Hll 01 1 897 588 1 E 422 .G33 Copy nmn mui, Ii^tellectuil, & professional GHAHACTBR, vn by the Hon. John J. Crilicnden, Hon. John M. Clayton, Hon. John Sergeant, Truman Smith, Hon Robert Toombs, Hon. Caleb B. Smith, Hon. Robert C. Schenck, Hon. John C. Spencer, Col. Humphrey Mcirshall, Gen. Persifer F. Smith, Cupt. Bragg, of the U. S. Army, Col. Jefferson Davis, J. C. Breclanridge, Esq., the /?«'. M: Lamb, Rev Mr. Hurt, and Father McElroy, of the Catholic Church; together icith his opinions on war, and anecdotes illustrative of his republican habits and simplicity of manners, his humanity, his indomitable courage, his fearlessness^ his firmness and determination, his condescension and familiarity, his vigilance in protecting his soldiers against imposition, his respect for, and attachment to, his troops, his goodness of heart and kind feelings, and his punctnalily in correspondence; concluding with some remarkable specimens of brevity in composition and letter- writing, to ivhich the attention of the public is invited. Gen. 7(/i//or's cliaraclcr as drawn by llie Hon. .John J. Critti'mlen. Mr. Crittendeii's speech to the friends of Taylor and Fillmore, at Murray's yard, (in Pittsbiirj,'-, Penn.,) was almost wholly an elonuent, warm- hearted culo2;y of the character of Generii.1 Taylor, public and private. A few of the points comment- ed on are as follows time they sat together on seventeen courts martial, m'any of them important and irnricate cases, and in every single instance Zachary Taylor had been ap- poinied to draw up the opinion of the court; a bril- liant testimony to his superior abilities, and ripe learnings, and practical knowlods;c. Gcna-al Taylor''^ humunily and shnpikity of char- acter.— General Taylor is a plain, unassuming, un-'. ostentatious, genlleminly mr-.n. _There is no pride. General ruylorisa rr'AiV.— This, the speaker s;.id, ! no foppery, no airs about him. When in the army ])e declared from his own knowledge. He is a Whig — a good Whi^' — a thorough Whig. I know him to be a Whig, but not an ultra Whig. All his political feelings are identified with the Whig parly. General Taylor is an honest man. — On the upright- ness of General Taylor's character Mr. Crittenden dwelt with great earnestness, as a irait which he knew, and felt, and aihnired. He .said he was em- phatically an honest man, and he defied the oppo- nents of the old soldier to bring aught against him, impeaching his uprishiiiess, in all his tiaTisactions, during a public life of forty yars. His appearance and manntrs bear the impress of such sterling hon- esty, that peculation, meanness, and rascality are frightened tVom liis presence. Gen. Twiggs, who l\as been on habits of intimate personal intercourse with him, said to the speaker, lately, that there was not a man in the worki, who had been in the com- pany of General Taylor five minutes, wlio would dare make an improper proposition to him. Dis- honesty flees from his presence. Gen^Tal Taylor is a man of great ahilities. — Flis whole military life gave evidence of this. He never oommitied a blunder, or lost a battle. There is not another man in ihe army who would have fou^rht tile battle of Buena Vista l)ut Geneial Taylor — and not another who would have won it. Examine the whole historj' of his exploits, in all their details, and you see the evidence of far-reaching .sagacity, and great ability. General Taylor is a man of learning. — Not mere scholastic learninsr — he has never graduated at le fared just as his soldiers fared— ate the same food -slept under his tent, and underwent similar fatigue, for 18 months, in Mexico, never sleeping in ahou.se one night. His humanity, kindness, and simplicity of character, had won f<>r him the love of liis soldiers. He never kept a guard around his tent, or any pomp or parade. He trusted his sol- diers, and 'they misted and loved him in return. His heart moved to human woe, and he was care- ful of the lives of his soldiers, and liumane to the crrin::, and to the vanquislud foe. He is a friend of the mas.ses; there is no aristocracy about him— he is a true Democrat. He will adorn the White House, and shed new light over the hiding and fixl.se Democracy of the day, which lias far gone into its .sear and yellow leaf; he will bring ma true, vigorous, verdant, refreshing Democracy. General Taylm- proscribes no man for opinion's sake. —He is a good and true Whig, but he will pro- .scribe no man for a difference of opinion. He hate-s- loathes proscription. He loves the free in- dependent utterance of opinion General Taylor's petition. --Some object, said the speaker, to General Taylor, because he la from the Souih, and is a slaveholder. Are we not one peo- ple.' Do you not love the Union ? Have 1 not the same rights, as a Kentuckian, to all the benefits of our i,'loriovis Union, that you have as Pennsylva- nians.'' We are one iieo|ile, from the Atlantic to the Pacific; from our most northern line to the Rio Grande we are one people- it is all my coiuUry — it is all ijours. There is no country, there never was a country, like this. Rome, in her mightiest days, coUeiTC — l)ut his mind is richly stored with that | never possessed .so vast and splendid a country as this — so grand, so great, so glorious Our destiny is as glorious as oui country, if we hold together,, and do not suffer sectional prejudices to divide u.s. We speak one lauiruage— our identity is the same; we arc one consolidated people, and our succes.^has hitherto been glorious and unprecedented. Shall we, then, divide in feeling.' No, no ! No raal.tci wht-re our man is from, if he is an American. Gea Taylor, in his feelings, knows no South, no North, DO "East, no West. 'He is an American ! Whera practical knowledge which is ac(]uired both from men and books. He i.s a deeply read man, in all ancient and modern history, and in all matters re- lating to the practical duties of lil'e, civil and mili- tary. He is intimate with Plutarch, said the speak- er — a P.utarch hero himself, as bright as ever adorn- ed the page of history. Gen. Gilison has told him, that he and Gen. Taylor had entered the army nearly together, and had served together almost consUint- ly, until he (Gibson) retired, and that during that J. &. G. S. Gideon, Printers. ' ^ -fij. ^14-2 7. luis he lived? In liia ttnt for forty years. His j civil administration, ouglit to be peculiarly conscious iiouie, for forty years, has been under the stars and , of liis own deficiencies." stripes of the American flag! — the flag of his whole Taylor ia the man of modern times who has ri- valled this admirable modesty, and hi.s friends so far country. iientrul Tmjlor^s habits. — He is a temperate man ; he never drank" a bottle of spirits in his lile. His habits are exemplary. General Taijlor''s inJiexibUilij of characUr. — Final- y, said the speaker, he is a man you cannot buy — a man you cannot sell — a man you cannot scare— and a man who never surrenders. — Pittsbwj; Guz. from regarding it us u fault, view it as one of the brightest among the features which adorn his heroic character. General Taylor''s character as drawn bij the Hon. John Sergeant of Philadelphia. To he able at such a jieriod as the present to place in the highest office of our Government a man General Taylor''s character as drawn by the Hon. John j whose every fjualily attests his being of the race of M. Clayton^ Senator of the U. S.from Delaioare. j the mightv men, the sages and the patriots, whoje The Hon. genileman, (Mr. Senator Foot, of i mc">ory we do honor, ninsl be re-arded as a new Mississippi,) also attacks General Taylor on the , ^"'f. ["^ o«'" country. Irue to the Consl.tiUion, ground that he lacks qualifications. In justice, j f^"''.'^".l ^o"^ precepts and mjunctions, understand- quauncations. m justi however, to his own noble heart, the Senator ad- mits that General Taylor is a pure, honorable, high- minded, and patriotic man. Dut he finds fault with General Taylor on account of what he supposes to evince a want of great learning. He reasons from General Taylor's confession that he was not a poli- tician, that he is not competent for the Presidency. , - , , ,. ,,-,•• -■ ■ /• That is, I think, his chief objection. The gentleman ' 'Joe^ "Ot belong to hmi, and dechmng none i is fit certainly did also find much fault with one or two of • '« ^^O"''^, '''''''^'f], '^'^'V^ ^'''"'' ^^^:*' y' ""'"^ ^'^^■ General Taylor's letters. I shall not deny that his ' !«■«« step he will follow the course ot duty, accord- letters, like those of other great military command- ! '"S 1? .^''^ plaljormoi the Constitution, with the ers, written in the hurry of a camp, and on a bar- ^^^^ ''S'^^^ "P°» '^ 'dlorded by past or present times rel, a box, or a drum-head, have not the beauty of i Tbese are the assurances given by all his conduct - - - j.]j jljy ogiitle- I ^'^^ character through a long, and active, and hon- it in the spirit and sense of those who framed it, with a heart too pure to be seduced, and too brave to be sacrificed. General Taylor will be the President contemplated by the pcojile when they created that high office. Witli the Constitution for his guide, and the v^hole interests of the nation for the objects of his care, usurping no authority which finish and the rotundity of period whi man so well knows how to give his own letters. But for strong sense and appropriate language to convey it, no man can excel those letters of Tay- lor, in which he found it important to attend to the manner as well as the matter of his composition. We laugh at the story that he cannot write his letters. That, trom his enemies, is a new tribute to their excellence! General Cass is, we admit, a able life, spent in the presence of his country- men, and in sight of the world, in very arduous service, without reproach or censure, nay, with uniform and universal praise. General Taylor''s character as drawn by the Hon. Tru- man Smith of Connecticut . I declare my utmost confidence in Gen. Taylor. , . , , , ^- 0-. , I 'ctil tbat I have a thorough insight into his prin- knowing :uid a learned man ; but General laylor I ^inles and his character. As he is an honest man, IS a wise man. I agree with the poet, that j j confide in him ; as he is a moderate man, I respect "Knowledge and wisdom far from being one, ' him ; as he is a humane man, I admire him; as he Have oft-times no connexion. Knowledge dwells' is a man of unsurpassed bravery, I honor him; as In heads replete with thoughts of other men — Wisdom in minds attentive to their own." General Cass has great erudition, and has written books. But in the great essential qualities of wis- dom, justice, integrity, humanity, and moral as well as physical courage, Taylor a]5proaches nearer to the character of Washington than any luan who has occupied the Presidential chair since his day. And with regard to the champion of the gentleman from Connecticut, (Mr. Niles,) who has indulged himself in a sly fling at General Taylor, I will give my opinion with equal fraidcness. Mr. Van Buren is a cunning man, and it has often been observed, that no cunning man was ever ye ceplion is taken to Taylor's qu he has been compelled, in his country's service, to , . pay more attention to the cartridge than the ballot ' magistrate of those same masse^ box; and in his letters has modestly expressed his '^'^^^^ ^an exclaim witu truth, he is di-tinguished tor good sen.se and sound dis- cretion, I think he will make a safe President; as a high sense of justice has ever characterized his con- duct, I am willing to trust him with the rights and interests of all parts of the country, and j)arlicularly those of the free Stales; as he has ever been re- markable for firmness and decision of character — "asks no favors and fears no responsil>ility" — I be- lieve he will, with a steady hand, ijuide the coun- try safely through all the perils which may environ it; as he possesses the utmost purity and excellence of character, I shall take pleasure in seeing him at the head of public aflairs ; as he is truly republican :et a wise one Ex- '" ^'''^ habits und manners, being one of the people, Alifications, because i ''"'Vympathizing thoroughly wiih the masses, I ^,,,it..„v. c^,-t;<-o tr. ■ think there is a fitness m makinii- him the chief id>>e than the ballot ' niagistrate of those same masses, ol whom tlie lium- ot?tUr nv-.T-os!^p,l l.w. blest can exclaim witu truth, "he is one of us!" — own diflidence of his ability to discharge the duties ^f, ^^ '"? '^^ a good, sound, conservative, and reliable of President of the United States. But let me call Whig, abominating war and conlemning meanness, the attention of the Senate to what Gen. Washing- ; f'-auJ-fl^'canery, and trickery, who wul put far from j^g I hiin all evil doers, political or otherwise, I am for j him from the beginning to tlie end of ihe cliapler. I I consecrate my hand and my heart to the good old "The magnitude and difficulty of the trust to ^ ^^^^^ .,g ,-epresented by Zachary Taylor, and will ton said of himself in his inaugural address, says to Congress : which the voice of my country called me, bein sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most expe- rienced of her ciiizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not but overwhelm with des- pondency one, who, in inheriting inferior endow- ments from nature, and unpractised in the duties of do all within the range of iny feeble abilities to make him the next President uf the United States. General Taylor^s character as drawn by the Hon. Ro- bert Toombs of Georgia. It were well to itopfor a moment to inquire wlii^ manner of man is this Z;icliary Taylor, and how has he won this popular ariertion. His military ijenius and success undoubtedly first attracted to ; himself public attention, but it at the same time sub- i jected him to popular scrutiny. The result of that ! sci-utiny disclosed in him moral and mtellectual qualities for which the jieople grappled him to their hearts, as it were with hooks of steel. Theyadmu-ed the soldier, but they loved and trusted the man. ! They loved him, liot because he was "without fear," but because " he was without reproach." \ They found him a man of spotless purity and integ;- I rity— modest, truthful, honest, great, and wise. Modes', in his estimate of his own greatness; truth- i ful and honest in all things; great in action, in moulding events; wise in his knowledge and judg- i ment of men, and in his conception of practical truth, in his adaptation of the best means to the ac- complishment of useful and noble ends. He is not a man of words, but of thoughts and deeds; his j great and noble deedx have filled the civilized world : with his own and his country's fame. ! Gen. Taylor's character as drawn by the Hon. Caleb B. Smith of Indiana. The mind of Z-icharv Taylor is cast in no com- mon mould. His firmness was the lower of strength upon which our little army in Mexico reposed, while the clearness and accuracy of his judgment have been vindicated in his every action. His des- patches to the War Department and other publica- tions, designed for the public eye, have no superiors of their class. They are all distinguished by disci- plined thought, masterly common sense, remarka- ble force and elegance of diction, and by a digni- fied submission to tlie civil power under the great- est personal provocations— while an extreme and winning modesty is the very soul of them all. Gen. Taylor's character as drawn by the Hon. Robert C. Schenck of Ohio. I frankly admit that since his nomination, and since I have set myself coolly and calmly to con- sider, under the best lights afFcu-ded to us, his char- acter and position, my'estimation of him lias great- ly increased. I believe that he is a strong-mmded, single-hearted, true man— as honest as he is brave; and that under him we should have a safe, pure, and sound Whig administration of the Government. ; He is a soldier'^ but regards " war," he says, " at j all times and urder all circumstances, as a national i calamity, " and he distinctly protests his opposition , to the policy wliich would subjugate other nations, i and dismenibcr other countries by conquest. j General Taylor's character as drawn by Col. Hum- j plircy Marshall. j If I desired to express in the fewest words what i manner of man Gen. Taylor is, 1 should say, that, m his manners and his a|)pearance, he is one of the com- mon people of this cMOifri/. He might be transferred from his tent at Monterey to this assembly, and he would not be remarked among this crowd ot respec- table old fiirmers as a man at all distinguished from those around him. Perfectly temperate m his hab- its; perfectly plain in his dress; entirely unassum- ing in his manners, he appears to be an old gentle- man in fine liealth, whose thoughts are not turned upon his personal appearance, and who has no point about him to attract particular attention. In his intercourse with men he is free, frank, and manly. He plays off none of the airs of some great men whom I have met. Any one may apjiroach him as nearly as can be desired, and the more close- ly his character is examined, the greater beauties U discloses. 1. He i? nn honest man. 1 do not mean by that merely that he does not cheat or lie. I mean that he is a man that never dissembles, and who scorns all disguises. His dealings with men have been of a most varied character, and I have never heard his honest name stained by the breath of the slightest reproach. 2. He is a man of rare ^ood judgment. By no means possessed of that brilliancy of genius which attracts l)y its flashes, and, like the meteor, expires even while you gaze upon it ; Gen. Taylor yet has that order of intellect whidi more slowly, but quite as surely, masters all thai it engages, and examines all the combinations of which (lie subject is susceptible. When he announces his conclusions you feel confident that he well understands the ground upon which he plants himself, and rest as- sured that the conclusion is the deduction of skill and sound sense faithfully applied to the matter in hand. I would to-day prefer his advice in any matter of pri- vate interest— would take his opinion as to the val- ue of an estate — would rather follow his suggestions in a scheme where properly or capital was to be embarked — would pursue more confidently his counsel where the management of an army was in- volved, or the true honor of my country was at stake, than that of any man I have ever known. 3. He is a firm man, and possessed of s;reat energy of character. ' It were a waste of time to dwell upon these trails of his character, for his military career has aftbrdcd such abundant examples of his exer- cise of these qualities as to render them fuiiiliar to every citizen who has ever heard or read of the man. 4. He is a benevolent man. This quality has been uniformly displayed in his treatment of the prison- ers who have been placed in his power by the vicis- situdes of war. No man who had seen him after the battle of Buena Vista, as he ordered the wagons to bring in the Mexican wounded from the battle i field, and heard him as he at-once cautioned his ' own men that the wounded were to be treated with mercy, could doubt that he was alive to all the kinder impulses of our nature. The irdiscrelions of youth he chides with paternal kindness, yet with the decision which forbids their repetition ; and the young men of his army feel thai it is a pleasure to gather around hiiVi, because they know that they are as welcome as though they visited the hearth- stone of their own home, and they are always as freely invited to jjartake of what he has to offer as if they were under the roof of a father. His con- duct in sparing the deserters who were cajUured at Buena Vista exhibited at the same time in a re- markable manner his benevolence and his judgment. " Don't shoot them" said he ; '■ the worst punish- i ment I will inflict is to return them to the Mexican army. ,. t i 5 ■ He is a man of business habUs.—l never have known Gen. Taylor to give up a day to pleasure. I have never visited his quarters without seeing evidence of the industry with which he toded. If his talented ad)alanl was surrounded by jiapers, so was the General. And though he would salute a visitor kindly, and bid him with familiar grace to amuse himself until he was at leisure, he never would interrupt the duties which his station called him to perform. When these were closed for the day he seemed to enjoy, to a remarkable degree, the vivacity of young ofiiocrs, and V^ be glad to mingle in their society. Others will dw.rll upon the chivalry he has so often displayed, and his great- ness so conspicuou.sly illustrated upon the field of battle ; I formed my ideas of the man when he was free from duty, and had no motive to appear in any other light than sucli as was thrown u[)on him by nature, eilucaiioii, ami principles. Ccn. Taylor's cliaracler as drawn by Gen. Peryfer F. Smdk, a leading Democrat of Louisiana. Gen. Taylor's military exploits are not the «loody field of Buena Vista. The ceremony took place in the theatre, which was crowded with a fair audience. The presentation speech was made l)y G. F. Lind- say, and in liis reply thereto Capt. Bragg said: For all the success which has attended me in per- forming those duties, [in the battles in Mexico,] I have been indebted to the confidence and kindness of my commander, and the gallantry and devotion of those wlio served under me. Passing by the incidents of Fort Brown and Mon- terey, to which you have so eloquently alluded, I may bo pardoned for saying, in reference to the more memorable field of Buena Vista, that the credit which has been awarded me for the part performed by iiiy command on that occasion, has had its ori- gin in the disinterestedness and generosity of our )ioble old cliief, who is ever inclined to bestow on others the honor justly due to himself. T\i Gen. Taylor, and to him alone, belongs all the glory of that achievement. And I but express the universal opinion of those who served under him, in saying that no other living man could have obtained that victory. So great was the confidence reposed in him by his troops, and no other could have com- niandtd it, that his presence on any part of the field was sufficient not only to cliange despair into hope, but to give assurance of victory, and dispel all doubt of ultimate triumph. Geji. Taylor's character as drawn by Col. Jejfirson Davis, a Democratic Senator from J\Iississi])i)i. Col. Jefl'erson Davis, who, from the connection existing, is not very likely to beiiifluenced by other lan true and proper motives, is represented by le New Orleans papers as having used the foUow- ianguage concerning General Taylor: After complimenting his fellow companions from otiier States, he for a moment dwelt upon the vir- tues of the old hei-o who had led them all to vic- tory, and to whom they looked up as children to a parent. Col Davis said that General Taylor liad shown himself the distinguished soldier of the age, yet he was equally remarkable for his kindness of heart and simjilicity of habits, his strong judgment and excellent sense, lie alluded to that hour of the battle of Buena Vista, when tlie day seemtil, if not lost, to be going against our arms, when General Taylor, amidst the thickest of the iron hail, rode upon the ])lateau, and calmly surveyed the scene. Vast as were the consequences of that hour, lie appeared to fear no danger, expect no harm. The e:):citement of the carnage over, the same soul that could remain unmoved when his friends were falling like leaves around him, who could look un- blanclied upon the front of the thundering artillery, became the poor soldier's most sympatliizing friend; and the eye, so stern in battle, was as mild as the tender-hearted matron's. Gen. Taylor's character as drawn by J. C Brecken- ridgc, esq., over thirty yeahs ago. With a frame fitted for the most active and har- dy enterprise, a sanguine temper, an invincible courage, gifted with a rapid discernment, a discrim- inating judgment, and a deep knowledge of man- kind, and possessing a heart susceptible of the most gen- erous iminUses on receiving this information. General Taylor immediately ordered twenty wag- ons to be furnished with all that was required for the relief of those whom the Mexican general had left to suffer and die. These wagons were promptly despatched, accompanied by surgeons, who were directed to find and administer, to all the sutferers. And to the quartermaster who executed this order, General Taylor said, " Keep an exact account of every article sent, so that if any doubt should arise of the propriety of thus relieving the enemy's wounded,- I can pay for them myself" Another incident. A correspondent of the Montgomery (Alabama) Journal says, that General Taylor lately had occa- sion to visit Point Isabel, after the battle of Buena Vista, and the captain of the steamboat had reserv- ed a suite of state-rooms for the Genejal's accommo- dation. There were several sick and wounded vol- unteers on the boat, en route for New Orleans, who had to take the wayfare incident to a crowded boat, and particularly so on this occasion. General Tay- lor saw all this, and at once ordered these men to be placed in his sUte-rooms, and proper attention paid them. It was rather a cold rainy day when this occurred. The deck hands, and many others on the boat, did not know General Taylor. The wind blew high, and the firemen had raised a sail in front of the boilers to protect themselves from the rain, and under this sail there were some old mattresses; here General Taylor laid down and went to sleep. At supper time great inquiries were made for the General, and servants sent off to look him up. Bat he could not be found! At last some one going below inquired of a fireman if he had seen anything of such and such a man; the fireman said no, and added, "there is a clever old fellow asleep under the sail, in front of the fire!" It was General Taylor. Yes, sweet, indeed, must have been the sleep of such a man, who has the heart to change places with the poor sick soldier, as Gen- eral Taylor did on this occasion ; such humanity stands out in bold relief, and greatly mitigates the evils incident to war, General Taylor^s indomitable courage at the battle of Buena Vista, as described by Lt. Conoine. At a time when the fortunes of the day seemed extremely problematical, v/hen many of our side even despaired of success, the Gen. took his posi- tion on a commanding height, overlooking the two armies. This was about three or perhaps four o'clock in the afternoon. The enemy, who had suc- ceeded in gaining an advantageous position, made a fierce charge upon our column, and fought with a desperation that seemed for a time to insure suc- cess to their arms. The struggle lasted for some time. All the while General Taylor was a silent spectator, his countenance exhibiting the most anx- ious solicitude, alternating between hope and de- spondency. His staff, perceiving his perilous situ- ation, (for he was exposed to the fire of the enemy,) approached him and implored him to retire. He heeded them not. His thoughts were intent upon victory or deleat. He knew not at this moment what the result would be. He felt that that engage- ment was to decide his fate. He had given all his orders and selected his position. If the day went against him he has irretrievably lost: if for him, he could rejoice in common with his countrymen, at the triumphant success of our arms. General Taylor's Fearlessness. At the time General Taylor was conducting the Florida war against the Seminoles, he became re- markable among the Indians for his singular disre- gard of danger. At the time the Indians were most troublesome to our troops. Gen. Taylor announced his determination to go from Fort King to Tampa Bay, which journey would take him through near- ; ly one hundred miles of hostile country. The I jaunt was considered by every body as a most des- ', perate adventure. The morning for starting came, ! when the General's travelling companions. Major } Bliss and a young lieutenant, began to look wist fully around for the appearance of ihe escort. In I due time, six dragoons, all saddled and bridled, I made their appearance. There was a force to meet I several thousand wiley Seminoles, who filled up every nook and corner between Fort King and : Tampa Bay! After some hesitation, one of the \ General's friends suggested that the escort was not ; sufliciently strong, and that a requisition should be i made for a greater force. The General examined } the appearance of the six dragoons attentively for a moment, and then remarked, if the number was I not sufficient, two more might lae added to it. Gen. Taylm-'s firmness and determination. The next morning, after the battle of Palto Alto, General Taylor advanced with his army, and found the enemy awaiting him at La Resaca de la Palma, a ravine crossing the road at right angles, where they had thrown up lireaslworks. It was a daring act to combat six thousand veterans, entrenched, in a chosen position, strongly defended with artil- lery, with about two thousand; and there was some hesitation, in a council of war, about the propriety of going on. General Taylor patiently heard what all had to say, and then drily remarked- " I promised the boys they should go to For Brown, amU/ict/ 7>ms/ "go." He had written to th 8 Department, before leaving Point Isabel ; '* If the enemy oppose my march, in whatever numbers, I shall fight him ;" and now laid his plans for attack with cool sagacity. An officer, who had always been very prominent on parade and in councils of war, was ordered to deploy his regiment on the enemy's Hank. Not over delighted with the pros- pect of escopeta shots, the Colonel stammered out a request to know what his men should fill back on, if repulsed.' " T/iey never will be repulsed," said General Taylor;" and, if lyott wish to relre&l. full back on Am Orleans .'" General Taylor''s condescension andfamiiutrUij. General Taylor's marquee at Victoria was about a mile above that of General Patterson, and be- tween the two the Tennessee cavalry was encamp- ed. General Taylor was riding from his quarters to General Patterson's one day upon a beautiful Mexican pony, and on his route passed close to a Tennessee trooper, who was rubbing down his horse. Totally ignorant of the rank of the plainly dressed old man, and struck by the beauty of his animal, he accosted him with, ''Look here, stranger, wouldn't you like to swap that ar pony r" " No, friend," quietly responded the General, " he is a favorite nag of mine, and I do not desire to part with him." ^ A comrade of the trooper's, recognising the Gen- eral, said to him, in an under tone, " Bill, you fool, don't you know who you're talking to? Thai's General Taylor." Now, Bill, regarding General "Old Rough and Ready" as the greatest man on the face of the smiling earth, was terrified at finding that he had put his foot into it, stammered out : " Gg-gineral, I-I-I didn't know it was you ; I beg p-p-pardon. General." The old commander kindly offered his hand to the trooper to relieve him from his embarrassment, inquired his name and residence, complimented the Tennesseeans, * telling him that he had found them the bravest of the brave, and rode quietly on. Gen. Taylor's vigilance in protecting soldiers against iinposilion. ANohleAct. — General Taylor, in 1814-'15, was a Captain, or perhaps a Major by brevet, and stationed with his company at Green Bay. The paymaster received from the Government the ne- cessary funds to pay off the United States troops, which funds, save a small amount, he exchanged for the bills of J. H. Piatt &. Co., bankers in the city of Cincinnati. This was a " business transac- tion on private account." The paymaster proceed- ed to Detroit, and there paid off the soldiers in his locofoco individual responsibility paper; he then pro- ceeded to Mackinaw, and there paid off the soldiers in like manner; lastly, he reached Green Bay. Here, again, the paymaster, with proper official so- lemnity, counted out to Captain Taylor the bills of J. H. Piatt & Co., bankers, for the soldiers. Old Zuch looked at the "rags," and said, " Is this the stuff you intend to pay us ?" The paymaster assured him it was the same he paid to the men at Detroit and Mackinaw ;" " but," said he, with a knowing wink, "//ifli-e United States Bank bills for you offi- cers." To this Captain Taylor replied : " Sir, my men receive no money that I am unicilUng to take myself— go back and get us good money." Gcniral Taylor's respect for, and attachment to, his troops. The following, from the Picayune, speaks for itself: "The parting scene between the Mi.^issippi regiment and General Taylor, we are told, was af- fecting in the extreme. As the men marched by him to return to their homes, overpowered with a recollection of the high deeds which had endeared them to him, and with their demonstration- of re- spect and affection, he attempted in vain to address them. With tears streaming down his furrowed cheeks, all he could say was, 'Go on, Lioys, go on, I cmi't speak !'" General Taylor'' s goodness of heart and kind feelings. In tlie couwe of tlic Hon. R. \V. Tlionipson's remarks at llu? Baltinioie Kaiilicatioji ineetiii!;, he asked, " VVliat Imd Old Zach doner" Here a voice in ttre ciowd replied, " I'll lell you what he has done. About two weeks ago I stopped at Gen Taylor's house, and he received me in the most cor- dial manner, gave me a coinforlalile meal and a giK)d leather hed to sleep on, and in the morning ten dollars to pursue my journey with." Mr. 'V. then inquired of the pcr.son speaking who he was ; to which he replied, that he w.ts a wounded soldier on his return from the annv in Me.xico This incident created great enthusiasm anions the crowds of listeners, and was the prelude to the mention of various anecdotes l>y Mr T ,illus- irative of the goodness of heart and kind feelings of General Taylor." General Taiy/or's punctuality in his correspondence. Samuel C. Reid,esq, thus narrates a morning call alhead- qnarters : " Calling on the Commapdin? General soon after our re- covery, to ascertain the chances of transportation, he re- marked, after some pleasant conversation, that he was per- fectly deluged with letters, and that much of his time was occupied in makini; replies. ' And, sir,' said General Tay- lor, smiling, as he handed us two letters, ' to show you the diversity of sulijects tliat I am called upon to respond t'l, you may look at these.' One of llie letters was from a boy, iourteeii years of age, giving a sort of history of himself and family, and who desired to enlist in the service, and had written to the General to ask his advice on the subject '. The other was from an Irish woman, who wanted to know if her son iMike was killed, as she had not lieaid fiom him since the late battles. We feel sure that such letters would not have received attention at Washington, but both of them were an,swered by the General, carrying out the maxiin that nothing is beneath the notice of a great man ; and we left him, impressed with the great goodness of his heart." General Taylor''s brevity. ?????? Headquarturs, Army of Occcpation, Near Buena Visla, February 2C, 1847. Pir: In reply to your note of this date, summoning me to surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to say that 1 decline acceding to your request- Wfth high respect, I am, sir, Your obedierit servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. J'. Army, cotiinianding. Senor Gen. D Antonio Lopez de .Santa Anna, Commaj;- der-in-chief, La Encantada. ^Inother specimen of brevity. Detroit, May 17th. Dear Sir: I am much obliged to you for your kind at- tention in transmitting me an invitation to attend the con- vention