Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-06-05
GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR.

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GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR.
Alta period like the present, when every
thing connected with our military operations
on the Rio Grande is sought after with the
greatest eagerness by the reading community,
we think the following sketch of the life of
our gallant commander. will be interesting 10
most of our readers. We find it IN the Nash
Vile Or,hopolitan, and believe TO be correct.
Well may the people of the United States re-
y with confidence upon the bravery and skill
with which their homes and their fresides
Will be defended, when they have such men
as Gen. Taylor at the head of their army.
Recent events have thrown this gentleman
SO prominently before The public, that we feel
disposed to crafty the strong desire expressed
by many, by giving some Of the incidents Of
his life.
Gen. Taylor entered the army in 1903, inn
mediately after the attack on the Chesapeake,
and has been in the service Of his country,
from that time to the present. Having enter
ed the army as a lieutenant Of infantry, he had
risen to the command of company, al the be-
ginning of the last ,Uur.
For his gallant defence of Fart Harrison, on
The 9Th September, 1912, President Madison
conferred on him the brevet rank OF Major, and
| he is now the Oldest breret in the army.
In 1882, he became the Colonel of the 9Th
! Infantry with this regimenth he went to Flor.
ida in 1886, where he was always foremost in
danger.
On the 18th December, 1896, Col. Taylor,
at the head Of detachment Of about 500 men,
composed of parts Of the lst, lth and 9th regl.
ments of y. 5. Infantry, and some Missouri
volunteers, met about 200 Indians, under AL
Iiqator. Sam Jones and Coa-coo-chee, on the
banks of the Oke-cho-bee. This battle was
sought BY the Indians, for the day before the
Engagement, Col. lay Tor received challenge
from Alligator, telling him where to find him,
aud bantering h?n to come on. Col. Tay lor,
desiring nothing better, Immediately pushed
on, at rapid march, to the expected battle
ground, fearful that the willy Indian might
change his purpose.
The Indians had strong position in 4 thick
swamp, covered in front by small stream
whose quick sands rendered it almost impas.
sibIe, but Col. Taylor pushed through the
quicksands and swatnps in the face of deadly
fire from a concealed toe, driving the Indians
before him. The action was long and severe
The Indians yielding the ground inch by inch
and then only at the point ofthe bayonet. AZ
ter three hours Of bloody contest, the Indian:
were routed and pursued with great slaug HER
until night. This is the last stand the Indian;
ever made in large body, and the only in
stance in which they, voluntarially gave bat
tle.-T'horgh Col. Taylor Won the day, it wa
at the expense Of l39 killed and wounded
: more than one-fourth of his whole force. Twt
r. 1t, 6tI, If,
and Col. Gentry of the Missouri Volunteers,
fell at the head of the troops. Capt. Val
Swearingen, and Lieuts. Brooke and Carter
/ also fell in the engagement.
During the whole of the engagement, Col
, Taylor remained on horseback, passing from
point to point, cheering his men to the conflict
, and exposed to the Indian rifle at every mo
" ment.
5 For this battle, Mr.. Ponsett, Secretary O
War, rendered merited praise to all engaged
in his communication to Congress. The brt
retof BrigGdier GeneraLwas conferred on Col
Taylor, and he was given the chef comman
v in Florida, which he resigned in 1910, afte
Il four or five years arduous and indefatlgabI
:. service in the swamps and hammocks of Flor
- da.
After his retirement from Florida, he wa
u assigned to the command of the first Depar
re ment OF the Army, including the States of Lon
s. siana, Mississippi, Alabama, &c., with hi
ID headquarters at Fort Jesup, Louisiana.
!. His position gave him the command of tt
=. "Army of Occupation" but the usage of II
Oh service would have justified the Governme
e. in assigning to that command, either of IL
OF six general officers of the Regular Arm,
n. whose rank is higher than his.
:. But it may be fairly presumed that the big
10 character, gallant services and great experen,
no CT Gen. r.. aside from his geographical pos
8, ton pointed him out as The appropriate cor
e. mander of an army. which was to plant our fl
upon the banks of The Rio del Norte. e
nc Gen. Taylor is about Sc years of ages
ss imam of much general Acknowledgement an e
u ceilent and tried soldier: prudsm and ski
% FIJI commander whose trials ofcharacter are,
. WISE precautien in providiag for the hour
= tfiaI.ahd fearless, reckless coufsge in battI
Sc He is Kentuckian by birth, and all tn
word implies. Heis an American ut hea'
:, and stamped with all the elements Of .Iler
fa by nature. ss=a15~sss
IN Under this commander the flag of the Jul
ia will receive no dishonor on the banks of 4
Rio Grande.