Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-03-07
Stories of "Zack" Taylor.
Washin gton Post.

Washington Post.
One of the historic buildings in
this town is a little old whitewash-
ed building that looks as if it had
long ago seen its best days, and
is pointed out as the house in
which General Zachary Taylor
used to live when the homely old
warrior was stationed on the
frontier. 1t will be remembered
that Jefferson Davis, then dash
ing young lieutenant in, the army,
married for his first wife the
daughter of General 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 elopement
occurred IN Prairie du Chen, WIS,
says the Chicago Record:
Colonel Ben T. Duval, a fine old
Southern gentleman, who, though
so years of age, is still actively en-
gagged in the practice of law re-
members "Old Zack" well. He
lived here for about three years
prior to the Mexican War;" said
Colonel Duyal the other evening,
aHe was a plain homely man, who
hated ostentation. I remember
one very funny incident in which
he figured. About three times q
week the boat used to steam up the
river, bringing the mail. On these
occasions General Taylor used tc
be among The first to meet the
packet. One day the boat brought
up two fresh young Lieutenantf
Just from West Point, who had
come to report to General 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 couse, who
he was.
Hello, old codger!' cried they,
'how are YEP
First rate says Zachary,
calmly.
"'And how's the crops out
here?' they asked, jeeringly.
"'Good.' says the General.
"sAnd how're the old woman
and the girls?' they continued.
"Oh, all right replies General
Taylor, not at all put out.
"Here the talk ended. An hour
or two later the young officers re.
ported at headquarters for assign
ment. They were paralyzed to
find in command the old man they
had guyed SO numerically. Gen,
eral Taylor led them to his house
and into the parlor. Boys he
said, as he brought them before
his wife and daughters 'let me in
troduce you to the old woman and
the gals
II remember another funny in
cident connected with General
Taylor's career. 1t was after the
battle of Buena Vista. Vague re-
ports had been received here OF
the great American victory. Every
one was excited, breathless with
expectation. Suddenly there ap-
pears d on the scene a pedler, who
had been q camp follower of The
American Army. lie had seen
the battle and told how the Gen
eral had drawn up his men before
the Maxicans and made them a
great speech.
"'What was the sreech?' we all
asked. We knew that General
Taylor was master of rough but
inimitable style of oratory and ex-
pected to hear something grand.
"Well,' says the pedler, slowly
as though overpowered by the
recollcctlons of the magnificent
bit of oratory, the General he rode
up and down the line and he says
says he: Men there are the Mexi.
cans. You'll have to fight like
h-or you'll all be mummixeo
up in Is minutes.
at was a descent from the sub
lime to the ridiculous so far as ou
expectations were concerned. Mum
mixed was a favorite word will
the General. 1t corresponds to th,
slang phrase today-'done up.