Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-08-15

~. Further than this, was opposed to
the impending war, was opposed to the
| acquisition Of territory from Mexico,
was a friend and lover Of peace, and it oc-
! Cured to me that if The management ofthe
war were in my hands, might have op-
portuntv, from time to time, TO mitigate
its severity, to shorten its duration, and
facilitate the return of peace, and that the
evils threatening the country, from war
with Mexico, might be multiplied and ag-
gravated il, in consequence Of my giving
way, an officer u Totally different views
on these subjects, should succeed to the
command. Considerations like these de-
,ermined my course, and l abandoned my
proposed resignation
Such was the reasoning which salts fed
Gen. Taylor that it was his duty to obey
the orders of his government, and proceed
to the post, and the part assigned him. 1t
seems to me that he reasoned like man
Of honor, patriot, and statesman. On
this point there may possibly be difference
of opinion, but there can be none, Of the
sincerity, the magnanimity, and the tiael-
i.y to his own conscience, with which he
the country was enhanced, and the bale
full effects Of the war, in all particulars
lessened by his decision ofthe question:
Whoever bears the statement have now
! made in mind, will find that it sheds q
clear and steady light upon all bis subse-
quemt actions, and interprets into noble
consistency the whole tenor Of his des-
e patches and correspondence. l leave it
to the thoughtful specula'or to moralize
: upon the current of human events, and
t the strange tissue Of sequences in the his
: tory Of mankind, and the unfathomable
o mysteries ofthe Providence that rules over
the des,inies Of nations, and the spirit of
: men, to trace the results TO himself, to his
o country, and to future generations, of the
e process of thought that passed through the
1t breast Of the commandan of Fort Jesup
!. in his solitary and silent seclusion, and 10
q q compare them with what would have bee,
n the probable consequences had he reached
an opposite conclusion, and made way fer
"a an officer to lead the army against Mexi.
1t CO, devoted to the annexation policy Of
- that day, delighting in scenes Of war, i'm
bned with the spirit of conquest for The
mad purpose of sec,iona! ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
j. and having no higher or other ambition
n than to revel in the Halls of the Motte
= zumas."
.e The extraordinary modesty of Gener
Of al Taylor, and the fact that, after all, hi
lie mind did not take pleasure in the recol
Is lections of the scenes Of war, led him 4
in be rather reluctant 10 talk much about Iii
battles, but it happened 70 be my priv
n lege, accompanied only by one Of his mil
s. itary friends to hear from his own lips
I'd minute and graphic account Of his expe
r rience throughout the entire period {
r. the battle of Buena Vista. He told IN
re that during the whole Of the second da
of he fully expected to die; that he bor'
tn each moment, the thought that It might i
ID, his last-that on no other similar occ:
n sion of his life did he carry with him sue
ST. feeling. He showed me where h
IN clothes were perforated by balls. TT
is. outside edge of his oat-sleeve, just belo
n the shoulder Of his right arm, was CT
en away, as also the linen, and the iiann
ed under garments, and the skin was blacl
;as ened and burnt, but not torn, and two bu
m lets perforated each several times, Il
hat folds of his coat as it tapped loose at h
or right side, within an inch of his perso
he about three inches apart, one above I!
ire other. These statements he made in co
rn- nec'ion with an answer in the negative
of my inquiry whether he had ever be-
cd wounded. then told him that, believi,
a in particular Providence, had som
err times thought that his life had been th
les remarkably preserved for some great pu
ave pose of usefulness to his country. Wi
on the most striking and delightful meekne
ess Of manner, the color coming to his chee
em- and his eye moisting as he spoke, he ss
our that the preservation of his life had
der deed been wonderful; and then went
csc to express hope that his coun'rym
would all do him the justice to belle
ell that, it was the farthest possible from
lay, own wishes or thoughts ever to have be
,nal brought forward for the Presidency-u
, lis all he could say was, that he should
Tess his utmost to fulfil the obligations Of
srld Office into which the course of events /
RIGA brought him. He humbiy hoped, he sa
ices that he might be of service to his count
ood and that my sentiment might be justif
to- by the result.
nat After this very interesting passage
sep- recurred to the subject Of the battle, n
IS Of rated his movements during both its d
und and nights, the particulars of the crit
do moment when the fate of the day b,
Tor. upon the service Of Colonel Bragg's !
nate ces, and the facts connected with
sing strange and inexplicable flag that came
up hlm from Santa Anna.
and AS this incident Of the battle may p
vote >ibly, if the secret history of the war
veys ever fully revealed, be found 10 shed Ii
ural upon it, will here record the facts
ar lated to me by General Taylor himself
and During the height Of the conflict flag
de- seen approaching. The emergencies
:h Of the day so stripped him Of his staff,
i'm having no one to send, he went himsel
n of meet it. As the young officer who /
ways it could not speak English, nor he Sr
posi- i>h, the conference took place in Ere,
he The communication was this :-"Gen
uen- Santa Anna desires to know what Gen
sion, Taylor erants 2" Telling somewhat
is of dignaEt that message, so apparently