Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-09-14

given him last evening by few gentlemen al the
Astor House over which Philip Hone, Esq presided.
Among the other guests were Mr. Meredith and Mr..
Kenpdy of Baltimore, the Hon. Mr. (Col.) Haskell,
Tenn. and Hon Mr. Donneli OF North Carolina
AZ the dinner were several distinguished merchants,
bankers. Sc, who had assembled there TO do honor
to the brave.
AS this dinner was in some degree private, we
shall go no further than TO report IN substance and
from, memory, the remarks OF Col. Bragg Mr. Hone
toasted him as Capt Bragg. better known by that slan
the other name, "A litlle more grape, Capt Bragg
and alluded atlength TO the brilliant service Of the hy
/ ing artillery at Brena Vista.
I Col Bragg modeslly rising, and in some embar-
rassment said, il was well known that he was only
soldier and that therefore fitting speech could
be expected from him in reply. For whatever merit
gentlemen choose to award him, or whatever repu-
Iation ifany lie had unieservedy, the whole OF it
was due TO the gallant General under whom he had
served and TO the soldiers in the service he com
manded nay more for the brlliancy OF that service,
he was indebted TO the training OF The lamenled King
vold and Rilrely from whose hand he had received
The corps in thai full efficiency that enabled il i'm
moralize itself the perlous and bloody held oil
Buena Vista.
| To the General in Chief his acknowledgements
were especially due. He inspired the whole army
with vaior and confidence by his presence not only at
Buena Vista but from the opening OF The war on the
/ Rio Grande +, is almost impossible for you, gen
tlemen he said, 10 understand the character OF that
man as commander OF an army. There is reso-
luton, frmness, determination in manner and IN
his purposes, that 90 great ways IN leading men to
victory Ii was never better illustrated than on the
| field of Pao Alto He told Maj. Brown when
he left him with his small force opposite Maiamoras,
"Maintan your position, iciu, mol hope be back ]
shall try to be back, bu, WILL be back on the 10Th
I Expect rue them and MAINTAIN your position" Eve.
/ nv body that knew him, knew he would be back If
alive TO come The army returned to Point Isabel,
as you know. On the Sih they fought at Pao Alto.
and when night came on they blyouacked in the open
field, and amid the grass with not tent over them,
the General himself wrapped in his blanket, and
MANY | can assure you, IN not a little doubt and
gloom. Our little army did not feel tina, they
could whip three times their number and those, the
best troops in Mexico. We had no tried our mete.
or measured weapons with them. Many an eye did
no, close that night. Ringgold had been slain. A
bloody cav was before them, aud many, If the army
wen. on were sure TO bite the dust But nobody knew
or could find out what the General intended to do
There he lay wrapped in his blanket, and sleeping.
except when disturbed by officers asking for orders.
Some anxious 10 ascertain his intentions. HIS
only answer was. Tell the to sleep. Keep qui-
Iet. Sleep is the main hing necessary" Two or
three officers were particularly anxious 10 know
whether he intended to go on, or hold his posIiion
But the only satisfaction that could be got was TO
'sleep." He disclosed TO Of them his nen-
tons. There was prevailing opinion that II was
too perlous march 10 go on. But Gen, Taylor to-
wards morning disturbed by some person demanding
orders, replied, ''aow the men TO rest il is time
nough at sunrise" Then turning over in his blank
ct. he said TO officer near "My mind is made up.
my mind is made up,"-bui nobody knew how his
mind was made up,-and yet they who knew HIM,
knew il his mind was made up, twas no use TO Try
TO change ii.
In the morning council Of war was summoned
and there were eleven officers present three only Of
! whom advised advance Mind east no censure up
on any one. difference OF opinion under such cir
cumstances might have been expected. But he who
knew the power Of the Light Artillery and had seen
il play that day had confidence that ii could bring the
army back 10 Fort Brown. Old lack, for that is
the name we call him, replied after the consultation
had been broken by, 1--WE will advance in fifteen min
ues," and forwarded they marched TO Resaca de Ia
Palma the resu! Of which you all know. Old lack
kept his word TO Major Brown--but alas, the brave
aca lamened Major had received his death wound
So at Buena Vista the personal character OF Gener-
al ylor had like influence on the army. When
the War Department deemed necessary in order to
form a column 10 invade Mexico. via Vera Cruz 10
take his regulars from him, he was sure that Santa
/ Anna would attack him. 81 am the weak point"
he often said, "and know he will attack me-" But
he determined 10 defend his position, and in order
defend IT, TO advance. Gen. Scott has taken a hun
bred he sald shall save thousand. Gen. Tay lo,
kept well informed Of the approach Of the enemy by
ten. w ooPS scouts, moved on 10 Salio. then on 10
Aqua Nueva II was proposed at one time TO meet
The enemy in advance Of Aqua Nueya, but ascertain
log by his engineers that their position could be turn
ed, he resolved 10 fall back 10 Buena Vista. the
envy approached him. Buena Vista is military po-
slilon that any soldiers eye would select for defence
10 no particular person is the credit of It's selection
due-or II has been said that even woman picked
il out as place TO repulse enemy. Various of
hcers have had the credit of the selection but what
ever particularly credit IS due. is certainly due to the
Commander nChlef who fought the battle. The
Mexcans themselves had fought battle there, San
ia Anna knew the ground well, that he ordered
Gen. Minon TO gel into rear. Minon did order
ed but when he reached Buena Vista he found in
possession o. ii. The 22d OF Feb. with $500 men,
mostly raw troops, opposed TO 10000 oil the enemy
was certainly mol "a very encouraging day. Wee
not feel qulle SO happy well this bounti
iul table 10 night We thought OF home and Of fami-
lies and friends. and our chance of death much
better, We thought, than Of ever seeing Them again
For several days previous Gen Taylor was constant
ly engaged in making his arrangements, and in VII
ting home, 1t is said also that he made his will
But he never shrank from his duty j may PERISH
was his thought, but will perish in maintaining the
honor OF my country have 10 run a terrible risk
in assuming the responsibility of making this onward
march, but II Is the only course that will save my
army. To stay in Monterey was to be sacrificed by
the overwhelming lorce oil the enemy. To save all
must here risk ALL"
The battle fought you know the result ,-bui
you never can know the influence that the presence
OF General Tayl or had upon the army He alone. so
IT seemed 10 me- could have inspired, by his presence
every soldier in the army, the Volunteers were in
splred The confidence IN him complete. He
had never surrendered. He had never been whipped;
and the idea got abroad that he never could be- When
manGuvering my pieces alhwarl the gullies, cite
this example Of that confidence saw clouds of
dust about TWO miles from me. was painfully aux-
ious. Thought that General Minion had fallen up
our and attacked our depo,s, and 10 meet him
my first thought A man came galoping up