The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-09-07
not excelled in the military history of the

not excelled in the military history of the
world.
Zachary Taylor was born in Orange
county, Virginia, in the year 1890. His
father was man for the time in which
/ he lived,-a Colonel with rank won in
the State service, man of great natural
courage sud great good sense, like the
son trough" in his exterior. but withal
''ready" for every office OF service and of
kindness. Col. Richard Taylor was one
Of the Pioneers TO ''the dark and bloody
ground" and resided near Lexington un-
| Ill the wear of his death in 1926. The
old man had participated In many rem
contres with the Savages of the West,
and it was in the rude school Of almost
Aboriginal life that Taylor received his
early education.
Our present hero, with his brothers, re-
ceiyed their early training from a private
tutor, New England man, still living,
and who bears cheerful testimony both to
the aptitude and integrity of his pupil
Patient to study, quick to learn, slowly
but surely, the youth pushed his way 10
manhood. Boldness, fortitude and perse-
yereuce were early shown and were
doubtless the ground work of that mark
ed em:nence of character since reached by
the soldier and the General.
The army was his chosen profession,
for in imagination s.he had been a soldier
in his YOUTH" and longed
''Tot follow to the field some warlike Lord"
In 1908, melted partly by the war spirit
prevailing In consequence of the audaci-
Gus attack of the Leopard upon the Che
sapeake, he sought cennexion with that
army, in which he has now seen nearly
forty years of service. The stars and
stripes were lowered to the cross of st.
George, in consequence of cowardlv at
tack of we'll armed force in time of
peace, upon a vessel wholly unprepared
for an engagement. The people were in
dignant and mortified, and Taylor, then
capable of self-judgment, participated
largely in the prevailing spirit to redress
outrage received. Entering the Army as
Lieutenant of the 9Th Regiment of In
fantry, Taylor grew rapidly in public ia
vor and in a knowledge of the profession
of arms. The wide and wild West be-
came the scene of his exploits, and in
1912, his correct department and capabil
ity for service brought him orders to COM
mand fort Harrison, in Indiana. He was
breveted here as Major for his success in
fierce battle with the Indians,-and it
was one Of the most brilliant defences of
the Indian war. 1t was Madison who
conferred this brevet. and General Hop
kins, who wrote to Governor Shelby that
Captain Zachary Taylor had raised for
himself character not be affected by his
eulogy." In 1892 our hero was raised
to the rank of Colonel and his next scene
of public labor after the war Of 1912, was
in Florida, where several battles were to
be fought, great privations endured, and
wIthal, few laurels TO be won. But
though, like all high honors, they were
few, Taylor DID win them, and from the
swamps OF Florida, where the very air
was a pestilencc, and from the midst OF
armed men, who, like the followers Of
Rhoderic Dhu, sprung forth from every
copse and glen around him. For the
fame and health of the soldier, Florida
was worse than Mexico; but Taylor mo-
we'd among the hammocks and everglades
of the peninsula with unconcern, save FOR
the mission upon which he was engaged.
Incredible hardship was the necessary
consequence of every forward movement,
and fighting "Alligator" and "Sam Jones"
was but fighting "Tecunseh" and "Olli-
wachica" over again. The battle Of Lake
Okee Chohe was one of the most fierce
and bloody our troops have ever encoun-
tered. Twenty-six were killed and liz
wounded. For six weeks small body
of troops had penetrated through an un-
known land, and in pursuit of an enemy
more terrible in their modes OF battle than
even the most refined cruelties Of clvlllz-
cd or Christian warfare.
Colonel Taylor was comp,emented
here with the rank of Brigadier General
by Brevet, and after securing peace, and
serving in Florida until 1910, he was
transferred to the command of the South
West.
His exploits for two years past, have
been made familiar by recent events. He
was at Corpus Christi from August ls45,
10 March 1916, whence under orders |
from General Government, he commen-
ced the lead OF the Army, designed by
the Administration for the invasion OF
Mexican territory. Leaving the borders
Of the Nueces on the llth, he reached
the Colorado on the 2lst, where he re-
ceived notification that his march would
be resisted. Nothing daunted, the Rubi-
con was passed ON the 22d, and war be-
came inevitable. General Taylor was at
d.. IL Sho E,o