Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-11
Gen. Joseph Lane-A Representative Man


IN the Scuatc Of the United States, as one o
her representatives, G,n. Joseph Lane, one o
the most remarkable men Of the nge, Whose
career Is fine illustration Of the genius OF OuI
Institutions, and demonstrates, that the hlgt
places Of honor and Distinction are acceSSibl,
to all who possess ability, energy and perse
verance.
Gen. Lane descended from revolutionary an
ceStOrS, was born in the State Of North CaIO
linn, was reared and educated in Kentucky
emIgratcd to Indiana, aud settled on the banks
OF the Ohio, in the county Of uvenburg, where
without the adventiti0uS aid Of iamr, tamiy
or fortune, he worked his way from an hum
bic plOugh-bOy and flat bOatTnan on the Miss
iSsppi, to the high position Of distinguished
soldier and statesman. At the age Of twenty
one, when barely eligible, he was elected O
representative III the Legislature Of Indiana
ana continued TO represent his people, ut H.
tervulS Oi one or two years, either IN the Il0uSt
or Senate tor about quarter Of CENTURY
POS cSSlnS clenr, strong, and prartlcal mind
he took II liberal and correct view Of all qucS
tionS affecting State or National interests
whlrh enforced with an cloqnrnrc md power,
which placed him in the front rank Of the
ablest mcn in the Legislature. His name is
| lhdIsSolubly connected with >uunc Of the most
important measures, which developed the re-
sources. advanced the prosperity aud improved
the htAtet-r III tite State t-iteeitiiF i-+ttrrrSS'
lhl eilortS to preserve untarn,hcd thr public
lalth. and 10 prevent the reputation Of the
public debt, which was boldly advocated by
some OF the strongest men IN ln'iiana.
When the Mexican war broke ont, General
Lane Was IA member Of the State Senate; and
when a call was made upon lndiann to furnish
volunteers Tor the war, with that dryOt' d pnt-
riOtiSm, which has ever characterized him, he
Immediately resigned his seat and volunteered
aS private in Capt. Walkers company 80.
W hen the companies rrndczvoiiNc,i at New
Albany, he was elected from thrlanks rs their
Colonel; but lie was not permitted to hold the
commission but very few Days Tint Sa-
gnciou> statesman, James X Polk, then Prr>i.
dent Of the Cnitcd States, DISCERNING in ten.
Lane the qualities to make SlccrS>Iul warrior,
sent Linn IL commission Of BIigadirr General,
compliment as unexpected Us 1t was unsn-
lcited hy him. The opponents Of the Admin.
istMtion aud war, throughout the State, de-
nOunced and ridicnled the appointment; de-
claring that he might make u gooi General ui
J. The Hat boatncn- on the Mississippi, but that
the idea Of JoScph Lane, who had never COM
manded company in his llc, taking COM
mand OF Brigade in war, was simply ri,licu-
louS; that he woull disgrace himself the
State. md the Nnton. Never did a mans :
achievements in war, more completely al>iiy
the predictions Of his rhrmirs and realize the
most Sahguine expectations Of his friends Or
more triumphahtiy vindlcatc the wisdom Of
the appointment.
Ii less tian three weeks after the receipt ol
his commission, he wasn't the seat oi war with
all his troops. In communicating lis arrival
To Gen. Tal lor, lac wrote thus" The brigade
have the honor to command is gcnrnrrally
in good health and Iins spirits, anxious to en-.
gngr in active service"
The indomtahlc energy, thr srif%qcriiicing
spirit, the sound judgment and firm purpose
which he displayed IN the active service Of civil
lite, were ctniucntly conspicuous, in the stir.
ring scenes of battle, blood, and cainag",
through which he passed, illustrated by ,lar.
ing bIavcIy and Errni>ll, which placed him
among the most distinguished heroes If that
memorable wnr. To recount the battles in
which Cen Lane was engaged, the dangers I"
which he was rXp0Scd. the brave deeds he
performed. the skill nnl judgment with which
hc planned his battles. aud the unvarying sue.
cess with which he fought them, would con.
sumo more space than we have to spare. Such
was the crlcrty Of his movements the skill
and >tratagcm of his plans, the holdnrSS and
/ rapldlty OF their execution, aud the ,nthuSi
a>m aud courage with which be inspired his
men, hy his impaS>ioncd Appeals to their val0r,
aS they visited the most fearful slaughter up0r
the enemy. the name of Lane struck terror tr
the Mexican heart, and hv common consent
he was styled the Marion Of the Mexican
War" OF all the battles fought in Mexico,
the battle of Bucna Vista wa, the scycrrI and
most hotlv contested, and one Of the most re-.
markahle i'll the annals Of the world. Here
the American army, consisting Of about five
Thousand, mostly raw militia, met twenty
thousand of the chosen troops Of Santa Anna
in deadly conflict, and after protractrd strug.
gle of two days achieved a glorious triumph
In that battle Gen. Lane performed Il most
important part. No officer contributed more
by his gallantry aud gcncral>hip tn win III,
fortunes of the day Upon the left wing o
the American army which Gen. Lane com
mandcd, Santa Anna directed his most 0bst
nate and deadly assaults. With but loo men
Gcn. Lane repulSed Il large body Of Mexican,
SIX thousand strong. While nothing coul,
exceed the fearful array Of the aSSaiantS, a,
they moved towards the little baud of Lane
with their long lines OF Infantry, presenting
continued sheet Of fire; nothing Cunld SurpaS
the undaunted tirmntSS and bravery will
which Lane and his men maintain, d their pn
Sition and poured their vollcvs Of muSkrtr,
into the advancing columns of the enemy
which made them break and fall back
Throughout the varying fortunes of that try
ing day, Gen. Lane with his little band Of he
rocS, maintained his position AMI rcpuScd th
enemy at every point. On the second day u
the battle, Santa Anna finding his strength dc
cllnrd and his most Skillfnl manmuvrrS drlrat
ed, as the day was drawing to close deter
mined t" make n most desperate effort to tur,
the tide of battle in his favor. Collecting al
his infantry, he made Il charge on the Illinoi
and Kentucky regiments Calamity did thrS
brave troops resist the onset until seeing th,i
leaders fall and ovcrpowcrrt by numbers, the,
began to w0vcr and fall back. At this critic;
moment, the eagle eye of Gen Lane observe,
the movement, when he FASTENED with hi
brigade to the rescue, in time to enable the re-
treating regiments to form and return to th
contest and drive back with grratlosS the al
vancing columns of the enemy This wa
Santa Annals last struggle. On that blood
and holly contested field, night soon close
over the SanGuinarv scene, and when the morn
ing sun arose, it Shone upon the battle field
deserted by Santa Anna with his Shattere
legi"ns, while the Star Spangled Banner waive
in triumph over the American army.
No officer went into the Mcxican war wit
leSsNpretenSionS@ @Aan Gen. Lane none cam
out OF 1t with brighter faRe-the tcStimon
OF eye-witnesses, historians md official record
attest the fac. The New Orleans Drftd.H {
| May 2, 1897, recorded the popular cStimatio
in which Gen. Lanes condnct was held in Nh