Zachary Taylor as Leader, Indian Fighter, and Spokesman for Fair Treatment of His Men

On how he would act in an Indian threat: “Should the Indians in the vicinity of Forts Snelling & Armstrong become at any time dissatisfied & threaten hostilities toward the whites, I would not feel myself authorized to reinforce either of those garrisons although occupied by a portion of the Regiment placed under my command, without an order to that effect from higher authority, let the emergency be what it might.”

 

This is also a fascinating insight into Taylor the man and his views on how the army should be run

Fort Crawford stood guard over Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, from 1816 until 1856. In the spring of 1829, troops began to build a new Fort Crawford on an elevated plain located on the mainland, safe from the floods that had plagued the first fort. The new structure was built primarily with quarried limestone, and work progressed slowly. Colonel (and future president of the United States) Zachary Taylor took command of the construction in the summer of 1829, and commanded the fort from then until 1837. Jefferson Davis (later president of the Confederate States of America) was a lieutenant at Fort Crawford, and supervised work at a sawmill on the Yellow River that provided lumber for construction. Troops moved into the new barracks in December 1830. While at the fort, Davis met and fell in love with Taylor’s daughter, Sarah. They would marry in June 1835, making Zachary Taylor Jefferson Davis’s father-in-law. But tragedy awaited, as Sarah died three months into the marriage of yellow fever, devastating Davis and causing ill will with Taylor, who blamed Davis for taking his daughter into an unhealthy climate.

Soldiers at Fort Crawford served in many capacities after moving into the second fort. Most notably, troops took an active military role in forcing Native Americans west of the Mississippi River in accordance with the policies of President Andrew Jackson. Troops commanded by Col. Zachary Taylor fought in the Black Hawk War in 1832. On August 27 of that year, Black Hawk surrendered at Prairie du Chien and was jailed at the fort. In 1833, Lt. Jefferson Davis escorted Black Hawk to another prison at St. Louis, which journey also ended Davis’s time at Fort Crawford. The troops at Fort Crawford also worked to build a military road across Wisconsin to connect Fort Crawford with Fort Winnebago in Portage and Fort Howard in Green Bay. Additionally, soldiers from Fort Crawford enforced the relocation of the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Indians from Wisconsin to a reservation in Iowa in the 1830s. “Indian Removal,” as the government called it, disrupted lives across the region and was successful in transforming Prairie du Chien from the front lines of enforcing Indian policy to one well behind the lines, leaving Fort Crawford without much of its earlier significance. Soldiers only occupied the fort intermittently after 1849, and the last active troops withdrew from Fort Crawford on June 9, 1856.

Fort Snelling was on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. Finished in 1825, the fort established US sovereignty in the area, drove British traders away, gaining control of the lucrative fur trade, and established trade relationships with the Native Americans in the area. The fort continued to be a dominating presence for both the native population, settlers, and the US government for another 125 years. Dred Scott was taken to the Fort Snelling area as an enslaved man despite the laws that prohibit slavery in the Upper Mississippi Valley.

In March 1825, Roger Jones became Adjutant General of the U.S. Army. He served in that post until 1852. His son Catesby ap Roger Jones was the commander of the ironclad CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads on the second day of battle with the USS Monitor.

The 1st Regiment of Infantry of the U.S. Army was formed as the 2nd Regiment in 1792. This 2nd Infantry was consolidated May–October 1815 with the 3rd and 7th Infantry (both constituted 12 April 1808), and 44th Infantry (constituted 29 January 1813) to form the 1st Infantry Regiment. In the ensuing years the 1st Regiment was primarily concerned with Indian conflicts, and it was involved in the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Second Seminole War from 1839 to 1842. In 1833 Col. Zachary Taylor was named to head the regiment.

This letter demonstrates decisively that Taylor had leadership qualities, was not afraid of his superiors, and stuck up in every way for the soldiers he commanded. The text makes it clear the centrality of the Indian Wars to the command in the areas around Forts Crawford and Snelling, but perhaps even more importantly, lists the abuses suffered by the common soldiers at the hand of their officers, and vows to put a stop to it.

Letter signed, three full pages, Head Quarters 1st Infantry, Fort Crawford, August 23, 1832, to the Adjutant General of the Army, standing up for the common soldier, decrying the improper use at the hands of their officers, and mentioning the Indians and the need for the Army to keep them “respectful.”

“I have this moment recd order No. 62 dated Washington 19th of July 1832, from which I observe that I was promoted to the commands of the 1st Regiment of Infantry. I regret to say as it respects the essential qualities of harmony, instruction, etc., it is very deficient; to correct which, as well as some other irregularities as far as possible, I calculate on having the cordial support of my Superiors.

“That portion of the Regiment stationed here has been constantly on fatigue for the last three years, except while on the late campaign against the Indians, & will continue to be so, for the,next term provided they continue here & go on to complete the quarters, store houses, etc., which has been commenced for eight companies, while a portion of the same Regiment, stationed in its vicinity, has had no fatigues comparatively to perform, other than what was connected with their proper military duties; while three of the companies from this post (a portion of the men without instruction) even in the duties of the soldier, were dispatched on a campaign which for danger, fatigue & privations of every kind, has been surpassed by few during its continuance (which was three months) that has ever taken place in this country. In order therefore to equalize duty among the several companies of the Regiment, as well as to do justice to the several captains in the way of commands, I would respectfully ask permission to be vested back- with the authority so long as the Regiment garrisons several posts contiguous to each other as at present, to change a portion of the companies annually, between the Head Quarters, & the several posts garrisoned by the detached companies; to be so regulated, that no company except in extraordinary cases is to be absent from Regimental Head Quarters longer than two years; those changes could be made while the Regiment, occupies its present positions without expense to the Govt. provided three Mackinaw boats per Company, was furnished (which should be done at any rate) at all the posts on the Mississippi above St.Louis, which should always be kept in complete order for the transportation of troops. The cost of those boats would be comparatively nothing & the troops composing those garrisons could be transported to any point on the Upper Mississippi, or the tributaries, even to places where Steam Boats could not get, at the shortest notice, should it be necessary.

“Experience has proved that the oftener troops are moved even from one station to another, the more efficient they are, as it has the effect in a great measure of preventing that accumulation of large quantities of baggage which is too often the case both as it respects officers and soldiers when they are permitted to remain for several years at the same station, particularly if it is a frontier one. Frequent movements of one or two companies along the upper Mississippi and the rivers emptying into it through Indian Country, which would have the effect of making them respectful, but fear us & as a matter of course, would be the means of keeping them quiet. Such movements not only invigorate the officers and men, but at the same time would serve to instruct the former in the important duties of moving & camping troops; in what ought to be considered an enemy’s country.

“The want of authority to exchange companies between the several Posts garrisoned by this Regiment by the Col. has had the effect of keeping one of the Junior Capts in command of Fort Snelling for more than twelve months where there are three companies stationed, & only one Capt. at the post and he too with a furlough-you six months granted him in February last by the proper authority; but he has not been permitted to avail himself of it as yet in consequence of the hostile feelings & movements among the Indians in the neighborhood of Rock Island, it not then being ascertained to what extent, similar feelings might have extended to other Indians in the neighborhood of Rock Island it not then being ascertained to what extent similar feelings might have extended to other Indians in this quarter; but I presume he will now do so in a short time, as I know his presence is not only necessary in Kentucky, but that he is so situated that it would be cruel for me to not detain him longer, unless something should occur between this and his leaving not at present calculated on; and unless Lt. Col. Davenport, who has been recently promoted, should immediately join, which cannot be calculated on with any certainty, that past occupied by three companies will be left in command of a first Lieutenant perhaps until next Spring, while there are three captains now at this place of twelve years standing & upwards.

“I should not have hesitated on my arrival here from the campaign, in relieving one of the companies at Fort Snelling with one from this post under the command of one of the Senior Capts. of the Regiment had not Genl. Atkinson who was present at the time, advised or directed me not to do so until I referred the matter to the Genl. – in – Chief & received his instructions on the subject.” Besides which I find here on record a copy of a letter from my predecessor Col. Morgan, dated Head Quarters, Fort Crawford, Oct. 20th 1838, addressed to the Act. A. A. Gen. with Right W.W. Dept. of which the following is an extract viz: “By the Resignation of Capt. Gale, one of the youngest captains of my Regiment is left in command of Fort Snelling

“I wish to place one of the oldest Captains there & then the three oldest Captains will be at each of the three posts on this river & will have commands in the absence of a field officer: our Captains advancing into life & we should take care of them & give them all the advantages their rank will entitle them to. The exchange can be make without expense to the public service in Mackinaw boats.” To which communication, | understand no answer has ever been recd. In the present state of affairs, should the Indians in the vicinity of Forts Snelling & Armstrong become at any time dissatisfied & threaten hostilities toward the whites, I would not feel myself authorized to reinforce either of those garrisons although occupied by a portion of the Regiment placed under my command, without an order to that effect from higher authority, let the emergency be what it might. Another reason for changing the troops stationed at the extreme frontier posts is that a portion of the officers, particularly the younger ones, if compelled to remain at them for a length of time become very irregular in their habits, & I learn with regret that is the case with a portion of those stationed at Fort Snelling; this ought not to be matter of surprise of four years, consequently cut off from everything like civilized society.

“I would most earnestly recommend that so much of the Genl. regulations for the good of the government the army which authorizes officers to employ soldiers as waiters, laborers, etc. between their tours of duty when they charge for private waiters or servants, be expunged as I conceive the greatest abuses has grown out of it, which are daily increasing, & which if not checked must ere long produce an investigation into those matters, perhaps by a committee of Congress, which will not result in elevating in the opinion of anyone, the character of the military establishment; sent; for there does not exist in my mind a doubt but a portion of the desertions which daily [take] place from our ranks, might be traced to the improper use made of soldiers for the purposes referred to by officers, between their tours of duty under shelter of that regulation. Let one be substituted in its stead, prohibiting officers who receive compensation for waiters or servants from employing soldiers in that way directly, or indirectly, & that all houses, built, boats, furniture & carriages of every description made, hay & wood cut & grain raised by the troops, to be the property of the government, & should not be sold, exchanged or bartered for company or private purposes, nor be removed from the public land or quarters unless for the benefit of the Qr. Mrs. Dept. paragraph 146-Genl. regulations which I presume was intended for the protection of the soldier, amounts in fact to nothing, as all who served with them ought to know that a request from an officer to a soldier, particularly if he commands the company to which the latter belongs, is equivalent to an order. Let the Commanding General of the army, as formerly, established the price of such articles of clothing as is made for officers at the frontier posts by the Mechanics belonging to the army, when they cannot get citizen mechanics to do it; for unless something of the kind is done the soldiers will soon be looked upon to a certain extent as the property of company commanders.

“On my return here I found that between twenty & thirty tons of hay had been cut for private & company purposes, while a soldier could not be spared to cut a particle for the public teams; sixty tons having been contracted for at Four dollars per ton, for cutting & curing on the public lands by the Actg. Asst. Quarter Master. Fuel has been supplied here for several years on contract by the Quarter Master’s Dept. yet the troops have been in the habit of getting an additional quantity, & disposing of it, or a portion of what they drew, to different persons, in one or more instances to the individual who had the contract at the time. I shall put a stop to like occurrences until the decision of the Genl-in-chief in relation to those matters can be had, when I shall be governed not only by them as well as by his views on other subjects which has been referred.

“It is not my intention or wish to criminate or reflect on any one, for the employment of soldiers, but to call the attention of the Commanding Genl. of the Army to the subject, in order that he may apply the proper correction if he deems any necessary, otherwise they can continue as they are, and have been. That the decision of the Genl-in-chief of the Army might be had in time for me to send an old captain with his company to Fort Snelling before the Mississippi was closed with ice, should he approve my doing so, (which could not have been the case had I forwarded through Dept. Hd. Qrs.), l have communicated directly to Genl. Headquarters, the same time furnishing the Actg. Asst. Adjt. Genl. of the W. Dept with a Copy and informing him of the course I had taken.” It is signed “Z. Taylor, Col 1st Regt U.S. Infy.”

A fascinating letter in many ways.