General Jackson, in 1832, appointed him Colonel, and sent him into the "Black Hawk war." In July General Atkinson arrived at the scene of action with 2500 men, including 400 under Colonel Taylor. When the Indians retreated into the wilderness, 1300 men under Taylor were ordered in pursuit. They overtook them near the junction of the Mississippi and Iowa rivers, where a desperate conflict ensued, in which the savages were totally routed. Taylor soon captured Black Hawk and ended the war.
Taylor was afterwards ordered to Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, and remained there until 1836, when he was called to assist in the Seminole war in Florida, which commenced in 1835. All efforts failed to bring the savages to subjection until December, 1837, when Colonel Taylor, with 1100 men, left Fort Gardner in pursuit. December 25th, he was attacked by a large body of Indians with rifles in ambuscade. The battle was fierce and bloody. The volunteers, at first, began to give way as their leaders fell, but the regulars pressed on. This battle of "Okee-cho-bee" continued an hour, when the Indians retired, but were hotly pursued. The savages exhibited the greatest bravery. Our loss was 14 officers and 120 privates killed or wounded.
This broke the power of the war. Many Indians surrendered to our men, and the scene of bloodshed gradually terminated. Taylor soon received the rank of Brevet-Brigadier-General, and in April, 1838, was appointed to the command of our troops in Florida. He remained two years longer, and then, at his request, was recalled.
Afterwards he was appointed to the command of the First Department of the U. S. Army in the South-west. His headquarters were at Fort Jesup until 1841, when he was ordered to Fort Gibson. He remained there about five years, when, in 1845, he was ordered to Texas, in anticipation of her annexation to the United States.
The remainder of General Taylor's triumphant career is described in the following pages. He has proved himself to be one of the bravest and most skilful generals of modern times.
