Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-08-15


ham, of that city )-speak volumes tot the
nobility and gentleness Of the lamented she-
70. in whose character were united the art
lessness and simplicity Of the playful child
with the dauniless courage and Jove-like
bearing Of "the brayesf Of the brave :"
The extraordinary ,nodesty Of General
Taylor, and the fact that after all, his mind
did not take pleasure in the recollection Of
the scenes Of war, led him to bcrather re-
luctant to talk much about his battles, but
it happened to be my privilege, accompan-
led by only one Of his military friends. to
hear from his own lips minute and graph
ic account Of his experiences throughout
the entire period of the battle Of Buena Wis
ia. He told me tina. during the whole Of
the second day be fully expected to. die;
and that be bore each moment the thought
that it might be his last--that on no other
similar occasion of his life did he carry
with him such feeling.
He showed me where his clothes were
perforated by balls The outside edge of
his coat sleeve, just below the shoulder Of
his right arm, was cut away. as also the lin
en-, and the flannel under garments, and the
skin was blackened and burnt but not torn,
and two bullets perforated each several
times the folds Of his coat as it tapped
loose al his right side, Within an inch OF his
person, and about three inches apart, enc
above the other. These statements he made
in connection with an answer in the mega
tive to my inquiry whether he had ever been
wounded. l then told him that, believing
in particular Providence, had sometimes
thought that his life had been thus remark
ably preserved for some great purpose of
usefulness to his country.
With the most striking and delightful
meekness Of manner, the color coming to
his cheek, and his eye moistening as he
spoke. he said that the preservation Of his
life had indeed been wonderful, and then
went on to express hope that his country
men would all do him the justice to believe
that it was fartl,est possible frcm his own
wishes or thoughts ever to have been bro't
forward for the Presidency; that all he
could say was, that he should do his utmost
to fulfil the obligations Of the Office into
which the course of events had brought
him. He humbly hoped, he said, that he
might be of service to his country, and that
my sentiment might be justified by the re-
suit
After this very interesting passage, he
REQUIRED to the subject of the battle, narra-
ted his movements during both its days and
nights, the particulars of the critical mo-
ment when the fate of the day hung upon
the services of Col. Bragg's pieces, and the
facts connected with the strange and mex
plicable flag that came to him from Santa
Anna.
As this incident Of the battle may posi-
bly,, if the secret history Of the war is ever
fully revealed, be found to shed light upon
it, | will here record the facts, related to
me by General Taylor himself During the
height Of the conflict a flag was seen ap-
preaching. The emergencies Of the day
had SO stripped him Of his staff, that having
no one to send, he went himself to meet it.
As the young officer who bore it could no.
speak English, nor he Spanish, the confer
ence took place in French. The commu-
nication was this: 4" General Santa Anna
desires to know what Gen. Taylor panfs ?''
Feeling somewhat indignant that message
so apparently impertinent should have been
sent at such a moment, and regarding it as
perhaps device merely to gain tins or
some other ilIegi.imate advantage, or, at the
best, as species Of trifling, he gave an an
swer dictated by the feeling of the moment
=" What General Taylor suants is General
Santa Annals Army"
Here the conference closed, and the
Mexican officer Withdrew. Upon a mo-
ment's reflection, he regretted that he had
| given an answer so undiplomatic, and hav.
ing so much the air Of a repartee. He
called to mind the fact that his government
had advised him that they had favored the
return Of Santa Anna to Mexico, from a
belief that he was disposed to promote, and
might have influence enough with his coun-
trymen to effect termination of the war
and it occurred to him really designed to
open the way for negotiation, and. perhaps,
paci6cation-an object ever near to his
heart He rode over the fields in search oil
General Wool, made known the circum-
stances to him, and suggested, if not toe
great personal exposure. the expediency
Of his carrying flag to the Mexican lines
to ask an explanation Of the message.
TO send an officer of his rank, character
aud position, would remove the indignity,
If it should be SO regarded, of his blunt and
summary answer. General Wool readily
aud CALAMITY undertook the service, and
rode forth to execute it, but the fire Of the
Mexican batteries could not again be stop
ped. aud no further parley took place. The
next morning, when Colonel Bliss was sent
with flag 10 the Mexican Head Quarters,
he was requested 10 ascertain what had been
intended BY the message Of the previous
day, but he found the state of things such
as 10 render it vain TO enter upon the sub
ject. The import of the message remains
unriddled to this day. Santa Anna can IN
doubtedly solve :he enigma.
In the conversation. from which l deri-
ved these interesting items Of information,
General Taylor described to me the anxious
consultations Of the second night of the
battle. His officers came to him, one after
another, expressing decided opinion that
his army was too much broken to be brought
up to the struggle another day. He declar-
ed to them bis belief that, dreadfallv as his
forces had suffered. the enemy had suffered
worse. that retreat or any other alternative