Taylor's Preparation For Buena Vista

I refer to Zachary Taylor, whose record in the Mexiean war was something phenomenal! He foughf the battle of Buena Vista with only 5,000 men, although he was attacked by 25,000 men under the leadership of Santa Anna, who was the greatest military leader the Mexicans have ever known. Santa Anna went to the battle of Buena Vista with the avowed pnrpose of exterininating the entire army of the United States, nul there was uo doubt in the mind of Santa Anna that thisgreat feat could be accom plished with coniparative ease. General Taylor, with his 5,000 men, prepared for the uneqnal contest, and not only defended hiuiself succesRfully, but won a substantial victory from his aggressive antagonists and drove them from the battlefield of Buena Vista. Some time after the battle was fought and the Mexiean war conclnded General Taylor was criticised for having inale no preparations for the retreat of lus army in tha event of defeat. General Taylor promptly replied: "I made every preparatiou uecessary for the battle of Buena Vista. I wrote rny will, and so did nearly every man in my army. If we had not won that battle, we would have needed no lines of retreat. It wa.-'. from our standpoiht, victory or aunihilation. The only preparation necessary for the contiugency of defeat at Bnen.-i Vista was that we should write