Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-07-10
LLFE AND CHARACTER OF
EgcEsgs.sg Taylor.

EgcEsTs'Rg YWyEOs.
Continued.
We regret that we are unable TO progress
with our biography without refec'iag IN Sc
we're terms upon the executive oil the oni'eo
States for the most fragrant violation oil us
dutv in ordering Gen. T forward to the line OF
the Rio Grande without providing him with
the nsct ssary munitions of war and the requl-
site means of transportation to enable him 10
follow up his victories.
Previous 70 his debarkaton from New Or
leans Gen. Taylor had informed the executive
that ponlon trains would be necessary to tue
successful passage of the various rivers that
interviewed 10 oppose his progress, yet these
were never supplied, and one week elapsed
after the battles of the Sh aud 9th. before
the little army could cross the Rio Grande,
or present any opposition TO Arista and Am
puda recognizing their scattered forces III
Metamoras and receiving re-inforcements.
The careful historian Of future days cannot
fail to cast just oblopuy upon that executive
which fastened a war aud yet. sitting quietly
at home in luxury aud ease, fits soldiers 10
endure the tolls aud hardships OF The forest
and the field without supply of the most or
dinary munitions OF war. Had Gen. Taylor
been supplied as he requested, he would
have crossed the Rio Graude on the 10Th and
the Mexican army of the north would have
been in his power.
On The l7,h Gen. Taylor, having made the
necessary preparations and erected mortar
batteries commanding the town oil Metamo-
ras. bad ordered Gen. Twiggs to cross the
liver when he was waited on by the Next
can General Regucna, empowered TO treat
for an armstice until the two governments
should settle the pending difficulties. A
ware that this was but ruse 10 remove the
public property from MetamoFas, Gen. lay
lor declined TO enter into any arrangement
unless the town was surrendered. An answer
was promised in few hours; but the answer
never came and when the army was about
crossing it was discovered that Gen. Arista
had evacuated the town, with part OF the
public stores.
On entering Metamoras, Gen Taylor guar
anteed to the citizens the full enjoyment OF
civil and religious liberty, aud on the night
OF the 18Th May the citizens, under guard
from the conquering army, slept more secure
" than under the protection OF their own
government. Thus had Gen. Iay Tor with an
effective army OF 1000 men marched from
the Nueces TO the Rio Grande, driving out
well appointed force of 1900 men, and Ia
ken possession of one of the most important
towns on this northern line of Mexico.
Gen, Taylor's movements, after he had ia
ken possession OF Metamoras, were greatly
embarrassed by the accession OF raw recruits,
furnished by The several states, without the
means oil subsistence or transportation, and
wihou, instructions from his government as
to the course 10 be pursued, whether 10 move
onward or to hold such only, OF Mexico, as
had already heea taken. He represented these
matters 10 the executive in the stronges, lam
guage, and yet, from day TO day, arrived more
troops but no supplies or instructions. This
embarrassment continued 10 Cypress Gen.
Taylor until after the battle of Monterey, and
this was the sole reason why the Sd Ohio reg
imeiIt was SO long left in the rear Of the con-
quering army. Had they been added TO the
number thai moved forward, uHproyided as
they were, suffering, disease and death, would
have been the necessary results. For this
caution, wisdom and humane lorethought ef-
forts have been made to prejudice the minds
OF the Ohio troops against Gen. Taylor. This
is wrong that they should promptly repair,
and throw the blame, II any there is, OF their
protacted stay at Matamoras and Camargo,
upon the authorities at home, the executive
and his menias, who, in the indulgence OF
ease and large salaries at home, neglected
the poor soldier in the cnemys country, war.
ing against ueacherous enemies, sickly eli
mate. burning suns, privutions and toll.
We have said that Gen. Taylor urged for
ward supplies by every possible means IN his
power, & ohen laid the subject before the de-
partment. The short extracts, found below,
from bis dispatches at various times, show
that he considered them vital 10 the well be-
ing Of the army; yet they were unheeded
In June he writes. 81 am necessarily de-
tanned al this point for The want oil suitable
transportation TO carry ON offensive opera
tlJns.'
Ag4in "Wihout large means of Transport
ration this iolce will embarr0ss rather than
facilitate our operations,
On the ION he writes; The great influx
of volunteers: Five regiments from Louis
iaua, Two from Louisville ami ST. Louis, sew
eral companies from labatna and Texas, in
grouse the volunteer force TO 5000 men. and
vel have no means o. transportation,
Ii would seem that the executive, ignorant
Of war, thought soldiers alone were needed,
aud that The people OF the country, ignorant
Of the inactivity Of the department 10 which
they must look for supplies, hocked, regard
less OF cor que aces, 10 the standard OF the
gallant General