The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-26
OLD CROUCH AND READY.v
A Mexican War Campaigner's Personal
Recollection of Gen. Zach. Taylor.

When our command Joined the army
Gen. Taylor was the hero of the day.
The recent battles which be had fought
and gained had made him famous
throughout the land. We were prepared
to see warrior with "gold lace and
plume" of noble carriage and fierce
countenance. Our astonishmept can be
imagined when we beheld plain old
farmer with not the first military insig.
mia about him, wearing q wide. .brim
Mexican sombrero and ordinary citizens
clothes. There was not subordinate
around his headquarters that was not
better dressed. Verify his name, Rough
and Ready" was appropriate. He was
rather short in statue for his size and
apparent weight, with face that indica-
ted stern decision and untiring energy.
His features were not handsome, but by
no means repulsive. A pleasant express
sion seemed to dwell there when he was
off duty. His face gave no evidences of
cultivation. Shaggy eyebrows, rather a
prominent nose and round face; if any
landmarks of intelligence were ever there
the rough camplife the old soldier had
led for so many years had obliterated
them. Gen. Taylor was clumsy rider,
mounting and dismounting his horse like
an old farmer only accustomed to horse
back exercise when he bad occasion to
ride to town once in a while.
Your correspondent is not advised as
to what were the religious preferences of
Gen. Taylor. He had fallen into the
habit so common in the army, and point.
edly emphasized his remarks as occasion
required. He had none of that bombast
about him that even some of his lowest
subordinates manifested. In social con-
versation with his officers he seemed to
forget his rank, and oftentimes had a
kind word for the poor private. On one
occasion we had to cross one of those
swift.runuing mountain streams, the
water of which was over waist. deep, and
q sick and weakly. looking soldier was
standing on the bank, I suppose medita-
ting whether he should take the venture
or not. Gen. Taylor rode by and saw
the situation, assisted the poor soldier up
behind him and carried him over the
water. saw that, and heard that
soldier long after the war brag that he
had erode behind the President"
Gen. Taylor was always in the thick
est of the battle, and seemed to be as
destitute of fear as a rock. He rode
milk.white horse-Old Whitey-which
seemed as clumsy as its 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 common
soft hat and an old faded cashmere coat,
which his old soldiers informed us he
had worn for many years. This coat re.
ceived its first wound at Buena Vista,
where two musket balls, one about three
inches below the other, passed through
both lapels. The writer, though with
Gen. Taylor's command for nearly a
year, never saw him dressed in full uni
form, except on the occasion of the de.
parture of the remains of our regiment
for home. We had struck our tents,
packed our knapsacks, and the last act
of our departure 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 heart in orr command but
what was touched. With some awkward
schoolboy gestures he managed to say
"that be hoped that in private life we
would make as brilliant records as we
had in the service of our country" Tor
something very nearly to that effect and
bade us farewell.-Letter in the Fort
North. TIG.. Gazette.