Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-11-04
ZACHARY TAYLOR IN THE LAST WAR.
FROM rHg NEW YORK COURIER.

Miscellaneous Magazine, monthly publication issued at Lex
ngon Kentucky, for August 1919, and in its pages find
extended biographical Sketch cfhe Lsof Major Zacha-
ry Tayr Of tie United States Arny in which the writer
thus SETS foths his design:
''To render sincere tribute of respect 10 the who
achieved the FIRST triumph of upon the land and sig
nazed himself through every stage of the by services
responding the bancy OF his first essay is the design OF
this hasty sketch"
This was in TArLoRs early life when he had distinguish
ed himself only by his defence Of Fort Harrison and when
no man could have had the slightest motive of Of
scl6shness for bestowipg upon him exaggerated praise
The writer of the sketch which refer first gives
cinc account OF Gen TArLos BIRTH parentage, and early
life down the time when April, 1912, he ordered
10 take command at Fort Harrison OF him at this time
he says:
"Cspt. TAYLOR had been four years in the service
His ardent and nquisye mind, intent the requirement of
thorough knowledge Of his proiesson, had seduousy i'm
proved the leisure e camp and diligently compared the
objects of travel Accomplished in the principles of military
science and exact duties aud discipline of officer he
peculiarly fitted by his knowledge Of Indian character
perform the hazardous service to which he assigned
He then goes describe the incidents of the defence of
Fort Harrison surprise by overwhelming band of In
dans in the dead night; the of the garrison
end the coolness the inepity and the perfect seiposses
the par. of Capt TAYLOR, which alone saved him and
the whom he commanded from destruction After quot
ing from the despatch which Capt TAYLOR reports this
affair 10 the War Department. the writer says
"Far be il from u and from the friends whom we love to
peruse, without emoon this ingenious and manly recital
l. Amid hls Of confagration and disnay, of
hopeless aud mrendng DEATH when the prospect Of
present safety erc l the geam OF the drowning flame,
and the hope of future escape dark the hour Of impending
night their intrepid leader first the pos, Of dan .,
with the instructive enthusiasm of hero anmating his
rades confidence and con5tancy. In the midst Of cniu
sion, firm ana collected surrounded by difficulties rapid and
decisive his choice OF single glance intuiivey
determining the order OF defence and by the irresistible force
of bis example mparng spirit Of determined and courageous
perseverance,, even 10 tie weaker sex.
And then follows this Just and admirable comment upon his
noble and truly heroic conduct
He who is brave when his bravery is SEEM who is
SELF posse ssed the midst Of DANGER and undsnayod by dis
appointment and surprises he who so1ihe the
ton Of alsTm and nro the phrenzy Of desperation who,
relying the powers OF his own inventive mind meets and
ssss the most Unequal trial. and asslmlaies 10 the stand
ard Of his own erect aud da;ng spirit the viii and efforts Of
those whom be leads exhibits combination Of rare and
fol quacs of high ond heroic virtues, which attract ad
| nifaiion aad command cur respect.
"rhe successful defence Of Fort Harrison arrested the
march Of tire lnIian foces ard preserved the lives Of hun
dreds Of ard children. Il gave check TO the
perpetraon Of savage cruee until the arrival Of ade
quate force enabled the Government 10 carry tue into the
enemys country ard safety the Wabash and II
nois settlers The demonstrations OF Joy p Kentucky the
arrival OF the pleasing ;egeHce universal The pub
lie spirit, depressed by the disgaceu surrender Of Detroit
again revived emulation kndcd the aror Of youth old age
exued ia the revival Of ancient nepdy and prowess and
the heart the patriot long saddcned by his counys dis
grace expanded with the present hope that the tide Of her ad
| veTsity at last reversed.
"Suahly approaching the important services and di-tin
guhed gsantTy Of Captain Taylor, the President Of the
United States promoted him The rank of Major by beve
II the f breye conferred during the Never
similar reward more justly meri,ed"
Afer skeching somewhat fully the succeeding incidents
in the life Of Major TArLoH, the writer thus presents
-.
them calculated to make upon every rejecting mind
When we look back upon the many and important scr
vices rendered by this officer 10 his country during the late
when reflect the peculiar pcrls and hardships
which those must have peetuly exposed him.
forming he did, year, marches the territories Of
Indiana Illinois, and Missouri, amounting than three
thousand miles, and find solitary instance in which the
Of m achievements did exceed the scany
Of his means cannot reran the expression of regret
his detention from those glorious fields Of civilized combat
where his genius might have borne him noble enterprise
and his vaJr displayed itself conspicuous theatre"
And il closing bis narrative, his bographer makes pre-
dc,on which, written nearly thirty years sgo,
be regarded az somewhat remarkable and eyncng at least
very accurate estimate, the writer's part, Of the character
he had sought to deinea,e
"Msjof Taylor ia the thirty fifth year OF his age
uniting the unsbaed vqcr of youth with the matured expe
rence Of yer years. With franc fitted for the active
and hardy enterprise ardent spirit, sangune temper
and InyinCbe courage gifted with rapid dscenmen
discriminating Judgment, and deep knowledge Of man.
kind and possessing heart susceptible Of the most
mputes OF humanity, regard him officer OF peculiar
promise, and hszld, think, but little in the prediction that
in the u war; distant period, between the Uni
ted States and England Spain, Mexico, riding the
tide Of military glory, he will find his true level at the head
Of an army
How fully and how nobIy this prediction has been verified
the history Of this country has informed the world In
this sketch, written than quarter Of century ago.
when TArIoR had done comparatively little TO attract public
attention, we precisely these qualities attracting notice
which have since been conspicuous upon wider field
Even at that early period Of his life ZACHARY TAILOR had
given clear and ikable evidences Of insincibs
age" "rapG disccmmcnt," discriminating judgment,
add "deep knowledge Of mankind the qualities which
have since shone brightly in ccumlnces Of even
imminent peril and ahh laid the foundation for the grea,
achievements that have made his ustous throughout
the world They the qualities which always make great
and in TArLoss case, in every similar these
distinctions and CHARACTERISTIC rait, just prominent a
one period Of bis lie any other.
In the heat Of party strife do not now justly estimate
the character Of tbs noble old Party magny dstors
his merits The strife FOR victory blinds TO his great de-
sers. Bot when this shall all have passed away, and
TO look upon h character and his truth and jus
ce alone exhib; ihem there viii be few blind or pre-
JUDGED as not 70 acknowledge that the record Of history
has few brighter nober than bis Ia all the ele