, 1861-06-03

few Interesting unpublished Facts
exemptfylng his CoWard1eo und
YEfAAOQ.

A few interesting Unpublisiaed Facts
exempltying his Coward1eo und
Therenre some important facts In the hIsto-
r. Of this very conspicuous aud very despice-
bio person, which have not yet been made
known to the American public at 1arge, and
to tie world, through tie newspaper press.
They arc interesting and lnstructfre, especial.
II at the present time, as illustrating aud de-
monstrnting his character; and, consequently,
to some extent, the characters Of those who,
well knowing him, selected him as the Mems
Bahib Of the Southern 8epoy mutiny.
It has been repeatedly announced that JcG
Dayis'win command the Southern Sepoys In
person, In the campaign now commencing. I
hope he will lead the Way on their first battle
field, for mean to be there myself But I
very much doubt whether Mr.. Davis has tho
couragcto expose hlmselfto the peculiar risks
not Of immediate death, but Of capture
which he wou}d incur In that position
Soue OF "our boys" arc bound to sfha7e his
carcass" alipe, If It costs thousand Of their
lives. 49,
By the ray, If Jefferson Davis should lead
the secession army in person, it Is to be hoped
u it did at the battle of Bnena Vista, Whea he
omitted to give the third and esaootial COM
maud to throw his regiment into solid
eqnare: "By the right and left Of flank bat
la4ou6: ~ luE coioT, HlaTc0I' 11e c0nBe-
t9ucnce Of this hiatus sak d.g7endus was that
his regiments were left spread in the form Of q
V, to receive The Charge Of 1000 Mexican
cavalry, coming down on them in full career,
on TIE slopes OF Buera Vista The survivors
Of nat regiment knew that nothing saved
them from anihllation but their long pfactlced,
deadly craftsmanship with rifles.
Perhaps 1t WAS well for Jefferson Davis that
Zachary Taylor Was his father in-law, though
nnwiilngly so. 4 sterner and more Brutns
like commander might have ordered court
martha, on the spot that would hare condemn
ed him to haTe been shot for corwardice Or
moral laeompeteEcy.
In my opinion, JEFF f.rson Davis should have
been court martialed for his disg1aceful mis-
conduct in that battle, as soon ss it was decid-
cd. PerhaIs he would have been, but for his
peculiar relations to Zachary Taylor, whose
ton 10 the expressed wishes aud positive com
mands Of ler father. Gen. then CoL) Taylor
said to his daughter, 81 If you marry Lieut..
Dayis, will never see yonr face again, dead
or aliye." The infatuated girl, nevertheless,
eloped with Davis, who had taken advantage
and violated the LAWS Of hospitality BY secret
" gaining tho affections Of his daughter. In
such abhorEcnce did Zachary Taylor hold
Davis, that he kept his word with tlrmuess
that may be deemed piti1e=s cruelty. When, in
The coniee Of time, lis disobedient daughter
tent massage, entreatiug him to visit her, that
she might die in peace, with her fathefs blcs-
sirg, or his forgiveness, the stern reply. of the
inexorable old mas was: II warned you that
If ever you married that man, I would never
see you again, living or dead, and Ine.er 'oul."
And go the unfortunate lady died, unblest and
unforgiyen by him.
When Davis came under the immediate
command Of hts father-in-!awfin finEthe Mexican
MAR, Gen. Taylor refused to recognize him in
yxrnr+ oR$ sn11- T. ..se
and in other matters Of purely military form
and duty
There was two-fold obstacle to Taylor's
performance Of his duty in the Buena Vi5ta
matter. Davis Eas his son in.laW, aud was at
the Eame time, known to be the object of his
hatred and abhorrence. He could not well
tave escaped suspicion Of bad motives orper-
eonal feeling, in either view.
"A friend to whom read the foregoing
short time since, gave me the following sketch
OF Davis relations to IN old Mississippian,
renowned for desperate and reckless cour-
age. Alexander McClung often proved him
self, on the battle field and on the duellng
ground, man Of dauntless nnd unsurpassed
yslor, showing an absolute contempt for
death on every occasion that presented. He
killed many men with his own hand, and final
~ shot himself in the head.
l happened to 9e in constant communica.
ton with Col 4 R. McCllng, of Mississippi,
in 1840 and 1850, and had almost daily CONVEX
eeaion with him in relation to prominent Mis-
sissippfan5. Az matter of coarse, JEFF Davis
was frequently ramed, and for him McClung
entertained the most supreme contempt. He
said that jeff was not q man Of true courage,
that he wished to be regarded as duelist; but
In giving challenge, would always cast about
for non. combatant, and would exercise
enough prudence to creep out Of accepting
one from IN antagonist over whom he had not
q great advantage. McClung said, on one occs.
SIGN:
II am very sorry ever fought duel II
is not pleasant business; and yet would
Ike 10 fight one more, with one man and that
man is jefferson Davis, be1ause think the
United States will be better without him. He
Will rot fight me, he Is too great coward.
In fact, tc is not now, never Was, and never
will be . brave man, In the true sense Of the
word. He Is q dangerous aud willy politician,
loaded down with vanity and self conceit,
wishing only for his own aggg1andiz: and
he cares not at what expense or how many de-
eolatc houE eho1ds. He thinks of himsef only,
and should not be surprised to find him, one
OF these days, taking such step in public as
will place his neck in a halter, for he is bad
man and Il scouudre1, and have frequently
denounced him as such before the people Of
Mississippi !; and the dirty po1troon and artful
william never had the cou1 age to resent it."
These conversations occurred on board the
ship, B. Gardner master, on our passage from
New York to Valparaiso. Mr. McClung WA
on his way to Bolivia, Is Charge d'Affsire4
from the United etatts.-Dr, 0kmstead.