TO THE FRIENDS OF GENERAL TAYLOR. A LIFE OF CEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR COMPRISING A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS CONNECTED WITH HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREI DERIVED FROM PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AND PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. BY J. REESE FRY. And authentic Incidents of his early years, from materials collecte WITH AN ORIGINAL AND ACCURATE PORTRAIT, No. 14 North Fourth Street, Philadelphia. NOTICES OF THE PRESS. "It has been the good or ill fortune of General Zachary Taylor to have more biographers than almost any other distinguished character, ancient or modern. We believe the world already possesses histories of the general's life in German, French, and Spanish,-but, (unaccountable as it may seem,) until the appearance of the volume now under consideration, we have not had one memoir of the heroic old gentleman in English. "The reader may be startled by this assertion, but let him hear us farther, and be satisfied that we know precisely what we are saying. There are, perhaps, some eight or ten narratives extant, some contained in newspapers or magazines, some in the pamphlet form, and some in the still more respectable shape of books, in muslin covers, all professing to be 'Lives of General Taylor,' in our vernacular tongue, but to call these compositions English, would be as great a mistake as to call them bona fide lives of General Taylor. Most of them are as remarkable for their trespasses on grammar as for their disregard of truth. A few of them having been composed by gentlemen habitually addicted to writing fiction, are romantic enough, wonderful enough, fanciful enough, everything but true enough, and in that particular they are most lamentably deficient. "We have long and anxiously wished to see a biography of Taylor, written in good language and sufficiently authentic to satisfy us, during the perusal, that we are not wasting our time over a catch-penny compilation from every conceivable source, anonymous letters, dubious reminiscences of old ladies, country newspapers and magazines. The work before us supplies the grand desideratum. It comes sanctioned by responsible and respectable authorship; the composition is masterly, and the facts are too well authenticated to admit of the least cavil. These facts were collected, in a laborious research, by a gentleman of unimpeachable honor and veracity, and of a judgment too sound and discriminating to be imposed on by incorrect statements "This is the only work, professing to be a biography of Gen. Taylor, which contains any accurate or complete account of his family or his early life. There has been an equal deficiency in the accounts of his services in the Black Hawk war, and in Florida, while the narratives of his operations in Mexico have, in general, been mere transcripts of newspaper correspondence, generally anonymous, and therefore most likely to be partial and incorrect. "The first chapter treats of 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-Taylor's volunteering to oppose Burr's designs-his commission as lieutenant in the U. S. Armyhis marriage-the Indians under Tecumseh-Harrison's expedition against them-Taylor's promotion to a Captaincy-war with England-the attack on Fort Harrison Taylor's defence of it-his first dispatch-his further ices, and his being made a major by brevet. The highly interesting detail is continued in the se cond chapter by an account of Major Taylor's resignation and reinstatement, his various services from 1816 to 1832 an anecdote illustrative of his habits, his promotion to a coloneley, the Black Hawk war, anecdotes, &c., services to 1836. ter. "This specimen of the contents will give the reader some idea of the rare and valuable information contained in this volume. The history of the Indian war and Tay lor's participation therein, is continued in the third chap The remainder of the work comprises the most interesting events of the hero's life-his unequalled victories-and includes a succinct and complete history of the war with Mexico, from its origin to the time this biography was written. This narrative, in a regular form makes the reader fully acquainted with the whole train of circumstances of the aforesaid war, from the revolt of Texas to the battle of Buena Vista; preceded by an able exposition of the condition of Mexico in 1822, an examination into the spirit of her institutions, and a full and fair account of her unjust and oppressive conduct towards Texas. "The narrative of the Mexican war abounds with descriptions of military operations and incidents among the most graphic that ever we have read. In fact, this is the only account that presents a distinct view of various circumstances connected with Taylor's Mexican campaign. The capture of Monterey is a most thrilling narrative, displaying, in the most impressive manner, the bravery of the American army, and the difficulties it was obliged to encounter on that memorable occasion. The other splendid victories of our troops are detailed with equal force and felicity of description;-but the concluding account of the battle of Buena Vista, is altogether admirable and unsurpassable. "The volume comprehends Taylor's important dispatches, and his correspondence with the war department, with such original explanations and comments as to present, in connection with the history of his late campaigns, a clear view of all the circumstances of his official conduct. "Mr. Darley, the gifted artist, whose talents have been called into requisition for the embellishment of this work, has chosen the following subjects for illustration:-the frontispiece, an equestrian portrait of General Taylor, (a striking likeness, and in characteristic costume,)-Taylor's first lesson in the art of war;-the defence of Fort Harrison;-the last charge at Okee-cho-bee;-death of Major Ringgold;-May's dragoons charging the enemy's batteries;-Taylor at Buena Vista,- and the field after the battle. Besides which there are several illustrative maps and diagrams. "Having read the book with care and attention, we are prepared to say this is the Life of General Taylor;-the only one that deserves the name The typographical execution and general finish of the book are in the first style, and fully maintain the reputation which the enterprising publishers have obtained throughout the United States. Altogether, the biography is worthy of the subject, which is the highest praise that we could offer." "It has b Taylor to h distinguishe the world al in German, it may seer under consi heroic old g "The rea him hear u cisely what eight or ten papers or m in the still covers, all Our vernacu lish, would fide lives o markable fo regard of tr by gentlem romantic everything are most lar "We hav phy of Tay authentic 10 wasting ou every cone reminiscen gazines. T It c ratum. facts are These facts his operatio transcripts anonymous, incorrect. "The firs tucky in 17 the family the Indians lesson in tac the Indianssigns-his his marria expeditio taincyTaylo service 66 'T') |