Complete history of the late Mexican war/Brief sketch of the life of General Taylor
BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR.
This distinguished General was a native of "The Old Dominion." He was born in Orange County, Va., November 24th, 1784. His father, Richard Taylor, was somewhat noted as a military man in that State. Zachary is now (1847) 63 years old.
In 1785 his father moved to Kentucky, near Louisville, where Zachary spent most of his childhood.
As good schools were scarce at that time in Kentucky, his education was neglected. He was brought up on a farm; but had a taste for military glory, and in May, 1808, President Jefferson appointed him a Lieutenant in the army at the age of 14 years. His first wreath of glory was won at "Tippecanoe," in a desperate battle with the Indians. May 7th, 1811. In consequence of his bravery in this conflict, President Madison gave him a Captain's commission.
In the spring of 1812 he was placed in command of Fort Harrison on the Wabash. War with England had been declared, and Tecumsch, with his Indian warriors, was resolved to exterminate the whites. Taylor had only 50 men in the fort, and half of them disabled by fever. September 4th, 1812, the Indians attacked the fort about midnight. The sentinels were driven in, the block-house of the fort was on fire, and destruction seemed to be their inevitable lot. Taylor ordered a part of his men to extinguish the flames, and the remainder to return the fire. For seven hours the conflict was severe, and the savage yells terrific; but the Indians were obliged to retire.
After this brave defence Taylor was promoted to the rank of brevet-Major. At the close of the war, by the influence of enemies, he was reduced to the rank of Captain, and, resenting the insult, he retired to his farm.
In 1815 he was reinstated by President Madison, and proceeded, in 1816, to Green Bay. He was soon appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and, until 1832, was on the Western and North-western frontiers, performing important services.
General Jackson, in 1832, appointed him Colonel, and sent him into the "Black Hawk war." In July General Atkinson arrived at the scene of action with 2500 men, including 400 under Colonel Taylor. When the Indians retreated into the wilderness, 1300 men under Taylor were ordered in pursuit. They overtook them near the junction of the Mississippi and Iowa rivers, where a desperate conflict ensued, in which the savages were totally routed. Taylor soon captured Black Hawk and ended the war.
Taylor was afterwards ordered to Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, and remained there until 1836, when he was called to assist in the Seminole war in Florida, which commenced in 1835. All efforts failed to bring the savages to subjection until December, 1837, when Colonel Taylor, with 1100 men, left Fort Gardner in pursuit. December 25th, he was attacked by a large body of Indians with rifles in ambuscade. The battle was fierce and bloody. The volunteers, at first, began to give way as their leaders fell, but the regulars pressed on. This battle of "Okee-cho-bee" continued an hour, when the Indians retired, but were hotly pursued. The savages exhibited the greatest bravery. Our loss was 14 officers and 120 privates killed or wounded.
This broke the power of the war. Many Indians surrendered to our men, and the scene of bloodshed gradually terminated. Taylor soon received the rank of Brevet-Brigadier-General, and in April, 1838, was appointed to the command of our troops in Florida. He remained two years longer, and then, at his request, was recalled.
Afterwards he was appointed to the command of the First Department of the U. S. Army in the South-west. His headquarters were at Fort Jesup until 1841, when he was ordered to Fort Gibson. He remained there about five years, when, in 1845, he was ordered to Texas, in anticipation of her annexation to the United States.
The remainder of General Taylor's triumphant career is described in the following pages. He has proved himself to be one of the bravest and most skilful generals of modern times.