The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-08-28
:GEnEaAL TAYLOA As 4 auSTo.
RIAN.

ue1etsi 4aylof, altn0ugn an excel
lent soldier, and man Of strong good
sense in the everyday affairs Of life,
had been educated in the camp, and
knew no more of statesmanship or tho
operations Of government than a Ca
manshe Indian; nor WAS he distin.
guishsd tor colloquial accomplishments
OF narrative or descriptive talent. Then
no had . habit of hesitation 10 conyer.
sation that amounted almost to q st.m-
mer. Hespoke 10 . terse, sententious
style upon subjects With which he was
familiar, and bis suggestions, especially
on military matters, were marked by
quick perception and sound judgment.
But be was never diffuse Of. demon.
strative, and wasted no words upon any
body. - r, r. r., ~ <:<s.~
Judge Butler, = colleague in the
serate Of Mr.. Calhoun, calling to pay
bis respects to the President, begged
him to describe the manner in which
the battle OF Buens Vista was fought.
His brother, Pierce Butler, command.
ing the Palmetto regiment, and very
gallant officer, fell in the battle, and
the judge was naturally anxious to learn
the particulars of that desperate con-
test. "Well, we'll, judge, you want to
know how the thing was done. Come
and dine with me to-day, and I'll tell
you all I know about It,"
Judge Butler was hasty, impetu-
ous man, and the words flowed from
his mouth in q torrent whenever he
had occasion to speak. He was all i'm
patience during the dinner, and the
moment they were alone he brought up
the subject Of the battle.
| eyes, yes, judge, your brother was a
brave man, aud behaved like a true
soldier. But about the battle-you
want to know how it was fought"
"Yes, general, if you will be so kind.
I wish to learn how your troops were
disposed on the field, aud how you post.
ed them to resist force so overwhelm.
ing. Santa Anna must have outnum.
bered you four or Eve to one."
"The difference was greater than
that, I think, but we didn't stop to
count the Mexicsns. I knew there
was heavy force, and longed for .
couple of regiments more of regulars. :"
| "Undoubtedly," said the judge j.;
"but what was your order of battle 2"
"Why, you see, judge, We went to
fighting early in the morning the first
day, and We fit all day long, losing q
good many men, and at night it looked
pretty bad"
"Well, what next?"
| "When 1t got dark I rode over to
Saltillo to look after our stores and to
provide against SURPRISE
"Why did you 60 yourself? Why
not send one Of your aids?'
"You see, judge, everything depend
ed on BOT having our supplies cut off f,
and l wanted to see after things my.
self.'
"How was it the next morning when
you came on the field p inquired the
: judge.
"Not much change since the night
before"
"Who was the first man you met Z"
'General Wool"
"And what did he say 2"
"'Al' is lost"
"What was your reply?"
"Msybe so, general-we'n see.'
And upon that We went to fighting
again, and fit all that day, and toward
night it looked better"
i The judge, looking rather blank,
asked, "What next p
"Well, the next morning it was re.
ported to me that Santa Anna and all
his men had disappeared in the night,
and I was devilish glad to be rid Of
} them so.'-Harper's Magazine .tor
) September.