Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-10-24

w - W. FWotNntiffs--i Hc WllFt y GU wv I
soldier. citizen Of Owen county, and rlsin
old gentleman of The old school. He knows
Ola Zach, has known him from his boyhood /
New Liberty. Sept. %, isis.
To ihf Hoa r. T. Lstcbcr, Err Coz. Of Kep- |
fuckV.
Dear Sir In conversation with you ON \
the subject Of the p-udiug presidential cleo
ton, mentioned that had formed an ac-
qu4lntance with Gen. TAYLOR 10 The tall OF
1872, Immediately after hl- memorable lie
fence OF Fort Harrison. At your request
willingly communicate my recoieciions o'
that perious confic, with bis ssSsge besieg-
ers. In order to make PLAIN The prominent
incidents OF that scene Of horror. and 70 show
that nothing less than the cool Grmness and /
indomitable courage OF such man a. Capt. |
Taylor. could successfully have met such an
emergency, viii require more space than You |
bad anticipated But vii condense as much |
as possible.
Capt TAYLOR was left IN the command Of
this hastily constructed Fort, By Gov. Haf-
rison, after the battle OF Tippecauoe, ISL
II was situated on the Wabash nver about 70
miles above Niuceunes, 100 a central position
for attack from all the Irdiiu forces on the
Illinois, Indiana and Michigan frontiers. 1t
oi nor only the frontier inhsbiJants. but es-
| peeially OF the citizens OF Nincennes, Il being
/ The residence Of Gov. Harrison, who was par
ticularly he object Of their vengeance, hence
/ their determination to reduce the place and
slaughter the garrison. For several days pre-
yious TO the attack. small parties would APP
proach the Fort under guise OF friendship aud
purposes OF trade. Capt. Taylor was too well
acquainted with the lndiaG character to be
deceived bv their assduIries, er t. mistake
their ulterur object. lie would not admit
them into the Fort undei any OF then pfcten-
css; at length. wearied with Their unsdccpss
| ul resorts to stratagem, they resolved To CON
centrate their forces, Iabont 100. aud make a
bold attack Soon alter II a clock, on Oar 4
might they succeeded in setting lire 10 the
lower block house near the river winch con-
tanned the contractors stores. THIS Was ellec-
ted vita The greatest secrecy--not yell or
gun announced their presence until theH he'll
lsh purpose, as they supposed, was heti Us
accomplishment. The sentries discovered
he fire too late for its extingmshmenl, the
combustibe materials upon which It WAS ac
tiug-w hiskey, bacon. pork, flour, &c. was
Instant, in flames, aud communicating lis
deyuuring teuors to the row OF buildings d
bove, wich constituted the line OF defence
HEX 10 the IlNcf. GhliNlSiliE ~ oIiidNH7' ~
pitai, &c. At Ibis awful moment the yelling
OF the Indians-the unremitting discharge OF
their gups-the screams OF several women
who had taken shelter in the Fort. make er-
cry heart quake, save that OF Taylor aud ms
brave hospital surgeon, DR.. Clarke.
| At this critical aud fearful moment Taylor
directed Dr. Clarke wlih ono or two Intrepid
soldiers, to ascend the burning 100 x tear off
The boards. while himself. & those that were a.
BILE. drew water from deep well aad convey
ed il To others above, by which means. after
the most txh5usiing toll, they succeeded 10
subduing the further progress oil the himes.
In the meantime, adjoining pickets, were bur
ned down. leaving bed 81 brands, Goals and
cinders, heated as though just vomiled from
the bowels of KMa-'he beslegers still yell
ing aud firing like internal demons. The
rrady genius OF Taylor Immediately set TO
work pulling down the guard house aud d
Sergeant's quarters, tor materials 10 form
TEN perary breast work across the consumed
angle. to secure him from an immediate AS
sauli through the breach Amidst the great
est CONSERVATION and terror OF The scene, two
of the most able bodied men in the garrison
leaped from the picketing and made their es-
cape to vincennes Their description OF The
assault, and the fury OF the flames, ct the mo
ment OF their departure, appalled, every heart
All exclaimed 'Tay Tor and his men are mas
sacred, and the Indians will be down on as
what shall be doneF The Sth Ky. Regiment
was then lying at Nmcennes, and number o
Indiana militia. with some L. ). Rangers
under Col. Russell. The whole We're organ
lied as soon as possible, aud Col. Russell piac
ed himself. braved every danger aud approach
ed near Enough 20 the Font 10 ascertain tha
its colors were still flying at the top OF tht
tall mast TO which they were attached. lht
Indians were still lowering around the fort
though they had ceased active operations "a
cait. n ifssti imnleudtely pur Ia nIottulr an
trooos. amounting TO near ,2Oo men, an
,y;th cautious CELEBRITY reached the Fort in les
,han four DAYS The Indians had retired upo
nnon Russell 5 approach, leaving behind Their
The sad evidences Of their medliated cruelt
Ia savage ferociy. You cannot well imae
Inc anything like the picture of the seen
when we arrived at the gate OF the For
Cap. Taylor met as with pale emacialed face
from recent sickness aud hardship; but upo
his noble brow sat the competency of the H.
70 and soldier, aud while we took him by Ia
hand the big tear stole silently down his man
ly cheek. can never forget the emotions c
my own heart OH that solemn occas sion. Tn
whole garrison consisted OF about 60 men an
some women and children; two-thirds {
whom were on the SICK list, and Capt Tay
ior himself had suffered much from disease
From the burning OF the contractors store
until their relief, the whole garrison sybsiste
on green corn, Obtained from an adiainu
prairie, oil iaring alike, Capt. Taylor settin
the first example OF patience and tertitude.
No man ever more completely enjoyed tn
affection and love OF bis soldiers than Can't
Taylor; he was esteemed as a father; his CON
al al, ,t,t ii 4
OF parental authority, aud obedience was ren
dered by all with alacrily and delight.
Much has been said about Gen Tavlor'
mental and cultivated capacities; no man wa
ever more wronged than has lie been, il som,
| newspaper scnDbers gere 10 be believed -
| profess 10 kn1N something about him at The
Time referred TO above; holding position il
the stall department ut the army, / had IRE
quent opportunities OF comprehensive with
nlm. He was rather inclined to thouoht
tai taciturnity; never englgrd in light or INV.
olous conversation; grave and sedate ia hi.
whole appearance, all his words and actions
gave striking correspondence to the exter.
nails OF the man. His library which was pref.
~ large, contained many Valua bic works ON
the most important subjects which engage the
attention OF The sincere enquirer after usetal
knowledge, aud his leisure hours were occu.
Pttu WIN great industry IN inelr perusdl.-
Men are greatly mistaken il they suppose
that Gen Taylor has alone devoted his ener
gies and powers OF mind TO the science of
war-tar from it, Few men OF our country.
OF Gen Taylor's age, at the time of which |
speak, The heing then somewhere about "A
years OF ago. had stored their minds with
more general aud useful knowledge than he
has possessed, snl his sober steady babit,
joined 10 stroug Intellectual endowments
we're peculiarly adapted to the growth OF
those prOprnsIlIes. Mlirh ~ thiA .nrl, -.