Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-09-22
A Young Soldier from Taylor's
Army.

At meeting of tho Rough and Ready Club
Of one of the city wards, held on Tuesday even
ing last, after the business had been transacted
and an adjournment was about to take place,
pale faced youth, apparently about nineteen
years of age, and stranger TO all present, asked
permission Of the President 10 say few words
about General Taylor His request was Of
course granted. There was profound silence
in the meeting when he rose, and with some
tropidation, apologised for asking to be beard
He said he had reason to know General Taylor
he knew him as man and soldier lie had
been in his army seventeen months, and por-
ton Of that time, when he was sick and exhaust
cd by long marches, and ready to die, he found
a warm hearted friend and protector in General
Zachary Taylor.
"Gentlemcn," said he, ~ am but nineteen
years old am a stranger here, and never at
tempted to speak in public. But have rend
in some Of the papers attacks upon General
Taylor's character as man, charging him with
inhumanity and cruelty, and want TO say blunt
ly, that such charges are false--talse from be-
ginning TO end, no matter who uttcrs them.
have seen cruelty and inhumanity on the part OF
subordinate officers to their men-inhuman pun
ishments inflicted for slight Offences but nerer in
the presence Of General Tdyior--who was al
ways kind father and protector TO the poor
soldier, and whom every honest soldier in tho
army loved. No man Of honor who ever served
oader han will charge bin with cruelty, either
TO his own troops or to the enemy. was Will
him at Fort Brown, marched with him to Poin
Isabel--was in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca
and Monterey. After the capture of Mataino
ros, instead Of using one OF tho houses in tho
city rs his quarters, he gave them all up to the
sick, wounded, and suffering soldiers, and slept
in his tent on a bed that was not more than -four
inches above the mud and water that surround
ed it."
The speaker related many interesting Incl
dents connected with the movements Of the ar
my, illustrating the bcnevolcncc of General
Taylor, and the perfect confidence of the troops
in the goodness of his heart, and his skill as q
commander. ale made us all feel as il every
man was double, and had twice the strength that
we really possessed, and could do twice as much
as any other army in the world. He was al
ways the first to meet danger, and used to tell
us 10 ~atcA him close, and ntrcr 10 run TN he ran.
But he never ran from an enemy; he never
turned away from suffering soldier without do
ing all that no could 10 relieve and cheer him.
On the march to Seralvo," continued the youth,
"my strength give out, and il it had not been
for General Taylor, ! might have been left upon
the road TO die or be murdered. But be saw
me, and knew from my looks that was exhaust
cd. lie toak me up and sat me on his own
mule, and rode with him in that way for sew
eral days. He saved my life then, and am
ready to Civ h'~ every drop Of my blood when
AT one time we were almost out Of provis-
ions We had nothing 10 eat but mustx his-6,itf
and slushed. maggotty pork. An officer went
to General Taylor appa Complained that he could
not cut such i96d. We'll, SIR said the General,
come n, Ind take your dinner with me-
ie invitation was gladly accepted, and the
1.lcel anticipating a first rate dinner dressed
n'liis;elf up and went TO the quarters Of the Cen
gal but instead Of finding regular dinner la
BILE, filed with delicacies, he saw the General
sitting before ERE, toasting piece Of the same
old slushed pork or a stick, and that, with some
musty biscuit and little bean soup, made the
dinner for himself and the disappointed officer,
who expected to dine on roas. beef and plum
pudding. That gentleman didn't eat any more
dinners with General Taylor"
The young soldier continued his interesting
narrative about twenty minutes, his bright eye
often flashing with indignation when speaking of
the SANDERS with which General Taylor is as
sa;!ed, and h;s voice ;ienibied with emotions of
gratitude and affection In the relation of the be-
nevolent acts of the noble hero and patriot We
need not say that he was frequently interrupted
by the hearty applause of the meeting Al the
conclusion of his remarks, the President, having
ascertained from the stranger his name, an
nounced to the audience that the young man
who had addressed them was Sergeant EDWARD
SHERMAN, Of Massachusetts
3 Philadelphia Nees, oh inst.