New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-23
Old ROuxh and Ready.

In his lecture, giving DIS TtInluieCcucoc
of the Mexican war, which he is now deliv-
ering in many of the towns OF Missouri,
General James Shields tells the following:
It was in the year 1916, that upon the
banks Of the Rio Grande l first met Cen
eral Taylor. Before leaving my home in
Illinois I had heard of him. He was the
hero OF the day; the whole country re-
sounded with his name and his exploits.
Well, when l was presented to him con-
fess was considerably surprised. He was
somewhat below medium height, was short
and stout, in fact was what you would call
dumpy. He wore straw hat, an old linen
duster that looked as if it might not have
been washed since he fought the battle
of PaiO Alto. HE pants were large
and loose. aud on his honest feet he
we're coarse soldier shoes, not very hand.
some. but very comfortable. let me assure
Won, HIS face was not hands0me-nO, 1t
would have been at first sight called
bomely; but there was about it that which
Impressed one with the grand honesty and
decision of the man. lie stood upon MS
feet az solid and determined as prairie
buffalo. As have remarked, was con-
siderably takep aback when was presented
to General Taylor but when hs held out his
honest palm to me and babe me welcome in
his hearty, of hand way. knew that had
"Old Rough and Ready" right before me-
as brave Q soldier as ever battled TOR his
country; and as honest q soldier as ever
won the SURFACES of the American people,
That day, continued the speaker, ained
with General Taylor. and upon that COCA
sion there were also present Colonel Blisa,
and Colonel Clay, Of Kentucky, son OF
Henry CLAY. Of the four assembled to-
gether at that time, am to-day the sole
survivor. While we were at dinner guard
fled in with two prisoners that had just
been arrested. The men had been for two
days days peddling oranges through the
camp, and by accident one OF the soldiers
had discovered that under their coarse gar
ments thew wore the finest linen. So the
two were arrested, aud carefully concealed
about their persons had been found papers
containing very valuable information con-
corning the American camp, the number OF
men in arms and the best points for attack:
These papers were handed over to General
TAYLOR, and latter reading them he passed
them to the rest of US. They were unmis-
taxable evidences that the two men were
SPIES "Call my interpreter. demanded
General TAYLOR. The General could not
speak Spanish. The only Spanish word he
knew YVES ramos, and he ueed it on all occ' =
eions, Whenever he invited the Mez cans
into camp he said ganaOs, and when
ever he ordered them out Of camp
he said .'uamos" The interpreter having
arrived, General Taylor eaid to him: "Ask
them what they are!' The prisoners re-
piled that they were Mexican soldiers.
their rank isr' They looked at each other
q moment, as much as to say, "We might
as we'll tell the truth" and answered that
they were colOnels-one of them chief OF
the engineer corps at Monterey. aha"
said General Taylor, $50 much the worse.
And now ask them who sent them here"
They replied that they had come il obe-
dience to the orders of General Apudia.
General Apudia sent on. did hef" rosred
old Rough and Ready: well, say Gen;
eral Apudis is no gentleman, or he would
never have sent you here upon this
sneaking errand, to epy about our
camp i say he is no gentleman !" The
prisoners had just begun to understand
that the man whom they were before
was the American general, and when ne
uttered this hasty opinion of their chief
they bowed very low. General Taylor
asked them if they knew the penalty OF
they ought to be shot. At once the prison
ers drew themselves up proudly and said
they knew the penalty, but II they were to
die they trusted they would meet their fate
like brave men. Their bravery pleased the
bluff old soldier, and after q moments
thought he said: "Well, Ill let you go this
time, but if 1 ever catch you spying here
again I'll have you shot-shot like Mexican
dogs! Now, vanos! van,0s! and tell General
Apudis that when he wants to find out
about our army, he may send delegation
of his officers here and will escort them
about myself and order review of the
troops for their especial benefit" The lib
Grated men scampered off briskly. Shortly
after that, General Taylor, at the head Of
his victorious legions, marched in and took
poesession of Monterey.