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

| When our command joined the army
Gen. Taylor was the horo of the day
The recent battles which he had Tough,
! and gained had made him fhn,o.s,
throughout the land. We were prepared
to zee a warrior with "gold lace and
plume" of noble carriage and fierce
countenance. Our astonishment can be
imagined when we beheld plain old
farmer with not the frat military insig.
mia about him, wearing q wide.brim
Mexican sombroro and ordinary citizen's
clothes. There was not subordinate
around his headquarters that was moi
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
bis features were not handsome, but by
no means repulsire. A pleasant expires
sion seemed to dwell there when he was
off duty. His face gave no evidences OF
cultivation. Shaggy eyebrows, rather O
prominent nose and round face; if any
landmarks of intelligence were ever there
the rough camplife the old soldier had
LED for 80 many years had obliterated
them. Gen. Taylor was clumsy rider,
mounting and di-nounting his horse like
an old farmer only accustomed to horse
back exercise when he had occasion to
ride to town once in while.
Your correspondent is not advised as
70 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 mono of that bombast
about him that even some Of his lowest
n n nm opsT k1I II
versation with his officers Le seemed to
forget his rank, and oftentimes had a
klnd word for the poor private. On one
occasion we had to cross one of those
swiftrunning mountain streams, the
water Of which was over waist. deep. and
a sick and weakly. looking soldier was
standing on the bank, 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 ioEg after the war brag that he
had rode behind the President"
Gen. Taylor was always in the thick.
est of the battle, and seemed to be as
destitute of fear as o rock. He rode q
milk.white horse-Old Whitey--which
seemed as clumsy az its master, and from
long association seemed to have adopted
some of bis 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 cussimere coat.
which his old soldiers informed VA 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. Tine writer, though With
Gen. Teylor's command ior nearly @
year, never saw him dressed IN full uni.
form, except on the occasion of tho de.
parture Of the remains of our regiment
eoT aome. We had struck our tents,
packed our krapsscks, and tho Inst aoi
OF our departure from Walnut Springs
WIS taking leave Of car old chief, We
were formed in line, and he came out in
our front dressed in regulation uniform,
cap.apie. He was visibly embarrassed,
and not heart in our command but
what was touched. With some awkward
schoolboy gestures b. 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" Tor
something very nearly to that effect, and
bade us farewell.-Letter in the For.
Worth, Isr., Gazette.