Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-24

the Republic Of Mexico.
1t was late at night, the very
night that General Taylor had de-
termined to attack the stronghold
of Buena Vista, that Jefferson
Davis reported himself ready for
duty to Colonel Bliss, one of Gen
eral Taylor's aids. The General was
expecting volunteers hourly, and
not placing much confidence in
them, had instructed Bliss to hold
all the new arrivals in reserve.
1t is not the wish of the reader
or writer to enter again into the de-
tails of the battle of Buena Vista.
We are dealing with the history
of Jefferson Davis, whose deeds Of
chiyalry began on that eventful day.
But to resume:
The Indiana regiment under
Colonel Harden was ordered early
in the battle to break the enemy's
line, who was pouring a destructive
fire from a hill which the Mexicans
had crowned with guns, The gal
lant Harden led his regiment up,
which was literally cut to pieces,
and himself, with all the officers,
killed. Col. Lincoln, of the Ohio
regiment, was then ordered forward,
whose regiment and self shared the
same fate as Harden. Colonel
Henry Clay, of the Kentucky regi-
ment, was then ordered to the re-
lief of Colonel Lincoln. Colonel
Jefferson Davis, seeing that the
Mexicans were destroying our
army, that we were being butchered
in crossing the chaperel, formed his
regiment in the shape of V and,
placing himself at their head, he
said, 'Mississippians, follow your
leader"
1t was at this moment that Tay-
lor, seeing the flower of his army
melting away before the Mexican
arms, standing straight up in his
stirrups on Old White, he saw a
regiment dashing to the rescue of a
whipped army, and said: "Bliss,
look yonderl that regiment will
save the day."
In the charge Davis met the In
diana and Ohio regiments in great
confusion, retreating, and tried to
rally them, but could not. 1t was
then that Davis said those memor.
able words which made him sc
many enemies in the great North.
west: "You id towards, gel
behind that Mississippi wall p
Colonel Davis continued rapidly
to advance. While advancing he
came up to Colonel Clay, who was
a dear friend of his. Clay had
fallen and was dying. To Davis
Clay gave his sword, watch and
ring, and begged him to hand them
in person to his father.
Davis, aided only by the shatter-
J ed Kentucky regiment, continued
to advance. Though twice wounded
he never left his saddle, but broke
: the enemy'S line, saved the day, wat
the first to enter the city, and
proudly planted there the Ameri-
can flag in the Mexican strong
hold.
1t is said that Taylor wept as ht
with his own eyes beheld and wit
{ messed the exploit of this, then tC
him, unknown regiment.
The General early that afternoon
instructed Colonel Bliss to find out
the officer who commanded thai
regiment and bring him up for in
PRODUCTION.
The sun was setting in the Mexi
can sky when Colonel Bliss riding
up to headquarters in Buena Vista
! said, General Taylor, have the
honor to introduce to you Colone
/ Jefferson Davis, the officer com
mandihg that distinguished regi
ment."
r This was the first time that these
e two now eminent persons had mel
since their parting at General Tay
r lor's sugar plantation III Louisiana
On the announcement of thC
? name General Taylor stopped quicl
5 and said: "Great God! my daugh
q ter was a better judge Of the maj
than | was"
S The Mexican war was soon ter
e minated, and Immediately after it
:, close the Whig party, taking ad
o vantage of the great popularity o
f General Taylor at the Baltimor
d Convention, nominated him TO
s President of the United States
which he accepted, and in dong s.
: declared he had "no enemies t,
e punish, no friends to reward"
t Davis was chosen by the Missis
J. sippi Convention as one Of the elec
e tors for Lewis Cass and Abraham
/ Lincoln, of Illinois, elector 70
II General Taylor.
e Mr.. Lincoln as elector canvasseC
II and in his speeches he occupie
e ultra Southern grounds. His grea
IL speeches during that campaign
d they could have been published b
1t the Southern press and brought b'
,e fore the masses would have in a
n probability secured for Mr.. Lii
/ coin that popularity as a gre'