Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-09-30
Personal Anecdotes Of Gen. r.v,a.


Personal Anecdotes of Gen. ray,o,
The character of Gen. TAYLOR i 49,
much what II Is represented. He i r ~
and atiabe, yet firm and unfinching r.
soldier under his command thinks be i
4 grieVed, II IS TO the General he looks for IS
4 dress, and never fails in getting it, in e.s.
i General Taylor, on inquiry, ascertaIns !,
! be well founded. The Old Man,, as ~
/ Is tamllliarly termed by officers and men
! approachable at all hours He will sit anJ
talk in the most affable manner, and ;n
/ formant tells me that he has often yonderaI
! at seeing him enter infinitely into the priva,a
affairs of the German and Irish soldiers nm
der his command, give them his advice when
asked, and as it frequently is, and when thar
IS over, read to them from the newspapers
the anecdotes of the army, which have mada
their way into print in the northern cities
at which be would laugh as heartily as any
OF them. He is beloved by all in bis COM
mand, othcers and men. All take pleasure
IN obeylng his commands; and when an or
der IS gwen by him, there is emulation a.
mong all who hear it TO obey it, His treat
ment OF the Mexicans is marked with the
same urbanlty. They, at least such of them
as have been IN the habit of serving the
camp with milk and other little knicknacks
love him as much as his own soldiers do.
On certain occasion one of these moor
devils complained to lie CGpitaaa, that n
volunteer had entered his rancho. and an
proprated to his own use some of his ed;-
bleS, without paying for them. Now this
was 4 breach of orders which Gen. TAYLOR
could not overlook, so he had the marander
identified by the Mexican, and brought be-
fore him. The General examined and cross
examined hssn, in relation to the offence. for
upwards OF two hours, at the end of which
time he arrived at the conclusion, that the
volunteer was not quite so much to blame
as his accuser represented, but thought him
deserving of some punishment; and what
was the punishment do you suppose he in
ficted upon him? Why, he directed bar
rel to be placed in front of his tent, directed
the volunteer to mount it, and kept him
standing there for two hours.
Occasionally it occurs that man will
want to write letter to his friends, and
has no materials to do So Without hesita-
ton he applies to the ' Old Man, and gets
all he wants, pen, ink, paper and wafer,
which comes from his private stock, which
is always at the service of the soldiers.
While reviewing them. to see, no doubt.
how they looked after their scrimmage, an
old soldier, who served under him in the
Florida war, proposed, at the top of his
voice, "Three cheers for Old Rough and
Ready which were given with all the hon
ors. As soon as they had subsidized the old
General, every feature in his open counte-
nance speaking volumes, gracefully took off
his chapeau and returned thanks, and added
$ Gentlemen, would be happy to treat
you all, but have got nothing, except some
Rio Grande water, with which TO do it'
On one occasion a volunteer, getting tired
of discipline, thought he would relieve him
self of it, for a time at least, and made
trip to the country. As soon as his absence
was known in the camp, he was proclaimed
deserter, and men sent in pursuit of him.
He returned, however, before he was arrest
ed, and Immediately made his way to the
old General, and told him in mitigation of
punishment, he was always accustomed to
open lakewood life. "WelI," said the
General, "don't do so again, my boy, with
out leave" and directed him to 30 to his
quarters That man thinks General Taylor
the hest man living, and he would willingly
lose life itself at his bidding