Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1847-04-30

For several years after that he re- |
manned in command of Fort Crawford, at Prai- |
re du Chicn, (buil by him. and kept in awe
the Indian tribes IN That quarter, BY them he
was called The 'Bg Chiei.n
In 1896, as Colonel Of the LIST Infantry, he
went TO Florila-reinluishing furlough 1--WE |
thnk) 10 do so. There he was placed in COM
mand OF separate column, composed OF the
lst, ath and 9Th lnfanlry,-some artillery, and
the Missouri volunteers On the 25th day of
December, 1897. Christmas Day, with the a
bove, named troops, amounting 10 about 500
men, he attacked and defeated at Okee-cho
bee, seven hundred Indians under the COM
mand OF Sam Jones, Alligator, and Coa-chon-
chee The Indians were strongly posted in d
dense hammock, perfectly concealed, and con-
fi,ient of victory. The hammcaK crossed in
front and partially hanked, on either side, the
only approach to Their position. This approach
was perfectly exposed, and led through
swamp covered with saw-grass, in the mire of
which our men sunk 10 the knee at every step.
Gen Taylor Then Colonel was then as now
not to be deferred by difficulties and dangers.
H. attacked the enemy in their position and
after bloody and desperate engagement for
three hours succeeded in driving them before
him with great slaughter, al The point of the
baynet Some idea may be formed Of the Sc
verify the contest from the fact, the Gen
Taylor here lost Colonel Thompson, Col. Cen
Try, Capt. Van Swearengen, Lis. Brooke aud
Carter, and l49 men-more that one-fourlh
his whole force. Major Noel, who was bre-
veled for his gallautry in this action, entered
the swamp with full company and had only
seven men al the close of the battle. This
was the severesi battle, aud The last one in the
Florida war. Gen. Taylor, as is his custom,
was everywher in the thickest Of the fight. For,
this action he received the brevet rank OF Brig
adler General. and the command in Florida
/ Alter four or five Yeas hard service amongst
the swamps and diseases Ol Florida Gen. Tay-
or desired 10 be recalled, and was assigned
the command Of the Isl Military Department,
composed Of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,
Arkansas, &c, with his headquarters at Fort
Jesup. There he remained, waiting quietly
until his country should require his more active
| services.
When ii was determined by the Administra-
lion TO send an army to the frontiers of Texas.
Gen. Taylor was selected 10 command it, He
was 1--WE are informed) requested by the War
Department 10 Withdraw an application for a
iurlough which he had previouily filed, and
which from his uninterrupted services, the cour-
tesy and custom Of The Department could scar
cely have denied him. Ever self-sacriicing
and always scrnpulously attentive TO even the
shadow of duty, he gave up his furlough, as he
had before done, when ordered to Florida, and
entered nnergetically upon the work assigned
him. With his career since that time,-glorl-
ons and dazzling as it is,-the country is fam
liar. Yet few, mparalively-strange as the
statement may at first view appear-appreci.
ale Gen. Taylor as he deserves. The whole
country rings with his fame-the great and
small, rich and poor, delight TO do him honor
scarcely breath Of detraction mingles with
the homage almost universally awarded him
yet. we repeat, but few appreciate him as he
deserves. Caught and blinded by the splend-
our Of his most astonishing victories, how few
consider the labours, the cares, the anxieties
the difficulties, he experienced in preparing il
organizing this expedition, in country unpre
pared by policy and in fact for entering into
campaign. How few think of the obstacles t,
be overcome in the embarkation-upon thu
maTch,-and in the camp. How few consid
er his feelings-his dstress-when in hi
camp he saw his men destitute of the com
monest necessaries, dying, day after day, from
disease and exposure. How few appreciate
his extended views of policy, his great militar.
plans since disclosed to us in his dispatches t
the War Department, written about that time
How few APPRECIATE the readiness and abilit
! with which he accepted and carried out thu
views, half military, half political, of the gov
eminent, from the moment he landed at Cor
! pus Christi throughout the war, but more es
pecally in his march to Matamoros-his con
duct OH the march-and his course whilst a
I Fou Brown. AT the risk of his life, and tina
= thing dcarer than life, his reputation, he sweI
!, we'd not in the slightest degree from the spir
OF the line of policy marked out for him by hi
government. Whu would envy him his fee
3 ingS whilst in the face Of an enemy, who, h
: knew, could make all preparations and strik
S him OF remain friendly, at their own election
and at whatever time aud under whatever Gil
4 cnmslances bes, suited them, while he mus
lay quiet and await the v,2w! Who can su
= ficiently plaise him for his foresight, toTebea
i ance and endurance, when, although his cam
II was almost in state or mutiny, he retranet
from crushing, as he could easily have done
: the small parties which first crossed the Ri
; Grande Had he done 50, he would have ha
i on his hands an endless, veXatious, guerill
7 war, and the glorious battles of the 9th and 81
Z would have never been fought. As much a
J, Gen. Taylor deserves for those battles, ian
who will say he does not deserve greatly y h
f deserves ten-lold more for his conduct prior
Z the time when they were fought. The formt
showed him a General Of SKILL GOODNESS, ga
3 lanlry-the latter proved him not only soldie
2 but mau of energy anil endurance, one WI
y canot only act but pait, a man of stror
g views.
s. To follow Gen. Taylors course through Il
oi Mexican campaign from The 7th of May, 1874
TO the present time would be a work Of supe
IS rogition. What man with American hea
$, and feeling need be reminded of achievement
10 which have done more to give us confdenC
in ourselves, 10 raise us in the estimation Of Il
$ world than anything which has occurred sin,
~ the uuy,au, ueiions dunng ins war OF 1871.
;, Through city and 'village-upon hill and pla
rs from the highest to the lowest, the name
ID Gen. Taylor has become a household word.
as his victories and hls dispatches the theme
L every tongue.
n, Oh the 9Th and 9th of May, were fought Il
battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palm
re Who has forgotten the intense anxiety whit
I'd pervaded the country, when the news arrv,
p that our little Army opposite Matamoas W
he surrounded by three OF four times their nur
n Der of the enemy, and their communicable
K; cut off! Some commenced cavlling at Il
I'd capacity oil the General in command. tt
C.. nidny inquired anxiously as to his character al
ut capacities, the very few (yet were some foun
oil knowing the man and recollecting his servic
: in time past, predicted that all would be do
We that skill and galantry could effect. Even Il
r. most hopeful inquired, the number of ratio
a in his camp. and calculated how long he cou
~ maintain Fort Brown, and when reinforcement
IS could reach him, He however entertained