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OF

MAJOR GENERAL

ZACHARY TAYLOR;

WITH

NOTICES OF THE WAR IN NEW MEXICO, CALIFORNIA,
AND IN SOUTHERN MEXICO;

AND

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF OFFICERS WHO HAVE
DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN THE WAR WITH MEXICO,

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BY JOHN FROST, L.L. D.,

AUTHOR OF "BOOK OF THE ARMY," "BOOK OF THE NAVY," &o, &o.

NEW YORK:

D. APPLETON & CO. 200 BROADWAY.

PHILADELPHIA:

G. S. APPLETON, 148 CHESNUT STREET.

Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by

D. APPLETON & CO.

in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Southern District of New York.

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TIMES of war, revolution, or other national convulsions, serve to develop strong and striking traits of character, and to bring men capable of high resolve and energetic action into public notice. The truth of this observation, confirmed by all history, has been forcibly illustrated since the commencement of hostilities between Mexico and the United States. If a long peace had led any shortsighted person to believe that the martial spirit of a free nation, like our own, could ever become extinct by inaction, the events of the last few months have served to dissipate the illusion. We find that the heroic age, the age of American chivalry, has not yet quite passed away-that we have still soldiers among us who are worthy to be ranked with the revolutionary heroes; and that the lofty spirits who

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freely shed their blood at Chippewa, Niagara, Plattsburg and Fort Harrison, have lost none of that noble contempt of danger and of death which signalized their characters in the early prime of manhood.

The present war has also developed the fact that the people of this country have lost none of their ancient predilection for the sturdy race of heroes. The present popularity of General Taylor is of itself sufficient to show that the hearts of the American people are always to be won by those who display the lofty qualities of firmness, courage and capacity in battle, and heart-warm humanity towards the conquered in the hour of victory. The hearts of the people are "in the right place." mercenary, merchandizing set, which their enemies represent them to be. They reverence exalted traits of character; and cherish the true hero.

They are not the

In the following pages, I have endeavored to present the character and actions of General Taylor in their true light; and for this purpose my materials have been tolerably ample, so far as regards the conspicuous actions in which he has been engaged. With respect to his private life and character, I have relied chiefly on the authority of those who are so fortunate as to possess a personal acquaintance with the General and his family. More details of the comparatively inactive parts of his life might

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