Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-16

Rio Grande and save his army from inevitable
disasters and that, if defeated, the only difference
| between his position then, and that in which he
would have found himself after retreat to Monte
rey, would be, that in the one case ne was defeated
in battle, whilst in the other he was starved into
surrender. That General TAYLOR perfectly under
stood andapprecated the peril Of his position, and the
results dependant on the choice which
he might make between these alternatives, there exists
documentary proof. But he made his choice. He al
danced to meet the coming blow. He fought and
won the Battle Of Buena Vista.
With what solemnity of fleeing, minging with his
high sense of imperative duty, he engaged in that
conflict, evidence is afforded by letters written by
himself to relatives and friends on the evening be-
fore the battle came of. In those letters, the SUBJ
stance of which has transpired, he stated the rea-
sons that had determined him to give battle to the
enemy. These were, that, the Mexican army hav-
ing just crossed great desert their forces both in
men and horses must be in condition so exhaust
ed as much to impair their capacity fer physical
exertion that, on the other hand, he himself held a
strong position, well adapted to enable him - repel
superior force, in which alone he could hope sue
cessiuly to contend with the immense odds against
him: that should he quit his position and fall back
upon Monterey, as he had been advised to do,
SANTA ANNA might, with so superior force, hem
him up in Monterey, while he swept every post
from thence to the mouth of the Rio Grande. Thus
would be wrested from US all the advantages we
had gained, country injured, and her honor tar
nished. Such, he believed, would be the disastrous
and humiliating consequences of retreat. lie
therefore resolued 10 maintain his position at all
hazards, NTH a determination to die rather than
to suffer the flag Of his country to be disgraced
Wiite Mader his care. In order to make success
full defence with force such as his, it would be
necessary that he should be exposed throughout
the engagement to the most imminent peril. The
chances he said) scere ten to one that he should
not be a iuing man at the setting Of the san on
the JolloVing day.!
In another Letter, on the eve of that battle, he
expressed HIMSELF in even more remarkable terms:
This may" said he, /" be the last communica-
ton you will receive from me. have been strip
ped by the Government of regular troops, and re-.
duced in volunteers and thus stripped, and at the
mercy of the foe, have been expected by my coun-
try to retreat or resign. Bur SHALL DO NEITHER
care not for myself, but feel deeply for the no..
BILE soldiers Who are about 10 be sacrificed by
their country. We SHALL STAND STILL AND GIVE
THEM BATTLE, RELYING ON JUST PROVIDENCE
FOR RIGHT RESULT"
And just Providence did take care of him and
those noble soldiers, and saved them from the snare
which, designedly or not, their own Government
had set for them
After the battle of Buena Vista, Gen. TAYLOR
passed through Monterey, but only stopped in the
town long enough to dine for he cared not for
the honors which all were ready to pay to him.
Though absolutely worn cut by fatigue, he after
dinner re-mounted his old charger and proceeded
most quietly to the repose of his old camp.
The interval between the battles of Monterey and
Buena VISTA and his ultimate departure from Mex
leo, was spent by Gen. Taylor chiefly at his camp
near Monterey. And here it was, after all the ex-
citing events on that line had ended, and those on
the line from Vera Cruz to Mexico were success
fully advancing-and when, too, every mail from
every source and presages of political elevation suf
cient to turn the head of an ambitious man-that,
unmoved by all these things, he retained his unaffect-
ed simplicity Of manner and faction, sincerely ex-
pressing his unwilngness to engage in party strife,
or 10 be separated from his cherished hope of re-
turning to the bosom of his family, there to end his
days in peace and quiet To all applications to
him to allow his name to be used as a candidate
for the Presidency, whilst the war continued,
he replied in terms corresponding with those of the
first letter ever written by him in reference TO this
subject, viz: That, though feeling very grateful to
his fellow-citizens who had expressed desire to
place him in nomination for the Presidency, it
became him frankly to acknowledge that he had
no aspiration for that Office but that, even if an
pirant for the Presidency, (which he was noi,) he
could not, whilst the country was involved in war,
and whilst his duty called upon him to take part
against the enemy, acknowledge any ambition be-
yond that of bestowng all his best exertions towards
obtaining an adjustment Of our difficulties with
Mexico. And when, at last his consent to serve
as President il elected, was extorted from him, it
was given in language entirely consistent with what
we have already seen of his character. "If have
been named by others, and considered a candi-
date for the Presidency" said ne, ." 1t has been
by no agency Of mine in the matter; and, il the
good people think my services important in that
station, and elect me, will feel bound to serve
them and all the pledges and explanations | can