Southern shield., 1850-08-17
Interesting Anecdotes Of Gen. Taylor.

Hon. C. W. Upham, upon President Taylor, delivered in that city on the 18th. The following extracts from it contain some an- ecdotes of the departed hero, now for the first time made publc
 |. The extraordinary modesty 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 be rather re- luctant to talk much about his battles, but it happened 10 be my privilege, accompanied only by one of his military friends, to hear from his own lips minute and graphic ac- count ot his experiences throughout the entire period of the battle of Buena Vista. He told me that during the whole of the second day he fully expected to die; that he
 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
 linen, 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 at his right side, within an inch of his per
 son, about three inches apart, one above the other These statements he made in con- nectlon with an answer in the negative 10
 my inquiry whether he had ever been
 wounded. l then told him that, believing
 in particular Providence, 1 had sometimes
 thought that his life had been thus remarka- ply preserved for some great purpose of
 usefulness 10 his country.
 With the most striking and delightful
 meekness of manner, the color coming 10
 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 10 express hope that his country
 men would all do him the justice 10 believe
 that, it was the farthest possible from his
 own wishes or thoughts ever 10 have been brought forward for the Presidency; that ali he could say was, that he should do his utmost 10 fulfill the obligations of the office into which the course of events had brought him. He humbIy hoped, he said, that he might be of service 10 his country, and that my sentiment might be justified by the result.
 After this very interesting passage he re- cured to the subject of the battle, narrated 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 pIicabIe flag that came 10 him from Santa Anna.
 As this incident of the battle may possi- ply, if the secret history of the war is everI fully revealed, be found to shed light upon it, will here record the facts, related to me by Gen. 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, havingI no one 10 send, he went himself 10 meet it. As the young officer who bore it could notI speak English, nor he Spanish, the confer ence took place in French. The commu-I nication was this, "General Santa AnnaI desires oknow what General TaylorUants?''I Feeling somewhat indignant that a message so apparently impertinent should have beenI sent at such moment, and regarding it asl perhaps a device merely 10 gain time orI some other llegitmate advantage, or, atI the best, as species of triAing, he gave anI answer dictated by the feeling of the mol ment-"What General Taylor Uants isl General Santa Anna's 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 undiplomatc, and hay ing so much the air of repartee. HeI 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 q termination of the war, and it occurred to him really designed 10 open the way for negotiation, and, perhaps, .paciicaton-an object ever near to his heart. He rode over the fields in search of General Wool, made known the circum- stances to him, and suggested, if not too great a 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, and position, would remove the indignity, ii it should be so regarded, of his blunt and summary answer. General Wool readily and gallantly undertook the service, and rode forth to execute it, but the fire ot the Mexican batteries could not again be stop ped, and no further barley took place. The next morning, when Col. Bliss was sent with a flag to the Mexican Head Quarters, he was requested to ascertain what had been intended by the message of the previous day, but he found the state of things such as to renderitvain to enter upon the subject.