BRIG.-GEN. BENJAMIN M'CULLOCH.

CHAPTER LVIII.

Early romance of his life.—His fame as a hunter and pioneer.-Service in the Texan war of independence.-Battle of San Jacinto.-The Mexican War.-Adventure at Buena Vista.-Appointed United States Marshal for Texas.-His life in Washington City. His appearance and manners at the capital.-Relations to President Buchanan.-Seizes the property and arms of the United States at San Antonio.— Surrender of Gen. Twiggs.-McCulloch's command in the Indian Territory.-His part in Price's Missouri campaign.-Defects of his military character.-Killed in the battle of Elk Horn.

THE life of Benjamin McCulloch, anteriour to the war, was of singular interest. It illustrated much of the romance of the American frontier. Living almost constantly on the limit of the American settlements; remarkable for his singular capacities for Indian warfare; following the track of adventure with wild courage and hardihood, he had already made a name for history, and was pointed out as one of those famous adventurers whose lives were in transition between the backwoods and the present standards of civilization. He had originated the name of "Texas Ranger," and, with Walker, Hays, and Chevallie, had given it a world-wide renown. Twenty-six years before he drew his sword for Southern Independence he had served in the battle of San Jacinto; had afterwards passed his time on the Texan frontier in a succession of hardships and dangers; and subsequently in the Mexican War, on the bloody field of Buena Vista, he had received the public and official thanks of Gen. Taylor for his heroic conduct and services. A career, running through scenes so remarkable and extensive, may be traced with interest from its commencement.

The subject of our sketch was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, about the year 1814. His father was aide-de-camp to Gen.

Coffee, and served under Gen. Jackson in the Creek war, fighting at Talladega, Tallahassee, and the Horse Shoe Bend, and exhibiting that reckless daring which is peculiarly efficient against savages, and which since rendered his son so famous. Young McCulloch was fourteen years old when his father removed to the western portion of the State, and settled in Dyer county. This neighbourhood was then a wilderness, covered with swamps and dense forests, and infested by wild animals. The principal meat of the settlers was what was obtained in the chase.

Ben McCulloch acquired here his first fruits of fame, and became renowned throughout the settlement as an expert and successful hunter. A youth spent in such occupations could not fail to kindle a love of enterprise and roving adventure in the bosom of the ardent Tennesseean. At the age of twenty-one he set out for St. Louis, to join a company of trappers on their way to the Rocky Mountains. Much to his disappointment, he arrived in that city after the expedition had started. He then applied for admission into a company of Santa Fé traders; but here again he was unsuccessful, as their number was complete. He returned home, yet cherishing there, until other and greater opportunities, his resolution to seek his fortune in distant and dangerous lands. The erection in Texas of the standard of revolt against Mexico aroused his spirit, and gave him the opportunity of danger and adventure which he coveted.*

*A friend relates the following interesting circumstance attending McCulloch's journey to Texas-showing how at least one of his disappointments proved his good fortune, and was turned to his safety.

"Soon after his arrival home, McCulloch called on Col. David Crockett, who was making up an expedition to go to Texas, and take part in the revolution that had then broken out against the authority of Mexico. The whole southwest at that time was alive with sympathy for the Texans, and numbers were daily flocking to their standard. McCulloch agreed to accompany Col. Crockett on his expedition. Nacogdoches had been appointed as the rendezvous, and the Christmas of 1835 was named as the day for the meeting, when, as 'Old Davy' said, they were to make their Christmas dinner off the hump of a buffalo. By some mischance McCulloch did not arrive until the January following, and finding the party gone, he proceeded alone to the river Brazos, where he was taken very ill, and did not recover until after the fall of the Alamo. His disappointment was very great at not being able to join the gallant band of patriots at the time; but it afterwards proved very fortunate for him. Col. Travis, in whose command he would have been, after having sustained a siege for thirteen days, with only one hundred and eight Texans against Santa Anna's army, fell with his brave little band, having previously killed nine hundred of the enemy!"

He entered the Texan army as a private, joining it at Grass. Plant, where it had assembled under Gen. Houston. He was attached to an artillery company, in which he remained until the battle of San Jacinto, where Santa Anna was made prisoner, and his army of 1,500 killed or captured. He participated in that famous struggle, and was a sergeant in charge of the gun on the right. There were two guns on that field, known as "the Twin Sisters," under the command of Capt. Isaac N. Moreland, of Georgia. These guns subsequently fell into the hands of the Mexicans, but were eventually recaptured and left at New Orleans, where they remained until a few years ago, when they were presented to the Texan government by the State of Louisiana.

At the termination of the Texan war, McCulloch settled in He was Gonzales county, where he remained for some time. elected a member of the State Congress, as it was then called, which honourable position he held until war broke out between the United States and Mexico. He then resigned his seat, and, like many of the Texans who had fought in the Texan revolution, he hurried forward to meet his old enemies. He raised a company of "Mounted Rangers," and joined Gen. Taylor on the Rio Grande, after the battle of Matamoras, not having been able to organize his command soon enough to participate in the first battles of the war. His company was used principally for scouting, and acted generally under his own direction, or the immediate command of Gen. Taylor. It formed part of the regiment of Texan Rangers, commanded by Col. Jack Hays, which marched with Gen. Worth to assist in storming the Bishop's Palace in Monterey. In all the operations of Gen. Worth's division, McCulloch distinguished himself, and obtained the repeated commendations of his superiours.

Just before the battle of Buena Vista, McCulloch performed a daring exploit and did one of the most valuable services of the war. With one companion, he left camp in the night, and proceeded to make a reconnoissance within the lines of the enemy, then advancing with Santa Anna at their head. He entered the Mexican lines, where he spent several hours in close observation within hearing of the groups gathered around the watch-fires. He discovered the numbers of the enemy, learned his plans, and obtained all the information necessary to Gen. Taylor. He immediatly returned, and related to that officer the result of his reconnoissance; and, upon

that information, it is said that Gen. Taylor acted, in retreating to the strong point, Aguas Nuevos, where the battle of Buena Vista was fought. For this service and his conduct on the field, McCulloch received the thanks of Gen. Taylor, and obtained the admiration of the whole army.

For gallant conduct during the siege of Monterey, McCulloch received an appointment in the quartermaster's department, with the rank of Major, which position he either never accepted, or served in but a short time. In 1855, upon the organization of four new regiments of horse in the United States army, he was tendered by President Pierce the appointment of Major in one of the regiments, which favour he declined, and returned to his home in Texas. He was afterwards appointed United States Marshal for the District of Texas, which office he held up to the year 1859, when he resigned it.

In the two or three years which intervened between this time and the war for the independence of the South, McCulloch lived principally in Washington City, where he was often remarked by curious crowds for his hard and weather-beaten visage, and the terrible services in which he had acquired his morose countenance and habits of solitude. He was often seen on Pennsylvania Avenue companionless, taciturn, and with an air of harsh abstraction about him ; or he was pointed out in hotels where, cynical and silent, he contemplated the idle and dainty crowds in their rounds of fashionable dissipation. But despite these repulsive appearances, it is said that he was really fond of society; only it must be of his choice, and then he was open and lively in his conversation. His friends claimed for him some of the finest qualities of mind and temper. His intellect was calm and vigorous; he was independent in his opinions, and very firm; his manners and habits were very simple, and his attachments to his friends were ardent and strong, and had the virtue of inspiring them with as much of admiration as of love. One of them testifies: "Adversity had upon McCulloch's noble nature the effect of fire upon frankincense, causing the purest and finest essences to evaporate." He was a marked favourite of President Buchanan, and, by some means, had acquired such intimacy with him as almost to constitute himself a member of his household. It was said that there was no favour at the White House which he could not obtain, and that the President

sought to honour him in every way. It was at the instance of Mr. Buchanan, when the difficulties in Utah were the occasion of most serious alarm to his administration, that McCulloch was persuaded to undertake a special mission to pacify the hostile tribes of Indians in that territory. He returned to Washington in the midst of the Secession excitement. He again enjoyed the confidence of the President; and it was noticed that he was on terms of equal intimacy with all the Southern leaders. He certainly did not disguise his opinions to obtain so delicate a position between the Government and the advocates of a sectional breach of its authority. He was an ardent advocate of Secession from the beginning, and of the firm opinion that it would be followed by war. He was assiduous in his endeavours to stimulate the States to prompt action, and to prepare themselves for any emergency.

It will be recollected by those who witnessed the period of excitement in Washington, which followed the announcement of the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency, with what interest McCulloch was regarded, and how the newspapers made his name one of peculiar terrour. It was McCulloch who was popularly reported at the head of the conspiracy which Gen. Scott imagined was to blow up the Capitol, assassinate President Lincoln, and lift the standard of revolt in the Federal city. His movements were watched with the most persistent curiosity, and were reported in the newspapers, with every variety that excited imaginations could sug gest with reference to time and place. Even when Washington was garish with arrivals and parades of Northern troops, it was suspected that McCulloch lurked in the vicinity with some mysterious force. A Richmond journal said: "We are not enough in the secrets of our authorities to specify the day on which Jeff. Davis will dine at the White House, and Ben. McCulloch take his siesta in Gen. Sickles's gilded tent. But it will save trouble if the gentlemen will keep themselves in readiness to dislodge at a moment's notice."

But for many weeks before the date of these anticipations, McCulloch was far away, with a different matter in hand. He had been suddenly missed from the circles of excitement in Washing"The Commissioners of Public Safety," in Texas, had called him to his adopted State, and had unanimously selected him to raise and command men for the purpose of securing the property

ton.