Omaha daily bee., 1884-06-03
f ZACH TAYLOR.
An Old Mexican War Campaigncr'i
Personal Recollection Of Rough
and Ready.

Communication to the Fort Worth Texas.
Gazette.
When u command joined the army
Gen. Taylor was the hero of the day
Thu recent battles which he had fought
and gained had made him famous through.
out the land. We were prepared to ace
a warrior with "gold lace and plume
of noble carriage, and fierce countenance
Our astonishment can be imagined wher
we beheld a plain old farmer with MOI
the first military insignia about him
wearing a widebrim Mexican sombrerC
and ordinary citizens clothing. There
was not a subordinate around his head
quarters that wa not better dressed
Verify his name. Trough and Ready
was appropriate. He was rather short il
statute for his size and apparent weight
with a face that indicated stern decision
and untiring energy. His features wer,
not handsome but be no means repulsive
A pleasant expression seemed to dwell
there when he was off duty. His fac,
gave no evidence of cultivation. Shaggy
eyebrows, rather q prominent nose, anc
round face; il any landmarks of intelli
gence were ever there the rough camp
life the old soldier had led for 30 many
years had obliterated them. Gen. Tay
lor was q clumsy rider, mounting and
dismounting his horse like an old farmer
only accustomed to horseback exercise
when he had occasion to ride to town
once in n while.
Your correspondent is not advised as
to what were the religious preferences Of
Gen. Taylor. He had fallen into the
habit 80 common in the army, and point
edly emphasized his remarks as occasion
required. He had none of that bombast
about hun that even some of his lowest
aubordinates manifested. In social cor
versation with his officers he seemed to
forget his rank, and oftentimes had a
kind word for the poor private. On one
~shIfL-running mountain streams, the
water of which was over waist-deep, and
a sick and weakly.looking soldier was
standing on the bank, | suppose medi-
tating whether he should take the venture
or not. Gen. Taylor rode by and saw
situation, assisted the poor soldier up
behind and carried him over the water.
/ saw that, and heard hat soldier long
the war brag that he had erode be-
hind the President"
Gen. Taylor was always in the thickest
the battle, and seemed to BIO as desti-
tude of fear as a rock. He rode a milk
white horse-Old Whitey-which seemed
as clumsy as his master, and from long
association seemed to have adopted some
of his peculiarities. Gen. Taylor rode
Old Whitley throughout the battles of
Monterey and Buena Vista. He was
dressed very plainly; wore a common
soft hat and an old faded cassimer coat,
which his old soldiers informed us he had
worn for many years. This coat received
its first wound at Buena Vista, where
two musket balls, n about three inches
below the other, passes through both
The writer, though with Gen.
command for nearly a year,
never saw him dressed in full uniform,
except on the occasion of the departure
of the ramains of our regiment for home.
We had struck our tents, packed our
knapsacks, and the last act of our de-
parture from Walnut Springs was taking
leave of our old chief. We were formed
in line, and he came out in our front
dressed in regulation uniform, cap.a-pie.
He was visibly embarrassed, and not a
heart in our command but what was
touched. With some awkward school
boy gestures he managed to say 'that he
hoped that in private life we would make
as brilliant records as we had in the
service of our country" (or something
very nearly to that effect and babe us
farewell.