Richard Taylor - Civil War - Confederacy - Lieutenant General

Richard Taylor - Early Life Career: Born January 27, 1826, Richard Taylor was the sixth and youngest child of President Zachary Taylor and Margaret Taylor. Initially raised on the familys plantation near Louisville, KY, Taylor spent much of his childhood on the frontier as his fathers military career compelled them to move frequently. To ensure that his son received a quality education, the elder Taylor sent him to private schools in Kentucky and Massachusetts. This was soon followed by studies at Harvard and Yale where he was active in Skull and Bones. Graduating from Yale in 1845, Taylor read widely on topics pertaining to military and classical history. Richard Taylor - Mexican-American War: With the rise of tensions with Mexico, Taylor joined his fathers army along the border. Serving as his fathers military secretary, he was present when the Mexican-American War began and US forces triumphed at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Remaining with the army, Taylor took part in the campaigns that culminated in the capture of Monterrey and victory at Buena Vista. Increasingly plagued by the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, Taylor departed Mexico and took over management of his fathers Cyprus Grove cotton plantation near Natchez, MS. Successful in this endeavor, he convinced his father to purchase the Fashion sugar cane plantation in St. Charles Parish, LA in 1850. Following Zachary Taylors death later that year, Richard inherited both Cyprus Grove and Fashion. On February 10, 1851, he married Louise Marie Myrtle Bringier, the daughter of a wealthy Creole matriarch. Richard Taylor - Antebellum Years: Though not caring for politics, Taylors family prestige and place in Louisiana society saw him elected to the state senate in 1855. The next two years proved difficult for Taylor as consecutive crop failures left him increasingly in debt. Remaining active in politics, he attended the 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston, SC. When the party splintered along sectional lines, Taylor attempted, without success, to forge a compromise between the two factions. As the country began to crumble following the election of Abraham Lincoln, he attended the Louisiana secession convention where he voted in favor of leaving the Union. Shortly thereafter, Governor Alexandre Mouton appointed Taylor to lead the Committee on Louisiana Military Naval Affairs. In this role, he advocated raising and arming regiments for the defense of the state as well as building and repairing forts. Richard Taylor - The Civil War Begins: Shortly after the attack on Fort Sumter and the beginning of the Civil War, Taylor traveled to Pensacola, FL to visit his friend Brigadier General Braxton Bragg. While there, Bragg requested that that Taylor aid him in training newly-formed units that were destined for service in Virginia. Agreeing, Taylor commenced work but turned down offers to serve in the Confederate Army. Highly effective in this role, his efforts were recognized by Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In July 1861, Taylor relented and accepted a commission as colonel of the 9th Louisiana Infantry. Taking the regiment north, it arrived in Virginia just after the First Battle of Bull Run. That fall, the Confederate Army reorganized and Taylor received a promotion to brigadier general on October 21. With the promotion came command of a brigade comprised of Louisiana regiments. Richard Taylor - In the Valley: In the spring of 1862, Taylors brigade saw service in the Shenandoah Valley during Major General Thomas Stonewall Jacksons Valley Campaign. Serving in the division of Major General Richard Ewell, Taylors men proved tenacious fighters and were often deployed as shock troops. Through the course of May and June, he saw battle at Front Royal, First Winchester, Cross Keys, and Port Republic. With the successful conclusion of the Valley Campaign, Taylor and his brigade marched south with Jackson to reinforce General Robert E. Lee on the Peninsula. Though with his men during the Seven Days Battles, his rheumatoid arthritis became increasingly severe and he missed engagements such as the Battle of Gaines Mill. Despite his medical issues, Taylor received a promotion to major general on July 28. Richard Taylor - Back to Louisiana: In an effort to facilitate his recovery, Taylor accepted an assignment to raise forces in and command the District of Western Louisiana. Finding the region largely stripped of men and supplies, he commenced work to improve the situation. Eager put pressure on Union forces around New Orleans, Taylors troops frequently skirmished with Major General Benjamin Butlers men. In March 1863, Major General Nathaniel P. Banks advanced from New Orleans with the goal of capturing Port Hudson, LA, one of two remaining Confederate strongholds on the Mississippi. Attempting block the Union advance, Taylor was forced back at the Battles of Fort Bisland and Irish Bend on April 12-14. Badly outnumbered, his command escaped up the Red River as Banks moved forward to lay siege to Port Hudson. With Banks occupied at Port Hudson, Taylor devised a bold plan to recapture Bayou Teche and liberate New Orleans. This movement would require Banks to abandon the siege of Port Hudson or risk losing New Orleans and his supply base. Before Taylor could move forward, his superior, Lieutenant General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department, directed him to take his small army north to aid in breaking the Siege of Vicksburg. Though lacking faith in Kirby Smiths plan, Taylor obeyed and fought minor engagements at Millikens Bend and Youngs Point in early June. Beaten in both, Taylor returned south to Bayou Teche and re-captured Brashear City late in the month. Though in a position to threaten New Orleans, Taylors requests for additional troops were not answered before the garrisons at Vicksburg and Port Hudson fell in early July. With Union forces freed from siege operations, Taylor withdrew back to Alexandria, LA to avoid being trapped. Richard Taylor - Red River Campaign: In March 1864, Banks pressed up the Red River towards Shreveport supported by Union gunboats under Admiral David D. Porter. Initially withdrawing up the river from Alexandria, Taylor sought advantageous ground for making a stand. On April 8, he attacked Banks at the Battle of Mansfield. Overwhelming Union forces, he compelled them to retreat back to Pleasant Hill. Seeking a decisive victory, Taylor struck this position the next day but could not break through Banks lines. Though checked, the two battles compelled Banks to abandon the campaign begin moving downstream. Eager to crush Banks, Taylor was enraged when Smith stripped three divisions from his command to block a Union incursion from Arkansas. Reaching Alexandria, Porter found that the water levels had dropped and that many of his vessels could not move over the nearby falls. Though Union forces were briefly trapped, Taylor lacked the manpower to attack and Kirby Smith refused to return his men. As a result, Porter had a dam c onstructed to raise the water levels and Union forces escaped downstream. Richard Taylor - Later War: Irate over the prosecution of the campaign, Taylor attempted to resign as he was unwilling to serve with Kirby Smith any further. This request was denied and he instead was promoted to lieutenant general and placed in command of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana on July 18. Reaching his new headquarters in Alabama in August, Taylor found the department to possess few troops and resources. Earlier in the month, Mobile had been closed to Confederate traffic in the wake of the Union victory at the Battle of Mobile Bay. While Major General Nathan Bedford Forrests cavalry worked to limit Union incursions into Alabama, Taylor lacked the men to block Union operations around Mobile. In January 1865, following General John Bell Hoods disastrous Franklin-Nashville Campaign, Taylor assumed command of the remnants of the Army of Tennessee. Resuming his normal duties after this force transferred to the Carolinas, he soon found his department overrun by Union troops later that spring. With the collapse of Confederate resistance following the surrender at Appomattox in April, Taylor attempted to hold out. The final Confederate force east of the Mississippi to capitulate, he surrendered his department to Major General Edward Canby at Citronelle, AL, on May 8. Richard Taylor - Later Life Paroled, Taylor returned to New Orleans and attempted to revive his finances. Becoming increasingly involved in Democratic politics, he became a staunch opponent of the Radical Republicans Reconstruction policies. Moving to Winchester, VA in 1875, Taylor continued to advocate for Democratic causes for the remainder of his life. He died on April 18, 1879, while in New York. Taylor had published his memoir entitled Destruction and Reconstruction a week earlier. This work was later credited for its literary style and accuracy. Returned to New Orleans, Taylor was buried at Metairie Cemetery. Selected Sources Civil War Trust: Richard TaylorGeneral Richard Taylor TSHA: Richard Taylor

La Politesse French Phrases of Politeness

When traveling in France, being polite is absolutely essential. Be sure you know how to say please and thank you at the very least. Click any link to hear that word pronounced. Please sil vous plaà ®t, SVP (plural or formal)sil te plaà ®t (singular and familiar) Please verb (for example, please excuse me) veuillez infinitive (veuillez mexcuser) Thank You merci Thank you very much merci beaucoupmerci bien Bless you! (thank you so much, thanks a million) mille fois merci  (literally, a thousand times thanks)​ Youre Welcome de rien  (literally, Its nothing) It was my pleasure je vous en prie (plural or formal)je ten prie (singular and familiar) Dont mention it pas de quoi Excuse Me! Pardon me, I beg your pardon pardon Excuse me excusez-moi Im sorry to disturb/bother you Excusez-moi de vous dà ©ranger Im sorry je suis dà ©solà ©(e) Niceties Cheers à   votre santà © (plural or formal)à   ta santà © (singular and familiar) Enjoy your meal bon appà ©tit ! Bless you à   vos souhaits (plural or formal)à   tes souhaits (singular and familiar) Sir, Mr. Monsieur Maam, Mrs. Madame Miss Mademoiselle

If Legislation Fails Who is There to Follow Free Essays

Judge Richard C Wesley, who had worked in the Legislature of New York, and subsequently, in its High Court, gave a speech in the Albany Law School, where in he discussed the technique of appellate judging in Common Law Courts. The second such exposition was at a seminar on the use of legislative history in interpreting New York State and Federal Statue, at the same venue. The discussion dealt with law making and the history of the legislature of this state. We will write a custom essay sample on If Legislation Fails Who is There to Follow? or any similar topic only for you Order Now In respect of Article III of the Constitution, he stated that Congress had limited the powers conferred by the constitution in respect of resolution of cases. With regard to judicial verdicts, he discussed the statutory interpretation in respect of several cases which had a bearing on the future of the State as well as the Courts. Further, he expressed his discontent in respect of the process of Judicial Review, which results in the failure of the Court in framing an opinion. In this context he cited the case of Majewski v Broadalbin – Perth Control School District. The issues discussed were whether the changes in the workers’ compensation law restricting third party tort-fea ·sor seeking contribution from an injured employee’s employer were prospective or retroactive. Though the statute did not provide a clear answer, the Bill’s sponsor in the assembly proclaimed that it was prospective, while the Governor announced at the Bill’s signing that there would be an appreciable reduction in the insurance premia being paid by employers. Based on this outcome, he opined that judges will have to decide what was intended by such legislation. In his opinion, Judicial Activism has been limited to querying the Congress to explain the meaning of the various statutes. In this connection, there are occasions where regulatory or legislative schemes come under scrutiny and come up short under Constitutional Analysis. Judges have to follow the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The Supreme Court has heard two cases, U.S.V Baker and U.S.V Fanfan, which more or less signals the end of the sentencing schemes under the Constitution. According to him, the will of Congress does not trump the Constitution. This results in Congress forsaking the guidelines as a discretionary sentencing guide and leaving the task to even up the range of sentences to a law based arbitraryness review. In another case, Campaign for Fiscal Equity V New York, the Constitutionality and Federalism of the State were challenged. In 1995, the Court had ruled that the plaintiff’s complaint did plead a cause of action on State Constitutional Grounds. The Constitutional Standard for that Mandate was that the State must provide a sound basic education to all New York Children. The outcome of this case was that the School funding is based on political expediency and not on educational necessity. According to him the Court had transposed the Constitutional Provision from a general commitment to public education into substantive policy – laden guarantee of educational proficiency that would ultimately drag the Courts into a resource allocation fight with the Legislature. Absence of a Legislative Response to a Judicial Decree, declaring the Constitutional shortcomings of a state education system, the Courts have to manage the State’s Education Funding System; this is a job, which the majority of the fiscal equity noted that the Court had neither the authority, the ability nor the will to do. Richard C Wesley expressed his view that the quasi – legislative/ executive role will strain the Courts’ own intellectual and institutional resources, while providing the Executive with an excuse to usurp the Courts’ Powers. He further, contended that Governing and Judging are two dissimilar things and that the public policy is best formulated by means of public debates. Though the Judiciary has been granted an independent existence by the Constitution, in reality the Legislature controls it. Since Legislature is the most powerful wing of the U.S.Government, according to Wesley if it fails, there is no further recourse. The foregoing discussion illustrates the penchant of the legislature to interfere with the functioning of the judiciary. Whenever, the legislature fails to resolve any problem, the judiciary steps in to rectify the same. However, with the legislature making all out efforts to subjugate the judiciary, there is nothing which can retrieve the situation once the legislation fails (Wesley, n.d). References. Wesley, Richard C. (n.d.). If Legislatures Fail, Who is there to Follow? How to cite If Legislation Fails Who is There to Follow?, Essay examples