Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-11-14
Auecdote 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
a martinez, but he was strict in the mat
ter of cleanliness, and in the matter Of
his own dress he was elegantly precise.
Reared and educated in Philadelphia
he had imbibed the nice tastes of the
nicer class of her people. At muster
and parade, and when on official visits,
it was his custom to appear in full uni
form of the most elaborate and dazzling
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
modore Conner than was afforded by
General Zach Taylor. His sobriquet of
"Rough and Ready" was entirely legiti-
mate. He dislibed pomp; and never
wore anything like regulation uniform
when he could avoid it.
On certain day Commodore Conner
anchored his feet off the Point, and sent
word to General Taylor that he would do
himself the honor of paying him visit.
This put old Rough aud Ready into
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
Conners nicely, and the draft upon his
nerves was severe. He would rather
have charged an enemy's battery ten
times. Sull the old hero resolved to do
his best toward honoring his guest, and
through him to honor the navy.
Meantime Commodore Conner was
considering how best he might please
General Taylor. Knowing the peculiari
ties of that officer, he had resolved that
his visit SHOULD be without ceremony and
without pomp. So be dressed himself in
a suit OF plain white linen duck, and
went on ahore unattended by any of his
staff.
When word had been brought TO Tay-
lor that Commodore Conner had landed,
he quickly abandoned the camp work be
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
-donned it dusty, wrinkled awry-and
in his haste the coat was buttoned two
buttons higher on one side than on the
other, while one Of the. epauettes was
broken from its strap He had just &C
complished this uncomfortable meta
morphosis when Commodore Conner was
announced. With free and easy step,
and all alone, Commodore Conner en-
tered the Generals tent. The two he
roes shook hnnds warmly, and it was
very evident that each was greatly sur
prised at the personal appearance OF the
other. But the discomfort sss not for
long Both comprehended the situation
at a glance, and hearty laugh was the
result.
The officer from whom ] heard this
story was with Taylor in FloFida, and
during the whole campaign in Mexico,
and he assured me that the. occasion oil
Commodore David Conner's visit was
the first and last time he ever saw old
Trough and Ready" ia full uniform,
and, in fact, the only time he ever saw
the old war dog completely nonplussed.