The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-02-10

HWClt JotuC't AltH Ia tis Vtt'bF l
remember riding with General Tay
Tor and coming upon General
EwelI. Taylor asked him what
the movement mean. In his curt,
half distracted way, Ewell replied:
81 don't know. II Gen. Jackson
were shot down l wouldn't know
anything of his plans" "What.."
said Taylor, "yoa second in CON-
mand, and don't know! i'll were
second in command / would knoww
"You would, would youV smiled
Ewell in his odd way, holding his
head to one side like a sap.sucker
peeping aroand a tree. s:No, yon
wouldn't know any more than / DO
now. You don't yet know the
man"
But Ewell and Taylor found
their "crazy," reticent commander
to have more wapsense than all uf
them put together. SO they ever
pinned their faith to him, admired
him and level him. Taylor HIM
self made great reputation in the
valley. Jackson praised him on
the feld and in reports; and it was
on his Special Recommendation
that Taylor was promoted to Major
General, aud assigned to Jackson's
own "Stoaewalp division. But be-
fore he took command Of this di
visioD he was ordered to Louisiana
under Kirby Smith.
Taylor was a superb soldier and
able General, as lis campsigns in
Louisiana show. Though not 4
West Pointer, he was boru in the
army and reared in 1.-THE son of
General Zachary Taylor and grand.
SOL Of Col. Richard Taylor, OF the
Ninth Virginia Regiment in the
Revolutionary War. 1t is pleas
ant HOW to think back over his de-
yotion to duty. An habitual sui.
arer from rheumatism and nervous
headache, with . stroke of paraly.
sis when Young that permanently
affected his right side, yet it was
seldom that he would allow him.
self to 60 "off duty" Often in
Virginia in the wet, cold weather
he had to be helped on and of his
horse; and then lis disabled leg
would hang limp, ike a rope from
his saddle. In his moments Of in.
tense bodily suffering he was cross
and irritable; but at such times
the excitement Of battle-seened to
soothe him, and he would become
pleasant and playful as a kitten.
He was a NAN of great good sense,
aud wonderfully bright. Finely
educated, much travelled and wide
~ read in history and in English
and all modern literature, and
speaking French like a native; of
excellent memory, genial, full Of
humor and very witty, his dark
brown eyes a-sparkling, and with
his rich melodious voice, he was
the most brilliant and most fasci.
Mating taiker that | remember in
tue Southern army. What a treat
it was to sit around the campfire
at night aud listen to Dick Taylor!
when he wasn't suffering! When
he was sick he WAS "ugly," and
we had to keep away from him.
We had many funny scenes with
him.
An amusing incident ( must
here relate. The drams of the val.
ley had closed with a farce. 1t was
the night after the battle Of Port
Republic, dark and rainy. Jack,
son had beaten Fremont the day
before at Cross Keys, four miles
away; had rapidly crossed the
Shenandoah, falling upon Shields,
and burning the bridge behind him.
Fremont moved his large force to
the river, but not being able to
cross planted bis artillery GA the
north bank and seemed to play
generally GU the Port Republic
field, hurting his Union friends
ahout as much az he did us. And
his artillery was s~piendidly hand.
led by expert German officers. /
think Fremont's artillery practice
at Gross Keys the best | remem
Der during the war. Shields was
beaten and driven in rout from
Port Republic, but jackson had to
keep his eye on FREMONT, who was
still trying to cross the river. So