Zachary Taylor.

POPULARITY, like a butterfly, frequently, rests upon those who least care for catching it. There are certain qualities which, as soon as displayed win the general love, and ever call forth the public admiration. It is common to say that audacity alone secures popular esteem, and that modest merit lies unappreciated. But facts prove it to be otherwise. The mass have clearer vision than the few, and no counterfeit coin can long be imposed upon them. They recognize integrity, intelligence, and heroism, as soon as presented to their view, and immediately give these qualities their due regard. Integrity, they value above all other features of character. In their opinion—

"An honest man's the noblest work of God."

They give their hearts to a man upon whose word and action they know they can safely build. Intelligence they look at last; because they know that determined common sense can never be very far out of the right path. It was for integrity and determination that the people raised Zachary Taylor to the highest office in their gift.

Zachary Taylor was born in Orange county, Virginia, in the year 1784. His father, Colonel Richard Taylor,

a zealous patriot of the revolution, soon after the birth of Zachary, removed to the state of Kentucky, and settled near Louisville. At the age of six years, Zachary was placed under a private tutor, a Mr. Ayres, who was peculiarly fitted for the task of "teaching the young idea how to shoot." All accounts agree that young Taylor displayed rare force of character, and evinced a passion for military exercise and active sports.

As he ardently desired to enter the army, his father, in 1808, procured him the commission of lieutenant, in the 7th regiment of the United States infantry.

Not long after, he joined the army at New Orleans, then under the command of General Wilkinson. In 1810, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Smith, of Maryland, a lady in all respects worthy of his affections. In the following November, he was promoted to the rank of captain. In 1811, he was placed in command of Fort Knox, on the Wabash, in the vicinity of Vincennes. From this station he was ordered to the east, a short time before the battle of Tippecanoe. In 1812, he received orders to take command of Fort Harrison, a post situated on the Wabash, seventy-five miles above Vincennes and fifty miles beyond the frontier settlements. This was an important trust for one of his age. But certain events proved the sagacity of the appointment.

While in command of Fort Harrison, Captain Taylor became the hero of one of the most desperate conflicts fought during the war. This frontier post was nothing more than a slight stockade, which had been thrown up by General Harrison in 1811, while on his march to Tippecanoe. The defences were of the most simple and primitive kind. The whole was built of unseasoned timber; and was formed on three sides by single rows of pickets; the fourth side con

sisting of a range of log huts, appropriated as barracks for the soldiers, and terminated at either extreme by a block house. When Captain Taylor assumed the command of this rude fortification, it was exceedingly ill provided either for comfort or defence, and was garrisoned by a single broken company of infantry.

On the third of September, 1812, two men were murdered by the Indians within a few hundred yards of the fort. Late on the evening of the 4th, between thirty and forty Indians arrived from Prophet's town, bearing a white flag. They were principally chiefs, and belonged to the various tribes that composed the Prophet's party. Captain Taylor was informed that the principal chief would make him a speech the next morning, and that the object of their visit was to get something to eat. The plot was well conceived, and boldly executed; but it was instantly detected by the eagle eye of the young commander, and he redoubled his exertions to put the fort in a proper state of defence.

The premeditated attack, so craftily arranged, was made as expected. About eleven o'clock, Captain Taylor was awakened by the firing of one of his sentinels. He immediately ordered his men to their posts, and the firing became general on both sides. In the midst of the uproar, it was discovered that the Indians had set fire to the lower block-house. Without a moment's pause, Captain Taylor directed buckets to be brought, and the fire to be extinguished. But it was much easier to give the order than to have it executed. The men appeared to be paralyzed and stupified. The alarm of fire had thrown the garrison into the greatest confusion, in the midst of which all orders were unheard or disregarded. Unfortunately, there was a great quantity of whisky among the contractor's stores deposited in the block-house, which

spread with great During this time an incessant and

having caught fire, caused the flames to rapidity, and rage with irresistible fury. the Indians were not idle, but kept up rapid discharge of rifles against the picketing, accompanied by a concert of the most infernal yells that ever issued from the throat of man, beast, or devil. The fire soon ascended to the roof of the block-house, and threatened to wrap the whole fort in a sheet of flame.

The men gave themselves up for lost, and ceased to pay any attention to the orders. Disorder was at its height, and the scene became terrific. The fire raged, and surged, and roared—the Indians howled and yelled-dogs barked—the wounded groaned; and high above all, arose the shriek of woman in her terror, sending its keen and thrilling accents through the mingled sounds of battle-the surrounding forest, bathed in bloody light, returned a fiery glare, yet more appalling from the intense darkness of the night; and all combined made up a time of awful terror, before which the stoutest heart quailed and quaked. In the midst of this pandemonium stood the youthful hero, like a living rock, firm and collected, rapid and decisive, at a single glance intuitively determining the order of defence, animating his comrades to confidence and constancy, and by the irresistible force of example, imparted a spirit of determined and courageous perseverance even to the weaker sex. roof of the block-house was thrown off; the other buildings were kept wet, and by the greatest exertions the flames kept under. The opening made in the line of the defences by the burning of the block-house, was supplied by a temporary breastwork; and after keeping up a constant fire until about six o'clock in the morning, the Indians retired. The loss of the garrison, in this affair, was only one man

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