Capt James Taggart, Jr
BIRTH 1801
Stewart County, Tennessee, USA
DEATH 23 Feb 1847 (aged 45–46)
Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico
BURIAL Non-Cemetery Burial, Specifically: Near the Battlefield, Coahuila de Zaragoza Mexico
The second of at least four, possibly six children, born to James & Rachel (Peterson) Taggart of Hamblen Twp, Brown Co IN, James married Jane Weddle on 10 Jan 1822 in Jackson Co IN, the daughter of Lieutenant Elias & Nancy (Wallen) Weddle of Brown Co IN.
Indiana Marriage Records 1819-1852:
"WEDDLE, JANE - TAGGART, JAMES, Jackson 1-10-1822"
Indiana Marriages thru 1850, Library Genealogy Database:
"Last Name: TAGGART
First Name: JAMES
Spouse- Last Name: WEDDLE
Spouse- First Name: JANE
County: Jackson
Date: 1-10-1822"
Children with Jane:
1) Nancy Jane Taggart (1823-1866), m1: Thomas Coulson, m2: David Lock Hamblen.
2) James Weddle Taggart (1824-1908), m1: Nancy H Davis, m2: Widow Hannah (Waggoner) Newkirk, m3: Sarah Elvira "Ella" Casey.
3) Elizabeth Taggart (1826-1901), m: Samuel Robinson Followell.
4) Susanna Taggart (1829-1892), m: Lieutenant Stephen Alexander Kennedy.
5) Captain William Harrison Taggart (1831-1905), m: Emma Ralphy.
6) Lieutenant Colonel Westford Taggart (1833-1906), m: Julia Skinner.
7) Rachel Taggart Jackson (b: 1835), m1: John Jackson, m2: George Savage Piersol.
8) Mary Jane Taggart (1837-1919), m1: Martin B Jackson, m2. Zenas R Jones.
9) Lieutenant Franklin Patterson Taggart (1839-1907), m: Martha Ellen Sipes.
10) Patterson Stewart Taggart (1843-1890), m1: Julia Keller, m2. Lenora Alice West.
11) Doctor "Captain" Thomas Taggart (1846-1904), m: Emmarine "Emma" Williams.
POLITICS-
On 16 Aug 1836, James was elected the first Sheriff of the new Brown Co IN.
THE FIRST COUNTY ELECTION of Brown County Indiana:
"The first thing necessary in the new county was the election of the necessary officers for the management of county affairs and the administration of justice. James Dawson was commissioned Sheriff by the Governor and directed to order an election of a Clerk and Recorder, two Associate Judges of the Circuit Court and three County Commissioners.
"An election was accordingly held on the first Monday in June, 1886 and resulted as follows:
John Floyd, Clerk and Recorder
James TAGGART and Lewis F Raper, Associate Judges
Daniel Hedrick, William Jackson and James Davidson, County Commissioners.
"James Dawson's commission as Sheriff was dated April 20, 1836 and was to remain in force until his successor was elected and qualified the following August. The commissions of the two Judges and the Clerk and Recorder were issued July 9. The County Commissioners were not commissioned, but were to begin service as soon as elected and qualified. At the August election, James TAGGART became County Sheriff, William Followell became Coroner and James Mointire became Probate Judge."
MILITARY-
As Captain, James mustered into the 3rd Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company E by Colonel Samuel Churchill at New Albany IN on 18 Jun 1846.
James died in the Battle of Beuna Vista, part of the Mexican-American War and is buried nearby the battlefield. His last child was born just 2 months before his death; Thomas was renamed 'Captain' Thomas in honor of his father.
The Battle of Buena Vista began on 22 Feb 1847. It was also known as the Battle of Angostura and saw the US Army use artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican army in the Mexican-American War. Buena Vista, a village of the state of Coahuila, is about 7 miles south of Saltillo, in northern Mexico.
A marble monument is located alongside the highway that runs through the battle site, commemorating the battle which took place there February 22-23, 1847 between the forces of General Zachary Taylor and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The battlefield is located about seven miles south of Saltillo on Hwy 54, toward Zacatecas.
"Battle of Buena Vista by Carl Nebel", excerpts:
"Date: February 22–23, 1847
Location: Puerto de la Angostura, Coahuila de Zaeagoza
Result: American victory
Belligerents: Mexico and the United States
Commanders: Antonio López de Santa Anna, Zachary Taylor, John E Wool
Strength: 16,000 Lombardini, Pacheco & Ortega Infantry Divisions, Juvera Cavalry Division
Army of Occupation: 4,500
Casualties and Losses: Mexico 594 dead, 1,039 wounded, 1,800 missing, 294 captured - U.S. 267 dead, 456 wounded, 23 missing.
"Captain Taggart's Company E:
Killed: Captain James Taggart
Wounded: Corporal Elias Weddel, severely; Private James Brown, severely, Private Mathew Mathis, severely, Private Stephen Freid, slightly, Private Joseph G Arter, slightly and Private Squire Stewart, slightly."
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55226744/james-taggart
