Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-08-02
GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR.

The following well authenticated occurrence
tnanfests the existence, in Gen TAYLOR. of the ell
ements true greatness in highly eminent degree.
On the night before the battle of Buena Vista he
Sat down and drew his will, and enclosed ii in a
letter to his wife, in which he stated that he had
just passed The most trying hour of his existence
That his best disciplined troops had been withdrawn
from him by the Executive (of whose treatment of
him it was not his purpose then to complain) and
that he was, against the advice Of his officers in
council, and with vast disparity in numbers and
discipline, about TO engage the finest army Mexico
had ever had, headed by her ablest General, in a
battle likely TO result in the most momentous con-
se4uences.-That as he might not survive the Sc
we're conflict that must ensue, he deemed proper to
place in her hands the means of doing Justice TO his
memory by stating TO her the reasons that had in
fuenced his conduct on this important OCCASION
These were that the Mexican army having lust
crossed great DESERT their forces both in men and
horses must he in condition so exhausted as much
toimpalr their capacity for physical
on the other hand he himself held strong position,
well adapted to enable small to repel superior
force in which alone he could hope successfully to
contend with the immense odds against him. That
should he quit this position and fall back upon Mon
terey as he had been advised to do, his own little
army would be discouraged, and the enemy elated
and admitted into a country in which they could
not only thoroughly refresh themselves, but more
over, double their numbers by the addition of ram
cheros.-That with such force Santa Anna micht
hem him up in Monterey, while he swept every
post from thence to the mouth of the Rio Grande
guarded as they were by small forces Of raw troops
who would in such catastrophe, doubtless, be in
Discriminatory butcheIed by the merciess rancheros
to whose ravages our own rontiersetlements would
moreover be thereby exposed. Thus would be
wrested from us all the advantages we had gained
our country injured and her honor furnished Such,
he believed, would be the disastrous and humatipp
consequences Of retreat. He had therefore re-
solved to maintain his position all hazards with
determination TO die rather than to suffer the fac
Of his country TO be disgraced while under his care
In order to make successful defence with force
such as his, consisting it did, with the excep-
ton Of few hundred) Of undsciplined troops, il
would be necessary that he should be exposed thro'-
out the engagement to the most imminent peril
The chances were as ten TO one that he should not
be living man at the setting Of the on The fol
lowing day. Should he fall, he exhorts her not to
give way to grief, but to bear her misfortune with
the fortitude becoming a soldiers wife
How his noble resolution was carried into action
with what gloomy results, is known to every one
results purchased by the sacrifice Of many ral.
liant spirit but Heaven kindly spared the generous
old hero to his wife and his country.
In view Of the wisdom, the courage, the for.i-
tuds, the decision Of character, the selfdevotion
the patriotism, the regard for his country and his
oup honor here e1emplifed by Gen Taylor, iii