The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-10-28
Gen, Taylor Thirty'Siy Years Ago.
Ernm The RnSLnn .dilns.

u y Oni ATTENTION has btcn tulltu 10 lIl' /.
files of the Boston independent Chroniclc'ot !
October, 1912. This journal may he remcm-
bcred 10y some of our readers MS the leading
Democratic paper of Boston, and also of
New England, IL; that period. Ii il striking
aud interesting to observe the manner IN
which this journal and its correspondent, nj
that time, spoke ofthe defence Of Fort llarri-
son by the then Captain Zachary Taylor
We have been especially struck with two OF
these notices, which we give below. They
enhody what may he regarded as an almost
oraruIur and prophetic shadowing forth Of
The glory aud huuors that thirty-sX years nj.
forwards were to hallow the brows of the
"gdIdni commander.
The first of those extracts is from the
Chronicle Of October 18th, 1912, and appears
MS editorial in that paper, accompanying the
official dispatches of the attack upon, and the
| defence OF Fort Harrison. The other is II
communication published in the Chronicle
Of October 22d 1912. 1t is dated RoXbury,
October l6th, aud is signed "a Military Conn
trymau." 1t is known to have been written
! 10y General Samuel Heath, the old Revolu
| tIonnry solder-the companion aud friend
| of WHshington--nnd the one whom above
all others, ii is well known Washington pre-
| terred for the instruction and disc pliming Of
! his troops
In the year 1912, Gen. Heath was prom
/
administration of Madison. He was then in
the fullest enjoyment Of his faculties of mind
aud body, and universally regarded us the
best authority upon military affairs, in the
country. The disciplnarinn chosen by
| Washington to prepare and select his officers
and advance his men, is so struck with the
hGrosm aud character of The youthful Taylor,
that lie feels called upon To come out pub
licly, over signature ms familiar as his own
tI,
attention TO the transceudent merits of this
young man. lie thus puts on record what is
almost prophecy-his opinion of his re-
markable fitness TO command. These CX-
tracts are both interesting and striking, and
are worthy to be remembered.
From the Boston "Independent Chronicle"
of Oct. 9Th, 1872:
GALLANT DEFENCE OF FORT HAIR
RlSON.
The official statement of Captain Taylor.
/ Commander of Fort Harrison. relative 10 the
late attack made upon that post by the cop
per-colored allies of England will be found
upon our first page. BY this statement il
will be seen, that about fifteen effective Amer
! lean soldiers, under the guidance of a gallant
commander, successfully defended Fort Har-
rsou against the united attacks ofSererni HIM
dred Jerocious indidns The intrepidiy ofthis
little band entities them to rank with the
heroes of Ifppecdnoe. Amid the darkness of
the night, the fire oftheir bockhouse and the
yells ola savage foe, more than ten times as
numerous as themselves, they maintained,
during screen hours, the unequal contest, and
nj length succeeded in beating back their bar
barinn assaanrs! This gallant act shows
what might hare been done at Detroit, had for
tuue favored the brave troops at that place
with such n commander as CAPT. TAYLOR
IL also proves that in all actions with the saw
ages, it is better to dispute the ground firm
Ily-howevar numerous may he the assailunts
than TO submit. Had 10: the above gnrri-
son displayed such II Spartan resolution, not
a man, woman: or child in the place would
have escaped the sanguinary tomahawk of
the allies of that nation, which Gov. Strong
does not blush to deHominate the defence
and buwork of our relie Jon.
From the Boston "IndepeEdent Chronicle"
ofThursday, October 70, 1912.
For the Chronicle.
!hesSrs Editors :-JusTIcE dictates that
whenever we attempt 10 praise or ccnSure the
conduct OF public officers, il should be done
importantly, giving TO all their lust due os ,uer
or den,eru deserve, avoiding n too preot nm
.jns,on on the one hand, or too much seyeriiv
Oh tie other; both are distinct from the cor,
rect line, and cannot claim sanction.
There has been recently published in the
public papers, the official letter ola Capt. y |
Taylor, commanding Fort Harrison, (Indinnn
Territory to Brgndier General Harrison, Civ
ing an account Of mn attack made on the fort !
by numerous body of Indians. 1t appears
by the letter that the garrison of the fort was |
small indeed, and n part of these unfit for duty
the Captain himself only convalescent-
The attack ofthe savages was furious, and
they had the address to set fire to one of the
boc'thouses, which threatened not only 10
omen a 0Vpuup iOtO 4 a Tnrt I,nt IN |