Down in Mexico, the army laughed when they saw the "a little more grape" story in the papers. The reason was simple. No one doubted that Taylor had said something to Bragg, and everyone knew what Bragg had done. Anyone who knew Taylor, though, knew that he had never said that.In fact, Bragg first gained military prominence for his role as an artillerist during the Mexican War when General Zachary Taylor, famously requested Bragg during the battle of Buena Vista to give "a little more grape."
Sometimes you'll see an explanation about technical words, that Taylor never would have used "grape" -- realistically, you wouldn't find actual grapeshot outside of a fortress. But that wasn't it.
It seems Taylor used very earthy language. Soldiers speculated about what he might have said. Maybe "a little <blank> grape". Maybe ... But nobody who knew Taylor believed he said "Give them a little more grape, Captain Bragg!"
There is a version that says the order was really "double-shot your guns and give 'em hell, Bragg!"