The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-04-10
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
BIZ s. T~GRIsAMoRE.
ls47-JAsuARy-1so7

In January 1847 James K. Polk,
democrat, OF Tennessee, was President
of the United States, George Nj. Dali
las, democrat, Of Penns, ~lvania, was
Vlce-president. Isaac johnson, dem
ocrat, was Governor Of Louisiana.
Tiasimond Landry, democrat, Of AS
cension' was lietenant Governor, Ban
0 q. Thibodaux, OF Terrebonne,
whig, was Representative to the Con-
gress of the United from the Congress
sioDal district in whirh the Latourchs
parishes were situated, Robert c..
Martin, of Assumption, wing, and
Michel Thibodaux, Of Terreho II
wing. were state senators representing
the Senatorial district COMPOSED OF
Assumption, Latourche and Terrebon-
ne, Louis Bush al Mayor Of the town
of Thibodaux.
1S47 entered into existence with the
military fervor Of the people Of the
United States aroused &in3o i fever Of
high excitement. War was being
pushed into the domains Of Mexico.
General Winfield Scott was at the
head Of the armies Of the United
and was organizing u force with which
he attacked Vera Cruz and forced it's
surrender 90 March q, l247.
General Taylor who had won the
brilliant victories Of Pa.o Alto and
Resaca de la Palma in the previous
summer, driven the Mexicrns across
the Rio Grande river. pursued them to
Monterey, where after a heroic siege
Of three DAYS he raised the United
States flag over the conquered city on
September q, 1916.
There was consideral feeling arnus-
ed among abe friends of General Tay-
Tor by the act of Gen. Scott withdraw
ing much Of the disciplined strength
Of his little command and sending it
to his " army then in preparation
70 besiege Vera Cruz, the seaport for
the city of Mexico.
The brave old soldier did not falter
however neglected he or his friends
thought that he might be, and moved
forwards TO Saltillo. Early in Febru-
airy it was known that General Santa
Anna then famous as a warrior was
advancing to drive the American
AoANSc - Va tRC s{F~t@#
The Mexican forces, led BY their
experienced leader, numbering twice
or thrice that Of the little heroic army
that they were attacking were full Of
enthusiasm, firmly convinced that
they would easily crush il to pieces.
Taylor drew mp his army on the
plains Of Buena Vista prepared to re-
celve the onslaught. Santa Anna
halted long enough, however, to send
some officers to ask him to surrender.
Bluff old Taylor contented himself
with replying to the demand that
GENERAL TAYLOR NEVER SURREY
DERs.n
The battle was opened on the morning
Of February %. 1S47.
1t vas a battlefield holly contested
all the day long. Several times il was
thought the Mexicans had won the
fight, but their victorious hordes
would be ~repulsed only to renew their
furious attacks. How often the day
was saved for the American army ID
unknown but there were two remark
able instances in which the day was
saved.
One vas by the Mississippi regiment
commanded by Col. Jefferson Davis,
subsequently, the President Of the
Southern Confederacy whose memory
is SO precious to the veterans Of the
Confederate army.
He had advanced his regiment to
meet an antici patled charge of Mexi-
can Lancers mounted. 1t is said that
lie had formed his command in tho
shape of an inverted " but the fact
probably was that In the ravine ia
which he was advancing he was COM
PEELED for want of space to make his
wings move ahead Of the centre.
Soldiers who saw the charge of the
Lancers as they rushed in full gaIop
upon the devoted Mississippians have
represented it to me as one OF the
most magnificent sights that the eve
Of a..soldier could look upon. In those
day rifles were not effective more than
300 yards. Davis riflemen were en-
listed from the interior Of Mississip-
pi and we're all skilled marksmen.
Davis waited until they had arrived at
a proper distance when the order to
fire was given.
Every Mississippian fred to kill and
consequently the whole front men