Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-06-29

[ ehievements Of his later DAYS. A writer in
the Literary.WoIl thus mentions him: "As
plain Lieut.. Colonel Taylor | have often seen
him putting his men through the battalion
drill on the northern banks Of the Wisconsin,
IN the depth Of February. This would seem
only Characteristic of the man who has since
proved himself equally "Rough and Ready
under the scorching sun Of the tropics. But,
looking back through long years TO many q
pleasant hour spentin the well-selected libra
ry Of the post which Colonel Taylor then
commapded, we recur now with singular in
~terest 10 the agreeable conversations held IN
the room which was the Colonel's iavorite re-
sort, amid the intervals Of duty" And the
same chronicler OF his severe habits OF dis
| cipline and study continues: "Nor will the
reader think these personal "reminiscences i'm
pertinent, when we add that our object in re-
curing TO them here is simply to mention
that, remembering alike the win;ry drill and
the snug book-room, Taylor's hardihood-the
idea of which now so readily attaches to his
sobriquet Of Rough and 'Ready-would GER
tainly not then have struck stranger as more
characteristic than bis liberal-minded intelli-
gence."
In 1882 Taylor was promoted to the rank
of Colonel. During the previous year, the
d difficulties between the white settlers near
Rock River, and the Sac Indians under the Gel
ebrated chief Black Hawk, had been %founent-
ed By bad and interested men TO a point OF O
pen hoslilities.
Black Hawk. defeated on the 18th Of May,
1882, near Rock River, a large number Of
mounted volunteers, who fled precipitately
before a small band of the brave chief. The
force Of the latter was vastly exaggerated by
he fears Of the routed troops, and alarm
spread through the stale OF Illinois. Gener.
al Atkinson, then commanding IN the north
west, had his head quarters at Dixon's Ferry,
which he Immediately proceeded TO fortiiy.-
The governor of Illinois at the same time
called out a fresh body o!mounted volunteers,
and the secretary OF wal ordered about one
| thousand regulars to the scene ofaction. Gen
eral Scott then took the command OF the army.
and conducted the campaign. For three
months a contest characterized by the worst
acts Of border %feroeity was maintained. The
Indians murdered many frontier families, and
committed bold depredations in the face OF
our troops. In their turn they suffered in sew
eral skirmishes, but not to the extent OF dis
heartenlng them. A party under Black
Hawk attacked the Tort at Buffalo Grove, and
although they failed in carrying it, yet they
killed several men, and afterwards defeated a
detachment of volunteers who came to lis
rescue.
General Atkinson arrived ON the fourth OF
July with an army Of twenty-five hundred
men, including four hundred regulars under
Col. Taylor, at Lake Coshconing, in the neigh
bourhood OF which the Indians had collected.
The latter were reduced, at The time. to the
greatest extremity for want of provisions,
heir fighting men being encountered with wo-
men and children and their movable proper
y, as they had fed from their villages with no
means Of immediate subsistence. !
Late in July, General Atkinson crossed the G
Wisconsin River aud ordered the pursuit OF I
he Indians. For this service thirteen hun
lrcd men, among whom We're faylor's regu-
lars, were selected, They set forth immedi-
A,ely. This was through a primitive wider
ness, before untrodden BY amy body OF white
men. With forced speed the march was pres
sed over rocks and mountains. through woods
and waters, often almost impossible for horses,
and continually exhausting TO the men. Al
last the enemy was overtaken on the Bad
Axe, near the junction Of the Mississippi and
the Iowa. A battle. desperate on the part OF
the Indians, ensued, in which they were
wholly routed, many falling by our arms,
Others perishing in the river, and the rest dis
p%ersing or submitting themselves prisoners.
The chief Black Hawk, who then escaped,
was in the course Of The month surrendered
by some Of his faithless allies, and with his
capture ended The war.
Black Hawk aud his fellow prisoners were
conided to the charge Of Col. Taylor, who
conveyed them TO the jefferson Barracks, where
they arrived about the middle of September.
On this. as on every other occasion, however
trying, Taylor shyank from no obligation, the
result OF his position as an officer, carrying
out the orders Of his superiors. A portion OF
his task could not have been less painful 10
his feelings than difficult of execution. But
it was accomplished promptly and thorough
ly, IN a manner worthy OF himself.
(To BE c~oNTINUED)