The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-07-13

eral Taylor. Wool had been ordered not
to come to Chihuahua, but that order
had not reached Donighan or Gen.
KearneY, and therefore Doniphan went
on, expecting to report to Wool, but
not finding him there, he proceeded
within week or two afterward down
by way of Buena Vista and Saltilla and
by the capital of Coahuila on to the
Gulf of Mexico.
"By this time the years service of
his men for which they had enlisted had
expired and he was ordered to take
them home. Before leaving the City of
Chihuahua he wrote a communication to
General Wool, having learned that
Wool had been engaged in the battle of
Buena Vista, at which place they learn
ed Of that battle and among other
things. he said in that letter that Cen
eral TAYLOR had been designated as old
Rough and Ready He stated that all
of his men were entitled to that designa-
ton, but could 60 General Taylor one
better-that they were not only rough
and ready, but they were also 'ragg-
ed.
at is historical fact that no cloth
ing was issued to Doniphan's expedi-
ton from the time they left Leaven-
worth until they reached home, II
months atterward. They obtained their
provisions en- route from the time they
left Santa Fe until they reached the
Gulf Of Mexico, where they took ship
ping back by way of New Orleans and
by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers
to their homes. Their horses and other
livestock they fed upon the grasses of
the plains.
That expedition, out of $50 that
composed the regiment of Colonel Doni-
phan, did not lose exceeding So men in
the entire expedition, and more than
half of these remained in Santa Fe to
help start and build up that govern
ment
"Doniphan was a man who was en-
titled to immense credit. Everyone IN
Missouri loved him. He did not seek
Office. He served two terms in the
Missouri legislature, being elected both
times without having himself requested
to be designated as a candidate. He
was rendered the Office Of brigadler
general in the Confederate army and re-
fused it. He was always true to the
American flag. He always believed in
the Dermauoncy and perpetuity of the
Constitution of the United States and
the Union of his government
1T was my pleasure to know him IN
timately, personally. Several times
heard him address audiences on the
stump. | once asked HIM why he did
not accept the tender Of the brigadier
generalship in the Confederate army.
He replied: 1 have lived in commun-
ity nearly every member of which sym
pathized with the Southern people
that is the community where he was
living when the war between the states
commenced but, he said my educa-
ton. that of a lawyer, has been upon
the Constitution of the United States,
in part, and have learned to revere it;
| have learned to believe that that Con-
stitution was intended to effect q per
manent and perpetual union of the
states; | did not believe that the Union
ought to be severed; | did not believe
that 1t ought to be broken up and weak =
ened. For that reason | was unable to
accept commission IN the Confederate
states army, although | sympathized
with those who were in that cause.
believe that my duty to my government
was such that l should, at least, do
something to tear it down.
This was the character of Doniphan
throughout his entire life, so far as |
knew him-and | knew him for about 20
or 80 years before his death-in fact, he
was one of the board of curators of the
University of the State of Missouri at
the time graduated.
Doniphan died in Missouri in 1887.