Life^ Services and Character of Jefferson Davis, 127
a candidate for Governor of his State before the people — these designations give suggestion of the number and dignity of his employments.
MILITARY SERVICES IN MEXICO.
How he led the Mississippi riflemen in storming Monterey without bayonets ; how he threw them into the famous ** V " to receive and repulse the Mexican Lancers at the crisis of the battle of Buena Vista ; how, though wounded and bleeding from a musket-shot, he sat his horse, and would not quit the field till victory had crowned it, is a picture that hangs conspicuously in the galleries of our history. The movement— prompt, original, and decisive — disclosed the general of rare ability ; the personal conduct avouched the hero.
- Colonel Davis," said General Taylor in his report, ** though
severely wounded, remained in the saddle until the close of the action. His distinguished coolness and gallantry at the head of his regiment on this day entitled him to the particular notice of the government. '*
Colonel Davis won the battle of Buena Vista, and Buena Vista made General Taylor President.
IN THE CABINET OF PRESIDENT PIERCE.
As Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President Pierce, a position which he only accepted after repeated solicitation, he was an officer second to none who has ever administered that department in execu- tive faculty and in benefits bestowed on the military service.
It was under his direction that George B. McClellan (then a cap- tain, afterwards general-in-chief and commander of the Army of the Potomac) was sent with a commission to the Crimea to observe mili- tary operations and to study the tactics and conditions of the Euro- pean armies their engaged, the result of which introduced many im- provements.
There was nothing that came within his jurisdiction that he did not methodize and seek to extend to the widest range of utility. Material changes were made in the model of arms. Iron gun-car- riages were introduced and experiments made which led to the cast- ing of heavy guns hollow, instead of boring them after the casting. The army was increased by two regiments of cavalry and two of infantry. Amongst his earnest recommendations were the revisions of army regulations ; the increase of the medical corps ; the intro- duction of light-infantry tactics ; rifled muskets and balls ; the
