The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-20
On BOARD THE SOUTH AMERICA,
Sept. 18th, l6l7-ll PM.
Sergeant Har'is-Old Rough and Ready--.anecdotes o


Sergeant Harris-Od Rough and ReGdy--.anscdotes Of
Hm-Ths Mexican War, &c.
At FIVE O'Clock this evening, embarked in the fine
steamboat Rochester Captain Fury. for Albany, my
way to the great agricultural cattle show which
will take place at Saratoga Springs the 18TH 10TH
and 18th inst and having little leisure time cannot
employ myself in q better manner than by retailing
some anecdotes Of General Taylor alias Old Rough and
Ready and some "Reminiscences of the war; which have
been related to by fellow passenger who has re.
Gently returned from Montereya Sergeant Harris late
" Of the 4th infantry, but of the 10th Mr. Harris
had the misfortune to be wounded in the leg the
storniDg Of Monterey from which he is still suffering;
and ia order to promote his recovery no been
dered to Buffalo, to which place he is proceeding
Finding this gallant fellow obligDgly communicative
and full OF anecdotes which he gathered In camp
and In the held many of which, they the old
every ones tongue have procured aud have strained
point to give them early publicity albeit it is no joke
TO write while the boat Is proceeding at the rate of
twenty miles the hour you to take of the
momentary cessation Of tremor occurring between each
stroke Of the engine to write
3Tne character Of General aylor pretty much what
tfs represented He is mild and sfabs, yet firm and
unhinching II soldier under his command thinks no
Is sggreved 1t 10 to the General looks Tor redr IS and
fails in getting it, in case General TAYLOR on in
Quiry sscsrtains it to be we'll founded The old man
as he Is fami rly termed by officers and men is ap.
proachable at all hours He will cit aud talk with the
commonsst soldier In the most sf4bs mann1r and nv
Informant he has often wondered Mt ss;n
him infinitely into the private affairs Of the Ger
man and Irish soldiers under his command, give them
his advice when asked as 1t frequently is, and when
that Is over, read TO them from the newspapers the
cdot Of the army, which have their way into
print IN the northern cties at which he would laugh a
command, officers and men All take pleasure in obey
NJ his commands; and when order is gwen by him
there Is emulation among all who hear it, obey IL
His treatment OF the Mexicans with the sauna
drbsuty. rney according to my Informant at l-ast
acn OF inem a. nave been IN the habit Of serving the
much AS his own soldiers do On a certain occasion ono
Of these poor devils complained to lie Coptana that
volunteer had entered his rancho and appropriated to
his own use some OF his edibles without paying
Tor them Now this was breach of orders which
General Taylor could not overlook 70 he had
the marauder identified by tho Mexican, and
brought before him. The General examined and cross.
examined him. in relation to the offence for Of
two hours at the end Of which time be- arrived Mt tha
conclusion that the volunteer not quite so much to
blame his accuser represented but thought him de-
serving Of some punishment, and what puni b.
ment do you suppose he inflicted upon him? WHY he
directed barrel to he placed in his Cent
ed the volunteer to mount 1t, and kept him standing
there for two hours At the end Of which he gave him
lew words about not doing the like again &c.. and sent
him back to his quarters occssio ally it occurs
that man will want to write letter to HIS friends and
has erals to do Without hesitation he applies
to the od man., and gets oil he PEN ink pa.
per and wafer which comes from his private stock,
which is always at the service Of the soldiers
We have all heard the soubrigue of Rough and Ready
had its origin in the Forids war; in which Gen Tay.
or treated the red skins in the toughest way and in the
readest manner but have not 1t stated when it
first used In this According to Sergeant Harris
Of Resaca de la Palma and Palo Alto the old General
directed the to be brought up before him In review
which was of course, done. While reviewing them to
s'e no doubt. how they looked after their tcrmmags
with the ysow bellies, old soldier who served under
him 10 the Florida proposed ut the of his voice
Three cheers for old Rough and Ready" which were
given with all honors As they had subs ded
The old General every feature in his open
speaking volumes gracefully took of his chapesu aud re-
turned thanks, and added Gentlemen would be hap
by to treat you ALL but have got nothing except some
lilo Grsnde water with which to do II
n one occasion volunteer getting tired OF discipline
thought he would relieve himself OF time at least
and with that view sbsented himself for week without
leave, and made trip to the country As soon as his
absence was known In tho camp, he was proclaimed a
de-ertsr and sent in pursuit Of him. He returned
however before he arrested and tely made
bis to the old General and told him mitigation Of
punishment that he WAS always accustomed 10 open
baekSood life and 1t went hard With him to bs confined
20 much We'll (said the GENERALLY don't do again,
my boy without leave and directed him to 90 to his
quarters: That man. says my informant thinks Gen.
Taylor The best living and he would willingly lose
life itself at his bidding
On Taylors modesty is eqused by his magnanimity.
IL was not known In nil three ks after ~
known TO the General himself that he had received "a
Breyet AMI all the army heard Of the sword presentation
TO him, was through the pepers 80 %
must reluctantly close here