The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-13
Stock Exchange.


ing pleasant and graphic "pen-and-in ink sketch"
OF General Taylor, is from the able pen Of the
Rev DIR: Wightman, senior editor of the South
ern Christian 1dvOcate :-Daybreak overlook us
just below Baton Rouge, on the left bank of the
river. We have passed during the night that
most picturesque portion of the river called the
coast. The alluvial margin on both sides of the
river spreads in breadth from four hundred wards
to mile and half. 1t is the garden spot of
the United States. Sugar plantations touch each
other, and elegant residences stretch out as far
as the eye can follow the bold curves of the river
After the run of $50 miles, the Mississippi looks
not whit narrower than at New Orleans its
average width is about three quarters of mile.
At Baton Rouge, where we touch "A few minutes
to take in passengers, there stands, in company
with two or three other gentlemen, an elderly,
plain looking man, who, after brief leave
taking, comes on board. We shove off, the
breakfast bell rings, and we find our way to the
table. | observed that the entrance of our new
tellOw-voyager occasioned a subdued remark,
and brought upon him the curious glances If
several Spectators and whispering to the clerk
who was about to take the head of the table,
reply. "Indeed!" Lucky chance, thought |,
that threw me on board this craft There was
the verltable "Rough and Ready" sitting oppos
site me, slppipg his coffee /; the most remarkable
man, In many respects, in the Western heml-
sphere. had missed the gorgeous spectacle of
his New Orleans receptiOn-the most magniti-
cent affair which had ever shaken that city with
excitement; but vastly better, had him now
whose name belongs to history, and whose
achievements place him side by side with the
great captains of the world. The first thing that
struck me was his simplicity, an unfailing attri-
carried himself with the unstudied ease of a
little child. You would have supposed him some
plain country gentleman, who dreamed not OF
attracting a look or calling out remark. All
right in that line; thought |, but how different
looking and better looking than the million of
llthograph likenesses which stare you in the face
at the shop windows and every where else
There is IN the living original none of that ex-
IRENE b. eadth between the chin and the back of
the head, very little of the protrusion of the low
er lip, to br found in the autographs. In
word, they are bundle of carlcalures, one and
ALL He is precisely the height of your present
correspondent; has considerable sprinkle of
gray hairs is 81 years of age, erect and firm when
on his feet, with one of the kndliest expressions
of face you ever saw He had on common blue
frock coat with flat buttons, the covering OF
which was worn of, showing that 1t belonged to
an order of things which passed away some
two or three years ago. Still his dress as whole
was sufficiently becoming, though exhibiting no
trace whatever of the military AS we rose from
the breakfast table was introduced TO the old
hero. l told him | was from South Carolina,
and rejoiced 10 the good fortune which had al
lowed me to see him and tell him how much The
people of my native State honored and loved
him. His eyes filled with tears as he shook my
hand warmly; and saw that the simple assur-
ance of love could affect profoundly man who
moved. His conversation exhibited fine, clear,
common sense, without the slightest tlnge OF
any sort of aflectaton or personal vanity. In the
course of the day. he gave me the details of the
great battle of Buena Vista, the key to all the
successes of the American arms In Mexico.
Had that field been lost, the fate OF the war
would have been entirely different, even though
indomitabe courage might IN its long. run have
cut its way to the Mexican capital. 1 hat Veto
ry, won against odds so vast, gave prestige TO
American valor that made the subsequent bat
ties comparatively easy affairs. But must put
curb upon my galloping pen, or you will never
see the. end of this epistle. The General re-
mained with us until after breakfast the next
morning, and WIS landed at his own residence,
on the river, some distance above Natchez. |
smiled to see the republican simplicity with
which couple of his negroes, field hands, who
happened to be at the landing, walked up as he
doffing hat or cap, and the expression of delight
with which they looked into his face as he spoke
kindly and familiarly to Them. Our engine bell
rang as soon as he touched the shore, and we
were off.