The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-06-11
GbansbilIs 9ailu gournal.
Interesting Sketch Of the Life IF
Major Ben. McCulloch.


Major Ben. McCulloch.
Major McCulloch was born in Ruther-
ford county. Tennessee, in 1914. His
father, Alexander McCulloch, was Aid.
de-Camp to General Coffee, and fought
under General Jackson at the battles of
Tallageda, Tallahassee and Horseshoe,
during the Creek war. His father emi-
grated to Georgia while Ben was very
young, and Ben was kept at shcool in
Tennessee until he was fourteen years
old. After this Ben was kept hunting
until he was nearly twenty-One. Atthat
time the bears were so bad in Tennessee
that the settlers could not raise their
hogs. Hunting bears in the cane requir-
ed much caution, and if a mans gun
snapped he lost his breakfast. Young
McCulloch frequently killed as many as
eighty bears during season, and never
less than twenty in the course of a win
ter. This life gave him a taste for wild
adventure, and when he became of age
he determined to go on an expedition to
the Rocky Mountains, and left his home
for st. Louis to join a Company Of trap
pers. He arrived to late, however, and
likewise failed in joining a company Of
Santa Fe traders.
He returned home, ard soon after CAL
led on Colonel David Crockett, who was
making up an expedition to go to Texas,
to take part in the revolution. The
whole Southwest at that time was alive
with feeling of sympathy for the Texans,
and men were daily focking to their
standard. Nacogdoches was appointed
the place Of rendezvous, from which the
expedition was to start, and Christmas of
the year 1885 was named for the day OF
meeting, when, as "Old Davy" expressed
it, they were to make heir Christmas
dinner Of the hump of buffalo! McCul
loch again arrived too late, and finding
the party gone, he proceeded only him
self to the river Brazos, where he was
taken sick, and he did not recover until
after the fall Of the Alamo. McCulloch's
disappointment was 7ery great at not
being able to join the gallant band Of pat
riots, but it afterwards proved very for
tunate for him, for Col. Travis after hav-
ing sustained siege of 13 days, with
only $50 Texans against Santa Anna's
army, fell with his brave little band, after
having killed $40 ofthe enemy!
Major McCulloch, cnjoining the Texan
army under Gen. Sam. Houston, was as
signed to the artillery, and made captain
ola gun, He served gallantly at the
battle Of San Jacinto, where Santa Anna
was taken prisoner, and his army OF
1900 men killed or taken prisoners.-
McCullOch afterwards settled IN Gonzales
county, Texas, and was employed on the
fontier surveying an locating lands -
He also distinguished himself at the bait
lie of Plumb Greek in fight with the
Indians, who at that time burned and
sacked the town of Linnville. lie Joined
the expedition against Mier. but not a.
greeing with the plans of the leaders, he
returned home from the fight. and escap-
ed the cruel hardships and imprisonment
ofthat command, which had surrendered
to the perfidious Ampudia.
When the war broke out with Mexico,
he rallied band of Texan warriors on
the banks Of the Guadalupe, and set out
for the seat of war on the Rio Grande.
The company arrived four days after the
battles of Palo Alto and the Raseca.-
His company was accepted by General
Taylor, and he was afterwards employed
in the daring scouting expedition to-
ward Monterey, in which battle, as well
as that Of Buena Vista, he won imperish
able renown. He afterwards joined
General Scott's army, and continued with
it to the conquest of Mexico. For his
gallant services General Pierce created
him Marshall of Texas, which Office he
now holds.
Major McCulioch is thin, spare man,
Of muscle and activity, and is now 43
years of age. He has a pleasant face,
and is mild and courteous in his manners.
with an air Of diffidence. lie is very
cool, and Of determined bravery, is yet a
bachelor, and is the very man for Cover
nor of Utah, which is hoped he will be-
| come.