The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1848-09-29

bs back on Tue 10Th. Expect me then, and
smsintsiu ourpositon2 Everybody thathneW
him. knew he would be back, if alive to come
The army retured to Point Isabel, as you know
Oh the sih, they fought at PaIO Ahoi eno'
when night came on, they bivouacksd in the
ooen field, and amid the grass with not a ten.
over them, the General himself wrapped in his
blanket, and many, can assure you, y n0t ?
little doubt and gloon: Our little army ola
not feel sure tfat thsy could whip three lines
their number, and them the best tFoopsin mex
leo. We had not tried our mettle, or meas
AIRED weapons with them. Many an eye dla
not close that night. RinggoId had been slam
A bloody day was before them, and many, II
tile army went on, we're sure to bite the dust
But nobody knew nor could they find out
what General Taylor intended to do. There
he lay, wrapped in his blanket, and sleeping
except when disturbed by officers usking Tor
orders. Some were anxious to ascertain his
intentions. His only answer was, "Tell the
men 10 sleep8k keep quiet. Sleep is the man
thing necessary Two or three officers we're
particularly ANXIOUS to know whether he in
tended to go or hold his position. But the
only satisfaction that eouldbe got wasNsleep."
He disclosed to none Of them his intentions.
There was a prevailing opinion that il was too
p~erilous a march to 60 on. But General Tay'
lof, towards morning, disturbed BY some per-
son demanding orders, replied, 'allow''he men
to rest, il is time enough at sunrise" Then,
turning, over in bis blanket, he said 10 an Off
Ger near, " MY mind is made up, my mind is
made up"-but nobody knew how his mind
was made up-and yet they who knew him,
knew if his mind was made up, it was no use
to try to change it.
10 the morning a council Of war was sum-
moned, and there were eleven officers present
three only Of whom advised advance. Mind,
| cast no censure upon any one. A difference
Of opinion, under such circumstances, might
have been expected. But they who knew
the power of the Light Artillery, and had seen
it play that day had confidence that it could
c%lear,a way for the army back 10 Fort Brown
sold Zack,'-for that is the name we call him,
replied, after the consultation had broken up,
zoe shalt Advance in fifteen m,nutes-and forward
they marched to Resaca de la Palma, the re-
suit Of which you all know. Old lack kept
his word to Major Brown-but, alas, the brave
and lamented Major had received his death
wound.
So at Butna Vista the personal character
Of Gen. Taylor had a like influence on the
the army. When the Wa Department Deem
ed il necessary, in order to form a column to
invade Mexico via Vera Cruz to take his Reg
uIars from him, he was sure that Santa Anna
would attack him. - am the weak pOint,''
he often said, sand l know he will attack me-
But he determined. to defend his position, and
in order The best way TO defend it, to advance
General Taylor kept well informed Of the ap
proach Of the enemy by Gen. WOODS scouts
moved on to Saltillo, and then on to Aqua
Nuova. 1t was proposed at one time to NEE
the enemy in advance a Aqua Nueva, but as
certaining by his engineers that their position
could be turned, he resolved to fall back II
Buenn Vista, as the enemy approached him
Buena Vista isl a military position that an,
soldiers eye would select for a defence, I,
no particular person is the credit Of il
selection due-for it has been said that eve.
a woman picked it out as a place to repulse a
enemy. Vaiious officers had had the cred
n Of the selection, but whatever particular cred
o / is due, is certainly due to the Commander-ir
Chief who fought the battles. The Mexican
themselves had fought battle there. SAINT
Anna knew the ground so well that he ofde
e ed his General (MinOn) to take and keep po
e session Of il in order to attack our rear. Gel
a MInon got into our rear as ordered, but whe
n he reachedlBuena Vista he found US in pc
session Of it. The 22d Of February 4,5t
men, mostly raw troops, opposed to 10000
. the enemy, was certainly not a very encou
aging day. We did not feel quite so hap
pr or so we'll as over this bountiful table to nigh
Q We thought Of home, and Of families a,
friends, aud our chance Of death was much b
ter, we thought than ofever seeing them agai
Of For several days previous General Taylor W
al constantly engaged in making his arrang
ments and in writing home. 1t is said, OIL
to that he made his will. But he never shra
from his duty. 81 n ay perish," was his thoul
to " but | will perish in maintaining the hOr
b. Of my country! have 10 run a terrible r
81 in assuming the responsibility Of making t
It onward march; but it is the only course d
ne WiIl save my army. To stay in Monterey v
nd to be sacrificed by the overwhelming force
he the enemy. To save, all, | must here r
apw
ne The battle was fought and you know the
lat suit, but you can never know the inAser
no the presence of General Taylor had upon
in army. He alone so it seemed to me, co.
'se have inspired, by his presence, every soldier
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