The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-07-23
AneedOte of two Veterans.

While Gen. Taylor lay with his army
at Point Isabella, Just north of the mouth
of the Rio Grande, Commodore Conner
had assumed command of the Gulf
Squadron. Conner was veteran OF the
last war with England, bearing honora-
BILE wounds, and with a record which
any officer might envy. He was by no
means martinez, but he was strict in
the matter of cleanliness, and in the mat
ter of his own dress he was elegantly
precise. Reared and educated in Phila-
delphia he had imbibed the nice tastes
of the nicer class of her people. AT mus
ter and parade, and when on official
visits, it was his custom to appear in full
uniform of the most elaborate and daz-
cling description. He liked it.
In this matter of dress doubt if there
could have been found in either arm of
the service a greater contrast to Com.
Conner than was afforded by Gen. Zach.
Taylor. His sobriquet of Rough and
Ready" was entirely legitimate. He
disliked pomp; and never wore any
thing like regulation uniform when he
could possibly avoid it.
On certain day Com. Conner an
chored his fleet off the Point, and sent
word to Gen. Taylor that he would do
himself the honor of paying him visit.
This put old Rough and Ready into a
furry. In the midst of hard camp-life
following severe fighting he was not in
the mood for ceremoniOus etiquette.
Had the proposing visitor been an old
sea-dog like Stewart or Hull, he would
not have cared but he knew all about
Corners exceeding nicely, and the draft
upon his nerves was severe. He would
rather have charged an enemy's battery
ten times. Still the old hero resolved to
do his best toward hOnoring his guest,
and, through him, honor to the navy.
Meantime Com. Conner was consider
ing how best he might please Gen. Tay-
lor. Knowing the peculiarities of that
officer, he had resolved that his visit
should be without ceremony and without
pomp. So he dressed himself in q suit
of plain white linen duck, without of
fetal insignia of any kind, and went on
shore unattended by any of his staff.
lor that Com. Conner had landed, he
quickly abandoned the camp work he
was at the time experimenting, and
made hasty strides for his tent, where he
plunged into his chest and dragged out
his best uniform. He donned it quickly
doomed it dusty, wrinkled and awry--.
and i'm his haste the coat was buttoned
two buttons higher on one side than on
the other, while one of the epaulettes was
broken from its strap. He had just &C
complished this uncomfortable metamor-
phosis when Commodore Conner was
announced.
With free and easy step, and all alone,
Com. Conner entered the Generals tent.
The two heroes shook hands warmly, and
it was very evident that each was greatly
surprised at the personal appearance OF
the other. But the discomfort was not
for long. Both comprehended the stu
ton at glance, and hearty laugh was
the result.
The officer from whom / had this story
was with Taylor in Florida, and during
the whole campaign in Mexico, and he
assured me that the occasion of Com
David Corners visit was the first and
last time he ever saw old Rough and
Ready in full uniform, and, in fact, the
only time he ever saw the old war-dog
completely nonplussed.