The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-07
A NEGLECTED TOMB,
ooNDrrIoN OF ZACHARY TAYLoR's GRAVE MAR
1 LOUISVILLE
from the 1 ouisville Ledger.1

CONDITION OF ZACHARY TA1LOB6 GRAVE MA
l LOUISVILLE
From the Louisville Ledger.1
Comparatively few people remember OF ar,
aware that Gen. Taylor's grave is SO near tn
city, and fewer still ponder upon his immens'
superiority as citizen and patriot over Abra
ham Lincoln, who his been entombed like
demi-god in the State Of Illinois.
The grave Of Gen. Taylor is very near tn,
Brownsboro turnpike, a county road running
east from Louisville, about five miles from thu
city. Though not exactly on this road thu
place may be seen from it, and it is reached
through small rough lane about three hun
dred yards long. 1t is the old
| FAMILY BURY1SG GROUND,
the place where General TayEor's father, Col
Richard Taylor, and many Of his family lie
buried. His lot is located on the eastern
| slope of gently declining hill, and is enclos-
ed within stone wall averaging four feet in
height, and wide enough to be substantial,
built Of common and rough limestone, such as
| is found lying loosely around on the premises.
The enclosure contains, perhaps, half an
acre of land, which was reserved at late sale
OF the homestead to the Taylor family 1t is
entered through small iron gate on the east
side, but this is kept locked, and
looks as if it was never opened
Auc WuOlo lOL PRESENTS u 6alO picture VI
neglect The shade trees, Of which there are.
perhaps, q dozen, consist OF pines, wild
cherry trees, and the ailanthus. The latter
are very emblematic as they are now. when
their leaves have been swept away by the
autumn winds, covered with large clusters of
mistletoe, green and fresh as in springtime,
and easily suggestive Of life in death. There
are no walks, and in many places it is difficult
to proceed, on account OF brier-bushes,
brambles, locust and other obstacles. Very
nearly the entire ground is covered with
growth of vines. This prevails in many places
to the depth of six inches. It is an evergreen,
and the dead grass creeps through it in many
places.
GEN. TAYLoRs GRAVE.
This is the first object which attracts the
attention upon passing into the grounds as it
is located within few feet Of the entrance
and fronts it. An enthusiast for the rights or
dues Of the inhabitant of the "Silent City ."
must prepare here for disappointment and
very great disappointment. He will find that
the mortal remains of o man who once dwelt
in the White House as the head of a people
proud to call themselves the most potent on
earth, occupying desolate. common,
neglected vault, and that in state of sad
decay.
This vault, containing also the remains Of
Gen. Taylors wife, who died only about three
months after her husband did, faces the en-
trance gate. The front is built of common |
limestone blocks, squared and polished to
some extent. These are laid one upon the |
other without being sealed together by any
means, forming wall ten feet high and ten |
wide. The top stones are carved more suit
ably than the others. The vault is entered
through doorway about two fl ct wide by six
feet high, with SOLID iron shutter which is
locked fast and does not appear to have been
opened since the time the vault received its
con 'ents Over this door there has been
placed thin marble slab-which is now held
n its place by three-cornered fence rail as q
prop-and upon the slab is engraved the SIM
pie record
2. TAYLOR,
BORN NOV. "a, 1884.
DIED JULY 8, 1850.
Though the vault at first was plain enough,
ime has been at work, and the stones forming
he wall seem disposed to fall apart, display
ng great cracks, which are full of crickets and
Dads. As for the remainder Of the grave, or
ault, il is o simple mound Of dirt, sloping off
q all directions from the rear portion of the
tone front, the dirt having fallen so far
round the front as to leave only narrow {
lyrtle to the depth of several inches which
GEMS to have wound around and entangled {
self about this spot for score Of years. The ,
mbankment is covered with brier bushes and I
II kinds of wild weeds, so dense that it is
,und all undertaking beset with difficulties to {
tempt to pass through them. In doing so t
ne Is sure either to come out with torn gar
lents or covered with burs and perhaps both c
The place is desolate in the extreme, and j
10 distinguished old warrior certainly has | s
uiet resting place. Q
1t is probable that many persons may say c
lat, if such is the case it is better to let the
lstinguishsd dead lie in peace where he is. y
OF so; the men who have spent their lives in t,
le nations service deserve signal recog- d
tion. The people Of the United States made =
achary Taylor President for q life spent in c.
leir service, and q nations gratitude should v
least keep the grave or vault in repair, and
lould at least brush away the brambles and s,
'iers and the dust of years, from his tomb l!
Gen. Taylor belongs to Kentucky. His .
ther, Richard Taylor, was . colonel of the Il
b Virginia regiment in in the Revolutionary ct
ar. He was one Of the trainers of the Con- m
tuition Of Kentucky, where he settled from G.
rginia in 1855. He was gallant and patri- m
lc gentleman of the old school, and died on d,
8 plantation, where he had lived forty years. B
Zachary Taylor worked on his fathers plan q,
hon near this city until he was twenty-four in
ars OF age. In 1908 he went into the Indian &c
RS, and distinguished himself when he was
enty-tour years Of age. From that time B.
It'll, rs Brevet Major General, he fought VIC 50
riously the vastly superior forces of the m
exicans with our small and ineficiently til
tipped army. He was soldier of renown, We
vays ready to brave the dangers Of battle NJ
his country. be
soldier, he was Grants superior. As SO
actical defender Of his country, he was SUI er
rior to Lincoln. So it came about that in ht
Is he was nominated for the Presidency and di
,eived l63 electoral votes against 1877 votes it,
Cass, his opponent. His son Richard was ia
colonel in the Confederate service. vi
The remains which lie in the neglected tn
llt, few miles out of this city, are emit Fl
d to faithful care. Zachary Taylor was first II
IN by the nation in the smoke of battery. dc
in the character of hero. For many Z,
ars he was the Behsarius of the United RI
'tes. always ready to lead the legions of the in
artry. His last resting place, like that of RI
lisarius, should not be forgotten. On future ar
coation days, when the dead ofz4he late be
= are remembered, let not the heroesiof the ma
ha En~