A life of Gen. Zachary Taylor; comprising a narrative of events connected with his professional career, derived from public documents and private correspondence

Front matter

GENERAL TAYLOR.

A LIFE

GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR;

Chapter I

The Taylor Family — Kentucky in 1775 — Birth of Zachary Taylor — Emigration of the Family to Kentucky — Hancock Taylor — Danger from the Indians — Zachary Taylor's Schoolmaster — His First Lesson in Tactics — His Prosperity as a Farmer — Peace with the Indians — Volunteers to oppose Burr's Designs — Commissioned a Lieutenant in U. S. Army — His Marriage — The Indians under Tecumseh — Harrison's Expedition against them — Taylor promoted to a Captaincy — War with England- Attack on Fort Harrison — Taylor's Defence of it — His First Despatch — Further Services — Major by Brevet 13

Chapter II

Injustice to Army Officers — Taylor's Resignation and Reinstatement — Various Services from 1816 to 1832 — Anecdote of his Habits — Promoted to a Colonelcy — Black Hawk War — Battle of Bad-Axe — Gen. Atkinson's Despatch — Anecdote of Taylor — Services until 1836 29

Chapter III

Destiny of the Indian Races— Causes of the Florida War — Osceola— Commencement of the Florida War — Troops in Florida — Massacre of Dade's Command — Volunteers in Florida — Taylor ordered to the Seat of War — Marches against the Indians — Difficulties of the March — Battle of Okeechobee — Gallantry of the Troops — The Killed and Wounded — Taylor's Account of the Battle — Its Results — Taylor applauded by the Country — Promoted to a Brigadier Generalship — Appointed to the chief Command in Florida — Use of Blood-hounds — Authority for the Use — Reasons for the same — Indian Murders, several Accounts — Their Perfidy — Taylor vindicated — He retires from the Command in Florida. 37 1* (5)

VI CONTENTS.

Chapter IV

General Taylor in the South-west — Tender of a public Dinner — Mexico in 1822 — Spirit of her Institutions — Injustice to Texas — Revolt of Texas — Annexation of Texas — Duty of a Soldier — Taylor ordered to defend Texas — Conditions of the Order — Invasion of Texas defined — Gen. Taylor embarks for Corpus Christi — Number of his Troops — Ordered to Matamoros — His Despatches from the date of embarking for Corpus Christi to the breaking up of the Camp at that point 68

Chapter V

The March from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande commenced — Face of the Country — Sufferings of the Troops — Mexican Demonstration — American Action — Point Isabel invested — The March resumed — Encampment on the Rio Grande — Conference rejected — Entrenchments commenced — Despatches of General Taylor — Ampudia's Magnanimity A Deserter shot — Fort Brown — Murder of Colonel Cross — Correspondence, Ampudia and Taylor — General Arista — Blockade of the Rio Grande — Correspondence on the Subject — Mexicans crossing the River — Capture of Thornton's Command — Mexican Exultation — Manifesto of Arista Point Isabel in Danger — Requisition for Volunteers — Captain Walker's First Exploit — Resolution to relieve Point Isabel 87 H

Chapter VI

Rejoicing in Matamoros — Arista, with his Forces, crosses the River — His Disappointment at Taylor's Escape — Mexican Narrative of both Movements — Ardour of the Mexicans — Terror of the Americans — Their Duplicity and Treachery — Taylor's Ignominy — Bombardment of Fort Brown — Taylor's Instructions — May's and Walker's Mission — New Mexican Batteries — Their Fire not returned — Mexican Account of the Bombardment — Eternal Honour of Mexican Artillery-men — Barbarous Pleasure of the Americans — Their Cowardice and Stupidity — Mexican

Triumph American Loss — Mexican Superiority — Continuation of the

Bombardment — Death of'Major Brown — New Mexican Batteries — Captain Hawkins summoned to Surrender — Arista's modest Letter — Hawkins' presumptuous Answer — Want of Ammunition — Preparations for an Assault — Weariness of the Men in the Fort — Signals of Relief. 108

Chapter VII

General Taylor leaves Point Isabel for Fort Brown — His Force — The March — Enemy reported — Rest before battle — Palo Alto — Enemy in

CONTENTS. VH

sight — Taylor's order of battle — Lieut. Blake's bold reconnoissance — Taylor's confidence — Arista's Force and order of battle — The Enemy's first Fire — The Answer and its Effect— Charge by the Lancers — Their repulse — Fall of Ringgold — The Prairie on fire— Charge on the Train — Duncan's Battery — May's gallantry — The last Charge — The Field won — The Loss — Taylor's first Despatch — His detailed account of the Action — Mention of Lieut. Blake — Of the Artillery — Of Lieut. Luther •r-Statement of Forces — Arista's Despatch — Misstatement of his Force — Explanations of Failure — False colouring — Acknowledgment of Loss — Remarks on the causes of the Victory 119

Chapter VIII

Mexican Army retreating — Taylor's March resumed — Mexican Dead and Wounded — Skirmishes with the Enemy — Mexican Army formed — Its Position — La Resaca de la Palma — The Battle commenced — The Artillery — Infantry engaged — Close Quarters — The Enemy's Batteries — May ordered to charge them — Ridgely's Gallantry — May's furious Onset — Inge's and Sackett's Death — Batteries captured — La Vega a Prisoner — The Fifth Infantry's charge — Personal deeds The Enemy's bravery — Officers Wounded and Killed — Arista's Camp taken — The Tampico Battalion — Rout of the Enemy — The Booty — The Loss — Taylor's first Despatch — His detailed Account — Encomiums on his Troops — Mistakes of Arista — Misery of routed Troops — Gen. Taylor's care of the Wounded — His return to Point Isabel — Congratulates his Troops — Mexican Commander's Manifesto — Remarks on causes of his Defeat — Inferiority of Officers — Authority cited — Self-devotion of American

Officers — Examples — Anecdotes of Heroism — Ridgely — Page Payne

— Ringgold — Richey — Woods and Hays — Augur and Cochrane — Barbour — May — Melton — Lincoln and Jordan — Belknap and Scott — Mcintosh — Letter of a Witness 135

Chapter IX

The 8th of May at Fort Brown — Anxiety of the Garrison News of

Palo Alto — Bombardment on the 9th — Mexican Fugitives seen — Recklessness in their Panic — Disappointment and Suffering in Matamoros — The Wounded and Dead — Despatches from Taylor — Incidents of La Vega's Capture — Taylor's Courtesy to him — Taylor's return to the Rio Grande — Commodore Conner — Barita taken — Preparations to Bombard Matamoros — Armistice offered and refused — Arista's final Retreat — Occupation of Matamoros — Despatch from General Taylor — Arista's report of his Retreat — Anecdote of Ampudia — Document found in Arista's Tent — Result of Taylor's Operations 160

Vlll CONTENTS.

Chapter X

War recognized by Congress — Men and Money voted — General Taylor embarrassed — Inadequate means of advancing — Letter to the Department — Difficulties and Wants explained — Further correspondence — Suggestions regarding his advance; — Letter from the Secretary of War — Taylor recommended to advance on Monterey — His Views on the Campaign requested — Continued Difficulties — Further despatches — Arrival ' of Volunteers — Causes of Inactivity explained — Minor Expeditions — More Troops — Letter from General Scott — News of Taylor's Victories reaches the United States — Popular Enthusiasm — Created Brigadier General by Brevet — President's Letter — Thanks voted by Louisiana

Legislature — Deputation to Taylor — His Speech to the Committee

Made a full Major General by Congress — Correspondence — Taylor's Views of future Operations — Camargo taken — Despatches 177

CHAPTER XL Civil Dissensions of the Mexicans — Tyranny of Paredes — Popular Defections — Conspirators apprehended — Liberty of the Press abolished — Unwise Policy of Paredes — News of Arista's Defeat received — Sensation in the Capital — Money refused by the Clergy — Decline of Paredes 7 authority — Movement in favour of Santa Anna — Civil War in Mexico- Blockade by the United States of Mexican Ports — Plans of the United States Government — Plans of General Taylor — Proclamation to the People of Mexico — Confidential Letter to Taylor — Taylor's Answer — Santa Anna proclaimed in Vera Cruz — Excitement in the Capital — Fall of Paredes — Santa Anna's return to Mexico — Government of de Salas — Santa Anna's triumphal entry into the Capital — His pledges to the Mexicans — Taylor's Arrangements complete for his Advance — His Difficulties explained — Enumeration of his Force — March of Worth's Division — Of Butler's and Twiggs' Divisions — Report of Forces against Monterey — Sufferings and Death of Volunteers — March of Worth's Division towards Monterey 195

Chapter XII

Enemy reinforced at Monterey — Taylor, with Twiggs' and Butler's Divisions, marches from Camargo — The March — Rest at Seralvo — Appearonce of the Country — Mexican Forces discovered — The Advance before Monterey fired upon — Encampment at Walnut Springs — Description of Monterey — Its Fortifications — Mexican Forces in it — Ampudia's Address — Taylor's Keconnoissance — His Plan of Assault — Worth's Expedition — His movement on tile 20th — Skirmish on the 21st — Occupa-

CONTENTS. IX

tion of the Saltillo Pass — Movements of Butler's Division—First Fort in the Eastern Suburbs carried — Terrible Fire of the Enemy's Batteries — Repulse of the Lancers — Two Forts on the Heights carried — Losses on the First Day — Dispositions for the Night 215

Chapter XIII

Independencia carried — Sortie from the Palace — Enemy repulsed and Palace taken — Operations on the Eastern Quarter — Progress towards the Heart of the Town — Worth's Progress on Opposite Side — Command of the Main Plaza — Flag of Truce — Suspension of the Attack — Taylor's Despatch — Correspondence with Ampudia and the Governor — Taylor's Detailed Report of the Siege! — Extract from Worth's Report — Comments on the Action — Conference between Ampudia and Taylor — Commissioners on the Capitulation appointed — Proceedings of the Commis- B i on — Terms of Capitulation — Report of Killed and Wounded 232

Chapter XIV

Occupation of the City by Worth's Division — Encampment of Butler's and Twiggs' Divisions — Consideration of the Terms of Capitulation- Implied Censure by Congress of the Terms — Defence of the same — Jefferson Davis' Views regarding the Capitulation — Taylor's Letter to the Adjutant General justifying it — Private Letter on the same Subject, and on his past Operations and future Plans — Concluding Remarks 263

Chapter XV

Taylor's Force after the Capitulation of Monterey — Reflections on hia Course Advices from Washington — Instructions regarding Supplies- Regarding an Expedition against the Coast — Further Correspondence — Taylor's Replies — Opinions regarding his own future Operations — Regarding the Force requisite to invest Vera Cruz — Assertion of his Rights as Commander — Answer to the Secretary respecting forced Supplies — General Wool's Entry into Monclova 274

Chapter XVI

March of Worth's Division for Saltillo — Taylor's Instructions — His reasons for holding Saltillo — Opinion regarding the Expedition against Vera Cruz The Forces necessary — Taylor visits Saltillo — Protest of the Governor — Relative position of the Divisions — Tampico occupied — Taylor sets out for Victoria with Twiggs' and Quitman's Brigades — Returns with the former — Concentration at Saltillo — Arrival of Wool's Division expected — Taylor marches again for Victoria with Twiggs' Division — Occupation of Victoria — Forces there — Government Plans against Vera

X CONTENTS.

Cruz — Letter from General Scott to General Taylor — Forces withdrawn from General Taylor — Address to his Troops — Loss of May's Rear-guard — Capture of Majors Borland, Gaines, and C. M. Clay — Affairs of Mexico — Activity of Santa Anna — His advance to San Luis — General Wool's Camp — Taytor's advance to Saltillo — Camp at Agua Nueva — At Buena Vista — Enumeration of Santa Anna's Forces — of Taylor's Forces 289

CHAPTER XVII. tt

Taylor's Position at Buena Vista — Washington's Birth-day — Summons of Santa Anna to Taylor to Surrender — The Reply — Taylor's Detailed Report of the Battle — His order of Battle on the 22d — Skirmishes — Minon's Cavalry in the Rear — Battle on the 23d — Attack of the Enemy on the Left and Centre — Partial success of the Attack — Service of the Artillery — Repulse of the Enemy — Ruse of Santa Anna — Death of Yell and Vaughan — Rei*ewed Attacks of the Enemy — Bragg's Battery — The Day saved — Death of Hardin, McKee, Lincoln, and Clay — Incidents after the Battle — Comparative Losses — General Wool and other Officers and Corps distinguished — Official Return of Loss — Private Letter to General Butler — Taylor's Views of the Battle — Congratulatory Orders

Letters to Henry Clay and Governor Lincoln — Rejoicings in the

United States — Mr. Crittenden — Repulse of Urrea and Romaro by Major Giddings Taylor's pursuit of them — Return to his Head-quarters

Public Estimation of Taylor— The Presidency — His Personal Views

as a Candidate — Concluding Remarks on his Character 299

A F

SEAT OF GENERAL TAYLOR'S OPERATIONS

(To face page 13.)

taylor's first lesson ln the art of war.

To face page 13.

LIFE

OF

GENERAL TAYLOR.

Chapter I

The Taylor Family — Kentucky in 1775 — Birth of Zachary Taylor — Emigration of the Family to Kentucky — Hancock Taylor — Danger from the Indians — Zachary Taylor's Schoolmaster — His First Lesson in Tactics — His Prosperity as a Farmer — Peace with the Indians — Volunteers to oppose Burr's Designs — Commissioned a Lieutenant in U. S. Army — His Marriage — The Indians under Tecumseh — Harrison's Expedition against them — Taylor promoted to a Captaincy — War with England — Attack on Fort Harrison — Taylor's Defence of it — His First Despatch — Further Services — Major by Brevet.

The republican principles and customs of our country happily forbid personal distinction founded merely upon ancestral rank. We incline rather to celebrate a name first made illustrious in our own day, than one which borrows its light from the glory of other generations. Yet we fail not in due respect for the character which worthily sustains inherited superiority. In this spirit, we commence a biography of General Taylor, by citing the honourable families whose blood is mingled in his veins. Original obscurity or early trials could not have shadowed his genius or repressed his energies. But springing from a stock, to be worthy of which were a singular merit, he has proved himself its noblest scion, and, amid a halo of kindred names, his own has suddenly risen to be the highest and brightest.

The family of the Virginia Taylors is allied to the oldest and most distinguished of that state. Its first representatives emigrated from England, and settled in the south-eastern part of the colony, towards the close of the seventeenth century.

2 (13)

14 THE TAYLOR FAMILY.

In the different branches of it are found the Lees, the Barbours, the Madisons, the Conways, the Pendletons, the Hunts, the Taliaferros, the Gaineses, and others, whose public services and virtues, during a hundred years, are commemorated in our colonial and national history.

Richard Taylor, the father of General Zachary Taylor, was born in Virginia, on the 22d day of March, 1744. He appears to have received a plain but solid education, and evinced in his boyhood the daring and adventurous spirit, which led him to seek a home and independence in the wilderness of the Mississippi valley. While yet at school, he entered into a compact, with some of his mates, to visit Kentucky when they should grow up. He, at least, adhered to his purpose. When stili very young, he set out, and reached " the dark and bloody ground," on which, at that time, the dwelling of a civilized man had not been reared. His survey of the country extended to the Mississippi, down which he proceeded as far as Natchez. From that point, his face was then turned homeward ; and, without guide or companion, through pathless woods, over rivers and mountains, fearless alike of the seasons, of savages, or of any peril of his long and lonely way, he walked back to his father's house in Virginia. All that he had seen served but to confirm, in his imagination, the charms of border life ; and, although he continued to reside many years in Virginia, he subsequently fulfilled his desire of making his home in the great west.

On the 20th of August, 1779, when thirty-five years old, he was married to Sarah Strother, a young lady, of good family, then in her twentieth year. At this time, he held a colonel's commission in the Virginia Line, and served with zeal and honour through the revolutionary war.

Five sons and three daughters were the offspring of this marriage, — the first child born in 1781. Zachary Taylor, the subject of this memoir, the third son of Colonel Richard Taylor, was born in Orange county, Virginia, on the twenty-fourth day of November, 1784. In the following summer, his father fulfilled his lone-cherished intention of piaWaiirtg to Kentucky.

KENTUCKY PIONEERS. 15

Only ten years before, the first habitation of a white man had been erected in the vast region between the western boundary of Virginia and the Mississippi. Within this period, a few settlements had been made, insufficient, however, from their feebleness and isolated positions, to secure to the emigrant , adequate protection from the Indians, much less to afford him the most usual comforts of civilized life. Peril and privation, to which only superior courage and fortitude were equal, were the lot of all who sought a home in the primitive woods, and in the hunting-grounds of hostile savages.

In the emigration of Colonel Richard Taylor to this country, he had- been preceded by his brother Hancock, a brave and intelligent man, who fell a sacrifice in the enterprise of surveying parts of the Ohio valley. He is said to have selected, for his farm, the site of the city of Louisville. He is thus mentioned in Marshall's History of Kentucky.

" After Douglass, (a surveyor, who died on the Kentucky river, while engaged in his profession,) and pursued by a fate more malignant, was Hancock Taylor ; a surveyor also, and a man of more enterprise. He, too, landed at the falls of the Ohio, and, after making a number of surveys, by virtue of military warrants, was killed by the Indians, who made a sudden onset before he was apprized of danger. Thus fell an intelligent and worthy man. One of his attendants had the precaution to secure and bring off' his book of field notes, which was rendered effectual [adopted as authority,] by an act of the legislature."

Under the guidance of such men, and under such circumstances for the development of his bold spirit and active intellect, Zachary Taylor passed his infant years. The hardships and dangers of border life were to him as familiar as ease and security to the child of metropolitan luxury. His father had settled in Jefferson county, about two miles from the Ohio river, and five miles from Louisville, where he acquired a large estate by his industry and thrift, and honourable consideration by his intelligence, bravery, and patriotism. As Louisville rose into importance, his own fortune and local dis-

16 . Taylor's schoolmaster.

tinction increased. He received from President Washington a commission as collector of that port, New Orleans being then in possession of the Spaniards. He had been a personal friend of Washington, prior to his emigration from Virginia, and his worth was, therefore, familiar to that great man, from early knowledge as well as later report.

One of the chief cares of Colonel Taylor was the education of his children. During the first ten or fifteen years of his residence in Kentucky, the country being sparsely settled, and exposed to Indian enemies, this purpose could be accomplished only in a very partial degree. A school, for the rudiments of English merely, was established in his neighbourhood by Elisha Ayres, a native of Connecticut, who afterwards returned to that state, and now resides, a venerable gentleman of fourscore years, at Preston, in the vicinity of Norwich. A letter from him, written during the past summer to the author of this volume, in answ r er to one of inquiry concerning the school-boy days of General Taylor, explains satisfactorily the circumstances in which they were passed, and exhibits the character of our hero, at that time, in a light worthy of his mature reputation.

In the language of Mr. Ayres, "the Kentuckians were then a warlike and chivalrous people, and they were often engaged in offensive or defensive skirmishes with the Indians. A number were known to be in the woods not far distant from the school-house, and, on one occasion, one of them was shot, wearing a British uniform. In their hostility to the Americans, they were encouraged and sustained by the British authorities on the Northern frontier. There was a Mr. Whetsel, in the neighbourhood of the school, who, having been once chased by three or four Indians, loaded his rifle while running, and successively shot them all. This exploit made Whetsel famous, and he became the instructor of the young men and boys in the neighbourhood, in his mode of maintaining a running fire. Among his pupils, it is believed, was yojng Zachary." It may be remarked, upon this recital of » young Zachary's" first training in the art of war, that he has apparently forgotten

TAYLOR A FARMER. 17

the " running" lessons, although, jn other respects, he ab mdantly justifies the tuition of the valiant Whetsel. Among the anecdotes current in Kentucky respecting his childhood, is one of his watching at home with his brother, and casting bullets, while his father was out engaged with the Indians. Such, in fact, was the constant necessity of guarding against these cunning and implacable foes, that the physician of the neighbourhood habitually rode with pistols at his saddlebows.

All attempts to placate or subdue the Indians had failed, prior to the date of Wayne's decisive victory over them. In 1795, the year following that important achievement, a general peace was concluded. From that period, the population of Kentucky increased rapidly, and civilized labour and enterprise began to enjoy their due reward. Zachary Taylor \vas reared by his father to his own profession — that of a farmer ; and, until his majority, was practically engaged in it, working with his own hands, and laying the foundation of the robust health, hardy habits, and persevering industry, which have borne the test of various climate, rude fare, and severe duty, during a military life of more than thirty years. The service very early engaged his affections and excited his ambition. When Aaron Burr's movements in the west began to arouse suspicion, the patriotic young men of Kentucky formed volunteer companies, to oppose his designs by arms, if occasion should demand such a resort. Zachary Taylor, and one or more of his brothers, were enrolled in a troop raised for this purpose.

After the alarm had subsided, he returned to his farm, which he continued to cultivate successfully, until the death of his brother, Lieutenant Taylor. The latter held a commission in the United States army, and, dying in the service, an opportunity was afforded Zachary of obtaining the vacancy. Through the influence of his relative, James Madison, of his uncle, Major Edmund Taylor, and of his father, this object was accomplished ; and, on the 3d of May, 1808, he received his commission as first lieutenant in the seventh regiment of United States Infantry. At this time, he was already in the enjoyment

18 WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

of a fortune, which, although moderate, was more than sufficient for his wants. But the activity of his mind, his aspirations for a larger sphere of employment, and, it may be, for the distinction of an officer in the national service, were superior to the inclination for the quiet and profitable occupation of landed proprietor. His first experience in his new vocation had nearly proved fatal. He was ordered to report himself to General Wilkinson in New Orleans ; and, being taken there with the yellow fever, was obliged to return home to recruit his health. He appears to have employed his time sedulously in the study of his profession, as we find him, three years from this time, fulfilling with honour a dangerous and important post.

The aggressive policy of England had been meanwhile preparing the public mind for the declaration of war. The emissaries of her government, employed among the Indian tribes north of the Ohio, had incited anew their hostility to the American settlers, who were kept in constant apprehension of an attack. Under these circumstances, it was deemed advisable by the government to make the first demonstration, and General Harrison, then Governor of the North-west Territory, was ordered to march a force into the Indian country. In the progress of this expedition he erected on the Wabash River, in Indiana, a block-house and stockade, which received the name of Fort Harrison. Lieutenant Taylor took part in this duty, and was afterwards kept actively engaged in watching the Indians and thwarting their adverse movements. His marriage had taken place in 1810, and he left at home a young wife and child to join his command. Communications with his family were difficult and infrequent, — at times so long interrupted that he was supposed to have fallen a victim to the perilous enterprise in which he was employed. His services were appreciated by President Madison, who rewarded them by a captain's commission, in the beginning of the year 1S12. He was then placed in command of Fort Harrison, and soon afterwards Congress declared war against Great Britain. From this period may be dated his first actual encounter with an

INDIAN HOSTILITIES. 19

enemy. Upon the character of this enemy a few words may be proper in this place.

During the long struggle between the French and English for the ascendancy in the Mississippi valley, the Indians had been anxiously courted by both powers. While they were supplied with European arms, and partially instructed in military science by European officers, no effort appears to have been made to soften their ferocity, or to mitigate the barbarous customs which regarded war less as an act of national policy, than an opportunity of indulging all the worst of individual passions. If lack of discipline in their armies made them less formidable to an equal number of our own troops, their savage disregard of the rights of prisoners, made them terrible to an inferior force. At the time that Captain Taylor was first brought into conflict with the tribes in the region of Fort Harrison, they had been particularly prepared for daring adventures by the encouragement of two chiefs, whose talents would have honoured far nobler followers. These were Tecumseh, and his brother Olliwachica, — better known as the Prophet. For several years it had been the policy and ambition of these men to inflame the Indians of the North-western Territory with fresh animosity against their white neighbours. Both leaders added to the qualities of courage, fortitude, and perseverance, consummate knowledge of the arts by whicl. the savage mind is controlled ; and they succeeded in inspiring their inferiors with a religious abhorrence of the whites, more effectual for their ends, than the national jealousy excited by the encroachments of the latter upon their ancient hunting-grounds. At no previous period, therefore, was the spirit of the Indians so fully aroused to the duty — such it was in their view — of exterminating our people, as when they resolved to attack Fort Harrison.

Three months after war with England had been formally declared, they were banded for this purpose. Captain Taylor had some intimations of it, which were confirmed on the 3d of September, by the report of guns in the vicinity of the fort, where two young men were at work in the fields. On the

20 NIGHT ATTACK BY INDIANS.

4th their bodies were discovered by a party sent out in search of them, — the scalped heads bearing too apparent proof of Indian hands. This incident added to the vigilance of Captain Taylor, and he made every effort for defence compatible with his limited means. The whole force under his command was about fifty men, of whom about two-thirds were invalids. He himself was just recovering from a fever. The Indians were aware of his weakness, but still preferred the exercise, in some degree, of their native cunning, to the hazard of an open attack. For this purpose a deputation of the Prophet's party came to the fort on the evening of the 4th, bearing a white flag, and affecting peaceable intentions. Captain Taylor was not deceived by this attempt to lessen his caution. He inspected the arms of the men, served out 16 rounds of cartridges to each, and made other dispositions of his meagre resources to guard against surprise and sustain an assault. His force was so small that a sufficient number of sentinels could not be posted to protect the whole extent of the outworks, but the officer of the guard was ordered to make the tour of the inside through the night.

With these precautions the commander, and that portion of his little band not on the watch, retired to rest. But an hour before midnight they were aroused by the report of a musket. Taylor sprang up from his brief sleep, and found his savage enemies upon him. On their approach, the sentinels had precipitately retired within the house, and it was discovered that the lower building was already fired by the Indians. The situation of the garrison was now one of extreme peril, the alternative of death by fire or savage arms appearing imminent. The young captain, however, maintained his composure, and while he directed one party to carry buckets of water to extinguish the flames, encouraged another, in their efforts to repel the assailants. It chanced that the fire was first communicated to the store-room, which contained a quantity of whiskey. This was soon in a blaze, which reached the roof and defied every effort to suppress it. Meanwhile a host of savages, who, under cover of a very dark night, had previously approached close