Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1880 — “Gen. Taylor Never Surrenders.” [ARTICLE]

“Gen. Taylor Never Surrenders.”

These were the words with which Gen. Taylor was credited on the eve of the battle of Buena Vista in reply to an emissary of Santa Anna, sent to assure him that resistance was useless and to invite him to surrender. These were not Gen. Taylor’s words, however, according to Gen. Bragg. Gen. Taylor did not.understand Spanish, and he stood, chafing with irrepressible impatience, while the stately sentences rolled from the lips of the envoy. “ What does he say, Major Bliss; what does he say?” the general constantly inquired during the progress of the demand, his eyes flashing and his lips quivering with impatience which he was at no pains to conceal. “The story done,” Major Bliss translated it word for word to his restless superior. Whereupon the general flew into the most appalling rage, and turning to the astonished Mexican, he blurted out (he was wont to stutter frightfully when excited): “W-w-ill you j ust t-t-t-tell General Sant-t-ta Anna, f-f-rom me to g-g-go to hell ?”— New York World.