Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-06-26
GEN.

day night last.
In the selection Of the man 10 command
our army in this war on Mexico. Mr.. Polk
was fortunate. though not as he intended
He could not send Genl. Scott there. That
distinguished officer had already achieved so
much glory, that it was dangerous TO give
him a chance TO win more. Mr.. Polk looks
around. He had heard or read that there was
an old man, who, when buta raw lieutenant,
had q long time ago, defended against fearful
odds, a little Fort in Indiana. The then raw
lieutenant had but seventeen men in the Fort,
and there were three women besides.
The Indians led on by Tecumseh, had at
tackled the fort in immense numbers. and de-
handed it TO surrender, and its soldiers and
women to be given up TO the knife and toma-
hawk OF the savage. The reply then was, as
on a more recent occasion, Come and take
mc!' They tried to take him, and after a
long contest, during which the red men fell
like leaves in November before the well
directed guns Of the small but gallant band,
the sun went down and the sun arose, and
there were the stars and stripes still waving
over the little fort! Here there was an out
break of cheers and CRIES OF THAT was young
Zack!' which was like the shout OF an earth
quake. Mr.. Polk had heard or read oil this
perchance. Mr.. Thompson said he must d.
gress here 10 re mark that that little tort called
Fort Harrison, was in the Congressional dis
trict which he (Mr. To- represented. and is
within three miles of his own door. There is
to he a great gathering OF the people in a short
time, aud you may be sure that the shouts
which will then go up for the man who
there fought his first battle. will be louder
than the loud oceans roar. 1t will be worth
a life time 10 be present on that occasion.
Mr.. Polk has also heard of this same war
lieutenant, then became a plain captain. who
had fought out, and conquered a peace IN the
Black Hawk war. He had heard also OF his
deeds in the Florida war where the same in-
,incible spirit, which never knew defeat, car
ried him through the trying scenes of that
prolonged conflict, aud gave him the victory
whenever he encountered The foe.
This raw lieutenant, then a plain captain
had now become to be an old man, though
still in the vigor of health, and rich in all
The resousces OF an originally strong and well
matured mind. He was without ambition.
He was retiring as he was brave. He did his
duty, he fought and conquered, whenever
there was any enemy to fight or conquer-aud
then set himself down content with the consi-
business OF having lone his duty and OF hav-
ing done Ii well.
This old man Mr.. Polk selected to lead
our bands into Mexicol See how he doomed
up on our Southern horizon! crossed into Tex
as a plain soldier, hardly known beyond his
own camp, though beloved by all who did
know him. He reached "P int Isabel and
in his first despatch to :he war department, he
wrote his owe character in one line. The
department ordered him to march at once.
He had been delayed by a want of provisions
and means OF transportation. At length he
had gathered up what he thought might do,
and he prepared to set out for Fort Brown.
He SO advised the department, and Of the ap-
perance OF Aris;a and his Mexicans along on
the Rio Grand, and added, 'li the enemy op-
pose my march. IN whate,er numbers, | shall
fight HIM" Here there burst our again the
most enthusiastic cheering, and the same
voice that had said it was Young Zuck' at
Fort Harrison, cried out This is Old Zack
here."1 There was some hesitation, in a
council OF war, about his marching to Fort
Brown, but he said. after the court had given
It's advice against the march, Il promised the
boys they should 90 TO Fort Brown, and they
must CO."
And thence what follows?-Palo Alto,
Resaca de la Pdlno, and Monterey. Hard
fighting every where and great odds against
him in all combats, but victory always on his
side! He never surrenders, and he never
loses a battle! Invincible old man, how can
they hope, those who oppose YOU now. to beat
YOU in this contest, when with the prestige
Of your great name, you have the people all
ranged on your side!
And then came that GROWING victory of
all Buena Vista! They were pat five thou
sand. They had their chosen soldiers, led on
by their favorite General, Santa Anna, whom
Mr.. Polk had graciously sent them. We had
only raw troops, a few regulars, aud the rest
volunteers.-The veterans of the previous
battle had been drawn off. The most dis
tinguished officers in those fights had been
called to another command. Those that were
there. however. were all men. every one of
them.-They lel, themselves TO be soldiers.
and they were determined to be heroes. They
were. however, only a handful, to the nigh
ty host which was opposed to them. But then
old Zach wds there! That name was worth
ten thousand Mexicans! ("Yes. twenty thou
sand" ''Three cheers Tor old Z ick, and they
were given with a willy 1t was a fearful
fight TO make.-Old lack felt it to be so. He
prepared for the wors. He wrote what letters
be deemed necessary to explain his private af
fairs, in case of the worst. coming. for il was
10 be a contest for |''victory or DEATH" A
council Of war was summoned. The members
composing it differed among themsel YES. as
10 what should be done-s'go on" or ego back
Tire old mau heard all that was said. and
withou, asking "a general decision. announced
that 'Ac council adjourned until after the
bltle.'
We all remember what fearful forebodinqs
of the unequal contest-uneoual in all that
! relates to numbers on the one side. and gen.
erel ship and lndomitable courage on the 9th
er-we all remember what fearful rumors we
had OF the battle. We knew Santa Annals