Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1847-04-30
from The Baltimore Patriot.
WHO is GENERAL TAYLOR /?

Ho Is Gen.. ldVlOTs snHntly asked SONIC !
which, il was ascertained that that officer had
been selected by the Administration to take
command of the expedition about being organ |
ized 10 defend Texas against Mexican invasion.
Who is Gen. Taylor! anxiously asked thou
sands, when The news arrived that the American
army under his command, was threatened with
destruction by an overwhelming force oil Mexi-
cans on the Rio Grande.
Who is Gen, Taylor? wonderingly and adj
miringly exclaimed millions, not only in this
country, but in Europe, when the glad lidings
were received that with consummate skill and
galanlry, he had exlricated his little army from
Their perous position, and driven the enemy
beyond the Rio Grande.
The slormng Of Monterey, esteemed almost
n miracle, has paled before The brilliant victory
achieved at Bnena Vista, and the anxiety 10
have answered the question at the head oil this
article, has at once thousand; fold increased,
and been, 10 some extent, gratihed. Much in
formation has been elected, and yet not enough
10 satisfy the public mind One informs US that
he is a gentleman of wealth and family, who
prefers the " chances and changes Of military
lise to an existence of idleHess and ease. Anoth-
er, that he is a modest, retirng, unostentatious,
and uieritorious old officer who has seen more
service, and had more hard knocks, than any
oil our military men now living. Others have
raked from the ashes of the past, remeu-
brance, faint and indistnci, of services render
al by him, in days past, at Fort Harrison,-in
the Black Hawk war,-and at Oke-cho-bee.-
The army and the public know him as sold
Gtck, - Old Rough and Ready,'--the Hero of
Pdlu Alto Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, and
Bueua Vista, - One Of the Great CAPTAINS OF
the Age ,'-'Ole with whose name defeat was
rtver coupled, --one who equally well con-
celves his campaigns and battles, executes them
WHEN conceived, and describes them when ex-
culrd. The euemies Of the country know him
US The man who never surrenders.'
Cen Zachary Taylor was born in Orange
county, Virginia, in the year 1890.
g lie comes from an ancient Virginia family,
V Ich emgrated from England with Other
friends of liberty and settled I'M the eastern part
oI Virginia, near two centuries ago-a family
" hirh has since been greatly distinguished in
lis branches' which is connected with or re.
hated TO most Of the first families of Virginia
the Taylors, Madisons Lees, Barbours, Pendle
tons, Conways, Ttaicros, and numbering a
rnnng their ornaments such names as James
Madison, Richard Henry Lee, John Taylor OIL
Caroline, Judge Pendleton, James and Philip
Barbour, Gen Gaines, Gen. Hunt Of Texas, &c
His father, Richard Taylor, went to Kentucky
within few months after Boone explored the
country and then alone and on foot, proceeded
through ths then wilderness, now constituting
The States of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louis.
Una, 10 New Orleans, whence he returned by
ga 10 Virginia, Appointed Colonel in The
Continental army, he served with great credit
10 himself through the Revolutionary war, ant
was engaged in many Of the most celebrated
Ion al Trenton on Christmas day, 1776, l.
1870, Colonel Taylor, together, with Col
Croahau and Bulht, removed to Kentucky
Ztchay being al that time only few month
old, That State was at ihlt time the huntn!
g,ound of the Iudians-their battle field among
themselves OF their constant aud blood
excursions against the white settlers. Hencs
is called Kentucky. meaning in their languag
The dark and bloody ground.' In the battle
with the Indiana, Col. Taylor greatly dstir
auishel himself and Governor Grayson, Q
Kentucky. is known to have said if / wer
going to attack the gates ofh-l, would wan
Col. Dick to lead the stolmers.' When peac
was established Col. Taylor filled many homo
able and responsible stations He was one
the frances Of the Constitution of Kentuky; re
presented jefferson county and Louisville eli
for many wears in both branches OF the Stat
Legislature, and was a member of the electol
al colleges which voted for Jefferson, Madison
Monroe, and Clay. Among the politicians
Kentucky, he is remembered as one oil the ie'
men OF The Old Court party, who could !
Court and New Court question"
Col Taylor died OIL his plantation near Lou
vle leaving three SONS, (his second and four
sons George and William, having died prey
ously,) Hancock, Zachary and Joseph, al
three daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Emily
Gen. james Taylor, of Newport. (Ky.,l
not son OF Col. Taylor, (and brother OF FAC
sry,) as has been enormously stated, but
cO,Isin.
Hancock, Elizabeth, and Emily, have die
since their father, so that Joseph and Sarah a
the only brother and sister of Zachary now Ii
ing The dcscende Is of the deceased mer
Ter oil the family, wi two exc t on.s live
aud near Louisville, KY.
Amongst the dangers and difficulties OF Il
dian warfare, and the hardshps and privatol
'of frontier life, was Gen. Taylor reared al
educated AS boy and as young man,
was noted for a manly characler--his blur
sturdy aightforwardness-h firmness
purpose-his thoughtfulness-hs foresight al
decison-his modest and retiring demeanou
Many family and neighborhood anecdotes a
told Of his feais OF haTdihood and adventures
Night after night was he in the habit oil sc
ing the house barricaded, and the arms pT
pared 10 repel any attack that might be ma
before the morning dawned, Scarcely we
passed that there was not an alarm, or an a
tual ncurson of Indians among the settlement
Even OH his way to school was he in danger
the lomahawk and scalpinS knife.
On one occasion, some of his school mat
were murdered and scalped by the Indian
within hundred yards OF the point where
and his brothers had separated from them.
Who can say what effect boyhood so pi
set had I'll the formation OF the chaLasteI viii
has so wonderfully displayed Itself IN MeNc
Amongst his intmates at school, were
brother, Col JOS P. Taylor, who distinguish
himself at the Battle of Okee-chU-bee, and
now the control of the commissary Dspa
.ments in Mexico, and Col. George CGoghi
subsequently the Hero of Saudusky.'
In 1903, after the affair of the Chesapea
ard Leopard, the subject Of this sketch appli
for commission in the Army, and was Q
pointed by Mr.. jefferson, then President of I
United States, LIST Lieutenant in the 18th
fantry. His career from that Time to the brea
ing out of hostilities between this country a
England, has but little interest for the publ
Attending 10 the routine of his duties, he
prepared himself for the more active service
his profession, when opportunity should offe
AT the opening of the campaign in 1912,
find him a Captain in command of Fort H
rison, a rude and weak stockade on the "
BASH with small force not exceeding fl
taen, most Of whom were, like himself, {