Martinsburg Gazette

AFFECTING STORY

To the Editor of the Bangor (Me.) Whig and Courier:

There is not perhaps a town in the United States where the nomination of Gen. Taylor as a candidate for the Presidency, is more acceptable to the true hearted Whigs than here in Mansel, isolated as we are in this island of the sea.

Mansel is a new town, incorporated by the Legislature of this State. June 3, 1848, or organized by the choice of town officers. August 9, 1848-it being that part of the Island of Mount Desert which lies stretched out to the South and West of a chain of Mountains running East and West of a chain of Mountains running East and West, separating it from the town of Mount Desert. But here Gen. Taylor is known and loved for his humanity towards a family residing in Mount Desert.

Ezra D. Gott, a young man of that town, being several years since accidentally in New Orleans, out of employment, was induced by a love of military show to join the American army as a dragoon, then quartered at Natchitoches, under Gen. Taylor. His father, a sickly and an infirm man, and his mother, a woman of strong affections, though far from being wealthy, were pious people. They looked upon a soldier's life as one, not only of exposure to hardships, sickness and death, but one accompanied by temptation, sin, and crime of all descriptions. When they learned that their only son had become a soldier in a Southern clime, their grief was irreconcilable. Numerous petitions and letters were sent from the most respectable sources in this vicinity, stating to the War Department the sickness of the father, and the grief of the mother, and praying for the release of her son. But all in vain. In vain did the Hon. John Fairfield and Shepherd Carey use their influence to have young Gott discharged and sent home to his afflicted parents. The mother ceased not her efforts for the restoration of her beloved son; and in the winter season left her family in the care of her friends and started for Washington. On her arrival there, she waited on the President and Secretary of War, and with the affection and grief which only a mother can feel, pleaded for an only son's release. But there again disappointment was her fate. She was compelled to return home without obtaining any encouragement, and landing at home she found her neighbors just conveying to the grave a beloved daughter, at which augmentation of her grief, the afflicted woman sank almost into despair.

After the battles of the 8th and 9th May, 1846, Mrs. Gott heard that Gen. Taylor was as remarkable for humanity, as he was for his bravery, and therefore ventured to write the following letter:

Mount Desert, June 17, 1846.

Gen. Taylor--Dear Sir--Permit a distressed female to address you on a subject which lies near her heart; and that is to plead with you for my son, my only son, Ezra D. Gott, company C. 2d dragoons.-- His father's health is so poor that I am afraid he cannot stand it long, and his desire is to see his son once more. We have tried every method to get him clear but in vain.

Nov. 24th, 1845, I went on board a small schooner bound to Washington, a distance of eight hundred miles leaving a beloved daughter on the point of death. My feelings at this time can be better imagined than described; without even a female to accompany me under such trying circumstances. We had a rough passage of twenty-five days. The first week out we encountered a tremendous gale on Nantucket shoals, and we all expected to be lost; a vessel near us went on shore, and every man on board perished; on the next day we experienced another gale, and I really thought that the waves would swallow us up. The distressed situation of my family rushed into my mind, but still God supported me, and saved us from a watery grave. On arriving at Washington, I called on President Tyler. He appeared very kind, and thought that the Secretary would discharge him (my son.)-- But the Secretary refused, and appeared unconcerned about the matter. I then felt as if I should never see home again, as I starting by land without a friend to accompany me, and under the disappointment I had then met with. When I got within four miles of my home, I received the melancholy intelligence of my daughter's death. I then felt that my last hopes were blighted. I settled down almost into despair. My pillow can witness to tears of heartfelt grief. But on the present Secretary's taking the place he now fills, hope again revived, and hearing that on the 6th of January the Secretary had left it with you to decide, and had authorized you to discharge him and hearing of your brave acts in defending our country, I will venture on your kindness to plead with you for an honorable discharge of our son, knowing that the brave have the most sympathy. In so doing you will confer the greatest earthly blessings on a bereaved family.

So I wait between hope and despair to hear the result.

I am, very, respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

JANE R. GOTT.

The Contents of this letter touched the old General's heart. He did not enquire to know whether Mrs. Gott was a rich lady, or Mr. Gott a gentleman of influence. It was enough for him to know that it was in his power to relieve the distressed, and although he was preparing to march against Monterey, and needed all his well drilled soldiers, yet he immediately directed the following reply :--

Headquarters Army of Occupation,
Matamoros, July 21, 1846.

Madam--Your letter to General Taylor of June 17, in which you request the discharge of your son, private Ezra D. Gott, Company C. 2d dragoons, was this day received. This case was brought to the General's attention in January last, but owing to the great want of enlisted men, it was deemed impracticable at that time to grant his discharge. Now, however, I have the pleasure to inform you that orders for his discharge have been issued and will take effect immediately.-- It may be a satisfaction to his family and friends to be informed that private Gott has participated creditably in the recent service of the army on the frontier.

I am, Madam, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

W. W. BLISS,
Ass't. Adj't. General.

MRS. Jane R. Gott. Mt. Desert, Me.

On receiving this letter Mrs. Gott was so much overcome on reading it that she fell to floor. But by the application of proper restoratives was restored.-- Young Gott was in Capt. Thompson's scouting party, who was sent by General Taylor up the Rio Grande; was among the first who encountered the enemy, but were surrounded by more than forty times their own numbers, and losing one fourth of their numbers in killed and wounded, the remainder were taken and imprisoned at Matamoras, and subsequently exchanged, and soon returned home. The young man although a democrat, declares General Taylor to be a man as remarkable for humanity and benevolence, as for his courage and skill, as he had repeated opportunities of witnessing. And although he is often beset by Cassites here telling him not to vote for General Taylor still his own judgement tells him (and he is a man who reads a great deal) that General Taylor is the very best man that can be found for our next President.

D.