Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-07-11
STORIES OF "ZACK" TAYLOR.
How the Fighting President Originated
a Popular Phrase,

One OF the historic buildings in this
town is a little old whitewashed build
ing that looks as if it had long ago seen
its best days, and is pointed out as the
house in which Gen. Zachary Taylor
used to live when that homely old war
riOr was stationed ON the frontier. 1t
will be remembered that Jefferson
Davis, then dashing young lieuten-
ant in the army, married for his first
wife the daughter of Gen. Taylor. 1t
was in this little house that he used to
do his courting. However, it was not
from this house that young Jeff assisted
the fair Miss Taylor to elope. The
elopmeent occurred in Prairie du Chen,
Wis, says the Chicago Record.
Col. Ben T. Duval, a fine old South
ern gentleman, who, though sixty years
of age, is still actively engaged in the
practice of law, remembers "Old Zackn
well. He lived here for about three
years prior to the Mexican war said
Col. Duval the other evening. He was
a plain, homely man, who hated osten-
tation. | remember one very funny
incident in which he figured. About
three times week the boat used to
steam up the river, bringing the mail.
On these occasions Gen. Taylor used to
be among the first to meet the packet.
One day the boat brought up two fresh
young lieutenants, just from West
Point, who had come to report to Gen.
Taylor for duty. The old warrior,
dressed in rough civilian clothes, was
on the landing. Upon seeing him the
West Pointers began to guy him, not
knowing, of course, who he was.
"Hello, old codger! they cried, how
are ye?'
First rate, says Zachary, calmly.
"'And how's the crops out here?'
they asked, jeeringly.
s. Good, says the general.
land how re the the old woman and
the galsY' they continued.
"Oh, all right, replies Gen. Taylor,
not at all put out
Here the talked ended. An hour or
two later the young officers reported at
headquarters for assignment. They
were paralyzed to find in command the
old man whom they had guyed so un.
mercifully. Gen. Taylor led them to
his house and into the parlor. Boys, ;
he said, as he brought them before his
wife and daughters, let me introduce
you to the old woman and the gals
II remember another funny incident
connected with Gen. Taylor's career.
1t was after the battle of Buena Vista.
Vague reports had been received here
of the great American victory. Every
one was excited, breathless with expec.
tation. Suddenly there appeared on
the scene peddler, who had been a
camp follower of the American army.
He had seen the battle and told how
the general had drawn up his men be.
fore the Mexicans and made them a
great speech.
"'What was the speech?' we all ask
ed. We knew that Gen. Taylor was
master of a rough but inimitable style
of oratory and expected to hear some-
thing grand.
"'Well, says the peddler, slowly, as
though overpowered by the recollec-
tions of the magnificent bit of oratory,
the General he rode up and down the
line and he says, says he: Men, there
are the Mexicans. You'll have to fight
like h or you'll all be mummixed up
in fifteen minutes.
1T was descent from the sublime
to the ridiculous so far as our expecta-
tions were concerned. 'Mummixed' was
a favorite word with the general. 1t
corresponds to the slang phrase of today
done up"
n D..-fz D.