The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-06-07
DAVIS AT b.yNA VISTA

with Jeh' Davis, from which we ex. {
tract:
DAVIS AT b.gNA VISTA.
By the way, il j er Davis sbou d
lead the secession army, nerson il
is to be hoped that his me.,or Tor
courage) won't fail him, as it I'd at
the battle OF Buena Vista, when 10
omitted to give the third and essential
command to throw his regiment in
to solid square: "By the right and
left Of flank battallions! To the
COLOR march!" The cons qucnce
OF .his hiatus cale deGenduS was
that his regiment was lett in the
shape Of a V to receive the charge
Of four thousand Mexican cavalry,
coming down on them in full career,
on the slopes Of Buena Vista. The
survivors OF that regiment know
that nothing saved them from an
initiation but their long-practice9,
deadly markesmanship with rifles.
Perhaps it was well for Jefferson
Davis, that Zachary Taylor was his
fsther-in-law, though unwillingly so.
A sterner and more Brutus'like com.
mander might have ordered court
martial on the spot, that would have
condemned him to have boen shot
for cowardice or moral incompetent
cy.
In my opinion, jeff. Davis should
have peen court-m artialled for his
disgraceful misconduct in that bat.
tie as soon as it was decided. Per-
haps he would have been, hut for
his peculiar relations to Zachary
Taylor, whose daughter he had mar
ried by stealth, in opposition to the
expressed wishes and positive com.
mauds OF her father. General Chen
ColoncD Taylor ssid to his daugh
ter: al you marry Lieutenant Ds
vis, | will never see your face again,
; dead or alive!' The infatuated girl
nevertheless, eloped with Davis, who
had taken advantage of the patron
age of his commanding officer, and
violated the laws of hospitality by
secretly gaining the affection OF his
daughter. In such adherence did
Zachary Taylor hold Davis, that he
kept his word with tirmness that
may be deemed pitiless cruelty
When in the course Of time, his dis
obedient daughter lay on her death
bed. she sent to him penitcnt mes
sage, entreating him to visit her,
that she might die in peace, with her
fathers blessing, or at least his for
giveness. The stern reply of the in.
eXorable nan was: 81 warned Won
that il over y"u married that man, !
wouIdsi ever sec you again, living
/. or dead and | never will" And 81
the unfortunate lady died, unbles,
and untorgivcn 10y him.
When Davis came under the i'm
) mediate command OF his iather-in
law in the Mexican war, General
/, Taylor refused to recognise him in
/ any way, except officially, rs in Civ
ing orders, and in other matters o
, purely military form and duty.
There was II two field obstacle tC
Taylor's performance OF his duty il
the Buena Vista matter. Davis wat
his son-in law, and was at the sam'
time known to be tho object OF hi
hatred and adherence. lie coul,
not well have escaped suspicion q
A., bad motives or personal feeling il
either view.
, A friend, to whom read the fore
n going short time since, gave IN
|. the following sketch OF Davis ,ela
:, tions to an old Missiesippian, re
4 nownc1 for desperate and recklcs
N courage:
n Alexander McClung often prove
~ himself, on the battlefield and O
he the dueling-ground, man Of daun
% less and unsurpassed valor, shown
N N an absolute contempt for death q
in every occasion that presented. Ii
ot killed many men with his own han,
os and finally shot himself in the hcar
IN | happened to be in constant con
d. munication with Colonel A. II. Nc
N N Chung, Of Mississippi, in 1S49 an
h. 1850, aud had almost daily conve
saticn with him in relation to prom
It's nent Mississippians. AS a matt,
of course, jeff. Davis was ir,qnen
IS. ly named, and for him McClung el
tcrtaincd the most supreme col
60 tempt. He said that JEFF. Dav
was not man of true courage-th,
ho wished to be regarded as a duo
est; but, in giving challenge, won
nc always cast about him for a MOI
his combatant, aud would exerci
enough prudence TO creep out of a
cepting one from an antagonist ov
} whom he had not great advantag
( McCluug said, on one occasion:
=, vi am very sorry ever fought
to to duel. 1t is not pleasant businet
and yet would like to fight o.
more, with one man, and that mi
: is Jefferson Davis, because | thil
the United States will be better wit
ST. out him. Ilo will not fight mo,
Of is too great coward. In fact,
ng is not now, never was, and nev
,ns will be q brave man, in the tr
H. sense Of the word.
'"' "lIe is dangerous and wily,p p
itician, loaded down with van
'on and self conceit, wishing only
era his own aggrandizement, and
ted cares not at what expense or h
the many desolate households.
md thinks OF himself, and himself on
the and should not be surprised to f
ap. him, ono of these days, taking 81
mr.. a etep in public as will place