Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-08-12
General Taylor and his State
Carriage.

The extreme simplicity Of General Taylor's
habits has become proverbial; but like all hn-
man beings, if the Genefal was not proud of
his dress, or of the pride and prompt of "glo-
rious war; he had his weakness, and it dis
played itself In bis state carriage. This mag
nifcent vehicle was one Of the last purchases
the old soldier made ere he started for the war.
Ii was none of those high backed, four horse,
solt-cushloned, coat. ofarms paneled affairs,
such as Martin Van Buren, imported from Eng
land TO ride in when he was President, but it
was, in vulgar parlance, a Jersey wagon, and one
of the uglIesl and mos. inconvenent ones ever
sen, out of that sand soil State. We have no
doubs that this same wagon was KEEP. on hand
IN some litle country town until II was discov
cred that no one " ould buy it, and il was sent
out TO New Orleans 10 sell. Now, Old Zac
looked al il, and i! struck his fancy as one Of
the most luxurlant, strong axlelreed, hard-seat-
ed, low backed, firsI-ra,e carriages. that ever
was made so he bought it, shipped it, and in
due time landed it at Corpus Christi. |, was
evidently Gen. Taylor's pet he KEEP, i, standing
rgh, up beside Ringgod and Duncan's batter
les, as If he would have those sons of thunder
blaze away at anybody that did mol say it was
one Of the greatest carriages that ever was made.
The old Gene.al was never seen in it, By
many il was supposed that the top was so low
that such thing was impossible. When he
started 10 Matamoras from Corpus Christi, it
was made the carrier of the old Generals blue
chest, and the celebrated over-coat that GO,
wounded at Buena Vista After the battles OF
the S,h and 9th, change for TWO hours and
fifty seven minutes came over his fselngs-he
had read, no doubt of :" General Scouts splen-
did military carriag ge"-and old Zack came 10
The conclusion that he must put on little gram
deur, so he 60, in his military carriage, and
started from Point Isabel 10 Matamoras, 10 COM
pee his victories by driving Aris,a from that
town. No record was ever made when he re-
sumed his old grey, but long before half the
distance was completed, sick soldier was in
The Generals place, and he himself was again
on horseback Nothing of an exciting nature
occurred to the old Jarsey carryall' for long
lime. 1t was duly dragged about and station
ed-where It's owner could see it taken care OF
and honored. 1t wen, up TO Monterey, and fl
nally down to Victoria. When the General
was ordered back from his march to Vera Cruz,
The old wagon top looked exceedingly surly,
and its wheels screeched awfully. On this
Trip i, met with sad disaster. A drunken
teamser run his baggage wagon into it, tore its
hind wheels off, and otherwise laid it in ruins
| Now, The old General had philosophy enough
10 pocket. without repining, the orders that were
SO humilatng TO his pride but he had not phi
losophy enough TO pocket the destruction Of
his state carriage, so he rode up 10 the unfor.
tuna,e teamster, and catching him by both ears
he shook the fellows head violently, exclam
ing " wha, did you do that for brought Ghe
wagon) all the way from Corpus Christi" The
excitement soon passed away, the old Genera
cast a lingering glance at the ruins Of his pet
and left i. TO decay beside the road.-N. 0. Ma
ti0nal