Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-10-04

iSyIor Barbecue. when came oil ut that place
on the 10th uh Iargo numbers of persons were
IN attendance. In reply To the remarks made by
the Hon. John Henderson,, General Taylor made
the following address
GEN TAYLOR'S ADDRESS.
tits with emolionsof no ordinary embarrassment,
Mr. Speaker, that find myself called upon to re-
spond 10 ;he cordial reception with which have
just been met by the authorities of Pass Christian
and the citizons OF Harrison county. | cannot in
deed. expect 10 do Justice to the occasion and feel
especially less soo to offer in adequate terms nv
acknoa Judgments for the very fia,ering language
IN which this greeting has been rendered by the
talented citizen who has just addressed me. can
only, therefore, offer you my warmest thanks and
assure you that the style OF my reception here is
particularly grateful 10 my feelings. This simple
and republican manner OF meeting my fellow citi-
zens carries me back to the pleasant scenes of my
early life | was reared from infancy to early man.
hood IN the West--among men of the most print
1--WE tastes and republican simplicity. We there
frequently met on occasions like this, TO exchange
freely our opinions National and State affairs
and to devise measures for tho defence of our Dor
ders, whchat that day the General Government was
sometimes unable toprotect. On these occasions
often collected, too, those men Of lion hearts and
iron nerves who had not only aided the Father Of
| our Country in achieving independence, and
stood by his side in many of his hard fought bat
ties, bu, who afterwards filled, with honor to our
country, conspicuous places in Legislative bodies
both National and State. l have been educated in
IN the simple and republican habits SO happily il
Illustrated In this scene, and do not expect 10 change
them in my old days. You will then understand
ne when assure you again, that the manner of
my reception here is more agreeable to my feelings
and taste than could be all the pomp and pageaniry
oil reception at the most splendid Court of Europe.
The complimentary language in which You have
been pleased TO allude to my military services,
which now embrace period of more than forty
years, and especially to the actions in which have
been engaged during that time. commencing with
the defence of Fort Harrison i'm 1912 and ending
with the battle of Buena Vista, has awakened in
me the most grateful emotions feel particularly
grated at the just tribute of praise which you have
paid. In speaking of these services, TO the gallant
men whom commanded on those occasions and TO !
whom feel deeply indebted for our success. | |
claim nothing, the good fortune of being the |
leader OF such men on the occasions referred TO |
and to their zeal In sustaining me- and TO their bold
hearts and strong arms, are we indebted for our |
victories. The manner in which you have alluded |
TO my being stripped of my troops on the Rio |
Grande, and TO my being left, as it might seem, at
me mercy OF the enemy, just before the battle OF
bnena vista, renders 1t proper probably, that | |
should make few remarks in relation to that mat |
tor received at Victoria, while on my way to |
iamplco--a movement which had advised the |
| War Department should make for certain reasons |
stripping me of the greater portion of my command
and particularly of regular troops and volunteers
well instructed. This order was received by me
with much surprise, and | must confess produced
the strongest feelings Of regret, modification and
Disappointment as | knew that Gen Santa Anna
was within striking distance of my line with an
army OF ,U0O, probably of the best appointed men
ever collected in Mexico. After putting most of
the troops then with me at Victoria, en- route for
namPIco-the larger portion of the commands at
Monterey and SalillIo having been already with |
drawn for the same ultima lie destnation-T was in
structed TO return 10 the former place where twas
expected would remain on the defensive with the
small force then under my orders A few DAYS af- !
ter reaching that point learned that the greatest
| alarm prevailed among the advance at Satillo in
consequence OF the capture at Encarnacon Of Mas
Borland and Gaines, with their party of about
eighty picked men from the Arkansas and Ken
lucky cavalry--followed few days afterwards by
| the capture Of a detachment Of picked men under
Capt Heady, also of the Kentucky cavalry
About the same time received communication
from Gen. Wool, then commanding at SaltilIo. urr-
ing me 10 join him with all the troops at nv djspo
sal, Stating that Cen Santa Anna was at least prepar-
Ing, If he was not already route to strikes blow
at Salullo! Immediately Joined Gen. Wool with
|Ou o. oOO men, and few days afterwards conccn-
'rated all the troops, which were generally encamp-
ed by regiments, and took my position at Auga
Nueva, in order that all the officers mioht become
and that generally a more thorough system of d-
sclpllne and instruction could be adopted TO prepare
all hands for service. While here, | was advised
by the War Department and the General in Chief
to occupy Monterey. This advice believed then.
as do now, was given at hazard and in ignorance
oil my situation, OF that of the enemy, and OF the
country. declined TO adopt it, and determined to
night the Mexican General Immediately after he
crossed the desert country which lay lust in nv
front, and before he could have time TO refresh and
reorganse his army, which knew would be much
worn out and disordered by march of so miles
across this desert without sufficient provisions and
! supplies, and with great scarcity of water In
TINS determination, so far as know, was most
cordially sustained by the officers of nv command
+ About two weeks after taking my position a, Aqua
Neuya, 1t was ascerained by my advanced parties
tina; Santa Anna was at hand with his army We
then fell back to Buena Vista, ranch some six
miles In front of Saltio, where we took up strong
position, and where could easily communicate
with our depot in the latter place Upon thispround
! determined to give battle. The enemy arrived
, IN our front on the morning of the 22d and sum
moned me tosurTendeI at discretion about o'clock
OF the same day. The summons was declined and
about o'clock on that day the battle of Buena
, Vista commenced The result Of that affair is
known to you all, and shall not therefore trou-
ole you with its details All tried to DISCHARGE their
duty to their country on that occasion. and some
even did more than their duty. 1t would then per-
haPs be Invldous to draw comparisons but | must
be permitted to say that led on by their distinguish
ed commander, the gallant Mississippi Volunteers,
a oil whom you have Just spoken SO highly and so
t justly, performed well their part. They were the
= only volunteers with me who had met the enemy
5eiOTe-havIng acted as would become veteran
r troops IN the conflicts about Monterey therefore
f calculated much on their assistance on that event.
+ fu day. and am happy here 10 say that nv ex-
pectations were fully realized. Their ranks hnned
d oy the enenys bullets are much more conclusive