Sold – Zachary Taylor’s Signed Orders Officially Assuming His Final Military Command

In 1808, Taylor was commissioned a first lieutenant of infantry, beginning a military career that would last forty years. He first won distinction during the War of 1812 for his defense of Fort Harrison in Indiana Territory against an Indian attack and became the first brevet major in the U. S. Army as a result. He spent the next three decades policing the frontiers against Indians, serving in the Black Hawk War in 1832 and the Second Seminole War from 1835–1842. By the time James K. Polk became president and turned his attention towards acquisition of Mexican land, Taylor had built a reputation as a successful general.

Following orders received from Polk, a force commanded by Taylor arrived at Corpus Christi, Texas in 1845. In January 1846, Taylor was ordered to advance to the Rio Grande and two months later established a base at Point Isabel and entrenchments opposite Metamoras. This encampment on land Mexico claimed was designed as a provocation and the Mexicans responded accordingly. Before a declaration of war, Taylor met and defeated a Mexican force under General Arista three times the size of his own at Palo Alto on May 8, 1846 and was again successful at Resaca de la Palma the next day, using artillery, dragoons and infantry. War was officially declared on May 13, 1846 and Taylor occupied Metamoras on May 18. Polk breveted him major general as soon as word of the victories had been received. On September 21, Taylor and his 6,000 men attacked Monterey. After three days of fighting, the larger Mexican army surrendered. Advancing southward in early 1847, Taylor received word that Santa Anna was marching on his force with 20,000 troops. At Buena Vista, on February 22 and 23, out-numbered 4-to-1, the American army defeated the Mexicans and effectively ended the war in the north. Taylor now commanded all forces in northern Mexico, a position he would maintain until the end of 1847. On November 8 of that year, with the war winding down and negotiations to end it taking place, he left Monterey and arrived at New Orleans on November 30. He was hailed as a hero throughout the U.S. and became the subject of interest as a Whig Party presidential candidate in the upcoming 1848 election. The end of the war in February 1848 increased the clamor for Taylor, as his military prowess was no longer needed by the nation.

All through the beginning of 1848, the Whigs held meetings that acclaimed Taylor as their choice for the party’s presidential nomination. His proponents saw him as electable because his long military record would appeal to northerners, while his ownership of slaves would lure southern votes. The potential candidate, though he clearly sympathized with the Whigs, was not enthused about running. By the spring, however, he had been convinced to accept the nomination if tendered. Taylor was nominated by the Whig Party in Philadelphia on June 7, 1848 on the fourth ballot, over Henry Clay, Winfield Scott and Daniel Webster. This was an era in which presidential candidates did not campaign, and though nominated, Taylor saw no reason to resign from the army just because he was running for office.

This presented a dilemma to President Polk, a Democrat and political foe of Taylor, who having no grounds to force the General from the service, wanted nonetheless to avoid placing him in a post where he might gain positive attention for his candidacy. His decision was made known on June 19, when the War Department instructed Taylor to assume command of the Western Division of the U.S. Army, with responsibility for the territory of the United States west of the Mississippi River. The headquarters for that division was in Louisiana, where Taylor was already stationed, and the person who would actually issue the order effectuating the assignment would be the general in command there – Taylor himself. On July 1, 1848, Taylor issued orders officially assuming this, his final military command. Here are those original orders.

Document Signed, Headquarters Western Division, New Orleans, July 1, 1848, entitled “Orders No. 3.” “ I. In obedience to General Orders no. 30 of June 19th, Major Genl. Z. Taylor assumes command of the Western Division. His headquarters will, until further orders, be established at Baton Rouge. Returns and reports for Division headquarters will be directed accordingly. II. The following officers compose the staff of the Commanding General: Bvt. Lt. Col. William W.S. Bliss – asst. adj. genl.; Bvt. Maj. J.H. Eaton 3rd Inf. and Bvt. Maj. R.S. Garnett – aides de camp. III. Agreeably to instructions from the Department of War, Bvt. Brig. Genl. [George M.] Brooke will exercise the command of the 1st Military Department with his headquarters in New Orleans. The arrangement for the muster and discharge of the troops returning from Mexico, so far as entrusted to Genl. Brooke by previous orders, will continue under his direction. IV. Existing orders and instructions from the headquarters of the Division are confirmed.” In Mexico, Bliss had been Taylor’s chief of staff and Eaton and Garnett his trusted lieutenants. The body of this document, continuing them in their posts, is in the hand of Bliss.

Thus Taylor embarked on his command of the Western Division. On the political front, on August 3, Taylor officially accepted the Whig nomination that had been tendered to him fully two months previously. In the ensuing campaign, his supporters did not dwell on the details of matters in controversy, instead stressing that he would be a national rather than a regional president and that principle would prevail over politics. His Democratic opponent, Lewis Cass, favored letting the residents of territories decide for themselves whether they wanted slavery, which in practice was a pro-southern position. Taylor and his running mate, Millard Fillmore, won the election on November 7, which was the first uniform election day throughout the country. Taylor was now president-elect, but it was not until December 14, 1848, that he sent in his resignation as Major General and terminated this, his last military command.