The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-10-13
A Speech from Gen. Taylor.

| I~"' ~ ~ ~ nlo ICCSpLlOH at L ass LnTlS-
tian, the citizens got up a barbecue on the
10Th ult. John Henderson made an address
TO the General in behalf Of the citizens ot
Harrison county, Miss, in which he dwell
particularly upon the hazardous character
and brilliant results of the battle of BuenO
Vista. To this address Gen. Taylor made
speech in reply, which is thus reported in
the New Orleans Pcayune:
GEN. TAYLOR'S SPEECH
NIswith emotions of no ordinary embar-
rassment, Mr.. Speaker, that find my Sc lfcall-
ed upon to reply to the cordial reception with
which | have just been met BY the authorities
of Pass Christian and the citizens OF Harrison
county. ! cannot, indeed expect TO do jus.
tlce to the occasion, and feel especially less
able to offer in adequate terms my acknowl-
edgmentS for the very Aattering language
in which this greeting has been rendered by
the talented citizen who has Just addressed
me. can only, therefore, offer you my
warmest thanks, and assure you that the
style OF my reception here is particularly
grateful to my feelings. This simple and
republican manner of meeting my fellow,
citizens carries me back to the pleasant
scenes of my early life. Twas reared from
Infancy to early manhood in the west.-a-
mong men Of the most primitive tastes and
republican simplicity. We then frequent.
ly met on occasions like this, to exchange
freely our opinions on National and State
affairs, and to devise measures for the de-
fence of our borders, which at that day the
general government was sometimes unable
10 protect. On these occasions were often
collected, too, those men Of lion hearts and
iron nerves who had not only aided the
Father of our country in achieving our inde-
pendence. and stood by his side in many Of
his hard.fought battles, but who afterwards
filled with honor TO our country conspicuous
places in our Legislative bodies, both Ma
tional and State. have been educated in
the simple and republican habits SO happily
illustrated in this scene, and do not expect
to change them in my old days. You will
then understand me when ] assure you
again, that the manner ofmy reception here
is more agreeable to my feelings and taste,
than could be all.the pomp and pageantry
ofa reception at the most splendid Court OF
Europe. .....
The complimentary language in which
you have been pleased to allude TO my mill
tary services, which now embrace period
OF more than forty years, and especially to
The actions in which | have been engagsd
during that time, commencing with the de-
fence Of Fort Harrison, in 1872 and ending
with the battle of Buena Vista, has awaken
ed in me the most grateful emotions. feel
particularly gratitied at the just tribute of
praise which you have pait, in speaking Of
these services, to the gallant men whom
commanded OH those occasions, and to whom
feel deeply indebted for our success. ]
claim nothing save the good fortune of be-
ing the leader of such men on the occasion
referred to; and to their zeal in sustaining
me, and to their bold hearts and strong arms
are we indebted fer our victories. The
manner in which you have alluded to my be-
ing stripped ofmy troops on the Rio Grande
and to my being left, as it might seem, at
the mercy Ofthe enemy, just before the bat
tie OF Buena Vista, renders it proper, proba-
bly, that | should make few remarks in re-
laton to that matter. ! received at Victo-
ria, while on NY way to Tampico-a move
ment which | had advised the war depart
ment that should make, for certain rea-
sons-an order from the General-iu- chief Of
the army, stripped me of the greater portion
of my command, and particularly of regular
troops and volunteers well instructed This
order was received by me with much sur
prise, and | must confess, produced the
strongest feelings OF regret modification and
disappointment, as | knew that General
! Santa Anna was in striking distance Of my
line, with an army of 25,O00, probably the
best appointed men ever collected in Mex
leo. After putting most of the troops then
with me at Victoria, en- route for Tampico-
the larger portion Of the commands at Mon.
:erey and Saltillo having been already it'll.
drawn for the same ultimate destination
| was instructed to return to the former
place, where il was expected | would Ie-
main on the defensive, with the small force
then under my orders.
A few days after reaching that point
learned that the greatest alarm prevailed
among the advance at Saltillo, in conse-
quence of the capture at Encarnation of
Majs. Borland and Gaines, with their party
Of about eighty picked men from the Ar
kansas and Kentucky cavalry-folowe
few days afterwards by the capture of a de.
tachment Of picked men under Captain Hea.
dy, also of the Kentucky cavalry. About
the same time / received a communication
from General Wool, then com handing at
Saltlllo, urging me to join him with all the
troops at my disposal, stating that General
of ko
was not already en- roule, to strike blow
at Saltillo! ! Immediately joined General
Wool with 700 or 800 men, and few days
afterwards concentrated all the troops.
which were generally encamped by regi.
ments, and took my position at Agna Nue.
va. in order that all the officers might be.
come better acquainted with each other
and their duty, and that generally more
thorough system of discipline and instruc.
tion could be adopted to prepare all hands
for service. .......
While here was advised by the War
Department and the General-in chief to oc-
cupy Monterey. This advice believe then,
as do now, was given in ignorance of my
situation, and of the enemy, and of the
country. l declined to adopt ii, and de-
termined to fight the Mexican General i'm
mediately after he crossed the desert coun.
try, which lay just in my front, and be-
fore he could have time to refresh and re.
organize his army, which | knew was much
worn out and disorganized by march of
$50 miles across this desert, without pro-
visions and supplies, and with great scar.
city of water. In this determination, so
far as know, was most cordially sus-
tanned by the officers Of my command
About two weeks after taken my position