The life of Major General Zachary Taylor, twelfth president of the United States

Front matter

THE LIFE

OF

MAJOR GENERAL

Preface

The sudden splendor with which General Taylor nas burst upon the nation, has created in the public mind an anxiety, as intense as it is universal, to become acquainted, not only with the brilliant deeds which have rendered his name so illustrious, but with all the incidents of his life from his youth to his first prominent appearance before the country, as commander-in-chief of the army, destined to operate against Mexico. It was to satisfy this anxiety more fully, if possible, and in a more durable form than it had yet been done, that this work has been prepared. The compiler claims for it no other merit than this over the many sketches of this eminent man's life that have preceded it. lie has labored under much embarrassment in collecting materials for a work claiming even that merit. So little had General Taylor sought public notoriety, that almost his very name was unknown to a large portion of the American people, until the victories of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma revived the recollection of it. Even his heroic defence of Fort

VI PREFACE.

Harrison, and his services in Florida, were nearly forgotten.

The inconveniences arising from this cause were increased by the rapidity with which the materials had necessarily to be prepared. In less than seven weeks from the day the first " copy" was written and placed in the hands of the compositor, the last sheet had run through the press. In addition to its preparation, the compiler had the management of a daily and weekly paper, and the various other duties connected with them upon his hands. Though the reader has a right to hold him strictly accountable for the imperfections that may be discovered, yet he has some confidence that these circumstances will induce a less rigid exaction than he would have had any right to expect if he had possessed ampler materials, longer time to collect, and more leisure to prepare them. It is proper to say, however, that he has been careful to exclude everything not believed to be strictly authentic. Much of it has already been made public, principally through the newspaper press of the day. Some of this has been acknowledged in the appropriate place. But with the exception of Mr. Thorpe's excellent work, entitled " Our Army on the Rio Grande," the sources of his information are so various, that it would be as tedious as it is unnecessary to specify them.

Auburn, June, 1817.

Chapter I. Paoi

Life of General Zachary Taylor 13

Taylor's Family and Parentage *"*

His Early Character J^

A Hazardous Exploit 1"

Education and Youthful Associates * •

Appointed Lieutenant in the Army

War Declared 1"

A Night of Horror ~°

Defence of Fort Harrison **

The Official Account 22

A Conflagration ^

A Deserter's Return ~4

The Enemy's Retreat ^

A Dangerous Position -"

The Garrison Relieved 27

Valor Rewarded 28

Expedition against the Indians **j

Anecdote of Ma jor Taylor ->"

Hi- Speech at Black River 31

Arrival of Reinforcements 38

Another Promotion 33

CHAPTER II. The Florida War 34

Battle of Okee-cho-bee 37

Victory of Okee-cho-bee 38

Phe Details 39

Me< tin^r with an Indian Chief W

i ichery 41

A March bj Nighl 43

Alligator's < lamp 4.1

1 41

The Pinal Arrangements 4:>

'i he U in W

The Killed and Wounded 47

ing the Wounded 48

i nan) Colonel Davenport 4!)

Gallantry of the Sixth. • r,,)

Fruits of ili \ ictory ,r, 3

1 nt-Colonel Thompmn - r> l

Colonel Taylor Promoted f'f'

Letti r from his ( lamp ■ ^,,,

Anecdote of Q ncral Taylor 37

Sought to be Censured 58

Bmploymi at of Bloodhounds !xJ

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III. PAOt

Annexation of Texas 60

Private Instructions 61

Views of the Government 62

Taylor to repel Invasion 63

Texas assents to Annexation 64

Taylor's Instructions 65

Troops ordered into Texas 66

A Naval Force to Co-operate 67

Volunteers from other States 68

What Acts considered Aggressive 69

How to act in case of War 70

What Position to he Occupied 71

Taylor ordered to the Rio Grande 72

To act on the Defensive 73

General Taylor's Dispatches 74

At St. Joseph's Island 75

Health of the Army 76

At Corpus Christi 77

Character of his Troops 78

Occupation of Point Isabel 79

Advantages of that Position 80

Army to be Concentrated 81

Further Instructions Required 82, 83

Ordered to the Rio Grande 84

Armed Vessels R< quired 85

General Taylor's Policy 86

Army 1< aves < lorpus Christi 87

Conciliatory Orders 88

Good Condition of the Army 89

Arrives at Point Isabel 90

Fire at Point Isabel 91

A Mexican Protest 93,93

Host i lit v of the Mexicans 94

Mi dean Preparations for War 95

A Summons to General Taylor 96

General Taylor's Reply.... 97

His Refusal to Comply 98

'I hi Rio Grande Blockaded 99

Ampudia's Proti bI 100

Gl im ral Taylor's I '.ions 101

Reviews his Acts 102

Responsibility Assumed 103

Gem ral Ampudia's Complaints 104

Warlike Pn parations 105

Attempt at Corruption 106

Mi ricans Cross the Rio Grande 107

Surprise of Captain Thornton 108

Mexican Rejoicing 109

CHAPTER IV. General Taylor leaves Fort Drown 110

Mexican Boasting 1 12

CONTEXTS. IX

not.

A Charge of Cowardice H3

Fort Brown Bombarded 114

■fibe Enemy's Account of it 115

Their Opinion of American Troops 116

What they consider a Triumph 117

Mexican Valor Ho

Death of Major Brown 130

Summons to Fori Brown 1*21

Tli' if Fire v commi need 122

A Happy Omen ' -•'

Taylor leaves Point Isabel 1-1

The Position of the Enemy 125

The Battle begun '. 126

Effect of our Artillery 127

Lieutenant Riilgeley's Gallantry 128

Pirmnes ■ of the Mexicans 131

if Major Ringgold 132

The Kill. .1 and Wounded ,: ' ,:{

Mexi m Official Account 138—1-10

CHAPTER V. Resaca dc la Palma 141

(ii neraJ Taylor's Line of Battle 142

Characti r of the Mexican Troops 143

Dri\' n from the Ravine 144

M ■ I lharge Mo

Lieutenant Lincoln's Heroism '46

Incidents of the Battle 147

A Brave Mexican ' '•'

Mexican Confidence of Victory 150

Capture of La Vega 151

The Enemy Retreat '•;•'>

American Loss Ion

'l In Causes of our Success 151

! Individual Gallantry ' ;, " !

Good Conduct of the Officers 169

Details of May's Charge " '• "i 1

An Awkward Position "'"-

Review of the Actions 183

1 i Umy 164

Character of the Mexican Troops "'■;

l tance of Discipline loo

Character of the Battles 188

! i Opinions of the Action 1

Anxii i> at Fort Brown 1*8

A Painful Dilemma '2'

The News of Victory l»

Flight of thi D 1 ; :;

Terror of the Mexicans '71

1*8

X CONTENTS.

rxat.

A Cowardly Mexican General 176

Anecdote of General Taylor 177

A Disappointment 178

CHAPTER VI. Barita Captured 179

Preparations lor capturing Mutamoras 180

Negotiation fur the Surrender 1 HI

• Interview with the. Prefect 182

Our Troops cross the River 183

Death of Lieutenant George Stevens 184

The American Army in Matamoras 185

A Mercenary Official 180

Pursuit of thi Flying Mexicans 187

Sad End of Lofty Expectations 188

Condition of Affairs at Matamoras ... 189

Wounded American Officers 190

General Taylor reinforced 191

Reorganization of the Mexican Government 192

General Tavlor marches for Monterey 193

His Arrival there 194

Encamps at Walnut Springs 195

Pn parations for the Attack 190

Attack upon an advanced Battery 197

Garland's Command enter the Town 193

Charge upon the Si cond Battery 201

A Foothold obtained ." 202

Si \ i re American Loss 203

The Enemy evacuate their Works 204

Americans Sturm the < 'ity 205

Proposal to Evacuate 20G

T of Capitulation 207

Americans enter the City 208

Gallantry of Officers 209

Commended to the Government 210

Good Conduct of Sol liers 211

Death of Captain Williams.... 212

Furthi r I)i tails of the Action 213

ness for the Conflict 214

Prospects of a Bloody Fight 215

Incidents of the Attack . .' 216, 217

Dangerous Enterprise 218

plished -19

Storming a Fort

I aces of Individual Courage 221

A Barbarous Deed 233

Captui Pal ic< 223

try ofG( in rd Worth 224

Services of the Ti i in Rangers 225

Terms of Capitulation 1 y 220

tions of General Taylor ■ ■ 227

Officers Kill. .1 and Wounded 229

Mississippi Volunteers 2J9

CONTENTS. XI

PAOK.

A *Hag of Truce 230

Incidents of the Capitulation 231

Storming of Monterey 232, 233

General Taylor's Defence 234—236

The Advantages of the Terms 237

Letter from General Taylor 238

His contemplated Movements 239

Suggestions to his Government 2-10

Forces required to take Vera Cruz 2-11

Establishes himself at Monterey 212

Takes Possession of Saltillo 243

Scott ordered to Mexico 214

Scott's. Letter to Taylor 215

His Intentions 246

Withdrawal of Taylor's Forces 2-17

Taylor's Address to his Troops 218

Surprise of Colonel May 249

Taylor encamps at Buena Vista 250

CHAPTER VII. Battle of Buena Vista 251

Advantages of Taylor's Position 252

A Gorgeous Scene 253

General Taylor's Line of Battle 254

A Humane Proposition 255

The Attack commenced 25b

Colonel Hardin's Charge 257

An Attempt to Outflank Taylor 258

Flight of the Indiana Regiment 259

Great Havoc among the Enemy 260

Attack upon our Train 261

A Mexican Stratagem 262

An Amusing Demand 263

Effect of Duplicity 264

Victory Dearly turned to Defeat 265

a Noble Charge 266

An Excitin 267

A sudd.,, Charge 268

v Hardin, and McKee 269

I in Bragg*s Battery 270

Narrow IN \i|,e of Taylor. 273

A Dearly Purchased Victory 274

Some of the Martyrs

General Taylor's Official Report 976—293

Santa Ann is 1 1 u mane Summons 994

Santa Anna's Account 295

II is Embarrassments 896

ACh on

force und< r hi • I lommand 298

The Plan of Battle 899

A Mi v.- .n Deserter 300

A Sad Disappointment 'i 11 '

An Imagined Retreat 302

XJ1 CONTENTS.

Misrepresentation of Taylor's Forces 303

Santa Anna commences the Attack 304

Disposition of his Forces 305

Admits his I leavy Losses 306

Great Glory he acquired 307

Bravery of his Officers 308

Why Taylor got off so w( 11 309

How the Ann ricans w. re frightened 310

Why Santa Anna <l< serted Lis Wounded 311

Difficulties of his Position 312

Expectations for the Future 31 3

The Cattle described in Poetry 314—316

A Mexican Poem 317, 318

CHAPTER VIII. The Dark Features of War 319

Taylor's Gratulations to his Army 3 - 20

His Humane Disposition 321

Lett' r ■>;'< Ion lolence to Mr. Clay 322

Lette' to Ex-Governor Lincoln 323

Hie an- lor the slain 324

An Interesting Private Letter 325

Referi nee to the Presidency 326

Reasons for leaving Agua Nueva

The Attack 328

A Critical Moment 329

The En< my Retreat 330

A Reasonable Hope 331

Their Army Routed 332

Sketch of Martyr \ ista 333

Appearance of the Enemy 334

The Horrors of War 336

An Ail' cti j Spectacle 337

Taylor on th< Battle Fii Id 338

Arrival D ies 339

Gen ral Taylor's R( ply 340—342

His Cooln is at Monti rey 313

Anecdoti s of Him 'I

A G <' man Volunteer.... 349

Taj lor s Ability in < Composition 350

LIFE

OF

GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.

Chapter I

lir. Taylor Family— Colonel Richard Taylor— Birth of Zachary Tay lor — His youth — Early indications of Character— Education— Disadvantages he labored under — His Bold and Adventurous Disposition — Hazardous Exploit — Love of Military Display — Receives a Lieutenant's Commission in the Regular Army — Promoted to the rank of Captain — His Gallant Defence of Fort Harrison— The Account of the Engagement — Receives the Brevet of Major — Expedition against the Indians — Services in the Black Hawk War — Promoted successively to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel — Appointed Indian Agent.

7 \rn \i;v T u lob is descended from an ancienl and distinguished English family, which emigrated to America and settled in the eastern part of the colony of Virginia, in the pear l c,'.)-j. and the name has been intimately identified and interwoven with the civil, political, ami military history of Virginia, both as a weak and languishing colon) , and i rful conv

monwealth, from that day to the present. Amongst others with whom Genera] Zachary Taylor is connected, either by the ties of consanguinity or marriage,

14 TAYLORS FAMILY AM' PARENTAGE.

and whose names have rendered its history illustrious, are numbered the Madisons, Lees, Barbours, Pendletons, Conways, Talafieros, Hunts, Gaincses, &c.

The father of Zachary Taylor held a colonel's commission throughout the Revolution, and served with great valor during that long and unequal struggle, much of the time with Washington himself, and retaining in all emergencies, and under every difficulty, his confidence and esteem. He was engaged in many of the most fiercely contested and bloody battles of the war, and particularly at Trenton, where he rendered distinguished and valuable aid to the commander-in-chief, in that brilliant achievement.

In 1700 Colonel Taylor emigrated to Kentucky, in company with Colonels Croghan and Bullitt, when thai territory was but little more than an Indian hunting ground. Tt was then the scene of frequent fierce and bloody strifes between the various tribes which inhabited it, and murderous excursions against the rant population who had settled there. From desperate and bloody encounters, amongst themselves and with the white man, Kentucky derived the name of the "Dark and Bloody Ground.''

In many of these encounters Colonel Taylor bore a conspicuous part, and by his bold and daring conduct, and ceaseless vigilance, rendered his name a terror to the merciless foe. After peace v lished, he

held many honorable and responsible positions. He one of the framers of the constitution of Kentucky; i I •' Louisville city for n in both branch lature, and was a member of the ' J colleges which voted Among the politicians I y, he I

HIS EARLY CHARACTER 15

as one of the few men of the Old Court parly, who could be elected during the excitement of the "Old Court and New Court question."

Colonel Taylor died on his plantation near Louisville. Kentucky, leaving three sons, (his second and fourth sons, George and William, having died previously.) Hancock, Zachary and Joseph, and three daughters] Elizabeth, Sarah, and Emily.

Hancock, Elizabeth, and Emily, have died since their father, so that Joseph and Sarah are the only brother and sister of Zachary now living. The descendants of the deceased members of the family, with two exceptions, live in and near Louisville, Kentucky.

Zachary Tayxob was born in Orange county, Virginia, in 1790, and was less than a year old when his father emigrated to Kentucky. His youth was therefore spent, and his character formed, amidst the dangers and difficulties of Indian warfare, and the hardships and privations ever incident to a frontier life. His boyhood was distinguished by indications of that straightforward, manly Lndajpendence of character, inflexibility of purpose, frank and open disposition, foresight, decision and energy ; modest and retiring demeanor, and thoughtful, inquiring mind, thai have ae him so triumphantly through difficulties and dangers before which men educated in a less

hool would have shrunk in despair, until ho has v out a name that will fill one of the bright-

est pages in American history.

IVfany family and neighborho ' ites are told

tO illustrate his haraeter, and

his love for di enterprises. Night after night

he was in th ■ habit of seeing the house barricaded, and

the arm.. | any attack that migl I

16 A HAZARDOUS EXPLOIT.

made before the morning dawned. Scarcely a wee! passed that th Dot an alarm, or an actual in-

cursion of Indians amongst the settlements. Even on his way to school he was in danger of the tomahawk and scalping knife. On one occasion, some of his schoolmates were murdered and scalped by the Indians, within a hundred yards from the point where he and his brothers had separated from them.

When but seventeen years old he swam across the Ohio river, from the Kentuck; to tl ' lia a shore, in the month of March, when the river was filled with floating ice, which is a feat far surpassing in danger and difficulty the far-famed exploit of swimming the Hellespont. Many other well-attested anecdotes are relate! f his dari I ' ! bold

and dangerous exploits. He took great delight in fishing and hunting, and wis often absent, roaming through forests and over boundl s and

nights together, in quest of game. No obstacle woul 1 dampen his indomitable energy, or discourage! him from attempting the most hazardous enterpri

As may well be understood, young Ti >yed

but few advantages for acquiring a practical, much less an ornamental or classical education. The character of the schools of Kentucky, a! thai time, as in all other new and sparsely settled districts, were not of a very e1e\ at i i hi racter. The I then,

were supported by pri ' were not

of a character to lay a \ ■ lation

for those attainments, and tl ncture of

knowledge, which the superior facilities of the present day render so easy of ace " ' ' the

advantages afforded him, hi airing

mind, his great love of learning, his remarkably strong

EDUCATION AVD YOUTHFUL ASSOCIATES. 17

and retentive memory, and above all, his iron will and great tenacity of purpose, more that compensated, in his case, for what otherwise would have confined his acquirements to the commonest rudiments of an English education. But by the aid of these striking characteristics, he was enabled to overcome all difficulties, and to store his mind with a fund of information that few have acquired, even under the most favorable circumstances. The elegance, beauty and simplicity of his official dispatches from Mexico, stamp him as one of the chastest and most accomplished writers of the day.

Amongst Taylor's most intimate associates at school, were Col. Joseph P. Taylor, who afterwards distinguished himself at the battle of Okce-cho-bee, during the Florida war, and has now the control of the commissary department in Mexico, and Col. George Croghan, subsequently the hero of Fort Sandusky, and at present holding a high post in the army of the United States. He remained with his family, in Kentucky, until the year 1808, when the capture of the United States Frigate Chesapeake, by the British Frigate Leopard, fired the whole country with indignation, and fearfully increased the feelings of animosity that the repeated aggressions of the English nation had already raised to so high a pitch. YoungTaylor partook of the general excitement to its full extent, and eagerly seized upon the occasion as a favorable momem to gratify his anxious desire to enter the army, and at the same lime to

assist, in vindicating the outraged honor of his country's nag. Accordingly he losl no time in making his wished known. He therefore applied to Mr. Jefferson for a

commission in the army, and, by the aid of his powerful family connections, his application was successful;

18 APPOINTED LIEUTENANT IN THE AUMY.

and on the 3rd of May, 1808, when only eighteen years old, he received a commission as first lieutenant in the Seventh Regiment of United States Infantry. His young ambition was now satisfied, and a wide field opened before him for the gratification of his long indulged and ardent aspirations for military fame. He had almost from his earliest youth evinced a strong inclination for martial exercises, and his greatest pleasure consisted in playing the soldier and acting the mock hero at the head of an army of equally young patriots. In these mimic battles he exhibited, on a small scale, the germ of that genius for command, and military skill and talent, which have since been so eminently developed.

From the time he entered the army until the breaking out of the war with England, but little occurred in the life of the young lieutenant to break the monotonous round of every-day duty, to which soldiers are bound when not in actual service. He passed his time in the duties of his position, and in perfecting himself in a knowledge of the profession he had chosen. He brought to the task the same untiring industry and firm determination to understand the science of war, which he had ever shown in whatever pursuit or study he entered upon. It was probably during these comparatively leisure years, that he acquired that acquaintance with military tactics which is so necessary to the successful commander, and which afterwards served ta place him amongst the first generals of the day.

Previous to the breaking out of hostilities, the English government, through its agents, had been unerasing in its efforts to induce the Miamies and other tribes of western Indians to take up arms against the United States, and had been unscrupulous in the use of money

WAR DECLARED. 19

and means to accomplish this end. Their agents had been partially successful in enlisting several savage tribes in their plans. The threatened outbreak, however, was discovered before their schemes had quite matured, and by the promptness, energy, and vigilance of General William Henry Harrison, who was then governor of the Northwest Territory, their intentions were anticipated, and a detachment of troops under his command was marched into the enemy's country. While on this expedition Governor Harrison determined to build a fort on the Wabash, in Indiana, about fifty miles above Vincennes, which was afterwards known as Fort Harrison. Lieutenant Taylor was actively engaged in this expedition, and in overawing the Indians in other quarters. At the beginning of 1812, Lieutenant Taylor was promoted to the rank of captain, by President Madison.

On the 19th of June, 1812, a declaration of war was formally declared against Great Britain by the United States Congress, and sanctioned by the President. Captain Taylor had but a few weeks before been placed in command of Fort Harrison, a rude and weak stockade, garrisoned by only fifty soldiers, most of whom, like himself, were worn down and disabled by their long and severe service. Almost in the very midst of .•in enemy's country, surrounded on .-ill sides by a sleepand savage foe, and kept constantly on the alert,

Dlght and day. for weeks together, it is not to be WOD-

dered at that Taylor and his men should nearly have

sunk under the fatigue and labor they had so long ,. n .

dured. While in this wretched state, with scarcely a men fn for Ben ice, he was attacked, on the night of the 5th of September, 1812, after an ineffectual attempt to get possession of the fort by stratagem, by a so

A NIGHT OF HORROR.

force of four hundred and fifty Indians. But Captain Taylor had taken his measures with too much prudence to be captured either by stratagem or force, as weak as were his defences and few his men.

The attack was commenced about eleven o'clock at night, amidst the excitement and confusion occasioned by the burning of the lower block-house, which contained the property of the contractor, and which they had previously fired. The Indians, confident of victory, had completely surrounded the little garrison, and commenced firing upon it from all sides, simultaneously with the firing of the block-house. But Captain Taylor was undismayed, either by the overwhelming number of his enemy and their murderous fire, or the more dangerous element of destruction they had called to their aid. He calmly gave his orders for having the fire extinguished, but for a long time all efforts were fruitless. The fire communicated to the roof, in spite of every effort to check it. The scene at this time is represented as truly appalling. The raging of the fire, the yelling and howling of several hundred Indians, and the cries of women and children who had taken shelter there, together with the unceasing discharge of guns, must have been enough to appal the stoutest heart. Yet we find this stripling captain, only twenty-two years of age, boldly meeting them all, and giving his orders for suppressing the fire, and repelling the attack of his four hundred savage foes, with as much coolness as the oldest veteran. By his great presence of mind, and his well-directed efforts, the flames were at length arrested, and the fire finally subdued. Having extinguished the fire, and erected a ternporary breastwork, the fire of the enemy was returned with redoubled vigor during the whole night, and with

DEFENCE OF TORT HARRISON. SI

such success, that at six o'clock in the morning, the enemy gave up the contest in despair, and withdrew their forces. In this gallant defence, Captain Taylor only lost two men killed, and two wounded. But his letter to General Harrison, giving a graphic and detailed account of the defence of Fort Harrison, and the incidents connected with it, will obviate the necessity of any other description of that terrible night, and be far more interesting. Captain Taylor says . —

"On Thursday evening, 3rd instant, after retreatbeating, four guns were heard to fire in the direction where two young men (citizens who resided here) were making hay, about four hundred yards distant from the fort. I was immediately impressed with an idea that they were killed by the Indians, as the Miamies or Weas had that day informed me that the Prophet's party would soon be here for the purpose of commencing hostilities, and that they had been directed to leave this place, which they were about to do. I did not think it prudent to send out at that late hour of the night to see what had become of them, and their not coming convinced me that I was right in my conjecture. I waited until eight o'clock next morning, when I sent out a corporal with a small party to find them, if it could be done without running too much risk of being drawn into an ambuscade. He soon sent back to inform me, that he had found them both killed, and wished to know my further orders. I sent the cart and oxen, had them brought in and buried. They had been shot with two balls, scalped and cut in the most shocking manner, Late in the evening of the 4th instant, old Joseph Lenar, and between thirty and forty Indians, arrived from the Prophet's town, with a white flag; among whom were about ten women, and the

26 THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT,

men were composed of chiefs of the tribes which compose the Prophet's party.

"A Shawanee man that spoke good English, informed me that old Lenar intended to speak to me next morning, and try to get something to eat. After retreatbeating, I examined the men's arms, and found them all in good oz'der, and completed their cartridges to sixteen rounds per man. As I had not been able to mount a guard of more than six privates and two non-commissioned officers for some time past, and sometimes part of them every other day, from the unhealthiness of the company, I had not conceived my force adequate to the defence of this post, should it be vigorously attacked, for some time past. As I had just recovered from a very severe attack of the fever, I was not able to be up much through the night.

" After tattoo, I cautioned the guard to be vigilant, and ordered one of the non-commissioned officers, as the sentinel could not see every part of the garrison, to walk around on the inside during the night, to prevent the Indians taking any advantage of us, provided they had any intention of attacking us. About eleven o'clock, I was awakened by the firing of one of the sentinels. I sprung up, ran out, and ordered the men to their posts, when my orderly sergeant (who had charge of the upper block-house) called out that the Indians had fired the lower block-house, (which contained the property of the contractors, which was deposited in the upper part, the lower part having been assigned to a corpora] and ten privates as an alarm post.) The guns had begun to fire pretty smartly from both sides. I directed the buckets to be got ready, and water brought from the well, and the fire extinguished immediately, as it was perceivable at that

A CONFLAGRATION. 23

time ; but from debility, or some other cause, the men were very slow in executing my orders. The word fire appeared to throw the whole of them into confusion ; and by the time they had got the water, and broken open the door, the fire had unfortunately communicated to a quantity of whiskey, (the stock having licked several holes through the lower part of the building, after the salt that was stored there, through which they had introduced the fire without being discovered, as the night was very dark,) and in spite of every exertion we could make use of, in less than a minute it ascended to the roof, and baffled every effort we could make to extinguish it.

" As that block-house adjoined the barracks that made part of the fortifications, most of the men immediately gave themselves up for lost, and I had the greatest difficulty in getting my orders executed ; and, sir — what from the raging of the fire — the yelling and howling of several hundred Indians — the cries of nine women and children (a part soldiers' and a part citizens' wives, who had taken shelter in the fort) — and a desponding of so many of the men, which was worse than all — I can assure you that my feelings were very unpleasant ; and, indeed, there were not more than ten or fifteen men able to do anything at all, the others being sick or convalescent; and to add to our other misfortunes, two <>f our stoutest men jumped the pickets and left. Hut my presence of mind did not for a moment forsake me. I saw by throwing off part of the