The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-10-18
From the N. Y. Express,
A DINNER TO CAPT. BRAGG.

an mpTOWpLU u!IlilcI WAS gwen lliill ldSl
evening by few gentlemen at the Astor
House over which Philip Hone presided.
Among the other guests were MIR. Meredith,
aud Mr. Kennedy, of Baltimore. the Hon.
Mr.. (CoI) Haskell, OF Tennessee and Hon.
Mr.. DonneIl, of N. Carolina. AT the din
ncr were several OF our most distinguish
ed merchants, bankers, &c who had assem-
bled there to do honor to the brave.
AS The dinner was in some degree private,
VIC shall not 60 further than to report in sub
stance, and from memory, the remarks OF
Col. Bragg. Mr.. Hone toasted him as Capt.
Bragg, better known by that name than any
other name-"A little more grape Capt.
Bragg"--and alluded at rng,h t" his brilliant
service of TIC flying artillery at Buena Vista.
CO.. Bragg modeslly rising, and III some
embarrassment said. it was well known that
he was onIv soldier and that therefore no
fitting speech could be expected from him
in reply. For whatever merit gentlemen
chose to award him. or whatever reputation,
if any he had undcserycdly, the whole Ut 1t
was due to the gallant General under whom
he served, aud the soldiers in the service lI:
commanded. nav more, for the brlliancy Of
that service he was indebted ~ the training
of the .lamented Ri!ggoId and ltIdge!v, from
whose hand he had received the corps, in
that full efficiency that enabled it TO immor-
taIize itself on the pcriIous and bloody field
of Bucna Vista.
TO the Gererain. Chief his acknowlcdg.
mcnls were especially due. llelnsPlrcd The
Whole army with valor and confidence by
his presence, not onI at Bucna Vista, but
from the opening of the war on the Rio
Grandc. 1t Is almost impossible for you,
gentlemen he said. 10 understand the charac
ter of that man as commander of an army.
There Is a resolution, iirInncss, a delermn-
alton in his manner, and in his purposes,
that 90 great ways in leading men to VIC
tory. Ii was never better illustrated than on
the field Of Palo Alto. He told Maj. Brown,
when he left him with his small force nppo-
site Malamora>, Maintain your pusitlon.' |
will, not sayI hope to be back, | shall try to be
back; but will be back on the Attn. EXPECT
me then and 'mantain your posIlinn.' Eve
rv body that knew bun, knew he would he
back, if alive to come The army returned
to point Isabel, as YOU know. On the 18th
they fought at PaIo Alto, and when night
came ON, they bivouackcd in the open field,
and amid the grass, with rot tent over
them, the General himself wrapped in his
blanket, and many can assure you, IN not
Il little duubt. and gloom.
Oar Ih;lc army did no. feel sure then that
they could whip three times their number
and them the best troops in Mexico, We
had not tried our mcl,Ic, or measured wca
pons with them. Many an eye did not close
that night. RinggoId had been slam. a
bloody day was before them. and many, if
the army went on, were sure To bite tho dust.
But nnduhy knc.v or could find out what
Gen Taylor intended to do. There he lay,
wrapped i'll his blanket, except when disturb
ed bv officers asking for orders. Some were
anxious to a>ccrtcin his intentions. His only
answer was, Tell the men to sleep. Keep
quiet Sleep is the man thing necessary.
Two or three officers were particularly Y anX.
ious TO know whether he Intended to 90 on.
nr hold his position. But the only satisfaction
that could be got was sleep. He disclosed
to none OF them his intentions. There was
Il prevailing opinion that it was two periIuus
Il march to 90 on. But Gen. Taylor to.
wards morning. disturbed by some person
demanding. orders, replied ALLOW The men to
rest. Ii is time enough at sunrlsc.' Then
turning over in his blanket, he SAID to al
officer near My mind is made up, my mind
is m de up,'-bul nobpdy knew how his mind
was made up; and yet they who knew him,
knew if his mind was made up, it was no
use to try to change il.
In the morning IL council Of war was slIm-
moncd and there were eleven officers pres.
cni, three ony Of whom advised advance.
Mind, | cast 40 ccnSurc upon any one. \
difference of opinion, under such clrcumStan.
ccs, might have heen expected. But they
who knew the power of the Lght Artillery,
and had seen it play that day, had conf
dcncc that it could clear way for the army
back to Fort Brown, odd Zack;' for that is
tho name we call him, rcplIcl at"r the con-
sulalion was broken up. we will advance
in fifteen minutes; and forward they march
cd to Rrsaca dc la Palma. The result of
which you all know. Old Iack kept his
word to Maj. Brown, but alas, The brave
and amcnlcd Major had received his death
wound.
So at Bucna Vista the personal character
of Gen. Taylor had like influence on the
arm". When the war department deemed
it necessary. in order TO form Il column to
invade Mexico via Vera Cruz to take his
Regulars from him, he was sure that Santa
t,no ,ynuLI attack hin, .; am the weak
point he often said, 'and know he will at
tack me- But he determined to defend his
position. and in order the best way to de-
icud it, to advance. Gen. Taylor, kept well
informed Of the approach of the enemy by
Gen. WooI's scouts, moved on TO SallIIlo,
,I..., or, u A LILO N..n..n hui nrlnininm lN