The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-08-15

dened with debt, would be compelled to
repudiate, The prospect os the disgrace
which would thereby result to the Stale
aroused all his indignant energies. He
would not hear of such thing He felt it
would be disgrace TO him, as working
man, with the will and The strength 10 labor,
TO repudiate debt. What was It, theI, TO
State of which he was representative
lie ,oiled untiringly to avert it, and had the
satisfaction of seeing his efforts successful.
In politics, General Lane has always been
of the jefferson and Jackson school. Pos
sessing a strong intellect, and memory
retenlive of facts, and quick TO use them,
he has become thoroughly acquainted with
the history and politics of the country. MIR
Yulee observes, "He has written with his
plough and sword, and spoken by his deeds;
| and though unused 10 the ornaments of
rhetoric and literature, he is, nevertheless.
powerful ,in debate, and especially well
qualified in political and Presidential con-
flcts on the stump TO overwheIm the oppo-
nenls of Democracy" He supported Jack
son in 1924, 49, and '32, gave his voice and
energies for Van Buren, in 1886 aud 40, ''as
long as the latter followed 'in the footsteps
of his illustr;ous predecessor" and went
for Polk in ls44. His activity and earnest
ness were contagious, aud could not but in
fuse into those about him, and into the
public men of the State generally, the spirit
which had led him TO SO honorable prom
inence.
In the spring of 1876, the war commen-
ced between the United States and Mexico,
and call was made upon Indiana for vol
unteers Lane, then member of the Stale
Senate, Immediately resigned, and entered
Captain Walkers company as private
He chose Walker as his commander, having
a high opinion of his bravery-an opinion
which that gallant officers conduct and
death al Bnena Vista completely justified.
When the regiment met at the rendezvous
New Albany-Joseph Laue was taken
from the ranks by the unanimous voice OF
the men, and placed at the head as Colonel;
and in very lew days aflerward he re-
ceived-unsousht and unexpected by him
a commission from President Polk as brig
adier-general. On the 9th of July he wrote
letter of acceptance, and entered on the
command of the three regiments forming
his brigade. Two weeks alter (24th of July)
he was at the Brazos, with all his men, and
concluded the report announcing his arrival
to General Taylor in these words: s'The
brigade have the honor 10 command is
generally in good health and fine spirits,
anxious TO engage in active service" On
the 10th of August, be wrote to Major Gen.
eral Butler, claiming active service. His
! brigade did not relish being left in the rear
10 garrison towns or 10 guard provisions
and military stores, while the regular army,
and the volunteers ordered on to Camargo,
would have the honor of having been ac-
tivly engaged.
Lane had az idea that the Indiana men
were raised 10 do some fighting, and he
was impatient of delay. The second day
afler his letter 10 Butler, he wrote again to
General Taylor, complaining of the advance
of troops out of their order of precedence.
Without being disrespeclful he demanded
; for his command a share in the dangers
: and honors of the active service. Despite
J eral months in a most irksome mood ,on the
swampy banks Of the Rio Grande, where
, his troops, suffering under the sweltering
!! sun, were decimated by the pestilenlial
diseases of the climate.
Al length he was ordered to SaItillo, and
, post by Major-General Butler After the
battle of Monterey, Lane was ordered TO
join General Taylor.
; The famous battle of Buena Vista was
fought on the 22d and 23d of February,
ls47. General Lane was third in command,
, and served on the left wing From the
+ beginning 10 the end he was in the hottest
of the fight. On the morning of the 23d;
! Land had the honor of opening the contin.
nation of the battle, on the plain, where he
was attacked by force of from four TO five
! thousand infantry, artillery, and lancers,
under Gen. Ampudia. At this crisis, Lanes
, force was reduced to four hundred men
and with this phalanx he received the Mex
lean onset.
II As Lane commenced the fight on the
23d, so was he in Eat the death" The H.
inois and Kentucky regiments, suffering
sorely, were falling back under terrible
charge by the collected ibfauiry of Santa
( Anna, when Lane. though wounded, came
up with the Indiana men, and with the
Mississippi men, under Colonel Jefferson
! Davis, opened destructive FIRE upon the
Mexicans, checked their advance, and en-
abled the retreating regiments TO form and
return TO The contest. Failing to pierce the
American centre, Santa Anna retired from
the field