Life of Major-General Zachary Taylor: with an account of his brilliant achievements on the Rio Grande, and elsewhere; including his defence of Fort Harrison, and battle of Okee-cho-bee. With sketches of the lives ... of Major Ringgold, Colonel Cross, Major Brown ... and others; also, a list of ... officers from New York state engaged in the defence of Fort Brown, and in the actions of the 8th and 9th of May ..

Front matter

Class

Columbia College Library-

Madison Av. and 49th St. New York.

Preface

The author of the " Life and Times of Louis Philippe," says in his preface, " The desire that is implanted in the human breast, of approaching those who have filled distinguished parts in the theatre of human action— those who have secured the highest pedestals in the pantheon of political fame — those who have acquired a memorable name by the exercise of personal authority over a large portion of their fellow-creatures, will forever give to biography a high moral influence, and an interest superior to any that general history can excite. Time intervenes to remove us from a familiar intercourse with the greatest characters — space also produces a similar separation, but, the evil of both cases has found its remedy in the truthful and laborious productions of impartial writers."

These remarks are applicable to the biography before us, the latter being representative of the career and actions of an individual who has occupied a large space in his country's history and affections, and which actions should form an interesting and useful portion of our political knowledge. Neither can we imagine a task that partakes more of the nature of a duty than that of commemorating, in a substantial form, the services rendered by an individual to his country, especially when those services are of a marked and valuable character ;

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4 PREFACE.

both for ilie incentive, which is the cflect of example, and as an act of justice.

As it has been our aim to give a truthful presentation of all important matters connected with the career of the distinguished subject of these pages, so has it been our endeavor to do justice to all concerned in the events of which they treat.

The sources from which the material is drawn are authentic, and we are not conscious that partiality or predilection has exercised an influence in its authorship or compilation. As the object has been to make it a national work, and one of permanency, no class or party has been favored at the expense of another.

C. F. P.

CHAPTER I. Page

Nativity of General Taylor. — Education. — His Youth. — Qualities of Mind, etc. —

Physical Powers. — Joins the Army. — Promoted.^Heroic Defence of Fort Harrison.— Promoted. — In Florida. — Battle of Okee-cho-bee. — Placed at Head of Army in Florida. — Resigns. — Takes Command of Second Department 7

Chapter II

General Taylor called to Texas. — Object of the Expedition. — The Policy. — General Taylor's Position. — Innuendo repelled — General Taylor's grand Plan- — Its consummation. — General Survey of the Ground. — Critical Extract 13

Chapter III

General Taylor continued. — Critical examination of the Battles of the 8th and 9th May. — The Light-Artillery Arm. — Investigation of the Causes of these Victories. — Demonstrations of Approbation. — President confers a Brevet. — Resolutions and Sword of Louisiana and Tennessee. — Thanks of Congress. General Taylor's Talents as a Military Man and General. — Qualities of Heart. — Personal Appearance. — Rough and Ready. — His Dress. — Characteristic Anecdote. — Political Opinions. — Habits, etc 19

Chapter IV

Captain Taylor in 1812. — His gallant defence of Fort Harrison. — His attempt to send dispatches to Governor Harrison. — Colonel Russel with his Rangers — 30

Chapter V

General Taylor's Expedition to the Prophet's Town. — Promotion to Major. — Repairs to Florida.— Battle of Okee-cho-bee 3B

CHAPTER VL

Battle of Okee-cho-bee concluded. — Effect of this Battle. — Colonel Taylor given in Command of Posts. — Promotion. — Takes Command of Army in Florida.— Resigns. — Ordered to Texas 49

6 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII. Page

Major RiN<i<;oLi>. — His Nativity. — Joins General Scott's Staff. — Enters Service

aa Lieutenant. — Went to Fort Moultrie. — Assigned to Company C. — Forms

new Coiiiiiany. — The Flying Artillery. — Ordered to Texas. — His services in

tlie Battle of i'alo Alto. — Is wounded. — His Death. — Remarks of a Baltimore

Editor. — Eulogy of a Philadelphia Editor and Judge of Court 50

Chapter XI

Captain Thornton's Expedition. — Principal Events to the Leaving of General Taylor for Point Isabel. — Bombardment of Fort Brown 77

CHAPTER Xn.

Battle of Palo Alto 62

CHAPTER XIIL

Battle of Resaca de la Palma 88

CHAPTER XIV.

Incidenta of Personal Valor. — Likut. Gordo.v. — Lieut. Blo^ke. — Captain Lowd. — Names of Officers from New York State 94

LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR.

Chapter I

Nativity of General Taylor. — Education. — His Youth. — Qualities of Mind, etc.— Physical Powers. — Joins the Army. — Promoted. — Heroic Defence of Fort Harrison.— Promoted. — In Florida. — Battle of Okee-cho-bee. — Placed at Head of Army in Florida. — Resigns. — Takes Command of Second Department.

The subject of this sketch has been distmguished in his profession as an officer in the United States Army for more than thirty years ; but recently circumstances have ushered him most brilliantly, and with overwhelming triumph, before the American people. Thirty-four years ago his military talents were put to the test on a fearful and trying occasion, when assailed by wild savages in numbers twenty times his own, and were found to be of a superior order and adequate to the emergency requiring almost superhuman abilities. Again his valor and military genius exhibited themselves in a bold and difficult achievement, executed with a great disparity of force and inferior advantages of position, and they redounded to his own honor and the glory of his country. But what shall be the measure of commendation, the meed of gratitude, or limit of wonder and admiration to be rendered for the glorious and unparalleled triumphs of our arms on the Rio Grande through the guidance of the same master spirit ?

Zaghary Taylor was born in Orange county, Virginia, in 1790. He is son of Colonel Richard Taylor, who emigrated from Virginia about 1792, and settled near Louisville, His father was a man of good parts, and held several responsible stations under government. Zachary, together with his elder brother, Hancock, received the rudiments of his education from a private tutor, named

Elisha Ayrcs, a nalive of Connecticut, and a man of exemplar}' liabits, sterling moral character, and peculiarly well calculated to instnict the juvenile mind, and mould it for future usefulness. He received Zachary under his charge at the age of six years, and at that lime Colonel Richard was collector of the port of Louisville. Mr. Ayres is still living, upwards of seventy years of age, and resides in his native town of Preston, in the vicinity of Norwich, Connecticut. He takes pleasure in recounting anecdotes of Colonel Richard and his family, and particularly of Zachary, aa he still calls him.

He represents his former pupil to have been a bright scholar, possessing an active and inquisitive mind, studious in his habits, though of sanguine temperament, apt, yet having depth, and promising most fair for a career of usefulness in the walks of life. He had mental qualities of judgment, contemplaliveness, stability, and shrewdness not often found in youth, and far above his years. But a peculiar trait was firmness, not always attendant on an ardent temperament, and which, in such a connection, has been found to be an important characteristic in the soldier. Sudden and warm impulses produce grand achievements when occasion offers, and when properly directed by the concomitants of judgment and firmness ; and though bravery may exist in an eminent degree, a phlegmatic temperament is calculated to restrain the exercise of it at a time when it might lead to glorious results. No one can be an adventuring and brilliant soldier without enthusiasm in his love of country and patriotism, and to which a predisposition to indolence, particularly of mind, is discouraging. Though we are no eulogist of juvenile precocity, we think we perceive in these traits, as represented, the budding of a character which has been developed to the honor of our arms and credit of the republic.

Anecdotes of the subject of this brief memoir are related, one of which, regarding his physical energies as well as love of excitement, is his having swum across the Ohio river at Louisville — a feat, though almost incredible, yet well attested to. His life has ever been an active one, and in youth he mingled much with the sports and amusements of the time, exercised his bodily powers in performing feats of strength and difficulty, the accompUshmcnt of

LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR.

which would often excite the wonder and applause of friends and rivalry of others. It is related that, in his youthful days, he manifested a great fondness for every thing connected with military, and looked forward, with great anxiety, to the day when he should become a soldier, or belong, in some capacity, to the army. With this view, even before he commenced a course of rigid tactical instruction, he might be seen alone, or with his comrades, practising the different evolutions of a company drill with as much gravity and emulation as though under orders before an enemy, or going through the manual exercise with the sang froid of an accomplished ' fugleman.'

At the age of eighteen he entered the United States Army, as a lieutenant in the seventh regiment of infantry, immediately after the British attack upon the frigate Chesapeake, and remained at different posts in the west until the commencement, and through the war of 1812. He was promoted to the rank of captain previous to the breaking out of hostilities, and was engaged in active service under Governor Shelby in his native state, or in Indiana, against the Indians that were constantly committing depredations on our infant settlements, and spreading death and destruction through this part of the country.

In the latter part of 1812, Captain Taylor was invested with the command of Fort Harrison, in Indiana, a small, not strongly defended fort, and situated in the heart of a country inhabited by the Miamis, or Weas, and other hostile savages. In September of that year a fierce attack was made on the fort by a large body of the Prophet's party. The principal defences consisted of an upper and lower blockhouse, and a fort with two bastions ; but at this time not more than twenty effective men could be mustered in the garrison, the rest being sick, convalescent, or disabled, and of these, in the crisis that tried the soul of the commander, two of the stoutest jumped the pickets and deserted. The details of this sanguinary assault and valiant defence are given in a subsequent chapter.

The bravery, skill, and shrewdness displayed by Captain Taylor while in command of this post inspired his comrades and his country with confidence in his superior abilities as an officer. The

2 * defence he made, to which we have alhidcd, under the trying difficuhics of fire, a savage foe, and desertion, was sufficient to establish his reputation as an officer and soldier of the most sterling qualities. Major-general Hopkins, in his dispatch to Governor Shelby, says : " The firm and almost unparalleled defence of Fort Harrison by Captain Z. Taylor has raised for him a fabric of character not to be effaced by my eulogy 1'^

For Captain Taylor's gallantry on this occasion, President Madison conferred upon him the rank of major by brevet, and this is said to be the oldest brevet in the army.

Not long subsequent to this, Major Taylor went on an expedition against the Prophet's town and the Winnebago town, under General Hopkins. These, together with a Kickapoo village on Ponse Passu creek, w-crc destroyed. Major Taylor was very active in these operations, and in commending the officers in his dispatch, General Hopkins says : " And also to Captain Z. Taylor, of the 7th United States regiment, for a prompt and efficient support in every instance."

After the close of the war. Major Taylor shifted his position, but remained in the west the greater portion of the time for several years, removing from post to post as the interest of the service called him. When the war in Florida broke out, he was called thither. In the mean time he had been promoted to the rank of colonel. He was at the head of the first brigade, quartered at Fort Gardner, south of the Withlacochee, when he proceeded against the Scminoles and Micasukies, under Alligator and Sam Jones, and had the desperate struggle with these forces at Okee-cho-bee. The particulars of this battle will also be found in these pages.

Colonel Taylor had received a challenge from the Seminole chief. Alligator, to come on, which the colonel accepted instanter. The Indians had selected a strong position, in a thick swamp, covered in front by a small stream, whose quicksands rendered it almost impassable. A breastwork, composed of the growth of a hummock, thickly interwoven, concealed and partly protected the Indians in front, their flanks being secured by impassable swamps. Sam Jones and Coa-coo-chee were behind these barriers with

Alligator and seven hundred of their tribes, true marksmen, every man.

Colonel Taylor approached them with about five hundred men, regulars and Missouri volunteers, under Colonel Gentry. They passed the stream, sinking to their middle in mire, mounted the breastw^ork, and fought hand to hand, the Indians disputing every inch of ground. After a most sanguinary engagement of three hours, the enemy was driven from his post, and Colonel Taylor gained a most complete and brilliant victory.

The loss, however, on both sides was great. The gallant Colonels Gentry and Thompson, Captain Van Swearingen, and Lieutenants Carter and Brook, fell at the heads of their command. During the whole engagement Colonel Taylor remained on horseback, passing from point to point, cheering his men to the conflict, and exposed to the Indian rifle at every moment.

For this achievement the president conferred on Colonel Taylor the brevet rank of brigadier-general.

General Taylor represented this as " the most trying scene of his life ;" but he was destined to encounter one equally hazardous on the Rio Grande, and from which he emerged, if possible, with greater honor to his name.

General Taylor now established himself at Fort Basenger, on the Kissimmee. He had now been transferred to the first infantry, and it becoming necessary to establish posts about Tampa Bay and along the eastern coast, Mr. Poinsett, then Secretary of War, recommended to Major-general Jessup that General Taylor be placed in command of them.

In the fore part of 1839 Major-general Jessup was ordered to the seat of government to resume the duties of Quartermaster-general, and the command of the army in Florida was given to General Taylor. In the mean time peace had been proclaimed, and the duties of the commander were far from being onerous ; he was relieved in 1840 by Brigadier-general Armistead, after four years at least of indefatigable service in the swamps and hummocks of that unhealthy country.

General Taylor was next assigned the command of the second department, which was in the year following, and repaired to his head-quarters at Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas. On his way, he was offered a piibhc dinner at Little Rock, by the citizens of that place, as a token of esteem for his " meritorious services in Florida," but declined on account of haste to assume command. The first department of the army, including the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, &c., was next given to his command, and he repaired to Fort Jessup, where the order to assume command of the " Army of Observation" reached him.

Chapter II

G«neral Taylor called to Texas. — Object of the Expedition. — The Policy. — General Taylor's Position. — Innuendo repelled — General Taylor's grand Plan. — Its consummation.— General Survey of the Ground. — Critical Extract.

We have thus briefly hinted at some of the leading events in the Hfe of this accompKshed and successful general, up to the period he was called to the command of our forces about to proceed to Texas, a more minute detail of which appears in the regular order of the narrative. The object of this expedition, it is well known, was to invest that territory lying between the Rio Nueces and the Rio Grande or Bravo del Norte, a tract of land claimed to belong to Texas, and by the articles of annexation made over to the United Stales. We shall not make it our province to question the policy of taking forcible possession of a territory known to be held in dispute by two free and independent republics ; but nothing is clearer than that the commander of the American forces but complied with implicit instructions of the Department, which were his guarantee and justification.

We cannot say that neutrality would have been preserved had possession not been taken, and it would seem that the acquisition of the republic — but in equal part interested in the dispute — by a third power did not change the position of affairs, or authorize such power to invest the territory. Be this as it may, however, on the 28th of March, 1846, the United States army took up its quarters opposite Matamoras, and planted the United States flag in the ancient department of Tamaulipas.

The position which General Taylor selected is adjudged to be the most favorable. His force, there can be no doubt, was entirely inadequate to the position which he assumed ; censure cannot find a resting place, however, on the commander-in-chief for this error, if so it was. As a fearless and ready soldier, he repaired to the place assigned him, with the means furnished to his hands. If there was an error in judgment, in the department, it became too late to repair it by the commander, if he felt so disposed, when his observation led liim to perceive il. It was also entirely problematical, whether the Mexicans would take upon themselves the office of ejecting our troops from the soil tiius invested ; but, more than this, the probabilities were that they would not. These probabihlies amounted to nearly certainty, judging from the unstable state of the government of that republic, their civil dissensions, and the dispersed and disaffected state of their troops ; and no doubt had their influence with thc.departmenl in determining the amount of force to be sent.

Still, the assuming a hostile position — for such it is fair to term it, since it was not proposed to preserve neutrality simply, and one portion of those interested and engaged in the dispute of the soil were not only admitted, but took active part in the occupation — without tiie presence of a sufficient force to maintain it in any conceivable emergency, seems to us an oversight, to say the least, that might have resulted in dishonor to our arms. What then do we owe to the commander and those valorous spirits who fought their way, hand to hand, against an opposing force double their number, through a dilemma of an appalling nature in which they had been involved, to a brilliant and triumphant victory !

A writer remarks of General Taylor, in allusion to the subject — " If he erred in his estimate of the forces which the Mexicans could bring to assault the position which government had ordered him to take upon the Rio Bravo, and if, owing to that error, he allowed the army under his command to be placed in great peril, as well as his munitions, provisions, and. his line of intercourse with the ultimate resources on which the army was to rely, — if General Taylor allowed all these to be j)laced in great peril, it 'at least afforded him an opportunity of exercising and exhibiting the highest military genius in extricating himself from all those difficulties."

The hypothesis conveyed above, as furnishing evidence of a want of foresight in the American commander, as well as ground for innuendo or oblique censure, (we think unmeant,) is entirely imaginary. General Taylor was well informed as to the amount of Mexican force on the frontier when he arrived there, a large portion of which had previously advanced to meet him headed by General Mejia, the commander at Matamoras ; and which force was estimated at about two thousand soldiers and five hundred rancheros, under Mejia, Garcia, La Vega, and Laveriego. Upon arriving at Point Isabel, General Taylor set about establishing permanent defences for the protection of his stores, proceeded to the site Opposite Matamoras, which he designated for the head-quarters of the army, and placed nearly two-thirds of his army at once in erecting fortifications, and constructing means of defence, not for present emergency, but with the view of rendering his position impregnable against an anticipated force far more formidable. The expedition with which he prosecuted this labor, the permanent character of the work, at least the effort used with the facilities to give it this character, and the care manifested in the disposition of the brigades, speak as to the presentiments of the commanding general.

At length, in twelve days after his reaching this point, the expected force arrived. General Arista entered Matamoras with two hundred cavalry, leaving an army of from two to three thousand behind him, soon to arrive. Was General Taylor alarmed ? There is no evidence of it. Did he call for volunteers at that moment ? By no means. Could he have " erred" — quoting from the above paragraph — " in his estimate of the forces which the Mexicans could bring to assavdt his position ?" It seems he did not. He states in his communication of the 15th of April, that Ampudia's force, soon expected to Matamoras, was variously estimated at from two to three thousand, besides the two hundred cavalry he had with him. This estimate, compared with subsequent accounts, and the known number of Arista's command — that general having assumed the place of Ampudia — at Palo Alto, is found to have been nearly correct.

General Taylor, then, was aware of the force to be brought against him, and looked calmly on, because he felt secure in his position. The following few lines from his dispatch to the department, sets the matter on this point at rest.

" Notwithstanding the alternative of war presented by Ampudia" — this general had, upon his arrival at Matamoras to take command, notified the American commander to withdraw within twenty-four hours with his forces, and retire beyond the Nueces — " no hostile movement lias yet been made by his force. Whether he will feel strong enough to attempt any thing when all his force shall arrive, is very doubtful. Our brigades occupy strong positions, beyond reach of the fire from town, and can hold themselves against many times their number of Mexican troops. In the inean time our defences here and at Point Isabel are daily gaining strength. The latter point is well supplied with artillery, and is in a good condition to resist attack."

No alarm is manifested here, no volunteers are called for or aid demanded ; yet this is four days after the arrival of Ampudia, and three subsequent to the menacing notice of that general. The same dispatch, however, contains the following : " I shall authorize the raising of two companies of Texan mounted men for service in this quarter, particularly for the purpose of keeping open our communication with Point Isabel, and relieving the regular cavalry of a portion of their duties, which are now oppressive."

We have taken some pains to reply, though briefly, to the constructive imputation conveyed in the paragraph we have quoted, which represents General Taylor as having " allowed the army under his command to be placed in great peril," the more as that article appears as original in the most valuable register in this country. Now take a broad glance of all matters connected with the management of the " Army of Occupation," the present designation, and see whether a perfect system for maintaining the honor of our arms is not manifest, the operations of which have led to the happiest and most glorious results. The commanding general finds himself at Corpus Chrisli with two regiments of infantry and the second dragoons ; and on the border of the enemy's country, with a force that cannot be immediately increased. He hears of an opposing force, certainly much larger than his own, meditating an attack. He surveys his ground, his resources, his position with regard to his stores, and the general alternative to which he is driven. Two points must be defended. The probably first movement of the enemy will be to intercept the communication between his depot of stores and camp, and the capture of the first-named. His works opposite Matamoras arc completed, and so constructed that five hundred men will maintain them against the direction of even the whole of the opposing force. He can withdraw with the balance of his army, about two thousand two hundred men, repair to Point Isabel, and maintain that post against an attack, or return with munitions and supplies, which were greatly needed in camp. A portion of the enemy's force must necessarily be employed in reducing Fort Brown, while the balance might be attacked by General Taylor in person, if concentrated at Point Isabel, or interposed between the two points.

He sets out according to his plan, leaving Major Brown with five or six hundred men to defend the works. He meets with no opposition on the route. As predicted, the bombardment of the fort commenced upon its being ascertained by the enemy that the principal part of the American force had left. General Taylor arrives at Point Isabel, where he remains until satisfied that no attack on that post is meditated, learning, in the mean time, that all is safe at Fort Brown, then commences his return with his munitions and stores. He meets the enemy in large numbers, fairly engages with them, comes out victorious in two sanguinary battles, drives him from the soil across the Rio Grande, and his army receives their supplies, and the intercourse with the depot is amply secured.

Who can imagine a more beautiful working of a grand system, a magnificent plan ? — more glorious results, even with superior advantages, much less in an emergency ? Here was displayed the highest military genius, and the hero of Palo Alto and Reseca de la Palma has conferred on his country an obligation that time should scarcely efface. " So far as we have been able to distinguish and have capacity to judge," says a writer, speaking of these events, and whose views vary slightly from our own, " no officer, placed under the circumstances in which he found himself, could have acted with more coolness, prudence, or courage than General Taylor displayed upon this occasion. Not so fastidious of his own reputation as to endanger the safety and comfort of his command for one moment unnecessarily by concealing the danger to which he found them exposed, or rashly to risk the issue of a now very doubtful contest to those forces which had heretofore been considered ample for the occasion, he very prudently summoned the neighboring states to his assistance, apprizing fully of the necessity

18 LIFE OF pENERAL TAYLOR.

of prompt movement, and yet, while wisely providing for contingencies, his own measures were taken as though no dependence was to be placed upon such assistance arriving in time, as in fact it did not, to save him from having so large odds to contend with. If there be one plume which General Taylor has won in this affair which is entitled to more commendation than all others, it was this proof of the highest qualifications for a commander, to which we have just alluded.

" It is gratifying, however, to him and his countrymen that his own resources were found sufficient for the occasion. To him it must be gratifying, because, if honors were to be won, ' the Army of Occupation,' men and officers, were fairly entitled to the honor of winning and wearing them ; and it is truly gratifying to his countrymen to observe and acknowledge how gallantly they have won, and how gracefully they wear those honors."

Chapter III

General Taylor continued. — Critical examination of the Battles of the 8th and 9th May. — The Light Artillery Arm. — Investigation of the Causes of these Victories. — Demonstrations of Approbation. — President confers a Brevet. — Resolutions and Sword of Louisiana and Tennessee. — Thanks of Congress. — General Taylor's Talents as a Military Man and General. — Qualities of Heart. — Personal Appearance.— Rough and Ready. — His Dress. — Characteristic Anecdote. — Political Opinions. — Habits, etc.

The details of llie battles on tiie Rio Grande will be found in another place, and we had intended the reader of this edition should be left to analyze them, and form his own opinion as to the magnitude of the victories. But finding a critical examination at hand, and so exactly suited to our mind, we cannot refrain from giving it almost entire in these pages; the more especially as from its appearing originally in the Courier and Enquirer newspaper, we should presume it penned by Colonel Webb himself, which places its authority and value beyond question. It assumes the stand that these victories are unparalleled, and that record furnishes no instances of such glorious achievements under similar circumstances. We have never seen the critical examination to which the writer alludes.

The writer of this paper, after quoting the concluding portions of General Taylor's reports of the two battles, wherein the general states the amount of his own and the enemy's force and loss in killed and wounded, says :

" We have made the above extracts, with a view of examining somewhat more critically, the gallant affairs of the 8th and 9th of May, to demonstrate the leading cause of those extraordinary victories, and to sustain the position we assumed immediately after the receipt of the intelligence of these battles, that they were the most gallant affairs on record, and that in modern times, never had such victories been obtained by any army opposed to such fearful odds — both armies consisting of disciplined troops ! We did not put forth this declaration without reflection ; it has frequently been the sub ject of discussion ; it has drawn forth criticism and a critical exam ination ; and \vc still contend that it is not only strictly accurate, but that even those most disposed to underrate the services of our little army, cannot gainsay it.