Zachary Taylor – Distinguished General & President
Zachary Taylor, a name etched in the annals of American history, stands as a testament to a life defined by military valor and a brief but impactful presidency. Born in Orange County, Virginia, on November 24, 1784, his early life was rooted in the agrarian landscape of his father’s farm. His education, gleaned from the common schools of the vicinity, laid the foundation for a future far removed from the quiet rhythms of rural life. The trajectory of his life took a decisive turn at the age of 24, following the death of his brother, Hancock, who held a lieutenant’s commission in the army. Zachary, driven by a sense of duty and perhaps a touch of familial ambition, applied for and received his brother’s commission, marking the beginning of his distinguished military career.
His ascent through the ranks was steady. By 1810, Zachary Taylor had earned the rank of captain. This same year marked another significant milestone in his life: his marriage to Margaret Smith. Their union would blossom into a large family, blessed with six children. Notably, their only son, Richard, would follow in his father’s footsteps, albeit on a different path, ultimately becoming a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army. Adding another layer of complexity to the Taylor family narrative, one of his daughters, Sarah, would marry Jefferson Davis, the future President of the Confederate States of America, in 1835.
However, this union was not met with paternal approval. Zachary Taylor reportedly opposed the marriage, yet the ceremony proceeded despite his reservations. Tragically, Sarah’s life was cut short, passing away just three months into her marriage to Davis. The strained relationship between Taylor and Davis persisted for over a decade, finally finding reconciliation in 1847 during the Battle of Buena Vista, where Davis distinguished himself as a colonel.
The War of 1812 proved to be a crucible for Taylor’s military prowess. In 1812, he earned a promotion to major for his courageous defense of Fort Harrison, situated near present-day Terre Haute, Indiana. This pivotal moment saw him pitted against the formidable Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and his forces.
As settlers relentlessly pushed westward, their farms and settlements encroached upon Native American territories, igniting resentment and resistance. Tecumseh, a charismatic and influential leader, formed a powerful league to oppose the white settlers’ expansion. Fort Harrison, strategically positioned on the frontier, became a prime target for Tecumseh’s campaign. On September 12, 1812, after an unsuccessful attempt to capture the fort through strategy, Tecumseh launched a fierce assault. The American sentries sounded the alarm just before midnight, and the blockhouse was soon engulfed in flames. Outside the stockade, a force of approximately 400 Native American warriors, led by Tecumseh himself, surrounded the fort. Inside, a mere fifty men defended the structure, with two-thirds of them weakened by illness. Despite the chaotic scene, Taylor displayed remarkable leadership. He ordered the burning boards to be stripped from the building and directed the construction of earthworks, providing crucial protection for his men. For seven grueling hours, the small garrison mounted a determined defense, repelling wave after wave of attacks until the Native American forces were ultimately driven away.
In 1814, Zachary Taylor continued his service in the War of 1812, engaging in combat against combined British and Native American forces along the Rock River in Iowa and Wisconsin. By 1819, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana. His promotion to colonel came in 1832. He also participated in the Black Hawk War. In 1837, he was dispatched to Florida to confront the Seminole Indians. He achieved such success that he was placed in charge of the entire campaign. On December 25, 1837, Osceola, the chief of the Seminole, gathered his warriors on the edge of a dense swamp near Lake Okeechobee, Florida. Taylor’s troops charged across the marsh, engaging the Seminoles in fierce combat, often fighting knee-deep in the swampy terrain. Despite repeated assaults, the Seminoles could not break the resolve of Taylor’s men, ultimately forcing them to retreat.
His battlefield successes continued to propel his career forward. Following the battle, Taylor received a brevet promotion to brigadier general and was reassigned to the Southwest. With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, he found himself at the forefront of the conflict. On May 8, 1846, he engaged the Mexican forces at the Battle of Palo Alto, Texas. Facing a Mexican army of 6,000 with only 2,300 men, Taylor demonstrated tactical brilliance. The battle commenced with a fierce artillery exchange, followed by the ignition of the prairie grass, creating dense clouds of smoke that obscured the battlefield. The Mexican infantry and cavalry launched an advance but were ultimately repelled and forced to retreat. The following day, Taylor’s forces secured another victory at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma near Brownsville, Texas, where 1,700 U.S. troops engaged approximately 6,000 Mexican soldiers. In June, Taylor was promoted to major general. In September, he captured Monterey, California, after a ten-day siege marked by intense fighting. The culmination of his military achievements came at the Battle of Buena Vista, Mexico, in February 1847, where Taylor faced an army four times the size of his own.
Prior to the battle, the Mexican commander sent a flag of truce, demanding Taylor’s surrender. Despite facing overwhelming odds, Taylor famously responded, "General Taylor never surrenders." He then rallied his troops, declaring, "I intend to stand here not only so long as a man remains but so long as a piece of a man is left." During the ensuing battle, Taylor issued his celebrated order, "A little more grape, Captain Bragg," referring to the canister shot fired from artillery. The Battle of Buena Vista proved to be a resounding victory for the Americans, solidifying Taylor’s reputation as a brilliant military strategist.
Zachary Taylor earned the endearing nickname "Old Rough and Ready" from his soldiers. While strict in matters of discipline, he was known for his unpretentious personal appearance, often eschewing formal uniforms and resembling a simple farmer.
In November 1847, weary from the relative inactivity following Buena Vista, Taylor requested permission to return to the United States. His arrival was met with enthusiastic celebrations and flattering accolades. Wherever he traveled, people rejoiced in his presence. His popularity and military achievements paved the way for his election as President in 1848, although he would not live to complete his term.
The issue of slavery cast a long shadow over Taylor’s presidency. Despite owning slaves on his Cypress Grove plantation near Rodney, Mississippi, he adopted a moderate stance on the territorial expansion of slavery, which alienated many of his fellow Southerners. Further exacerbating tensions, he angered the South by advocating for the integration of California as a free state.
Amidst the debates surrounding the Compromise of 1850, Taylor’s life was cut short by a sudden illness. After attending a July 4th celebration at the Washington Monument, he fell ill and died five days later, on July 9, 1850. On his deathbed, he reportedly comforted his wife, urging her not to weep, saying, "I have always done my duty; I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me." The official cause of death was listed as cholera morbus, a common ailment during the summer months in Washington, D.C., due to the prevalence of cholera bacteria. He was laid to rest at the Taylor Family plot in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the 1920s, the Taylor family initiated efforts to transform the family burial grounds into a national cemetery. The State of Kentucky donated two parcels of land, expanding the half-acre Taylor family cemetery to 16 acres. The site was then designated as the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. Taylor’s wife, who passed away in 1852, remained buried at the site until a Taylor mausoleum was commissioned, and their remains were moved on May 6, 1926.
Years later, in the late 1980s, college professor and author Clara Rising advanced a theory that Taylor had been murdered by poison. Her claims prompted Taylor’s closest living relative and the Coroner of Jefferson County, Kentucky, to order an exhumation. On June 17, 1991, Taylor’s remains were exhumed and transported to the Office of the Kentucky Chief Medical Examiner for analysis. Hair, fingernail, and tissue samples were subjected to rigorous testing. Although assassination theories had persisted for years, the investigations concluded that Taylor had indeed died of acute gastroenteritis, likely caused by consuming contaminated food or drink in the unsanitary environment of Washington, D.C., with its open sewers and flies.
Prior to the exhumation, Rear Admiral Samuel and Official U.S. Navy Historian Eliot Morison theorized that Taylor might have recovered from his illness had it not been for the aggressive medical treatments he received. These treatments included the administration of drugs such as ipecac, calomel, opium, and quinine, as well as the practice of bloodletting and blistering.
Despite the Coroner’s findings, assassination theories continue to circulate, fueled by speculation that Zachary Taylor was targeted due to his moderate stance on the expansion of slavery. His legacy remains a complex and fascinating study of a military hero thrust into the tumultuous world of American politics on the eve of the Civil War.