Mariposa Democrat., 1857-08-13
Mariposa 9emotrat.

CgEN"' '"fo'" C*S>'"''
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MAJOR Ben. McCuL
Locu.-Maior McCulloch was born in Ruther
ford county, Tennessee, in 1914. His father
Alexander McCuloch, was ad-de-camp t
General Coffee, and fought under Genera
jackson at the battle of Taadega, Tallahassee
and Horseshoe, during the Creek war. Hi
father emigrated to Georgia while Ben wal
very young, and Ben was kept at school il
Tennessee until he was fourteen years DID,
After this Ben was kept hunting until be wa'
near twenty-one. AT that time the bears were
so bad in Tennessee that the settlers could moi
raise their hogs. Hunting bears in the cane
required much caution, and ifa mans CUR
snapped he lost his breakfast Young McCul
loch frequently killed as many as eighteen beal
in season, and never less than twenty in the
course of winter. This life gave him a taste
for wild adventure, and when he became O.
age, he determined to go on an expedition t.
the Rocky Mountains, and left his home foi
st. Louis, to join company Of trappers. HC
arrived too late, however, and likewise failed
in joining company of Santa Fe traders
He returned home, and soon after called or
Col. David Crockett, who was making up ar
expedition to go to Texas, to take part in the
revolution. The whole Southwest at that time
was alive with feelings Of sympathy for the
Texans, and men were daily hocking to theil
standard. Nachodoches was appointed the
place of rendezvous, from which the exped
ton was to start, and Christmas, of the yeal
1885 was named for the day of meeting, wher
as Old Davy expressed it, they were to make
their Christmas dinner off the hump Of a buf
falo. McCulloch again arrived too late, and
finding the party gone, he proceeded on by
himself to the river Brazos, where he was taker
sick, and he did not recover until after the fall
of the Alamo. McCulloch's disappointment
was very great at not being able to join the
gallant band of patriots, but it afterwards pro
we'd very fortunate to him, for Col. Travis, af
ter having sustained siege of thirteen days
with only $50 Texans against Santa Anna.
army, fell with his brave little band, after hav
ing killed ninety Of the enemy
Major McCulloch, on joining the Texan army
under Gen. Sam Houston, was assigned to the
artillery and made captain Of gun. lie served
gallantly at the battle of San Jacnto, where
Santa Anna was taken prisoner and his army
of 1900 men cut to pieces. McCulloch after
wards settled in Gonzales county, Texas, anC
was employed on the frontier surveying anC
locating lands. He frequently led the wild
border scouts against the Indians and Mexi
cans, which service he entered before the eel
ebrated Jack Hays lie also distinguished
himself at the battle of Plum creek in a figh
with the Indians, who at the time burned anC
sacked the town OF Lnnville. He Joined The
expedition against Mier, but not agreeing witt
the plans Of the leaders, he retired home be
fore the fight, and escaped the cruel hardshipl
and imprisonment Of that command, whiel
had to surrender to the perlidious Ampudia
When the war broke out with Mexico, h,
rallied band of Texan warriors on the bank,
of the Guadaloupe, and set out for the scat o
war on the Rio Grande The company arrived
four days after the battles of Palo Alto and Re
SAGA de la Palma. His company was accepted
by General Taylor, and he was afterwards en-
ployed in the daring scouting expedition TO
wards Monterey, in which battle, as well al
that of Buena Vista, he won imperishable re
nown. lie afterwards joined Gen. Scott's ar
my, and continued with it until the conques
of the city Of Mexico. For his gallant services
Gen. Pierce created him Marshal of Texas
which Office he now holds
Major McCulloch is a thin, spare man, o
great muscle and activity, and is now about 4;
years of age. lie has pleasant, face and il
mild and courteous in his manners with NJ
air of difidence. lie is very cool, and of de
termined bravery, and is yet a bachelor.-N
Y. Times.