Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-04


to restrain the Indians. by the establish
ment Of military post in the heart o.
their country, and to arrest the descen,
of the British forces on ST. Louis. The
General closes his orders TO the command
ing officer thus-"Should this command
succeed in effecting all the objects fol
which il is intended, the beneficial con
sequences TO our country will be great.
On the other hand, should this movemen,
be stamped with disaster no longer car
even hope be INDUCED for the frontiers
maintaining their ground. But from the
officer who commands, and those com.
manded by him, the most fattering expec.
tations may be INDUCED" Thus was the
fate Of the frontier a second time staked on
the fortunes of the defender of Fort Har-
rison.
"In pursuance of his orders, Mai. Tay.
lor proceeded to the mouth of Rock river
against rapid current, and amid the dan.
ger of lurking enemy, five hundred miles
above the highest settlement or post on
the Mississippi. Contrary to his expecta.
tons and those of the General, he found a
detachment of British troops, we'll supplied
with artillery, and an immense body of
Indians in possession of the place. After
skrmishing with the Indians, and being
sometime cannonaded by the British with.
out possibility Of returning their fire with
effect, he dropped down to the rapid Des.
moline, and having landed his forces, Sc
cured his boats and fortified his camp, and
commenced fort so situated as TO com.
mand the Mississippi and the mouth of the
Desmoine. The erection of this fort in
the face of the enemy and at so great a
distance from the source of supply, was
attended with peculiar hazard. and almost
incredible privation, and toll. But the
Judgment, resolution. and skill of the com.
mander, seconded by his animating exam.
pie, surmounted every obstacle, enabled
him to complete his important labor and to
realize the most sanguine expectations of
his superior.
"The death of Gen. Howard in October.
called Major Taylor to ST. Louis. In No.
vember he accompanied Col. Russell sew
eral hundred miles up the Missouri, TO Sc.
cure small settlement on that river, left
much exposed to Indian depredations In
December he was again ordered TO Vim.
cennes, to take command Of the troops in
Indiana, where he remained until the con.
c!usion Of peace. "When we look back"
continues the biographer, ION the many
important services rendered by this officer
to his country during the late war; when
we reflect on the peculiar peris and hard.
ships to which those services must have
perpetually exposed him, performing as he
did, in one year, marches in the territories
of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, amounting
to more than 5000 miles, and find no solitary
instance in which the extent of his achiev.
ments did not exceed the scanty measure
of his means; we cannot restrain the ex.
preston of our regret at his retention from
those glorious fields of civilized combat,
where his genius might have borne him to
nobler enterprise, and his valor displayed
Itself on more conspicuous theatre"
This was written nearly thirty years ago.
What is said of the disproportion be.
tween his means and achievements is far
more slrikingly true Of the great deeds
which have since immortalized his name.
Mr.. BIS interesting narrative thus con.
cludes:
with frame fitted for the most active
and hardy enterprise, an ardent spirit, a
sanguine temper, and an invincible cour.
age, gifted with rapid discernment, dis
eliminating judgment, and deep knowl-
edge of mankind, and possessing heart
susceptible Of the most generous impulses
of humanity, we regard Major Taylor as
an officer of peculiar promise, and hazard,
we think, but little in the prediction that,
in the event of war at no distant period,
between the United States and England
or Spain, riding on the tide of military
glory, he will find his true level at the head
of the army"
COL. FREMONT'S TRIAL.
The following isa full synopsis Of the
charges and specifications in the case Of 1t.
Col. FREMONT: LIST charge-Mutiny. Spe.
cification |: tina, Col. Fremont having re.
ceived an order from Gen. Kearney to make
no change, &C., in the battalion comman.
ded by him, without the sanction or appro.