Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-09-28
Colonel Bragg:

Colonel Bragg:
HIS HIGH APPRECIATION OF EN-. TAYLoR.
[Rema7ks at q dinner giUen to A;n in Nca0 York.
Cot. Bragg molestly rising, and a
IN some embarrassment said, it was well
known that he was only a soldier, and
that therefore no fitting speech, could be
expected from him in reply; for whatever
merit gentlemen choose to award him, or
whatever reputation, if any he had unde-
servd'y, the whole of it was due to the gall
liant Gederal under whom be served and to
the soldiers in the service he commanded;
nay more, for the briIllancy of that service,
he was indebted to the training of the la
mented Ringgold and Ridgely, from whose
hand he had received the corps, in that
full efficiency that enabled it to immortal
ize itself on the p~erilous and bloody field
of Buena Vista.
Tothe general-in-chief his acknowledge
smeuts were especially due. He Inspired
the whole army with vaIor and confidence
by his presence, not only at Buena Vista,
but from the opening of the war on the
Rio Grande. 1t is almost impossible for
you,'gentIemen, he said, to understand the
character of that man as IA commander of
an army. There is a resolution, a firm
ness. a determination in manner, and in
his purposes. that go ii great ways in lead
ing lei to victory. 1t was never better
illustrated than on the field ofPaIo Alto
He told Major Brown, when he left him
with his small force opposite Matamoros,
"Maintain your position,1 wiH, notI hope
to be back, [ shall try to be back; but !
WILL be back on the 10Th, Expect me
then, and maintain your position" Eve
ny body that knew him, knew he would
be back, if alive to come. The army
returned to Point Isabel, as you know
On the sth, they fought at PaIo Alto, and
when night came on, they bivouacked in
the open field; and amid the grass, with
a tent over them, the General himself
wrapped in his blanket, and many, [ can
you, in not a little doubt and gloom.
Our little army did not feel sure then they
could whip three times their number, and
those the best troops in Mexico. We had
not tried our mettle, Or measured weapon
with them. Many an eye did not close
night. Ringgold had been slain. A
day was before them, aud many, if
army went on, were sure to bite the
dust. But nobody knew or could find out
what the Gen'l. intended to do. There he
lay, wrapped in his blanket, and sleeping,
except when disturbed by officers asking
for orders. Some were anxious to ascer-
tain his intentions. His only answer was,
'Tell the men to sleep. Keep quiet.
Sleep is the main thing necessary" Two
three officers were particularly anxious
know whether he intended to go on, or
hold his position. But the only satisfac-
ion that could be got was, to ''sleep."-t
EIe discIosedto none ofthem his intentions.
There was a prevailing opinion that it was
90 p~erilous a march to go on. But Gen.
toward morning, disturbed by
someoned demanding orders, replied "alIow
he men TO rest. 1t is time enough a
SUNRISE" Then turning over in his blan-
iet, he SAID to an ofTlcer near: "My
mind is made up, my mind is made up,"-E
out nobody knew how his mind was made
lp,-and yet they who knew him, knew
f his mind was made up, it was to no pur-
pose to try to change it.
In the morning a council Of war was
summoned and there were eleven officers
present, three only of whom advised adj
'ance. Mind, ! cast no censure upon
my one. A difference of opinion, under
such circumstances, might have been ex-
But they who knew the power
IF the light artillery, and had seen it play
hat day, had confidence that it could
clear a way for the army back to fort
Brown. "Old Zach,'-for that is the
name we call him, replied after the con-
sultation had broken up, soe wiH adyance
fifteen minutes--snd forward they