The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-15
SILVER LOCKS. I. BATTLE.
Gallant Deeds of American Officers Ul in
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Neac York Sttn.

at GnOrf1SCOWu, IN. q. 1eooHoAy - -
9eth year, belonged distinctly to by
gone era. While many Of his con-
temporaries on the Virginia and Ten
snessee battle6elds have been actively
campaigning from 1865 up to the
present day, this representative OF
the old army and of the armies OF 1861
was compelled by age to put away the
sword more than generation ago.
When he waved it in front Of his thin
but intrepid line on Culp's Hill,
Gettysburg. in 1863, he was Sc years
old, or within two years Of the retiring
age for army officers.
Strange sit may seem to readers
unfamiliar with the subject, the case
Of Gen: Greene is but one'of many in
the annals Of the American soldier.
The present commanding general of
the United States army, Gen. Nelson
"A. Miles, fought his first battle almost
36f years ago, but he is to-day the
youngest of the most distinguished
survivors Of the civil war now in har-
ness. Brooke, Merritt, Shafter, Mer-
riam, Otis and Henry will reach the
age limit ahead Of Miles. Lee and
Wilson are his seniors, and so IS
Wheeler, who is marvel Of activity
at 81. When the army was marshalled
for the war with Spain, all the major
generals Of the line, except Wade, and
not fewer than hundred subordinate
officers were older than Miles.
Threescore years or an age approach
ing it is a common one for American
leaders. When Winfield Scott stood
upon the dome Of the capital Of Cha
pultepec, directing his battalions in
the attack on the City of Mexico, he
could look back 81 years to the day Of
his first battle wound. And Gen.
Zachary Taylor, who initiated the
Mexican war with all,the fiery ardor
Of youth, was 62 when he crossed the
RIO Grande at the head of the Ameri-
can army, marching TO Buena Vista
and Monterey. And it was only last
year that the world applauded the
spectacle Of Dewey, in his 61st year,
smashing Spanish sovereignty in the
Philippines, but he was simply bring
ing to fruit, late in life, lessons that
he had learned back in the sixties,
sailing under Farragut, then a veteran
Of more than threescore, having a
record of almost 80 years Of active
warfare behind him.
Readers Of history know that these
martial veterans have not played the
role Of conservative counsellors merely
while younger men bore the brunt OF
battle. Farragut was 63 when he was
dashed to the shrouds at the battle OF
Mobile Bay. Juniors about him
shouted warnings that the flagship
was leading the line Of vesselt to a
nest Of submarine torpedoes, but with
an excusable oath, considering what it
las done for the American navy, the
gray-headed, admiral cried out: damn
the torpedoes Go ahead!' And the
old hero didn't stop with mere words,
but Immediately drove his wooden
flagship upon the low forward deck OF
the ram Tennessee in an effort to sink
her with superior weight, although he
knew that his own vessel must go
down in the general wreck.
In the same spirit Gen. Zachary
Taylor acted when his Juniors appeal
ed to him to fall back at Buena Vista,
for the safety Of his army. NO,
said he firmly, "I'll never pass NY
wounded alive He stayed on the
hard fought field and was rewarded
the next morning by seeing that the
Mexicans had retreated in rout, al
though they outnumbered his troops
-four to one.
Scott displayed equally aggressive
vigor when the American army lay in
front of the forbidden heights Of Cha
pultepec. After meeting with {. bloody
reception at Molinos del Rey ne asked
the younger generals about him to
suggest plan for the capture Of the
City Of Mexico, which lay beyond the
heights. All Of them said that the
army should go around Chapultepec-
"avoid' it was the military term-and
approach the city from the west side.
After each had spoken and given his
reasons Scott ended the council by
saying: "Gentlemen, We will first
storm Chapultepec, then look to the
city gates on the west side. Chapul-
tepec was stormed and won and the
city fell without any defense OF its
gates worthy the name.