The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-08
Vol. Ii. No. 81, Whole No. ST.


lean army. Major Graham carried the rec
bukc of the War Dcparlment-composed in
the midst of peace, safety, and luxury, in the
White House--to the brave old soldier, who
wus lighting amid the mountains of Mexico,
Graham says he watched the old mans coun-
tenance as he read the letter, but no sign of
angry emotion was visible. After ne had read
it, he said he was sorry that his conduct had
not met the appreciation of the President
and that the Government condemned his
course.
'"Generol," said Graham, fthe people do
not condemn you"
81 could haye'tuken Monterey" said Gen.
Taylor ''with high and bloody hand; bur il
would have cost me the lives oftive hundred
more of my men, | did not care about the
MeXicans-I could heat them at any time
what wanted was the town The Presir
dent does not understand the matter, or the
reasons for my conducr. ] had my cannon
and supplies to bring up, my lines Of commu-
nicaton TO establish and secure. While !
affected TO grant them time, was really Sc
curing it for myself"
This is the only objection continued Mr.
C.) that / have ever heard brought against
General Taylor; and public opinion and mill
itary critics have long since decided thai in
his favor,
A Voice. know another objection-ho
never knows when he's whipped. (4augl7
ter.)
Mr. Cri,tendcn-I think you are mistaken
there, too, my friend. Con. Taylor hns never
been near whipped yet-(appIause(-and !
do not think he will live long enough ever to
he whipped. Long and continued ap4
plausc.)
To command nm army often thousand
men, in n foreign country, scattered over IL
large spnce, requires the talents ola great g6=
MUS General Taylor has so commanded,
and we may fairly assume thar me has the tale
cnts necessary for the Office ofPresideut,
Gen. Gibson, of Washington city told me
n circumstance relating TO General Taylor,
which is we'll worth repeating. You all know
Gen. Gibson-or at least, you all onght ia
know him. A Pennsylvania, he is not only
IA. ,ic"nr to Pennsylvania, but to the Union,
| have passed thigh times in Washington
city, when almost every body 2 integrity WINS
questioned; hut in all times, General C%hsons
name stood for honesty and for truth. Old
| General Gibson was never suspected. Well,
Gen. Gibson said to me, speaking Of General
Taylor; 81 know him wel we were in the
same regiment;I was one'grade above him,3o
we kept on in the service together, the pro-
motions of the one keeping pace with the
promotions of the other. We have served
TO gether on nineteen courts martia and wa
always selectedTnylor to draw up the opinion
The Court and the report the proceedings
| because he was the best writer among U.S."
by II rare combination, Gen. Taylor is not
only conqueror in war,but he is a friend Of
peace. Said he, If | could restore pcacl 10
my coutry, and put an end to this bloody war,
| would return with pride nndgpeasure Ito
my farm, and spend the balance ofmy life in
retirement" A warrior--a hero in the hpuE
of battle-vwhen the battle is over, the lion
becomes lamb (Applause.) Not only in A.
mercu, but in Europe, also has he raised our
fame as II warlike and martial people yet he
has never ceased TO be the friend of peace,
His soldiers love him-every one of them.
and the military critic, in looking over all his
campaigns, cannot point to single error of
commission or omission,
In all his career, so far as am informed,
and us | believe, General Taylor never put
his name to n death warrant of soldier for
execution under military law. He rules bis
army by affection,and not through fear How
great must be the satisfaction of the brave
old man when he rehects-"My country's ens
emies fell before me; but my hand is freq
| from the blood of any of my fellow citizens"
A remarkable instance of his reluctance 70
sentence men TO death, is related of him as
occurring after the battle of Buena Vista,
After the battle, two deseriers were brought
before him, who had been taken fighting az
mong the MeXcans. One would suppose
that here was all instance in WHICH he HoulA
| ne expected TO give way 10 ieeUuSS Oh yels
geance. Between five and six hundred of
his soldiers lay bleeding on the earth-but
the battle was over--ihere had been blood.
shed enough. The feelings battle were O.
yer and those of humanity returned. If acc
knowedged as deserters these men must ba
put 10 death but Taylor would not do If,
mo" said he, "these fellows were not my
solliers-they nevertbelopged to my army.
drive them back again to the MeXicarsto thG
tune fthe Rogue's March," Laughter anq
appause.l
"No man eyer questioned Gen. Tayior'l
honesty" said Gen, Twiggs TO me shori
time since, "there's not man in the wori9
who can look five minutes in Taylor's face
and then dare to make dishonest PROPOSE.
ton to him." TApplnuse.1
A private soldier in the American army
would refer difficulty with the highest Ng.
Iior General in it to Gen, Taylor, with the Ger.
iaintv that he would receive from old lack.
the most absolute justice.
After few words descriptive of the BATHS
of Buena Vista, Mr. Crittendcn proceeded to
say--I mean no disparagement to any olhek
General in the army-and therg are spcb
who are great men-but do not believe Tiers
is another officer in the army who would
have fought that battle:- Applause. or il
there is one who would have fought il, thera
is not one who could have gained it. Loud
and continued npplause.]
And unw, since he has returned home, ]
hear nothing of him. except his going up and
i down along the river, visiting bis neighbors,
Why, there can't he wedding in the neigh
horhood, without his being present. laugh,
teri They follow him like children. Therg
heis, talking 10 the farmers, for he is as gooG