Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-08-24
1oolitifal.
GEN. TlYL0R'S sLANDERERS.

GEN. TAILOR'S ehANDERERS.
The Louisville Democrat Of Friday had
an article from an ONO paper, charging
that General Taylor at The town Of Marin,
III Mexico, denounced the advanced guard
of Col. Curt>s Ohio regiment as God
damneI thieves AID towards" The certii-
Gates Of some Of the fellows themselves are
given as proof of the truth of the charge
The UnINn copies this whole affair. 1t
Is perfectly certain that Gen. Taylor's Ian
gulge upon the occasion in question Is i'll
idmousy ml>represened, for all who know
him can testify that the words ascribed to
hun are not III Keeping with his character
That Gen. Taylor was not pleased and
could not have been pleased with a portion
|. OF Cul. CurtiN's regiment is readily admit
ted. GA Frldly last we had full CONVEX
satlon with an accomplished officer, who ac-
complnled Col. Curtls's regiment between
the 9Th and 10Th of March, IS47, and from
him we gather some extraordinary and re-
voting flcs. Oar informant has no thought
of casting imputations upon the whole req
imcnt, but from his statement, there is no
doubt that the acts of part of it were most
attrocious, such as would have disgraced a
horde of savages.
The march OF the regiment, from the law
less character of those composing it, was
every where marked by deeds of wanton Vi
oIence and cruelty. Along the whole ex-
tent OF the march, ranches were burned,
cattle were shot, hogs and poultry were
Killed, and even pet pigs were slaughtered
at the very feet OF the women aud children
that owned them. The shooting of cattle
was oteniimes done in utter wantonneSs,
the maurauders either suffering them to lie
just as they fell or merely cutting out their
tongues, and leaving their carcass to rot
lhus showing that it was not the want Of
food that melted them to outrage. Upon
their arrival at Baracela, from which the
Aiexcans had fled at their approach, our in
tornant, after an exploration in company
with two or three other officers, reported
that Il urge number of trunks and bandbox-
es, containing female apparel, were conceal
ed III the chapparal about a mile aud Il half
oil. The instant the annunciaton was made,
gang Of fellows from Curtis's regiment
Started Off Tor the chapparal as if running
for lie. Shortly alter they were seen re-
turning, some of them with caps and bon
nets on their heads, and others wearing
gowns and other articles Of women's dress.
and, when our informant next passed the
chapparal, he found that general bonfire
had been made OF the silks, musins, rib
bons, slippers, and all the little articles of
the female toilet that the chvalric male con-
QIerers had not worn off upon their own
persons. These outrages were all reported
to Gen. Taylor before his arrival at Marin,
and can be substantiated by Col. Faumeroy
..E no. 4 ID l.
Virginia volunteers, Cd, Beknap, Inspector
Generd OF the United States Army, Lieut..
Patterson OF the Mississippi regiment, and
many others, if necessary. vi,
Al Marlu Itself, where the severe Ian
guage 81 General Taylor is said to have
been used, the conduct Of the advanced
guard Of Col. Curtis's regiment was marked
by similar atrocities. The night before the
arrival OF the Ohio re Iiment there. Gen.
Taylor hld slept ia the town, had seen the
Alcalde, had been the guest If some of the
principal citizens, had broken bread with
them, and had promised them proteclion.-'
But the advanced guard Of Curtls's regi-
ment entered the town, and instantly the
work Of pllage, robbery, and devastation
was begun. At last four houses were set
ON fire by them. Gen. Taylor arrived upon
the spot, and, remembering what had been
reported to him as 20 the outrages perpetra-
ted during the whole march, e&asperated by
what was then passing before his very eyes,
and deeply panied and mortified at not hav-
ing been able to keep the pledge given to
the men and women who had Hospitality ell
tertllrfed him, he undoubtedly rebuked the .
gullty miscreants in strong language 1t is /
very possible that in the heat Of his burning
indignation at such deeds of atrocty and
shame, he did not measure his words with
the utmost nicely; but he is a just man,
and never, even in his anger, did he utter IA
wholesale condemnation Of the guilty aud
the innocent
1t is not surprising that the thieves and
house burners who were thus rebuked by |
Gen. Taylor and arrested by him in the |
midst OF their career of atrocity, feel deep
resentment against that stern and vrtuous
old cheitaln, but it is strange, indeed, that
with consciousness OF their crimes, they
have the impotence, the audacity, to revive
the recollection of their deeds by publish
ing lying certificates of the language which
General Taylor is alledged to have address
sed'to them.' Almost any language on the
part of General Taylor would have been
pardonable under the circumstances, but
we again say that he never used the words
imputed to him. All the moral portion OF