Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-10-20
From tie National lntelligencer.
A SkETCH
OF TIE PERSONAL CHARACTER AND QUALITIES OF
General Zachary Taylor.

We have no design TO undertake Biograyiy
OF Gen. Taylor: that duty has Uctn arcauy "a.
eCmed by ADLER haCds. Nor YET shall We pre-.
sunla to analyz" his military meri than i 4
loiTl upon which The public judgment is are.
satisfied. Ourswl be the more erat.iu ocrupalio
vi sruup,ng in Que picture those lrai,s ui ns
personal character and qualities which a'lracr to.
wards him the respectful aud even utipctioual,.
regards Of those who, like us, desire TO find, IN
their candidate for such an office rs the Presi-
dency, some other recommendation than the
most brilliant and wel-eurned military fame.
/ Not that we shall, or can. overlook either The
military history or the military merit of the
General. He cannot be separated from them.
Nor need any friend of his desire that he should:
for they become him worlhiy. The garrison.
the march, The camp; the batIe-f,ld have been
scenes in which h. has exhibited. all his life
long, qualities which command respect He
has net, perhaps, in The midst of his arluous
public service, sacrificed tn HE Gracas "a sue.
ccsSiuly as some have done who take exception
10 the pannesS of his dress and simplicity o,
his manners. He is in truth no carpet knight.
But he is what ought TO make him a huudr d
times more acceptable to the People; he is, be
yond all doubt or question, good and homes,
man.
Though we have never, that we know of, me,
Gen. Taylor face TO face, he is yet very OLD
acquaintance Of ours. 1t is just six and lhrrv
years ago, AT the moment wher the heart of III
country was depressed by lIulI's surrender ol
his army at Detroit. that news was received in
this city Of the successful defence Of Forl Iiar-
rison by General Uhen CapIain) Zachary Tay-
lor, against vastly superior force Of Indians
under circumstances which rendered resistance
almost hopeless, but which the then young bul
indomitable courage and energy of our Captain
enabled him 10 overcome. The effect of this
news was such as can hardly be realized at the
present dav, when The Imagination has become
familiar with war on grander scale; but it tur-
ned The whole current of public feeling nj once,
aud inspired new confidence in the ability of ouI
arms to maintain the defence Of the then feeble
and sparSclS populated frontier. For this gal,
liant exploit Mr.. Madison conferred on young
Taylor the Brevel of Major, the first brevet
conferred in the war OF 1919, and now The ol'
dest in the army.
From that day the name Of Taylor has ever
held secure ace in our memory, though il
had not. until the time Of his taking charge oI
the "Army Of Observation" often met our view.
We knew, however, that during the whole time
he was almost always upon hard duty, and per,
formed it welI especially in the harrassine
! Black Hawk war, and in the Florida war; in
which last he distinguished himself no less by
his gaIlanuy and by his success in battle, than
by personal department which acquired for
him the attachment of all who served with him.
Passing over the intermediate part Of his mil.
itary career, we must hasten 10 the period when
his orders from the War Department placed him
in command in wider field, and charged him
with duties the execution of which brought him
at once in full view before us. We refer, o
course, to the time his assuming the command
of the forces gathered together ostensibly tC
protect The frontier of Texas, but destined after
wards 10 more active and dangerous service.
Let us pay our first respects 10 him in his en-
campment at Corpus Christi, some weeks aflel
it was established, on sandy beach of three
miles in lengh, without tree or shrub TO ware
off the noon day rays OF an almost vertical sun
On approaching the headquarters Of the Gen
eral, consisting of a single wall-tent, one il
struck with the simple and severe seldier-lik'
aspects Of all its surroundings. On visiting the
General, we are met by frank hearty welcome
from one whose simplicity Of attire would no
have designated him, in the grouPe from which
he issues, as the Commander Of that gallant lit
tie army. This, however, is Gen. Tay
The first interview with him convinccs you thO
he is kind,hearted gentleman, "all of the ol
den Ime;" an impression Uhich every days fur