Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-06-14
General Worth.


copy from the Philadelphia Bulletin:
Worth has been compared, and not un
justly, TO Murat. His handsome ,persor
and his dashing courage forcibly called t.
mind during the war with Mexico, the
Roland Of Napolean's army. Few Amer.
lean officers participated in as many bat.
ties as Worth-none, perhaps, in such
brilliant and numerous victories. Prom
inently distinguished in the war of 1912
then in that of Florida-then under
Taylor at Montery-and finally in the
campaign against the city of Mexico, he
ran career alike fortunate and brilliant,
and one in which glory and promotion fol-
ed hand in hand. But alas! Just when
the war is over, and the time has come
for him to repose on his laurals, he is cut
off by an ignoble disease, in paltry from
tier town. Such is human life. Such is
the end Of earthly glory.
Worth claims descent from one Of the
earliest Puritan settlers. He was born
in 1894, received plain but substantial
education, and began his life as traders
clerk, in Hudson New York. When the
war Of 1912 broke out he entered the ar
my as a private, but did not remain long
in the ranks. A fellow clerk who had en-
listed with him, having been placed under
arrest for some indiscre,ion, applied to
Worth for advice who under undertook to
write petition for the delinquent, to the
colonel Of the regimen. This officer hap
pened to be Scott. Struck by the style &
Penmanship Of the petition, he inquired
the name Of the writer, and in the inter-
view that followed, was so pleased with
Worth's manners, and soldiery and hand
some person, that he appointed him his
private secretary. Scott did not stop here.
He procured for Worth a commission as
lieutenant in the twenty third regiment ;
and the merits Of the young subaltern,
joined to some good fortune did the rest
for his advancement. Wor tn rose rapid
ly, indeed, during the war Of 1912. At
Chippewa he distinguished himself so
highly that he was brevetted captain at
Lundy's Lane he won the rank Of Major,
and if peace had not been declared imme-
diately aiterward, he would doubtless
have advanced still farther.
After the peace Worth was for some
time superintendent Of the West Point
Military Academy. In 1921, after the
retirement of General ArmisteaG, Worth
succeeded to thechief command in Flori-
da, where he had been serving, as second
in rank, for about year. Ambitious of
he sought every opportunity
10 bring the Indians TO action, and though
often disappointed, finally succeeded. In
recompense for his gallantry on this oc-
casion, Worth was brevetted brigadier
-~orrr1n wa, -,,....
able, he was detached to Corpus Christy
to Join Taylor and remained with the
General until Just before the battles OF
Palo Alta and Reseca de la Palma. The
cause of his leaving camp. as is well
known, was difference between him and
Twiggs, growing out of his brevet rank.
He has,ens TO Washington, intending to
resign, but the war altered his decision,
and cancelling his resignation, he hurried
back to the army.
Taylor, sympathising with the feelings
of Worth, who could not forgive himself
for having missed the battles of the 9Th
and 9th of May, assigned to him, at Mon
tercy, the task of carrying the heights on
the Saltillo road, with one division Of the
army, while, with the other, the comman-
der-in-chief advanced against the town
from the Serralvo road. This was, in fact
giving Worth an independent command
for, after once separating, it was found
impossible to keep up the communication
between the two divisions Of the army.
Worth carried, in succession, the vari-
Gus forts commanding the Saltillo road
stormed the Bishops palace which over
looked the town-and pushing forward
through the suburbs, entered the streets,
throwing shot and shell, and carrying ter
ror and aismay before him. He was with
in a short distance Of the great square when
the town capitulated to Taylor, penetrating
to the plaza from The other side. For
his exploits at Monterey, Worth was bre-
vetted Major General. ..a
His next great exploit at Moline del
Rev, where he carried the almost impreg-
nable works of the enemy, a tremendous
struggle, in which more lives were lost
in proportion TO the numbers engaged
than in any section of the war.
Worth also fought with distinction al
Cerro Gordo, at Churubusco, and at the
s,orming of the gates Of Mexico.
He was, perhaps, after Taylor and
Scott, the most efficient-certainly the
most popu!ar-of the generals in the wal
with Mexico.
The character Of Worth may be sketch
ed in few words. He was brave TO {
fault, sufficiently good as tactician, chiv'
alrous, of popular manners, of imposing
presence, naughty, at times overbear.ng
impetuous, warm hearted, fast friend
In many respects he resembled Decatur
In battle, especially where daring courage
was required, he had no superior. Ills
soldies still tell, with enthusiasm that al
Monterey he dismounted from his horse
placed his plumcd hat on the point OF h''
sword and waving it high overhead, lee
them to storm the Bishops Castle. suci
tales recall TO memory the old romance.
Some years ago chap in town o
Maine, having played the ''gay gallant
little too freely TO distiller's daughter
quite overs,epping the modes'y of nature
II Il i