Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-08-08
GEN. ZACH. TAYLOR.
An Old Mexican Cam mpRtgn~r's uccoi.
IectiOns Of Rough and Read,.

Cor Fort Worth Tex Grsrtir
When our command joined the army
Gen. Taylor WIS the hero of the day.
The recent battles which lac had iuup ht
and ga ned made him famous through
oat the land. We w,rc prepared g.
See u warrior with gold lace an /
pluI e., OF noble carriage and fierce
countenan q. cur a,tuui~hment can
be imagined when We bchold plan
old farmer. with not the first military
insignia about him, wearing wnl,.
brim Mexican sombrcro and ordinary
citizens clothes. There was not "A
Subordinate around his head quarters
that WAS not better dressed verify,
his name, Rough and Ready" was
approl riate. He was rather short IN
stature for his size and apparent
weight, with u face that indicated stern
decision and untiring energy. His fca
tuIes were not Handsome. bu, 10y NO
means repuls.ve. A pleasant expression
see / ed t. dwell there when he was oil
duty. His face gave no evidences ui cul
tivation. Shaggy eyebrows. rather -
prominent nose, and round face II any
landl arks of intellil ence we're ever
there, the rough camp life the old
soldier had led for so many years had
obl:terated them. Gen. Taylor was u
clumsy rider, mounting and dismount
ing his horse like ali old farmer only
accustomed to hor, eback exercise when
lie had Occasion TO ride 10 town once IN
While.
Your correspondent is not advised as
to what were the religious preferences
of Gen. Taylor. lie had fallen INTO the
habit so common IN tho army, aud
pointedl; emphasized his remarks as
occasion required. Ho had mono Of
that bombast about HIM that even some
of his lowest subor,linates manifested
In 20 ial conversation with his officers
he seemed to forget his rank. and often.
times had kind word for tho poor pri
vate. tn one occasion We had to cross
one of those swift running mountain
streams, the watr Of which was over
waist deep, and sick and weakly.
looking sold or was standing on the
bank, | suppose meditsting whether he
should take the venture or not. Gen
Taylor rode by and saw the situation,
assisted the poor soldier up behind him
and ca ried him over the water. saw
that and heard that soldier long after
the war brag that he had "ro lc behind
the president.
en-. Taylor WAS always In tho thick
est of the battle. and seemed g. be- NJ
destitute of fear as rock He rode n
mikwhite horse old Whitley which
seemed rs clumsy ~ his master. and
from long assoc alton seemed TO have
adopted some of his peculiaritlcs Gen
Taylor rode Old Whitley throughout
the battles of Monterey AMI Buena
Vi ia. lie was dressed very plainly !.
Wore CONN on soft hat an an old
f. aded cassimete coat, which his old
soldiers informed us lie had worn for
many years Tn = coat rccci, o its first
wound mt Buena Vista. where two
mUsket balls. one about three inches
below the other. passed through bath
lapels. The wri.e I ,ough with ten.
Taylors command for nearly year
never saw him dressed ia full uniform.
except on the occas on OF the departure
of the remains of our regiment for
hone. We had struck our tents,
packed our knapsacks. tnd the last act
of our departure hon Walnut Springs
WAS taking leave Of our old chief. We
were formed in line. and he canr out IN
our front dressed in regulation uniform.
cap-a pie. He was visibly embarrassed,
and not q heart in our command but
what was touched. With some awk.
ward scAool-boy gestures ho managed
to say that he hoped that in private
life We would make ss brilliant records
as we had in the servi of our coun-
try or something very nearly to that
effect, and bade us farewell.