Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-07-22
From ihe Virginia Free Press

vi blsNs Il n LUZ.
The victorious achievements Of Pdlo Alto.
aud Rcsdca de la Palma, where The l.. :. Tor
ccs displayed as much galantry and noble da-
rnS, as Was ever exhibited in ancient OF mod-
ern warfare, has called up early associations
h the mud oi the writer, and thrown il back
upon sCcDes whcTethe Hero of the Rio Griude
flashed his maiden sword aud curled the
hrd ldurcls that cntwine his brow.
II Was, think, M the Spring of 1911. that
the startling news reached ST. Louis of the
capture OF Pnire tie Chen, Ga fort on the up.
per Mississippi riyer) aud OF the rcpuse of
Capt. Campbell, who had gone up in boat,
with lis company Of u. S. troops for ihe re-.
hcl OF the place. This gave tic British aud
indians command OF The upper Mississippi.
aud lc1rs were entertained Tor the safety of
81. Louis. Fort Madison bad been c,acua-
ted; Chicago, GrrenbIy, Prairie du Chen, and
The whole ct The upper country was in pos
3 ssion oi the enemy, and nothing then, appa-
rntly, could oppose theiIdt scent OF the river.
and the fall OF ST. Louis.
But there was gallant spirit on our west
ern bordcrs--a brave soldier, who had been
schooled under WILLIAM HENRY HARRIsov.
Under That great and good man he had FIRST
uilshcathed ms sword, and distinguished him
sell ~ ms warfare with subtle loc-Maior
LAcuARIAn TAYLOR had exhibited such in
domlIable courage, such Coolness in battle.
when his Tort was on fire, aud surrounded by
lndiaus--suClI resources within himself when
even hope failed almost within every other
breast-tllat me was ordered 10 the projections
oi that exposed frontier, add To stay the pro-
gress oil the invading enemy Nobly did he
achieve The undertaking calamity did lac re-.
sia' ana stop their onward march, aud relieve
Use country ifom tie apprehendcd danger.
WIN one company OF regulars. and az many
volunteers from the territories ul llliuois a,1
Missouri as he could hastily assemble al Poyt,
age de Sioux, he commenced the ascent of the
Mississippi river in "krel bOats"-a craft NOT
dissimiar 10 the largest class boats ON Inc
chesapeake and Ohio canal. They were bal
lci-proul hoWcycr-thc weather boarding be-.
ing hard seasoned oak plank one aud a half
inches thick-along thc whole length OF thc
boat lWu rows oi port holes about two inch
e. Nlo'Tc and three feet apart, Opened on each
S'''' "hu 81 ihc stern and bow decks. si.
l"uhV swivel guns were mounted. having
lhrre emnitsHcs, ono on each side. aud oup
in the end. We were eight bs,ts ltns.ti,'.,
containing from 100 to 80 men each. and pro.
pciied by oars, ~ enty eve on each side. inns
sloWlt aud trdlOusly crawling up stream. ,yc
astc Guided the river, without onc1unteriug AN
enemy until wc arrived nearly opposite ROCK
H''I' 'VheNtftDr stream Cluptllug Ou fiin
eusicm side OF Che Mississippi iierc we.
iound a NUMEROUS force of lndidllsaud British
cntamped. Ilc vcy thing we hsd been look
ing after, sud which gave our from, N, mud,
delights aud here, Ou tlc ensuing murYiur
hc gallant Taylor determined TO Give them
utIe. We landed therefore about dark at,
siHull island, litilc above Csc mouth of Rork
liver aud lying close tO ile western side oi
Doe Mississippi. ou boats moorad Coniguou.
to cdch other along thr shuic. bow Co stern
and scutlucls placed around in thc arch of Il
circle. from the first Co thc last boat. and
cathing about CITY yards into the woods
About daylight or jest before. 81, ths Como. |
Ial OF tlir quart by direction OF the SERGEANT
aHs looking at lus watch. to src 81 it was pp, 1
lime iorrlIc'c ibcpod lui stopping lor fbsd
purpo~c with llie watch 80 his hand. to thcl
light cia snail camp iIe. Doc Ua,h Of anle