Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-08-16
Biographical sketch of General Joseph Lane,

and demonstrates that the high places of honor and dstpc
ton ave accessible to all who possess ability energy
General Lane descended from Revolutionary ancestors
was porn in the State Of North Caro- ina the 18th De
cemDer 1901. In 1904 his father emgrated with his family
to Kentucky where the hero and statesman was reared ap
educated Having received substsn education he re
the county Of Vandenburg where without the aventou
AID OF fame family or fortune he worked bis way from
humble plowboy and atboatman on the Mississippi to hi
present distinguished position.
If any man can be styled man of the people Genera
Lane is truly that man Through period of than
quarter OF century the people have evDced their admra
ton for the sterling honesty of his character the strength
OF his intellect and his pure and unsefsh honor which he
mas performed with signal ability and success With
strong intellect and mind emTenty PRACTICAL with an hon
est manly and generous heart its every pusation beating
IN sympathy with the he won the ration anC
confidence of the people Of Indiana to such degree that
unsolicited before he tweDtyone years OF age they
elected him the Legislature their former representa-
tive, who able and experienced legislator had
been Speaker of the House of Representatives of the State
The strong and practical mind of the youthful legislator
taking liberal iudicous and statesrnanike view of all
questions affecting State national interests which he
forced with persuasive elouuence soon made him ore OF
the spirits of the Legislature when the people
anxious to elevate him still higher posts in the National
Councils having no heritage but poverty and an
educate he had to forego higher honors and wider field OF
sent the people either the House the of the
State for nearly quarter of century.
His is ndissouby connected with some of the most
important measures which developed the resources adVan
ced the prosperity and improved the finances OF the State
especially his able and successful efforts preserve
the public debt. which boldly advocated by
the strongest men i'll Indiana.
When the Mexican war broke out General Lane a
member OF the State Senate and When requston was
made upon Indiana furnish volunteers the war ODE
dent to the call Of patriotism, he resigned his place the
SENATE ana as private lor lhe war "hen the
companies assembled to organize and elect their officers
such their uubounded confidence in Joseph Lane that
they elected him colonel OF their regiment although he had
seen no military service either soldier officer
Before he could put his regiment in motion, President Polk
illustrated bis sagacry by sending him commission as
Brigader General, compliment as unexpected was
unsolicited by General Lane
The opponents of the Administration and of the war,
throughout the country denounced ard iculed the APP
poinment declaring that he might axe good general of
the hath 'atmen on the Mississippi river but that the idea
OF 10 Lane who had commanded company in his
NE taxing command OF bflgaGe In war was SIMPLY rIdi-
cuouS Inat ne would ds9raGe himself his Sa'e ana the
nation Thus the plain humble volunteer without prestige
preeusiOn amidst the eers and tauns Of the Mexican
sympathZ s set ms brigade IN motion Tor the theatre of
the wa where he not only tasfed all the predictions Of
his enemies and realized the sangure expectations
his friends but won fame for daring CALAMITY and
successful alship hch has linked his with
brightest history of his countys renown while his gener
Osty the Vanqushed and sOritude for the
sick and disabled, made him sally popular with the
soldiers and officers OF the who, seattle ed all the
Union burning signaze their appreciation Of his
WORTH by browning him with the highest of earthly hono
In less than three weeks after General Lane ved
commission he was at the seat of war with all his
In communicating his arrival General Taylor he
him thus The brigaCe have the honor to command
generally good health and fine spirits anxious engage
in active service
The indomiable energy, the sefsac1ifcing spirit the
sound Judgment and firm purpose which he displayed in
the active service Of civil life emnetly Conspicuous
III all the stirring scenes Of BATTLE blood and tge
through which lie passed. illustrated by d daring
bravery and herOlsm, which placed him among the
most distinguished heroes of that memorable To
count the battles in which General Lane engaged the
dangers to which he exposed the brave deeds he per-
formed, the skill and judgment with which he planned his
battles and the unvarlng with which he fought
them, would consume more space than We have TO
Such the celebrity of his the skill and
gem Of his plans, the holiness and rapty of their
on and the enthusiasm and courage with which he inspired
MS men, by his lmpassIoned Appeals to their ValOr they
visited the most fearful slaughter upon the enemy that the
consent he styled Marion OF the N xican
War" OF all the battles fought in Mexico the battle OF
Buena Vista the severest and most hOty contested and
one of the most remarkable in the annals of the world
There the American army consisting about five thousand
mostly raw militia met twenty thousand of the chosen
troops OF Santa Anna in deadly conflict and after pro-
traCed struggle of two days achieve glorious triumph
In that battle General Lane performed most important
part NO ohcer contributed more 10y his gaan ry and
erashp to win the fortunes the day Upon wing
OF the American army which General Lane commanded
santa Anna directed his most obstinate and deadly as
saus. With but four hundred General Lane epUsed
large body OF Mexicans six thousand strong While
ing coo exceed the fearful array OF the assaants they
moved toward the little band of Lane with long
of infantry, presenting continued sheet fire. nothing
c0ud surpass me undauned trmness and bravery with
which Lane and his men maintained their position pour
ed their voes lskery into the advancing columns of
the enemy which made them break ard fall back Through
out the varying fortunes of that trying day, General Lane
with his little band of heroes maintained his position and
repulsed the enemy at point. second day of
the battle, Santa Anna finding his strength defed and his
most sul manoeuVres defeated day was drawing
to close determined to make most desperate effort 0
turn the tide of the battle in his favor Collecting all his
infantry he made charge the illinois and Kentucky
gments Calamity did those brave troops onset
until seeing their leaders fall overpowered by numbers
they began Waver and fall back. At this critical
the eagle eye ofenera Lane observed the when
he fastened with his brigade to the to enable
the retreang regiments form return to the contest
with great loss the advancing column Of
enemy, This Santa Annals last struggle. On that
bloody and hOty contested field night over the
sangunary scene and when the morning sun arose if
upon the battle field, deserted by Santa Anna, with his
shattered egOns while the starpanged banner waved in
triumph over the American army.
No Offipn into haM nvio
han General Lane-none out of it with brighter
anne The testimony of eye witnesses, historians and Off
May z, l947 recorded the popular estimation which Gen.
Lanes conduct held the battle of Buena Vista as fol
oWs:
BRIGADIEK GENERAL LANE-The bearing of this gallant
cer in the battle of Buena VISTA described by
Who were present. in the highest degree gallant noble
md soldier ke When his brigade composed of the two
ndlal regiments, was exposed to murderous fire from
he Mexican batteries their fanks and ont fiji from
nusket shot flew thick as hail through the our vol
nteers who began to before the fiery storm their
rave General could be seen fifty yards advance of
ne waving his ord with already shattered by
1usket ball. streaming with blood, and mounted noble
hage which was gradually sinking under the loss Of blood
five distinct wounds. brave sight indeed was this ~
This brave man. whose cheek banched with fear
eye quaed amidst the hottest conflicts of battle, has
cart OF tenderness which melts human VICE. His solicit
lde for the care of the SICK the wounded and the dying
'as manifested on many occasions. Numerous incidents
nd anecdotes are narrated illustrating his kindness and
endeness in relieving their suferngs and administering to
le Gonlo IN the hospitals and the battle fields, which
him to his troops that made him always
lnclbe when their leader On his home wherever
stopped citizens OF all classes wed do honor to the dis
ngulshed hero Whilst in tue city of Cincinnati the guest
General Moore, incident occurred illustrative of his
awe kindness and tenderness and the gratitude the re-
Iplent German citizen ushered himself into the pres
nee OF General Lane, amidst the guests the paror He
,ked if General Lane in. The German, with emotion
9ked: " DO you kno" me- General p " L do not said
le General. German: We'll, sir, | recoect and will
lank you to the last day OF my life Do you remember a
# The fight with the guerrllas at Manga de Clava which
routed lie scouhdreis SO finely, you found soldier
by the waysde exhausted by the heat of the sun and
exertions of the day. and dsmounted from your horse
I'D placed him on it, walking by his side until you reached
Camp, where you did not rest till you him ell ia
en- care of The General replied that he recoected the
lcunlstance very WELL 'Well,' said the German am
lie boy, and by that of kindness you saved nv fe
% mere to thank you. How forget to pray
II you! God bless you, you the soldiers riend o
10 MS own state OF Indiana it perfec Wher
yer ne W1nt The massesthe hard Of toil-tarned ii
tn r,AE