The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-10-14
The Battle ofRuena Vista--Gc en-.
Taylor's Speech at the Bar
baoue Given Him at Pass
Christian.

reply to the address Ivy tho Hon. John Hen
derson, at Pass Chrisiun on the lGth ult., wt
COPY from the New Orleans Picuyunc.
1t is with emotions OF no ordinary embar.
rassncnl, MIR Speaker, that find myself
called upon To respond to the cordial recrp.
ton with which l have just been met 10y tic
authorities OF Pass Christian and the citizens
of Harrison county. | cnEuot. indeed, eX-
pect to do justice to the occasion, and feel es.
pecialy less able to offer in adequate terms
my Acknowledgements for the very nul,ering
language in which this greeting has been ten.
dCred 10y the talented citizen who has lust
addressed me. can only, therefore, offer
You my wnrlucst thanks, aud assure you that
the style of my reception here is particularly
grateful 10 my feelings. This simple and re-
publican manner ofmCeting my fellow Cit.
2ens carries me back to the pleasant scenes
Of my early life. | was reared from infancy
TO early manhood in the Wcst-amoug men
of the most primitive tastes and republican
simplicity. We there frequently met on &c.
casions like this, TO exchange freely our opin-
ions on National and State affairs, and TO de-
wise measures for the defence ofolr borders,
which at that day the General Government
was sometimes unable to protect. On these
occasions were often collected, o,thosc men
Of lion hearts aud iron nerves, who had not
only aided the Father of our Country in a.
chewing our independence. and stood hv his
side in many of his hard fought battles, hut
who afterwards filled, with honor to our
country, conspicuous places in our legislative
bodies, both National and State. have been
educated in the simple and republican habits
so happily illustrated in this scene. and do
not expect to change them in my old days.
You will then understand me when assure
you nglin, that the manner of my reception
here is more agreeable to my feelings and
taste, than could he all the pomp and pngcan-
try of a reception at the most splendid Court
of Europe
The complimentary lanruage in which Won
have been pleased to alude 10 my military
services, which now embrace period OF
more than forty years, and especially to the
actions in which have been engaged dur
ing tina; time, commencing with the defence
of Fort Harrison, in 1912, and ending with
the battle ofBuena Nisin, has awakened in me
the most grateful emotions. feel .particu.
larry gratificd at the just tribute Of praise
which you hive paid, lin speaking OF these
scriCcs,) 10 the gallant men whom ! com
mandcd on those occasions, and 10 whom
feel deeply indebted for our success. claim
nothing save the good fortune Of being the
leader Of such men on the occasions referred
their bold hearts and strong arms, are we in
dchtcd for our victories. The manner in
which You have alluded to my being strip
cd ofmy troops on the Rio Grandc, and to
my being left, as il might seem, at the mercy
of the enemy, just before ihe battle of lIuCna
Vista. renders il proper, probably, that
should make a few remarks in relation 10 tlal
matter.
recci"ed ut Victoria, while on my way to
Tampico,--a movement which had advised
the War Department should make, for Ger
tain reasons-au order from the General in
Chief OF the army, stripping me olthe greater
portion ofmy command, and particularly of
regular troops and volunteers we'll instructed.
This order was received 10y me with much
surprise, and, must confess, produced the
feelings of regret, modification and
disappointment. us knew that Gen. Santa
Anna was within striking distance ofmy line,
with an army of $4,000, probably the best ap-
pointed mon ever collected in MuXcO. AZ
ter putting most oCthc troops then with me
at Victoria On route for TampCo-the Iurger
portion of the commands, at Monterey aud
Saltillo having been already withdrawn for
the same ultimate destination! was iustruc-
ted to return to the former place, where it
was expected would remain on the dcicn-
sivc, with the small force then under my or
Ilers. 4 few days after reaching that point
learned TINT the greatest alarm prevailed a.
nong the advance Mt Saltillo, in consequences
Of The capture ut Encarnaciou ofMujors Bor-
land and Gaines, with their party of about
eighty picked men from the Arkansas and
cuvnlry--folowcd few days af-
forwards by the capture Ola detachment of
picked men under Capt. IlCody, also of the
cavalry
About the same time received q commu-
nication from Gen. Wool, then commanding
at Saltllo, urging me TO Join him with all the
troops at my disposal. stating that Gen Santa
Anna was at least preparing, ifhc was not
already en- route, to strike Il blow at Saltllol
joined Gen. Wool with zoo or
300 men, and n few days afterwards con
all the troops, which were general
" encamped Ivy regiments, and took my po-
sition ut Aqua Nueva, in order that all the
officers might hci better acquainted with each
other aud their duty, and that generally Il
more thorough system ofdiscipline and in
could be adopted to prepare all
hands fer service. While here. ! was adviS-
I'll by the War Department and the General
n Chief to occupy Monterey. This adj
vice believed Then, rs do now, was given
1t hazard, and in ignorance Of my situation,
ii that ofthe enemy, and that Of the country.
declined to adopt it, and determined to fight
lie Mexican General immediately afcr he
crossed the desert country which lay just in
ny front, and before he conld IIavo time to
etresh aud reorganize his army, which |
inew would he much worn out and disor-
Tered by march of150 miles across this dies
,rt, without sufficient provisions and supplies,
md with great scarcity nf wafer In this
determination, SO far ms know, was most
cordially sustained by the officers of my
command. About two weeks after taking
my position ut Aqua Nuevu, it was usccr-
aimed by my advance parties that SANTA An
IA was nj hand with Ills army. We then
i'll back 10 Bueun Vista, II ranch some six /.
lics in front orsjaltilio where we took up