The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-13

oeaehmee's No species Of warfare is so trying to the
regular soldier Colonel Taylor was continually IN a..
i've service, and the esteem OF his officers and The
eon"uehce OF ms soldiers On the 25lh of December,
1887 he fought the battle OF Okeechobee when he de-
iea'ed the Semnoles and Mckasukees The Indians had
selected strong position, and message OF defiance
20 Colonel Taylor The challenge accepted and the
Indians were completely rouied-an event which had
great influence in bringing that vexaous and harassnx
war 10 close. The brevet rank OF brgadier general
was conferred him for The skill and courage displayed
AT this battle la 1888 General Jesup retired from the
command OF the forces in Florida and General TAYLOR
was appointed to succeed him
In 1910 General Taylor relieved OF the command
in Florida by General Armistead and in ls4l he was
ordered 10 Fort Gibson, TO take command of the sec
ond department.
On the i7ih of September 1874. General TAYLOR was
ordered to hold the troops between the Red river and The
Sabine in readiness to march as they might be directed
IN obedience to the directions of the United States
charge near the republic Of Texas. Soon afterwards
the resolution of annexation were passed, and General
Taylor concentrated his forces at Corpus Christi in
August, ls45. General Taylor remained at that point
unll the 18th OF March, 1885, when he broke 10 his en-
campment and marched westward On the goth he
reached the Colorado, which he passed without resist
ance and arrived on the Rio Grande, opposite Maamo
ros on the 2sth of March General Taylor Immediately
commenced to fortfy his position The Mexican com.
mandsr ordered him to retire beyond the Nueces but he
refused TO move from his position state of uncertainty
and even Of quasi hosttes existed until the Mexican ar
my crossed the Rio Grande and cut to pieces Captain
Thornon's command. The news of this event spread
through the country and everywhere eageness was ex
hlbed to rush to the of our gallant army which
was surrounded by the forces of the enemy Congress
promptly voted and carry on the war which
had been thus commenced but all knew that the fate OF
General Taylors army would be sealed before succor
could reach him. The whole nation was in state of
painful suspense every breeze from the South was listen
ed to as il it would bring the dngs of victory or defeat
AT length authentic that General Taylor, leav
ing Major Brown in defence of the works opposite Mat
amoros, had marched to the relief of Point Isabel that
be had set out from Point Isabel when he heard the
from Fort Brown that he had beat the enc
my at Pao Alto, and again at Resaca de la Palma. and
had driven him in confusion beyond the Rio Grande
EMULATION and Joy every countenance, and the
OF Zachary Taylor at became familiar TO every
citizen of the republic.
The American forces al Palo Alto amounted to 1T off
and 2,ill the Mexican forces exceeded $780,
The marching forces OF the Americans at Resaca de la
Palma numbered 73 officers and 2.O93 men but the ac-
tua number engaged did not exceed l,7oO The Mexi-
can force engaged exceeded 5000 men,
These victories filled every heart with gratitude. and
made every tongue eloquent with the praises OF Gen. Tay
Tor and his gallant officers and soldiers From that time
to the close OF the the nation believed that nothing
but would arms and after the slh and
nst IA a.
equal TO any odds He inspired with that confidence
which carried him trumphanty to the halls OF the Mon
tezumas.
General Taylor's rank in the line was that OF colonel
He was, we have already mentioned breveted as
brgadier general for the victory of Okeechobee Soon
after the battles Of the sth and 9th of May he bre
veted major general, and then he promoted the
full rank OF major general of the United States army
On the 18th OF May, 1916, General Taylor took pos
session of Matamoros without firing a gun-General
Arisa the Me xican commander e!reating before him
His attention then occupied in preparing for ad
vance into Mexico-Monterey being the object OF attack
On the 9Th OF August the army, largely reinforced by
volunteers, took up its line OF march II reached the
Walnut Springs three miles from Monterey, on the 9th
of September. The Mexicans had taken every pre-
caution for a successful defence. Not only the
walls and parapets lined with cannon, but private
houses were fortified, and the streets barrcaded and
planted with artillery After establishing camp. and
reconnorng the position OF the enemy. General Worth
marched on the evening of the Goth, in command OF the
second DIVISION to gain The Sato road The next day
General Worth succeeded in his movement carrying the
Bshops Palace and detached positions in the rear
of the city General Taylor made diversion in favor
of General Worth The assault kept up during the
22d and 23dthe Americans carrying point after polnt in
the face Of overwhelming odds. Al nine O'Clock OF the
evening OF the 23l General Ampudia proposed arms
tce, which resulted in the surrender Of the city.
At the siege OF Monterey General Taylor's forces
amounted to AS officers and $3.50. His artillery
consisted OF one onch mortar two 2apound howizers,
and four light field batteries OF four gnns-the mortar
being the only piece serviceable for siege. The town
works were armed with fortyl pieces Of and
manned with force of least 1000 troops OF the lne
and from 1000 TO 1900 iueguIars.
After the capture OF Monterey it determined to or
|ganize force under the command Of Major General
Winfield Scott general. n-chief OF the army, to capture
Vera Cruz and march on the city OF Mexico. In order
Ito carry that object il became necessary to withdraw
many OF the troops from General 1ayors ne and place
them under the command of General Scott In the
time Santa Anna, who had returned TO Mexico, was or
sanzing an army at San Luis Potosi. General Taylor
had advanced as far Aqua Nueva, at the head Of five