U.S. PRESIDENTS IN THE MILITARY (Polk-Taylor)

Another seasonal post from Balladeer’s Blog with Presidents Day approaching.

JAMES K. POLK

Conflict – Tennessee Unrest: Service – From 1821-1825 Polk served in the Maury County Cavalry unit of the Tennessee Militia. He retained his law practice and political activities throughout his service.

No official wars were fought during this period, so Polk and his comrades policed internal tribal violence among the Cherokee and the Creek. Periodic clashes between Native Americans and settlers had to be dealt with, too.

ZACHARY TAYLOR

Conflict – War of 1812: Service – In May 1808 Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant and by the June outbreak of the War of 1812 was a captain. Fort Harrison was under Taylor’s command and in September he led his men to victory defending the fort, the first American land victory of the war.

Promoted to major, Zachary took part in September campaigns into Illinois Territory and Indiana, fighting in November’s Battle of Wildcat Creek and other actions. Taylor spent 1813 at Fort Knox and in the spring of 1814 led troops in the Battle of Credit Island in Iowa.

By October he constructed and commanded Fort Johnson but in November was ordered to abandon the fort and lead his troops to St. Louis. Taylor saw no further action in the war.

Conflict – Black Hawk War: Service – Zachary Taylor was a Lt. Colonel by the start of the Black Hawk War on April 6th, 1832. He was swiftly promoted to full Colonel and commanded the 1st Infantry Regiment in battles throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. The war ended on August 27th.

Conflict – Second Seminole War: Service – Though this Florida conflict broke out in late December 1835, Colonel Taylor and his 1st Infantry were not ordered to the area until late 1837. He established Forts Gardiner and Basinger and fought in the Christmas Day Battle of Lake Okeechobee, following which he was promoted to Brigadier General.

Fighting continued and by May 1838 Taylor was put in command of all American forces in Florida. He commanded the periodic fighting against the Seminoles for the next two years, earning the nickname Old Rough and Ready before being rotated out.

Conflict – Mexican War: Service – General Taylor was in command of U.S. forces along the Texas-Mexico border and beginning in May 1846 led his men to victory in early battles at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma and elsewhere.

Taylor’s campaign deeper into Mexico led to spectacular victories at Monterrey, Buena Vista (where he defeated Santa Anna), and other locations. By late 1847 much of the fighting had shifted to General Winfield Scott’s campaign to take Mexico City to the south and Taylor returned to the U.S. via ship.