Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-02-11
'MIfsaaIla

t GENERAL TAYLoR's LETrER.-The valas
which the brave and humane General TAYLoE
sets upon the lives of his soldiers, as manifest
ed in his unwillingness to throw away fifty Of
a huAdred OF them, unnecessarily, 10 storm
ing Monterey, has suggested friend {
characteristic anecdoie Of General JACKSON
strongly eviacing the same trait in that stern
valiant and unquestionaby sagaclous com
mander, TO whose memory the circumstance
does such honor that we are happy 10 be able
! TO present 1t TO the public, on the high author
ity Of the person to whom Jackson made the
statement.-.N T. Jour. Gem.
| Our informant arrived al New Orleans on
the fourth of February, 1915, (about four
weeks after the crowning victory over the
Brtish,) and being an intimate personal friend
of JACKSON, proceeded 10 the Generals head
quarters, and passed nearly The whole night in
conversation with HIM, upon the incidents oil
the recent great battle. After uarranng many
Of the circumstances of the conflict, Gen. JACK
SON said--'I suppose you have wondered why
permitted the British army to retire from the field
and make good their retreat, without attempting
10 hinder or modest them, after they had been SO
thoroughly crippled in their attack on our
lines" His friend replled--''No, General,
did not; because | knew YOU would not have
taken the course you did without good rea-
sons" YES said JACKSON, II had good
reasons for my conduct. | knew that my
brave volunteers were inyncible, in their pa
riotsm, and that, behind those breast works,
they could defend themselves against the best
troops in the world But | knew that in an
open field their want Of military experience
and discipline would expose them to terrible
loss from the FIRE of the we'll drilled veterans
Of the British army. still capable Of opposing
several complete battalions to me. Ii is true,
could have routed them and cut off their re-
treat, and destroyed or captured their whole
force but il would have been at the sacrifice
of hundreds Of my best yolunteers--an I'M
necessary sacrifice, because my success was
complete without il. | had done all that was
to be desired. And then--to think Of throw
ing away the lives of my brave volunteers
SAID the old General, indignant at the idea Of
such wanton sacrlhce-"my brave Tennes-
see volunteers! many Of whom, mere boys Of
Is and 70, were broughtio me, at Nashville,
from the country by their parents. in some
instances by their widowed mothers, who
said to me. Here General, is our only som
or, as sometimes, when one parent brought
three or four boys to me, Here are our sons
Take them, aud make them fight for their
couniry Make good soldiers ofthemi But
don't expose them unnecessarily Take
good care of them, Genera!p Why" con
tinued JAcKsoS. ''by the-----l wouldn'tgiys
the lives Of twenty Of my brave Tennessee
volunteers for the whole British Army"
a powerful expression Of that generous HUI
mainly which so well becomes true courage,
and of just appreciation Of the value OF the
life Of an American citizen. And, much as
we regret 10 repeat, the characteristic proianl-
" which accompanied Il, we are reminded,
BY its associations, Of that oath OF whicL
SrERSE says, 1.-The ascending spirit who few
up TO Heavens ehancerJ with IT. bushed as
he gave it in; and the recording angel as be
wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word,
and botted 1t out FoREvERW
We rejoice to know that TAYLOR, with all
Of JAoKsoN's successful courage, has IN no
particular less than JAcKsos's humane horror
Of the waste Of his gallant soldiers lives, for
the empty glory Of the determination OF con-
quered and retreaIing foe.