Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1846-06-06

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH or GEN.
TAYLoR.-For the following sketch Of
the military services of Cen. Taylor, we
%areindebted to the Nashville O~rlhopolitan
Gen. Taylor is @ Kentuckian by birth and
is said TO have been born in 1890, which
would make him Sc years of age. AccoT.
ding to the OrlhopolitaD, he entered the
army in 1903, immt diately after the
attack On the Chesapeak, and has been
in the service of his country from that
time TO the present. Having entered the
army. as a Lieutenant of Infantry, he had
risen to the command of a company, at
the beginning Of the Last War.
For his defence Of Fort Harrison on
the 4th of September, 1912, President
Madison conferred upon him the brevet
rank Major, and he is now the oldest breret
IN the army. In 1882 he became the
Colonel Of the 9th Infantry; with this
regiment he went to Florida in 1885,
where ne was always foremost in
danger.
On the 25th of December, 1886, Col.
Taylor, at the head of a DETACHMENT Of
about so men, composed Of parts Of tho
LIST, 4th and 9Th regiments Of q. 8.
Infantry and soma Missouri volunteers,
met about 700 Indians, under Alligator,
Sam Jones, and Coa.coO.che, on the banks
of the Gske.cho.bee.
This battle was sought by she Indians,
for the day before the engagement Col.
Taylor received a challenge fem Alligator,
telling him where 10 find him, and banter
ing him to come on. Col. Taylor desiring
nothing better, imediately pushed on at a
rapid march to the expected battle. ground,
fearful that the willy Indian might change
bis purpose. The indians had q strong
position in q thick swamp, covered in
front by a small stream, whose quicksands
rendered il almoft impossible, but Col
Taylor pushed through the quicksaBds
and swa NJ U in The face # deadly FIRE
from a concealed foe, driving the Indians
before him.
The action W TO g and severe. The
Indians yielding the ground inch by inch,
and then only at the point of the bayonet.
After three hours Of bIody contest, tho
Indians were routed aud pursued 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, ii was
at tho expence of 1919 killed and wound.
ed--more than one fourth of his whole
Two co!onets, Colonel Thompson
Of the 9Th Infantry, and Colonel Gentry
Of the Missousi Voluntes 81 fell al The
head ofthe troops.-Capt. VaosweariDgen
and Lieuts. Brooke and Carter also fell in
he engagement.
During the whole of the engagement,
Col. Taylor remained on horseback,
from point to point, cheering his
men to the conflict, and exposed to the
indian rife at every moment.
For this battle Mr. Poinselt, Secretary
# War, rendered mcritsd praise TO all
engaged in hiscommunicafion to Congress
The breuet Of Brigodier General was con-.
erred onaCol. Taylor, and he was given
he chief command in Florida; which he
esigDedin 1910, after four or five years
!rduous and indefaiigable service in the
wamps and hammocks Of Florida.
After his retirement from Florida he
assigned to the command Of the lst
Department. of the Army, including the
Of Louisiana Mississippi, de-, with
cad quarters at Fort Jessup. Louisiana.
His position gave him the command of
he Army Of OCCUPATION" but the usage
f the service would have justified the
Government in assigning to that command
ither Of the six general officers of the
Army, whose rank Is higher Than
is.
But 1t may be fairly presumed that the
Ugh character, gallant services and
reat experience of Gen. T. aside from
is geogr phic j position, pointed him out
) the appropriate commander Of IAN army,
hich was to plant our flag upon the bank
: the RIO del Norte.
Gen. Taylor is about Sc years of age:
a man of much general information
an excellent and tried solder; a pr.
INT and skillful commander whose traits
/, character are a wise p-Fecaution in
for the hour of trial, and :
a~rless, reckless courage in battle.