss
In 1892, he became the Colonel of the
5th Infantry; with this regiment he went TO
Florida in 1885, where he was always fore
most in danger n,.-.s ..sas
On the 25th of December, 1886, Col.
Taylor, at the head of detachment ofabout
500 men, composed Of the lst, 4tlL and
9th regiments of U. S. Infantry and some
Missouri volunteers, met about 700 Indians,
under Alligator, Sam Jones, and Coa-coo-
che, on the banks Of the O-ko- cho-bee.-
This battle was sought by the Indians, for the
day before the engagement, Col. Taylor re-
ceved challenge from Alligator, telling
him whore to find him, and bantering him to
come on. Col. Taylor desired nothing bet
ter, and Immediately pushed on, at rapid
march, to the expected battle ground, fearful
that the willy Indian might change his pur-
pose. The Indians had strong position, in
thick swamp, covered in front by a small
stream, whose quicksands rendered it almost
impossible, but Col. T. pushed through the
quicksands and swamps, in the face of a
dreadful fire from concealed foe, driving
the Indians before him. The action was
long and severe. The Indians yielding the
ground inchby inch, aud then cnly at the point
of the bayonet. After !hree hours of bloody
contest, the Indians were routed, and pur-
sued with great slaughter until night. This
was the last stand the Indians ever made, in
a large body, and the only instance in which
they voluntarily gave battle. Though COL
Taylor won the day, it was at an expense of
149 killed and wounded-more than one
fourth of his whole force. Two colonels (Col.
Thompson, of the 9Th Infanty, and Col. Gen
try, of the Missouri Volunteers fell at the
head of The troops. Capt. Van Swearingen,
and Lieutenants Brooke and Carter, also fell
in the engagement.
During the whole Of the engagement,
Colonel Taylor remained on horse back, pas
sing from point TO point, cheeling his men
TO the conflict, and exposed to the Indian
rifle every moment. The spirit with which
the commander and all his forcus entered in
to the conflict, was exhibited in some verses
written on the occasion, by soldier:
"There's battle in yon hammock black,
There's lightning in yon cloud,
Hark! Hark to the music, comrades dear,
For the Indian yell is loud;
For the Indian yell is loud, my boys,
And the rifles flash is free;
But the field of battle is our home.
And happy, happy men are we,
And happy men are we," &c.
For this battle, Mr. Poinsett, Secretary ofI
War, rendered merited praise TO all engaged,
in his communication TO Congress. The
brepet of Brigadier General was conferred
on Col. Taylor, and he was given the chief
command in Florida; which he resigned in
lS40, after four or five years Of indie fatgable
service in the swamps and hammocks Flor
ida
After his retirement from Florida, he was
assigned to the command of the 1st Depart
ment of the Army, including the states of|
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, &C., with
his head quarters a: Fort Jesup, Louisiana.
His position gave him the command of
the "Army Of Occupation" but the usage of
the service would have justified tine govern
ment in assigning to that command either of
The six general officers Of the Regular Army,
whose rank is higher than his.
But it may be fairly presumed that the
high character, gallant services and great ex-
oerience of Gen. IT,, aside from his geo.
graphical position, pointed him out, as the
appropriate commander of an army, which
vas to plant our flag upon the banks of the
Rio Del Norte.
Gen. Taylor is about Sc years ofage; is
nan Of much general information, an excel
ent and tried soldier; prudent and skilful
whose traits ofcharacter are:
wise precaution in providing for the hour of
rial, and fearless, reckless courage in bat
le. ft
He is Kentuckian by birth, and all that
word implies. He is an American in heart,
md stamped with all the elements ofa hero,
" nature.
Under his command, the flag of the Union
will receive no dishonor on the banks Of the
Rio Grande.
C- The population fthe United States
IN the first Of June next, estimating the in
rease at three per cent. per annum, will be
%, ,l40,370.
Or The value of the property owned by