The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-12
A Sketch Of the Career of Genera1 v,ylo

'So "a .iAC Sa1eei Oh 1eneIal aylOr
The Commercial Advertiser contains the fol-
lowing brief sketch of the leading incidents in
The life OF the late President, which seems to
have been compiled with care, and is probably
correct in its main features.
Ills career furnishes another to the many ex-
amples afforded in the history of our Republic,
that the strenuous pursuit of public honors does
not as surely lead to their attainment, as the
conscientious discharge of the duties living i'm
medlately in our daily paths--and that the peo-
pie prefer elevating those to high office who do
not aspire too much to fill it,
The old soldier never sought the Presidency
III the first place-his elevation to it was through
spontaneous popular recognition of his serv-
nes-and however opinions may vary as to the
merits OF his administration, all must concur in
confessing that throughout his whole eventful
life Zachary Taylor neither sought nor Stunned
responsibility.
After LIES fittul fever hesleeps well"-let ne
rude hand disturb that dead rcpose, nor mar tn,
memories of the soldiers triumphs by blending
with them the strifes of that political warfar,
through which his training had not fitted him t.
march so VIGOROUSLY.
Peace be with his ashes.
ZACHARY TAYLOR was born in Orange coun
ty, Virginia, on the I'd of November, 1884. Un
til the age OF twenty-one he remained under the
roof of his father. In his twenty-fourth year he
WIS appointed first lieutenant i'll the seventh in
tantry, and in 1912, then holding captaincy he
served under General Harrison in the Indian war
in the North West The gallant defence of
Fort Harrison, in September of that year. secured
him high reputation and the rank of brevet ma
Jor. At the close of the war he returned to his
farm, having previously Gin 1870 married Miss
Margaret Smith, of Maryland
In 1916 he resumed service in the army with
the rank OF major, and was for two years in COM
mand of Green Bay on Lake Michigan. Thence
ne removed to the South, being generally en-
ployed Ill active service, receiving in 1919, the
rank of lieutenant colonel From 1926 to 1889
Lieut. Col. Taylor was again employed in the
North West. In 1892 he was commissioned as
colonel, and served with honor in the Black
Hawk war. H.'
He next appears prominently in the arduous
duties of the Florida war, where he pre-eminently
distinguished himself In December, 1887, he
fought the memorable battle of Okechokee with
the hostile Indians, which may be said to have
put an end to that war. For this he was pro-
NOTED to the rank of brigadier general In lS4O
he took the command Of the first department of
the South Western division of the army, his
headquarters being at Fort Gibson, in Arkan-
sas. Here he remained until 1916.
We now enter upon those events in the life
of General Taylor which Immediately preceded
and contributed to his elevation to the Presiden-
ey. In 1916 he was ordered to the Texan FROM
tier and in August of that year had fixed his camp
at Corpus Christi. Early in 1916 orders were
despatched to him by President Polk These
orders he obeyed, and began his march thither
on the 9Th of March, respectfully representing
however, to the Government, what he conceived
would be the inevitable result Of such STEP
His career thereafter was one of uninterrupted
triumph, and all are familiar with its history l
may be thus briefly summed up:-the battle o
Palo Alto on the 9Th of May; of Resaca de L
Palma on the 9th; the taking Of Matamoros OF
the 18th; his promotion to the rank of Majo
General on the 29th of June; the capituaton Q
Montery on the oath of September; the battl
of Buena Vista on the 22nd of February, lS47
his return to the United States in November G
that year; his nomination for President by tn
Wing convention in June, 1913; his election i
November, and his Inauguration on the 9th c
March, l849. That high Office he filled for on
year, four months and four days.
President Taylor has left widow, daughter
Mrs. Bliss and a son, still quite young mar
Two other daughters, Mrs. Wood ard Mrs Davi
are deceased.