The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-03-04
GENERAL BEN MCULLoCH.

Sketch of his Lite-his career an -Rer1c0.
One of the most notable characters OF the war IS
Ben McCulloch. Much as he is talked OF, and as
many rs are the characteristic anecdotes told OF
him, We find but few who know his history For
this reason. we think that the following brief
sketch of his military career, which we lind IN the
Arkansas War Bulletin, will be read with interest:
General Ben McCulloch arrived in Texas from
his native Tennessee just in time to command a
portion of the artillery on the plain of San Jacin-
70, April 2lst, 1886, nearly twenty-six years ago.
He was then barely twenty-one years of age. That
was the opening of his military career. For the
ten succeeding years he resided upon the exposed
Indian frontier of the infant republic, and so fully
was his time given to the Indian wars, that he
followed no other business. His time passed III a
succession of hardships and dangers, such few
men have seen, in which he displayed the highest
characteristics the scout the captain the strateg
isr and the iron-nerved fighter.
When the Mexican war broke out, McCulloch,
refusing the command Of regiment, took the
field as captain of Gen Taylor's tavorite spy COM
pany In that capacity his services we're of the
most dangerous and important character; and we
have General Taylors authority for saying he per-
formed every act we'll and thoroughly. lie con
tinued in the same arduous service till the close
of the war McCulloch was the first to notify
Taylor of the approach Of Santa Anna, with five
times his number and to advise him to fall back
from Eucarnacion TO the stronger position at Buena
Vista, in which our army was saved from surprise
and consequent destruction. On that bloody field
he received the public and official thanks of Gen.
Taylor for his heroic conduct aud services.
General McCulloch had served in the Texan
Congress of 1889, and the Legislature of 1915
the only political positions he has ever held. ln
1916, when was upon US, and be IN Mexico,
he was unanimously elected Majcr-Ucncral of all
western Texas-In 1S49, he went to California
and was at once elected Sheriff Of Sacramento
For the last eight years, prior to secession ne was
United States Marshal for Texas. and in that
time was sent as commissioner to Utah and next
to Arizona. He was twice offered the governor
ship OF Territories, and was appointed Major OF
United States Cavalry all of which he declined
The moment Lincoln's election became known,
McCulloch identified himself as an unconditional
secessonist, and repaired to Texas to take part in
any movement that might grow out Of the presence
of over 5000 United States Troops in that State
He was unanimously selected by the Committee
of Public Safety to raise the men necessary tC
compel the surrender of San Antonio, with its
arsenal and the neighboring forts, four or five in
number Within four days he had travelled 15U
miles, and stood before San Antonio with 500
armed men, his old comrades and neghbors. His
mission succeeded. Texas looked to him with
confidence as one of her strong pillars, in Of
war She SEM him abroad to procure arms; but
before be had fully succeeded, the President
appointed him Brigadier- q eneral, and assigned
him to the command of the Indian Territory
Such is birds eye glance at the Ioug career Of
Ben McCulloch.