The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-06-13
GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.

| GENENAL LAChAh1 la LOh.
As there is general desire to learn somo
thing of the history, character and qOallf
cations Of General Taylor, who now stand
so cOnsplcuously before the whole country
IS the commander of The army Of occupa
ton, we extract from one Of our exchanges
The following sketch, 1t viii! be found in
leresling:
General Taylor entered the army il
1903, Immediately sfsr The attack on tht
chesapeake, and has been in tbs service 0
his country from that time TO the present
Having entered the army as ieuienan
ni infantry he had risen to the oommsnt
# company at Ihs beginning of the las
war,
For his gallant defence of Fort Harrison
n the 5lh September, 1912, President Mad,
son conferred upon him the brevet rank o
Major, and he is now The oldest brevsl in
Ihe army.
10 1892, he became the Colonel Of the
9Th Infantry, with this regiment he went to
Florida in 1885, where he was always
foremost in danger.
Ga the 25h December, 1885, Col. Tsy.
or, at lhe head Of a detachment of about
500 men, composed Of parts Of the lst, 4h
and 6sh regiments of United States infan
Uy and some Missouri volunteers. met a..
bout 700 Indians under Alligator, Sam Jones
and Coa.con-chee, on the banks, of the
O-ke.cho,bee This battle was sought
by the Indians, for tie day before the en-
gagement, Col. Taylor received challenge
from Alligator. telling him where to fnd
bin, and banering him TO come 0n-Col
Taylor desired noting better and immediate.
ly pushed o. a, a rapid march 10 the exs
pected battle ground, fearful that the wilv
Indian might change his purpose. The ln-
dams had strong position in thick swamp
covered in 'front.' by small stream, whose
quicksands rendered it almost impossible
bal he pushed through the quirLspnds an
swamps in The face Of deadly fire fran
= concealed foe, driving The Indians beior,
him.
rhc action was long and severe. Tho
Indians yielding the ground inch by inch,
and then only at the point Of The bayonet
After three hours Of bloody contest, the 10,
dans were routed and pursued with grea
slaughter, until night This was The las
stand the Indians ever made, in large
body, and the only instance in which they
voluntarily gave battle, Though Col. Tay.
or won the day, il was at the expense 0l
80 killed and wounded more than oneI
fourth of his whole force. Two colonies
(COIOrsl Thompson Of The 9th infantry, end
EoloneO Genirv Of the Missouri volunteers, II
reII al the head Of Ihe troops, Capt FanI
Swearj0gen and Lieuts, Brooke and Carter
also fell in The engagement,
During the whole of the engagement,
Col. Taylor remained on horseback, pass
ing from point to point. cheering his men
to Ihs conflict and exposed 10 Ihe Iadian
rife at every moment.
For Ibis battle, Mr. POnsell, Secretary
Of War, rendered merired praise to all en-
gagged, in his communication to Congress.
The brev.t of Brjgsdrer General vas con-
fered or Col Taylor, and he was given
the chief csmmand in Florida, which he
resigned IN 1910, after four or five years
arduols and interchangeable service in the
'wamps and hammocks Of Florida
After bis retirement from Florida, he was
assigned 10 The command Of The lst depart
aenI Of the army, including the States oil
louisiana, MI'sissiPpb Alabama, &c. with
,s bead-guarters at Fort Jessup, Louis
ana.
His position gave him the command oil
he army Of occupation but The usage OF
he service would hare justified the
Government in assigning to that commend
'i'hsf Of the six general officers Of the
'eguIar army. whose rank is higher than
MS.
But ii may be fairly pretumed that the
high character, gallant services and great
experience Of Gen. Taylor, aside from his
geographical position, pointed him out as
The appropriate commander of an army,
which was to plant our flag upon the banks
Of the Rio del None.