Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-06-04
[DOLIlES IELGo
GENERAL WORTH.

GhAbRAL Y OEIH
Tie f.lllwjns very spirited Biographical sketch of
the deceased General We cory from tie Philadelphia
Bulletin;
Worth has been compared and not uniustIv, to
Nurat His handsome persol and bis dashiug courage
forcibly recalled Mind during the war with Mexico
the X land OF Na1geJns army. Few American Of
fcers participated many battles az Worth: none
perhaps, in sach brilliant and numerous victories.
Prominently distinguished in the war Of Sl2-then
in that Of Forda-then under Taylor at Monterey
anl finally il tha campaign asanst The city Of Mexico
he ran career alike fortunate ana brilliant, ana one
ln. whicn glory and promotion followed ha1d in
hand. But alas. lust when the war is over, and the
time has come FIR him repose lis laurels he is
cut 0I by lgnoble disease, il paltry frontier
town. Such is human fate. Such is the end Of earthly
glory.
Wyrthalas descent from one Of the earliest Puritan
settlers. lie VS. born in 1874, received plain but
substantial educatonanl began life a traders clerk
10 sudson, \. u " hen the war Of ol2 broke out,he
entered the army private but did not remain long
in the ranks. fellow clerk, who had enlisted with
him, having been placed under arrest for some in
discretion applied to " orth 10. advice Who undertook
write petition for the delinquent, to tile Colonel
Of the regiment THIS officer happened to be Scott
Struck by the style anlponmaaahp Of the petitionhe
inquired the name Vi the writer, and in the interview
that followed, was So pleased with Worths manners
and solIlery and handsome person. that be appointed
him his private secretary. Scott did not stop here
lie procured FIR Worth commission as lieutenant in
tile twenty third regnentsnd the merits of the young
suoAefn Joined, to some good fortune, dd the rest
for Lis advancement. Worth rose rapidly, indeed,
during The war Of lSI2. AT Chippewa lac distinguish
ed himself 50 highly that he 4reyetted captain;
at Lundys LaneAe wen the rank Of mai1randif peace
lad not been declared Immediately atterwarl, lie
would, doursess. have advanced still farther.
AFter the pence Worth MAS tor some time, surerin
tendant Of tie West Point Military academy. In
Y 1901 (. H. Z
succeeded to the chief command in Florida, where he
had been serving second in rank, for about a year.
Ambitious Of distinction, he sought every opportunity
bring the Indians to action, anl though often dis
appointed, t1.aliy succeeded In recompcuse for lily
gallsntry on this occasion, Worth breyettod q
! Brgader General
When a war with Mexico became probable ha was
detached to Corp Us Christi to ion Taylor; and re
manned with ehe General until just before the battles Ut
Paei Alto and Resaca de Ii. Palma. The cause OF his
leaving camp, as r5-well knewn, was difference be-
tween lin and Twig-s growing ont Of his jrevet
RINK. lie. FASTENED to Washington, intending to
resign; butthe altered bis decision, ana canccing
hi. resignation, lie hurried back to the army. j
Taylor, sympathizing with the feelings Uf Worth,
who could not forgive hinsef for having missed the
battles Of the Sth and. gth Of May, assigned to him. at
Monterey the task Of carrying the heights, tile
SaltIIo road, with one division df the army while with
the other the commander nchieadyanced against the
iowa from the Serayo road This was in fact giving
Worth an independent c)mmand-for after once Sc
paratng It was found impossible to keep up the
munications between the two divisions of the army.
Worth carried in succession the various forts COM
handing tile Saltllo road stormed the Bishops pal
ace, which overlooked the town ana pushing forward
through suburbs euterered the street. throwing shot
and shells and carrying terror and disnaY before him.
lie within short distance ofthe great square,
when The town capJuatel Taylor penetrating to the
plaza from the otheE side For Ills exploits at Mon
terey, W orth was breyettcd major general.
lis next great exploit at Moline del Rey, where
he Carried almost impregnabe works Of the enemy af
ter tremendous struggle ii which more lives were
lost, in proportion to tile numbers engaged, than in
any action OF the war.
Worth also fought with distinction at Cerro Gordo
At Churubusco and at the storming Of the gates Of
Mexico.
lie was, perhaps, after Taylor ana Scott the most
olicient-certainlv he.most popular of the Generals
in the with Mexico.
The character Of Worth may be sketched in few
words lie was brave to fault Sufficiently good as
tactcian chivalrous,o of popular manners ofmposing
presence, naughty, at times overbearing impetuous
warm hearted fast friend. In many respects he re-
senbled Decatur. IN battle, especially where daring
courage required, he had no superior. His
soldiers still tell with enthusiasm that at Monterey he
dsmounted from his horse, placed his pumed Lat on
the point Of his sword, and waving it high overhead
led them to storm the Bishops Castle Such tales re-
call the Paladins Of old romance.