In my mind there is no question that the song is about Zachary Taylor, who became president of the United States. He was also a gereral in the Mexican American war. If you refer to Stan Hugil's Shanties from the Seven Seas (pretty much the bible on sea shanties) you will see the song is from a family of shanties known as the Storm Aong or Mr Storm Along shanties. There is a version called Santi Ano in that family where the facts wrong in that they says Taylor lost the battle of Moteray ( He won it) but he (Zachary Taylor) is mentioned by name in that version. Same tune as General Tayor.
The Great Big Sea liner notes say the song is about a turncoat officer in the Mexican American war. I think it is clear that is incorrect. When it comes to American turncoats (traitors ) in that war reasearch shows there was a battalion of Irish Catholic soldiers in the American Army who feeling opressed by Protestant officers did defect and fight on the side of the Mexicans. (Google The San Patricios or St. Patrics Batallion) It seems to me these folks were the ones who sang the shanty and originated it, and they wished Taylor was the one they were burrying.
So that is what I got on the subject
Here is to General Taylor's Horse!
Have I just become difinitive? I think I have!
Whack Fall The Day
Nick