E 432 •V78 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DDDDS053flm ^vP«i^ 5^-^^. 3>' '^ -A * » fc'^ O o_ * 'bV q, *»ii* A.0 •^. v-^^ r^ A *^ o. •oV" :• "■^^o'i : f-^^. G^ ^ ♦Tf^* ^ %<^ • VAq^ Ofl .^^^<' ^ ^ vV •^bV^ ^^l^^< ^^^ o^^^^ll^'' ^>^c-^ .•^°Xv 0^ ^ *?^^« ^ 0^ .0". ^n A3^ 5?-»j. •.Slife?^.' Ao^ -wr^Jls/ iV-A PLEASE READ AND C CULATE. VINDICATIOI?^ OF THE MILITARY CHARACTER AND SERVICES OF GENERAL FRANKLIN PIERCE, BY HIS COxMPANIONS LN' ARMS irv" MEXICO. (Called out by the aspersions and innuendoes of a pociign of-tlie."vhig press.) Since the nomination of (Janeral Franklin Pierce to the Presidency, his military character has been wan- tonly assailed, his services depreci- ated, and his courage, even, called in question. Perhaps, of all our citizen- soldiers, no man's course was more characterized by prudence, patriotism, self-disinterestedness, and a firm and heroic bravery, than this noble and high-minded gentleman. No oflicer more commanded the respect or won the confidence and affection of his brother officers. Endeared to his sol- diers by his generous and humane conduct — at all tinjes their counsellor and friend — sympathizing with merit wherever it was to be found, he en- joyed the rare felicity of making hosts of friends and leaving no enemy in that band of heroes vvrho, under Gen. Scott, achieved the second conquest of Mexico. These are the men who, ,as one man, have risen to vindicate his character, by their united and con- clusive testimony ; without concert, without regard to political associa- tions—most of them the ardent ad- mirers of General Scott — their voices have been heard from all sections of the country, and the malevolent pur- poses of a base party press hkve been completely fru>:irated. This pamph- let gives characteristic selections from the immense mass of testimony. Ofii- cers of the highest rank, stafi' olncers of the geueral-in chief, and other offi- cers^^hosezeaf, 'activity, and intelli- gence in no small degree contributed to the result, have here spoken. It remains to be seen whether the whole country will not frown down all at- tempts to asperse a true man's char- acter, and Yvall not pronounce him worthy of its highest honors. The articles in the Boston Post are from the pen of P> revet Major Isaac 1. Stevens, an officer of engineers, who served in the staff of General Scott m his Mexican campaign, and was twice brevetted by the government. They give a connected view of Gen- oral Pierce's services throughout the campaign. No. 1. To the. senvrr Editor of the Boston Post. Washngton, J«nc 10, 1852. Dt:ARSiR: in accordance wiih my promise to you ;n Wasliington, I will sta^e what I know of Genera! Pien e's military services and character in Mexico. I shall only have to sState what 1 have repeatedly said to mutual friends the Ja.st four years. 1 had no personal acqujiniance with Gen- eral Pierce till I met him m Mexico. Our ac- quainiance has its date from the battle-field of Contreras, wheie 1 was a.'^sociated on duty with his command, and where it was particularly my good fortune to make the acquaintance of our own i';allant J\ew Eng and te;^iment, the Uiii intdntiy, commanded by tne intrepid sn.i laniented Ran- som. From that day to this, the fame of that rrgiment lias bcnn dear to me, and puuicularly the fame of General Pierce, the brigade comim.nMer of the regiment, its ftr.st colcnc!, and cne who by voice and hand cotitributed so largely to raising it axi'l sendir.g it to the field. What I shall say of General Pierce will not rest upon ra ' individual testimony, but will simp]y ex- 9. W^^ 'I convictions of every man in that gallant -Mv. .,ho knev General Pierce, from General ■ol; 'lo \vn to the private soldiers, who found in wieii ':'0'r'.-:ander, PirrcefacounsellLr fi-d fritiid — one \vlio .'^niooihe'i .iie pillow of disfafe,arid pour- ed oil vpon the deep wounds of battle. Gen- eral ^V !, in all his dcppatchis, refers lo Gt neral Pierce in terms of the warmest comnientisiion, and in appointing him one of ilie con.niisKicaiers to arrange the aimisiice, gave hi.s tmphatic testi- nifny to his ciiaracter aiid services. AVtll do i know, that if an insane and wicked party press shall slander his good name in connexion with his military pervices, it will carry unspeakable f^orrow and disgust to the hetirtcf ourccmnion-renountd conunander, General Scott. The mutual l.'iend- &hip and confidence which sprung up between these two men in JVlexico has continued to tliis day. Each has delighted, on al! )iroper occasions, to do justice to the other. Sliou'd General Scott be the whig candidate for the piesidency, the country will be gratified with the spectacle of two of its noble sons, themselves devoted friends, being the respective standard bearers of the two great patties. It will, indeed, under such circumstances, be a contest of bcnor, in which, on both sides, nothing but laurels will be won. I well jeinember General Pierce's arrival at Puebla with our lost reinforcemnits, 2,500 men. Our eyes were fixed on iViexico. The order had bten given for the march. Vv^'e had already heard liovif v/ell that command had been eonducitd fiom the linta caUev.te to the plains of Ptrote, through a country swarming with enemies. The brid^'c of the Plan del Rio had been broken down, and L'od- fish, of Maine, was already known to the whole army as having suggef ted and executed a Li!V.;/le expedient which enabled the command to crt^ss the stream without loc-s. At the JNotional Bridge it was known that Pierce, at the hci.d of !iis com- mand, cool and collected, under a shower of bul- lets, had forced the enemy's stronghold with but iittle loss to his command. His atttniion to the various wants of his men, his vigilance by day and by night, his skill in avsiling himself of the experience of his atafi', his uciform good sense and Lis unobtrusive n:odesty, went before him, and liad alrcfcdy won golden opinions for him. Jn- dttd, we were tolu tliat frequently at night he came into camp on foot, his horse having been yielded to some kelle soldier. He seemed to iiBve but one desire, and that v/as entirely to do j hie duty to his country and the iiidividual men j of his command. | 'lhus,cn his arrival at Puebla, alter a rapid and j succcsslul niarch, during the hot £e^.^;on and under i untoward circunriEtarces, he was warmly greeted, j and drew the highest encomiums from theger.cral- | in-chief; and the coiTiinand was in such good con- [ diticn that the next n.orriing ihe advance, under the veteran Twiggs, con.menced the movemtni upon the capital. Yours, &.C., I. I. S. No. 2. To the sniior Editor of ike Boslcn Fost. Washington, June 11, 1852. Dear Sip. : In my letter of yesterday I closed with Picree'3 arrival in Puebla, and liie coi.se- qncnt advance of the army upon the capita!, t need not go- into details. V/e entered ihe valley, moved round Chalco, forced liie cnirenched camp at Contrcras, wen the splendid victory of Churu- busco, ehd had Mexico at our feet. From the first movement against Contreras, in some thirty- two hours the enemy's force was scattered, and, as we then hoped, the great object of the cam- paign gained. In these operations the brigade of Pierce shared in the flank movemients upon Contreras er^d nobly did its duty. The operations of the Wth have been much misunderstood. Tlie plan, from the outset of the battle, was to amuse the enemy in front by a bold demonstration, and, ur.der cover of it, 10 despatch a force Hgainst their left flank, which, occupy irg strong villages and t!;e roads to the city, would cut them off from ail reinforce- ments, r>nd thus place them entirely at our mercy. This p'an was pursued, though the movement upon the read and villages was not prosecuted with all the disposable force with the piomptness that could have been desired. The sisff cfiicers in the front, fully appreciating the necessity of vigor- ous mtaeures to drive back the skirmishers to the camp, and to completely deceive the enemy, .re- commended a very bold course. Guns and men were put-hed forward v.'ilh all the fierceness and unflinching constancy of a real attack. The al- most irnpiacticable character of the ground is well known. Tiie whole field was a volcanic rock of honey-comb projection, lising into sharp pcintsat eveiy turn and making it very difKcult for strong men to make their way. Our troops were delayed but not deterred by these dililculiies. First Smith and then Pieice were sent to the' front simulta- neously with Rik-y and Cadwplader to the flank and rear. Both Smith and Pierce brf.ught tip their commands in admit able order. The skir- mishers weie in great force in the pedregal, and resisted our advance v/iih grca^ vigor and confi- dence. The splendid pieces of Valencia from the entrenched camp Mere sending balls and shells through our ranks. Well do I remember their haish and liissiiig accents, of all things calculated to teriify and diEmay new troops. At liiis moment, in face of the skirm.ishcrs, and in view of the camp, with its well-served artillery,. Pierce brought up his brig&de, the iVew England legiment, led by Ransom, in the advi^nce. It was. their first e.=say in the valley. Asa New England man I lejoiced in tlieir noble conduct as they lushed thrcrgh the stoim of fire, passing near the position of tiie batteries and driving ihc enemy's skirmishers before them. Without a pause in the attack, they forced the enemy from point to point,, drove him into his camp, crossed ihemselves the stream fiuwing near its front, and look a position within three hundred yards of the main force of the enemy. This bold, unflinching, and most gal- lant movement did miuch to caute the enemy to concentrate all his troops in the c&mp, fixed his attention upon the front attack, and whs a vital element in the success of the great flank move- micnt and real sttack against the rear of the enemy. Pierce led his command most gallas'tly; but, pressing epgerly to the front, still mounted, hi.T horse became restive under the lieavy fire, plunged violently, and tlirev/ him heavily to the ground upon the siiarp rocks, and injured him so severely as to disable him for a time to continue v.'ith his «> command. He refers to it in Lis i filcial report, and it was simply one of the many numerous acci- dents on lliat field. Many strcFi^j men .fainted from sheer exhaustion. Two other general offi- cers, Pillow and Twiggs, were ur-b'e to follow their commanr's. Twigg-s was badly Hurt by fall- ing into one of the holes in the rocks, whilst rrak- irg hi.-s way on foot, and neither of them was able to y',\n his command till after the crowning victory of the next morniiig. Pieice's command, however, passed the right on the field in front of the camp, and Pierce passed the night with it. I will Kserve t® taiother paper .'cme account of the operations of the 20th, only ob.-crvirg tliat, at nightfall en the 19th, alihongh the enemj' had not been driven from his camp, we had gained positions surely placing the victory in our hands. Amid the pelting storms of the afternoon and night, wiih loss of food and sleep, our men did look forward with some anxiety to ;he day. But no stain of misconduct resttd on a single officer or man, and each had made the firm resolve to do all and dare all for his country. Yours, I. I. S. No. 3. To the lenicr Editor of ihe Eos'o7i Post. Washington, Juni'. 15, 1852. Dkar Sir: At the close of my second number I left our troops at bivouac on the field otICon- i treras. Pierce, ihough badly injured and in great sufTeiing, was in front in the midst of his com- mand, and the brigades of Riley, Shields, Smitli { and Cadwaiadcr were in the villages and on the ; road leading to the city of Mexico. From this ' strong position Smith, tv) whom the command had I been most magnanimously yielded by his senior, j Shields, in consequence of his having preceded j him on the ground, and knowing from personal observation more of the field, determined to attack j the entrenched camp before daylight in the morn- 1 ing, and break the whole of Valencia's command into pieces before succor could be brought. The i camp was to be reconnoitred, the paths thereto j marked, and the troops led out in the night. The i rain was still falling in torrents. Scarcely a man [ had had food or sleep. The ofncers of engineers and of the staff groped their way with their hands, the path so slippery that they were constantly I thrown upon the ground, and they marked the route by cutting down the maguey plant which i iinerl the wayside. They conducted the troops by feeling their way along the cut megueys with 1 their hands. Such were the difiiculties in organ- j izing the attack in the village. On the front, | orders were received from General Scott soon after i midnight — who knowing thu fact.s of the whole field — tho meditated atta. k of Smith and the reso- lution of his troops — the good spirits of the men in fiont under P.erce — and who, in consequence, looked forward with calm confidence to a glorious victory — to organize the command, and be ready to cooperate in the attack on the caaip. Pierce had, after nightfall, withdrawn his troops from their a':ivanced position on the rivuh^t, and in the pedregal, where they were necessarily much scattered, to near tlie base of the hill, where they were brought together and put m order to pass the night, and be ready for ihe duties of the morrow. These troops, the 9ih and J2th infantry, scat- tered bodies of the rifles and other commands, were conducted back slowly and painfully over the pedregal to the stream occupied by them the previous day, and were at dawn in readiness for the attack; This movement was |. fsor.a'ly coi:- I ducted by Ransom, Pierce not having the physical j strf ygih, from the injuries of the previous day, to I make his way through tlie rock;-. It must be re- j membered that this movemen' was made ia the j (lark, in the midst of rain, over sharji and slippery rocks, and one like that accomplished by 8mitb, I deerr.ed by the rnemy to be utterly impracticable. [ Thus at dayliglit, and s'rugi;ling with such j difticultirs, our irorps reached their positions and the attack v»ag made. In seventeen shoit minutes the entrenched camp and large numbers of pris- .oners were in our haiids. The whole command of Valencia was rntirtly broken iiuo pieces. Riley in the fierce sloim of the camp, Cadwalader and Dimick (temporarily commanding Smith's brig- I ade) in support, Shields holding the vilhiges, and j Fierce in front, fiist holding the attention of the I enemy, thus carrying out the ideas of the previous I day, and afterwards participating in the fight, all ; gloriously did their duty and art; entitled to the j gratitude of their country. j The spirit and enthusiasm of the army now [ rose to tlie culminating point,; fatigue was no longer felt; the sick and feeble man became for the time well and strong; the anxious bivouac and the toils of the pedregal were forgotten. All eyes turned towards the ciiy of Mexico; all hearts burned Ui pursue the enemy Lnd strike the great blow of the war. Yours, I. I. S. No. 4. To the S£!iior Editcr of the Boston Post. VrAsniNGTON, June 18, 1852. Dear Sir : The great blow of the war was now to be struck. The spontaneous and irresistible impulse of ten thousand men in arms was prompt- ly availed of by the commander-in-chief, and by commanders of all grades. Shields, Twiggy, Pil- low, Smi'h, Pierce, Cadwalader, and RilejE, all at the head of their respective commands, urged on our troops. Worth also put his division in movement in front of S.<.n Antonio, and, afier dis- persing its retreating garrison, tiiree tliousnnd strong, pressed forward on the high road to Mex- ico. It was no time for groping reconnaissances, or nice calculations as to the circumstances of the ground. The victors of Contreras drove the ene- my through San Angel and Coyacan, and its advance, under Twiggs, uniting with Worth, attacked with such terrible energy the enemy retreating through the s'rong position of Churu- busco, that there the enemy was compelled to make his final stand, some miles from the city. In a few moments the roar of cannon and the in- cessant rattling of musketry developed the whole field, and immediately the genera!-in-chief threw his reserves into the action. First Pierce and then Shields were sent to attack the enemy's right and rear, to relieve the front attack, and cut off the enemy's retreat upon the capital. It was the grand strategic movement of' the field. Pierce, "just able to keep the saddle," in suffering and anguish from the accident of the previous day. and only fit for a tick bed, at the head of hia com- ' mand steadily pursued his way. It was through thick corn, over wide ditches fdltd with water, and mnrshy ground. Tiie day was oppressively hot No actor in that f.eld will ever forget the desperation with which it was conte.sted, or the awful and inceseant tliunders of the fight. On tlie front the shouts of the assailants and defenders iningled in hoarse tones of defiance. For two iiours the contest was maintained with equal hand, and no serious inripits.sion was made upon tin: enemy's line till the decisive and fplendid iiank movement of Pierce and Shields distrac'ed his attention, and compelled him to change his ■order of battle. It is not my design logo into details. Suffice it to riay that after extraordinary exertions and expeneiioing great loss, the whole reserve, under the command of Shields, drove back the over- whelming force of the enemy, and relieved all pans of the fi-Jd Worth jomed his victorious troops with Shield.'^, the convent .soon hJd out the white flag, and the city and valley of Mexico lay at our feet. The foregoing narrative wiH show the important part assigned to Pierce at the head of the reserve to decide the fortunes of the day. It is surprisin^^ that in his feeble condit.on he should have undei- taken to lead his troops and struggle with tiie dif- ficulties of the ground. He, however, boldly led them into the presence of the enemy, and, endea- voring to make his way on foot, fell faint and exhausted under ihe heavy fire of that field. But his friends rejoiced tliat he had strength enough to do a noble, gallant, and important part. The impress'ion which he made upon the army at this time V ill best be shown by the following quotations from the official reports : General Scott says in his report of the batile of Chv.7-ubv.sco : "Accordingly the two advanced divisions and Shields's brigade marched from Contreras, under the immediate orders of Major General Pillow, who was now joined by the gallant Brigadin Gf.n- eral Fierce, of his divis^ion, personally thrown out of activity, late the evening before, by a severe hurt received from the fall of his horse." * * "Next (but all in ten minutes) I sent Pierce, •(ju.st able to keep his saddle,) with his brigade, (Pillow's division,) conducted by Capt. Lee, engi- neer, by a third road, a little farther to our left, to attack the enemy's right and rear, in order to favor the movement u]5on the convent, and cut off the retreat towards the capital. And, finally. Shields, senior brigadier to Pierce, with the New York and South Carolina volunteers (Quitman's division,) i was ordered to foilow Pierce closely, and to take I command of our left wing. | ".'2// these movtvunts were made with the niincst j aiaciiiy by our ^'aliant troops and coramandeis." « » 4 K it * * " ft has been stated that some two Jiours and a 1 half before, Pitrce, followed closely by the volun- teer brigade — both under tlie command of Briga- dier General Shields — had been detached to our left to turn the enemy's works, to prevent Ihq escape of llie gar;isons, and to oppose the exten- sion of ihe enemy's numerous corps from the rear upon and around our left. "Considering the inferior numbers of the ttvo brigades, the objects of the movement were diffi- cult to accomplish." * * * a "The battle was long, hot, and varied ; but ul- timately success crowned the Zf^al and gallanh-y of our troops," &c. * » * * " Brigadier General Pierce, from the hurt of the evening before, under pain and exhaustion, fainted in the action." "Several other changes of command occurred on this field." =•:***« General Worth, in his report, says : "The division comiiiander cannot forego the opportunity pre.-ented to acknowledge his obliga- tions and express his admiration of the gallant bearing of Major General Pillow and Brigadier Generals Shields, Cadwalader, and Pierce, with whom he had the gratification of concert and co- operation at various critical periods of the con- flict." General Pillow, in his report of this battle, says: "During this movement I met with Colonels Ransom and Morgan's regiments, 12th infantry, under Capt. Wood, and the howitzer battery, un- der Lieut. Reno, parts of my division, forming General Pitrcc's brigade, which had been moved by order of the general-in-chief, under cotnmand of General Pierce, against a large body of the ene- my to the right and rear of the main work, when they had been, in conjunction with Shields's bri- gade, engaged in a fierce, open field fight with a large force. ^'General Pie?ce, though still suffering severely from his injury of the preceding day, had, never- theless, been on duty, and in contnumd of his brigade, during Ihe day, and until a kw moments before, when he had fainted from pain and exhaustion, and been carried from Ihe field.'''' * * * "I cannot withhold the expression of my sense of the deep obligations I am under for the success and honor due to my command, to my (u\) briga- dier generals, (Shields and Pierce,) whose jirompti- tiide, skiil, and daring were equal to every emergen- cy, and who, in the absence of discipline in their commands, met and overcame every obstacle, and led en their commands to honcr and d'tslinclicn.''^ **«*•/** The above extracts show clearly Gen. Pierce's stHnding in the army at that time. Great regret was expressed at his unfortunate accident, but great admiration for the noble manner in which he. bore tiimself under it. His appointment as one of the commissioneis to arrange the armistitic was considered as exceedingly judicious and highly merited. It gove universal satisfaction. Yours, 1. I. S. No. 5. To lite ser\icT Editor of ihe Boslcn Post. Washington, June 4, 1S52. DiiAR Sir : The armistice failed, and resort was again had to arms. The bloody field of jMolino and the pvotrtcted struggle ior the chy attested how rapidly the enemy had lallied from his defeat and the prowess and constancy of American troops. At Molino 3,000 Americans, under the gallaiit ajid lamented Worth, drove 14,000 Mesi- cans from their chosen position into and unrtec cover of Chepultepcc. \Vhat by Geners.] Scotr. \va« expected to have been a s'.ii^ht brush, proved to b3 the most terrible confl'.ct of the wir, imd the brigades of Pierce nnd Riiey were ordered up to support it. Thns General Scott, in his report, states: ''* * But the battle was won just a? Brigadier General Pierce reached the ground and interposed his corps between Garland's brigade (Worth's division) and the retrea'ing enemy." This gave offence to Worth, as intimating that without Pierce hia own coinmand would not have maintained the field ; v/hereas the particular ex- pression grew out of the gallant manner in v/iiich Pierce brought his command to its assigned posi- tion, and which was observed Iiy Scott from a commanding position, where he overlooked the whole field. Within three days officers in this city, of the old ai'my, have spoken of it with great admiration. Two, who accompanied Pierce to his position, sneak of his extraordinary cool- ness and composure as a shell came screaming from Chenultepec through the ranks of his com- mand. From its direction every one feared that It would strike Pierce, and kill both him and his | horse. Flappily no one was injured. In the final operations about Chepultepec it was i necessary, as a preliminary step, to rsoccupy the field of Molino, and in that position to plant bat- i teries against Chepultepec. Our troops had been } withdrawn iVorn the position since the batile of the j 8th. Pillov/'s division, Cad^v ily.dcr's and Pierce's , brigades, were ordered to drive the enemy fom ! it, and hold it against whatever force might be , brought against them. The order was gallantly j executed ; but the enemy liad been previously | withdrawn. Pierce marched out v/ith his com- 1 mand early in the morning of the 12ih September, i and though scarcely able to move a step, from his ' enfeebled condition, grov/ing out of his great ex- | ertions in bringing up his command at Puebia, • and from fatigue and exposure at Contreras and Churubusco, he remained in the field till mid-day, when the batteries were playing upon Chepulte- pec, and when it wa? certain that no further ac- tive operations would be prosecuted during the day. He then reluctantly returned to the quarters of General Worth, in the village of Tacuhaya, a short distance only from the tiM, so prostrated that he was not able to leave his bed for some thirty-six hours. It is one of the saddest expe- riences to a gallant and patriotic soldier to be pre- vented by sickness, wounds, or infirmity, iVoni sharing the glories and dangers of the battle-field wiih his companions in arms. Twiggs was thus throv^n oi;t of the earlier operations at J.Ionterey ; Persifor F. Smith at Cerro G.irdo ; the gallant Colonel C. F. Smith — perhaps the model soldier of tlie old army — from Molino. So with Pierce. I have often conversed with Worth's officers in relation to Pierce. Attracted by h^s frank and cordial tnanners, they esteemed liim for his manly and disinterested character, and had unbounded confidence in his prudence, judgment, and gal- lantry. They speak of his despondency at not being able to lead his men in the last great battle of the valley. But he felt in a measure consoled irom the reflection that his own gallant staff-offi- cers were in the field, and that his intrepid friend Ransom — his first choice to command the New England regiment — was to lead them. Alas ! poor Ransom. Not only a bright ornament to his own New England, but to the v;hole coun- try — one of the noblest and b' st .':o!dicr.s in t'^at iTiemorable campiign— leading bis regiment wr.h consummate skill, and pressing forward with hie usual ardor, he was shot through tke head, antJ fell a williiig sacrifice to his country. This is not the place to d.iscribe how Chepulte- pec yielded to the firm, unyieliling and enthu^tJas- tic assault of our troops under Pillov/ and 0,uit- ip.an, or how Gluitman and Worth, on the two ffr^at canseways of approach, drove the enemy into the city and took possession of the gates of Beien and oE Cosme. The resistance at both points was stern and protracted. Santa Ana was in the front ranks, cheering on and leading his men at every point of danger. It is due to his ex- traordinary gallantry and exertion that, at night- fidl, he retained posses.^ion of the city. Q,iiitman, afcr-r securing the Bclcii gats at half-past one o'clock, was "obliged to cover his troops the re- mainder of the day. He could not move a step under the pitiless and terrible fire of the citadel. Worth occupied one square within the Cosine gate, strong and easily definsibie buildings being still in the hands of the enemy to repel his further progress. In these positions our troops passed the night. Both duitman and Worth made preparations to storm the city in the morning. Q,uitman strength- ened and enlarged his batteries wi h the determi- nation to batter and storm the citadel. Pierce at his solitary quarters, towards dark, learned from Captain Hardcastle, iust from Worth, whose roon* he occupied, how affairs stood, and that the finaf struggle for the mastery in the valley would take place the next morning. " The city will be storm- ed and the final victory of the war will be achieved to-morrow," says Hardcastle. "I will then join my command immediately," replied Pierce, and he got up ani attempted to dress himself. Hard- castle, however, remonstrated and ur^ed him to remain in bed till morning to save his strength,, ' saying to him that hia scr-'ices would not be n ied- i ed till then. He acquiesced, and learned frona I Hardcastle the further particular.? of the field. ' The greater portion of his own brigade wr.s with I Q,aitman, a portion with "Worth. Ciuitman's po- i siiion under the fire of the citadel was one of vastly 1 more danger and difficulty than Worth's. The [ square within the garita occupied by Worth led at '■ once into the heart of the city, and his advance ! by the slow process of the miner was certain. ' Ciuitman cou'd only assault the citadel by pass-^ I ing over an open space, and the citadel itself j was separated from the adjacent suburb of tlie ; Pierce in the course of the night joined Ciuit- man, in readiness for the morn. It is true that commis.?ioners pass-d through Worth's command j in the night, and anr.ouncetl to General Scott at I Tacubaya that the city was evacuated. But this v/as known to very few persons in the army, and ! as General Scott refu.sed to listen to the terms prx)- I posed by the commissioners, these few feared the ' army would return and do battle for the city. I At dawn, therefore, Ctuitman made his arrange- I ments to commence the attack, and it wa.a not till i broad daylight that, by personal observation, he ! discovered that the citadel had been abandoned. ' He pushed on v/ith hia command, and soon seized 6 the National Palace, and hoisted thereon our own glorious stars and Etripe?. During the day a desultory street fight v/as kept up, many officers and men were killed and wound- f"], and not til! the night of the i4ih was the city cc»iii:.^i>.tt>y it'- ui;i- 1, aiids. ' [li the final i.pei-ation. , therefore, Pierce led his command lo the Tiold ((/ Vlolino, where a severe -ntefii wtiM cxpecied, and remained on the ground . I'l it wa.'J certuin tb-e aUack would not be made ■)1! the following day; iw'. after confinement, from utter prostration, to l::-i cick bed for thirty-six hours, he joined in the night his command at the point of greatest dilHculty and danger, when on all sides the final battle was expected to come off. It redounds especially to his credit, and ahows his gallantry and resolution, his assuming the com- mand of his brigade at these two critical junctures. I sha'l reserve to my sixth and la^i article a summary of the five articles which 1 have pre- pared, with some general observations. Yours, i. !• S. No. 0. To the senior Edilor of the Boston Post. Washington, Jiily 1, 1852. In the view which 1 have presented of General Pierce'.s services in iVlexico, 1 have ei:deavored to grasp briefly the whole field of operations, so tiiat your readers mi.jht see for themselves that Gen. Pierce's part wa/not unimportant, and that on all occasions his conduct was marked by great gal- lantry and true-heaj-ted devotion to his country. I will now recapitulate his s'u-s^ices in thi?; closing number of the series, and will conclude with some general observations. General Pierce landed at Vera Cruz in June. There, after the most indefatigable exertions for three week.-^, during the hot and exhausting sea- son of the yellowVever, he succeeded in organiz- ing his trains and commenced his march into the nterior in July widi our last reinforceraent, 2,500 men. The intervening country was filled with guerillas. The bridges were broken down. Yet, by great prudence aiitl good judgment, he kept up the di.'icipline and health of his troops and made good marches every day. At the National Bridge ho was conspicuous for his great gallantry, and at that and at all points he promptly dispersed the guerillas with but little loss to his command. On his arrival in Puebla he was hailed with joy by the whole army, who av/arded to him and his rnf^u_ the character of veteran? for the steadiness of their conduct under such hazardous and trying' circumstances. In the niEij?stic movemr^nt on Mexico, in the toilsome march round Chalco, and in the brilliant achievements at the south and west of the city, Pierce uniformly managed his command with judgment, and inspired ^his men and the army with confidence in hia capacity and resources. At Conireras, ordered up as a sur.port against the front, he took the lead, drove the enemy into his carrip, and maintained an advance position for many hours, winning the admiration of all men by the gallantry and vigor of the movement. Tnough badly hurt, he continued in command of his brig- ade throughout the day and night, and slept on the field with it. At Churubusco he conducted the great slratc-gic movement again.n the right and rear of the enemy — a movement that was to decide the fortunes of the day, and where over- whelming odds were to be encountered and beaten. This movement he nobly led, though enfeebled'to the last degree and scarcely able to keep his seat. Fie took his command int) action, gave his men an example of conduct in his own person, and, whilst making his way on foot, fell to the ground, unable to move a single step. It wa-? an act of heroism, his venturing at all into the field in hia sick and weak condition. But such things were common with that whole band of heroes. The idea was, our la.st breath and all our remaining strength for our country. ilisappointmentas commissioner to arrange the terms of the armistice illustrates the estimation in which he was held. These appointments are con- sidered in the highest degree honorary, and they have a significa'nce not to be measured by the magnitude or difficulty of the duties involved in them. The intelligence, the valor and the charac- ter of the whole army a;c to be represented in the persons of its commissioners. At Molino, at Chepultepcc, and at the Belen gate. Pierce acted a characteristic part. At Molino he brought his command to its position under the fire of ChcpuUepec, and with a coolness and gal- lantry which inspired his whole command. He left his sick bed to be present at the earlier_ opera- lions against Chepultepec, and when obliged to retire from the field from utter prostration, he left his bed again in the middle of the night and re- paired em'phatically to the point of danger, to take part in what was supposed would be the last and crowningand most perilous act of the great drama. The raenton the part of Pierce was not less that the eniimy had evacuated the city, and that the remaining operations were nothing but street fights. It is uneontroverted and incontrovertible that he joined auilman hours before dawn, ex- pecting a great battle was to come oflf, and Q,uit- man, in his official report, acknowledges the fact with many thanks. Thus it will be seen, not only that Pierce was on all occasions gallant and judicious, but that he was eminently disinterested and regardless of per- sonal toils and sacrifices. He would not let un- toward accidents drive him from the field. He would lead his command to the post of danger when most men would have gone to their beds. And he would leave his sick bed, although hia friends advised and beseeched him to the contrary, in order to be at his post at thesR critical mo- ments, when the fate of event?3 Was to be decided. But there jgi a loss bri'Hant, yet more touching ' and interesting view to bo taken of General Pierce'^ services. I refer to his unceasing cara and atten- tion to his sick and wounded men. Not only did he give liberally of his means to provide for their wants, but he bestowed his time and spared noth- ing which would alleviate their hard lot. Perhaps of\ill the qualities which lead to great achieve- ments, this noble humanity is the very first. Men will die for those they love. Discipline, to be in the highest degree efficient, should both be a spon- taneous impulse of the heart and rest on principle. A chief should make it his determination to pos- sess the love and esteem of every tuan under his command, by disinterestedness and entire devotion to them. He must be their friend— their father. Soldiers are in some respecis very much lik^ chil- dren. They have a child's faith in men deserving of it, and they will follow a beloved commmder through all perils, and will achieve all bat impas- sibilities. All persons who knew General Pierce in Mexico know how war.nly he attached iiis men to him, and how admirably he di^3chal•n;ed this crowning duty of a commnnder, Tiie affectionate welcnms that was extended to hiai on his return ho.Tie was a natural conseqaence of the nolj'.e di.nnlerested- nes3 he had shown away from home. 1 will mw dwell on certain general facts in Gen- eral Pierce'^ course during the Mexican v/ar which caused ma to value highl-/ his opinions and to cher- ish his friend:^hip. They grew out of that thorough ma.iliness, disi'itere^tedne^s, anl mod- esty, which have marked his whole course in life. It seems to have been a guiding principle v/ith General Pierce ii strive to see things as they really were — to share in the prejudices of none, neither to attach himself to clique? nor to have a clique of his own — and to do justice to and deserve the con- fidence of all. Thus, having found that certain views which he had entertiined in relation to the Military Academy and the regular officers were un- founded, he hastened to vindicate both, and on all occasions took pleasure in acknowledging his mis- take. He soon became sitisfied that he had not appreciated the great qualities 6f General Scott. On his return home he vindicated the service:^ and characterofthat illustrious com-nander. Yet whilst admiring and doing justice to Scott, he could but deplore that general order which led to the prefer- ment of charges against Worth and Pillow, and which finally caused the President to relieve Gen- eral Scott from the commnnd of the army. Wortli was a gallant soldier and an able cnm- mander. Pillow, with all his impulse and over- confidence, was fast rising as an able military man, and in the last conflict did signal service, and Pierce appreciated and did justice to the services of both. This beau'iful and strong trait of his character, enabling him to discern merit in spite of clashing cliques and discordant interests, which made him solicitous that justice should be done to all, and which made htm careless of himself, coald not but have commanded the conSdeace and won the affection of his compa'iions in arms. You can readily unJerstand, Mr Editor, why the old army are attached to him and will vindicate his fame. He has done justice to them ; he has bsrne testi- mony to the services and character of their illus- trious chief, and they, including that chief, no'W his friendly rival for the first place in all this world, wid do justice to him. His services in Mexico have served to make known to the whole country those traits of char- acter which have secured the unbounded affection of the peoole of his own State, atii which so emi- nently fit him for the chief place. This coming presidential contest is not between the soldier Pierce and the soldier Scoct, fir S:ott's reputation ia deservedly world-wide, and may he to the end of a long life continue to adorn his high post of the chief of the army. Pierce's military services are but a laurel in his beautiful civic wreath — a sac- rifice of patriotism on the altar of his country — a crowning fact in a life of distinguished civil ser- vice. Y'ours, &c., I. I. S. Colonel Smithy the writer of the fol- lowing letter, was fifteen years a resi- dent of the city of Mexico before the war. He was the Good Samaritan to our captured oiTieers and soldiers, and as snch made himself obno?:ious to th? Mexican authorities. He succeed- ed, after great danger and privation, in escaping from the city of Mexico and joining the army in Pnebla, and there he was of invaluable assistance in furnishing information as to the route to, and the resources of, the Mexican capitval. In the march to^ and in the operations about, the city, he was exceedingly useful as an aid to the general-in-chief, and was con- spicuous for his gallantry. Colonel Smith was well known to all the actors in the operations in the valley of Mex- ico, and his name is ever mentioned by them in terins of respect and ad- miration. [From the Bo:!toii Courier, (w!iig.)] GiLM\NTo.\-, N. H., June 24, 1852. You are probably aware that at the commence- ment of the war with Mexico I had been more than fifteen years a resident of the city of the ,\ztecs. Daring the w^r I was twice expelled ff'im the city, the suspicions of the government having been awakened and its displeasure incurred in consequence of the manner in which I treated Alnjor Gaines, Major Borland, and the other Eo- carnacion prisoners. Immediately after the second order for my expulsion, desiring to control my own movements, I made my escape, passed the mountains in two nights, on horseback, having bribed a famous guerilla chief, Colin, who ac- c jvnpanied me with five of his desperate associates. I carried despatches from to General Scott, (then at Pue'.)la,) which 1 delivered at four o'clock in the morning, and afterwards continued with the noble commander — he availing himself of my mi- nute knowleJge of the comtry — until I again entered the city with the American army. 1 ar- rive:! at Puebia two clays before General Pierce's brigade arrived there — and was never prouder of my coutUry, an i never so protid of my native State, as v/lien that fine command rnirched into the city. All balconies were crowded, and such, a reinforcement spread general joy through the army. The circum^itances of the march, tlie en- ergetic, prudent, and skilful manner in which it had been performed — the darin;;: courage mani- fested by the commmder, partictilarly in cr.;ssinj the National Bridge, when his hat was sliot from his head — were, of course, the subjects of much conversation, and secured for General Pierce high almiratiou and entire confi.lence. And these, I may safely say, were never abated during the , campaign. j I do not propose to give you details of that 1 campaign, but to state some facts withia my own kiiowledge in relation to the operations of the 19th and 20th of AujEjusr, and the 8th of September. On the 19tli August I was at St. Augr.stine, about seven miles from Contreras. Pierce's', brigade marched out e?>j)y to open the road across the mountain for the artillery whfch followed tliat afterHoon. I did not see General Picrco agun till near noon the next day. 1 had been wich Gen. Scour's stair all the morning of the SOih, asid had heard of the dangerous injury Gen. Pierce had sustained by the fall of his horse on the peJregal the afternoon before. The horse was i--uppo. action, lost a considerablr n'/niber in killed and wounded ; an*on»^t the latter \vas Eiio gallant Colonel \lorg:iu of the lolh. This command; havina rejoin. Dear Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of yesterday, re- questing me to state, for publication in tlie Argus, the result of my observation in respect to tho con- duct and bearing of General Pierce, as an ofncer, in the late Mexican war. In view of the intiinite official and social rela- tions which for several months su'j^isted between the G3n8ral and myself, and which gave me am- ple opportunities for observing his conduct, both as an officer and a man, I feel that, in jusiice to him, I cannot do less th^.n comply with your re- quest — particularly, as my silence would seem to imply that I acknowledged the justice of the fero- cious attacks which have been m:iie upon him, of late, Ijy a. reckless and unscrupulous partisan press. To those who have been associated in arms "Vith General Pierce, a formal defence of his char- acter as a capable and patriotic ofncer, a gallant soldier, and an accomplished and high-toned gen- tleman, would seem wholly uncalled for, if not absolutely absurd and ridiculous. No one who knows him well h-js ever, to my knowledge, questioned his capacity, his courage, or his patri- otism, until he reluctantly allowed himself to be iriade the standard-bearer of a great national po- litical party for the coming presidential campaign. This, indeed, is the head and front of his odend- jng, and is the cause, no doubt, of those astound- ing discoveries, so much to his prejulice, whii-h have been made by his politicil enemies, in regard to his militt'.ry career. * ■* * Of one thing I am ceitair ; ?md that is, if the united testimony of the whole body of officers of the " Old Army " is to be regarded as of any value in establishing the reputation of Genertil Pierce, as an officer an.d a gentleman, he has but 'ittle to apprehend as to the verdict which will eventually be rendered him in these respects; for I hazard nothing in saying that the General left the .service in higher favor with the " Old Guard," than did any other man of the new levies. This partiality for him, on the part of the officers of the regular army, was all the more remarkable, as he was supposed, at first, to be inimical to the service, and especially to the Military Academy. It i.s but just, however, to state that both paitie-s, upon a thorough .'xcquaint- ance with each other, found it necessary to change their previous opinions and to give up thsir former prejudices regarding each othjr. * * * My ac']Uiintanc3 wirh Genera! Pierce dates from the period at which the American army be- came concentrated in the "B.-in of Mexico." I was orderpd to report to him forduty,as the chief of the stall' of his brigade, but the day before the army commenced its inoveinent around the south side of Lake Chalco, on to the city of Mexico. * * * I was most agreeably surprised and de- lighted with the manner and bearing of rny new commander, whom I now saw for tlie first time, and who received me with an open, manly, and soldier-like frankness and cordiality which com- pletely charmed me, and made me forget that we had not been comrades of a dozen campaigns. After an interval of general conversation, the all- abs:orbing topic of tiie army, relative to the war in which we were engaged, naturally came in review. The motives he assigned for talking a part in the wnr were peculiarly characteristic, and w?re so difierent from any of those which were generally supposed to have actu:Ued the mass of our citizens, who rushed by thousands ani! tens of thousands to the theatre of action, that I could not but be struck with them. ' He said, in substatice, as nearly as I can now recollect, that in hi? section of the Union the war was very unpopular ; that he, nevertheless, wtis among those who believed it to be a just one, and that, whether just or not, now that it had com- menced, it ought to be prosecuted with vigor to a favorable termination. After so decided a stand as he had taken in belia^f of the policy of the gov- ernment, and on the subject of the jus'ice, the ex- pediency, and the necessity even of the war, he knev^, he said, that it wou'ii never do for him to shrink from any of the legitimate consequences of the viewj! he had urged upon his fellow- coun- trymen — adding, what I then readily believed, and of whicii I am now more than ever convinced, that lie had not the least di.sposiiion to avoid those consequences, although he had nothing to play for in the great gima of war which was then going on — having already declined higher htnors than it were possible for him, at his lime of life, to win in anotn-jr and an untried career. When, there- fore, New England M'as called upon to furnish her quota of men for the war, he felt bound, in consis- ten-ij, not only to olFer his own services, but to exert his in.laence in obtaining those of his fellow- citizena. From this conversation, T at once became sa'in- fied that the leading motive of General Pierce in coming to Mexico was patriotism, pure and unde- filed by any one aelfish or sordid motive ; and be- lb lieving this, I should have respected him, even though his military career had been a total failure. Bui his military carc"r was no* a failure, ns tbeie is an nbunda!if,o of evidence to prove. His march from VeraCru/: to £\!t'b!a is conceded on all hands to have been of the .mst brilliant and succe^sfa! of the \v.'.r, and drew from ihe v/hole army, from the genera! -in-chief to the lowest subaltern, a gen- erous and unqiia'illed commendation. This march •was performed in midsummer, undir a burning tropical sun, and throu2:h a country infested with innumerable baiids of "gueri!!eros," and singu- larly favorable for thtir operations. With these active and ferocious banditti the General had seve- ral skirmislies, in one of which, in p.^a-ticular, he displayed no less courage and gallantry as a sol- dier, than capocitv and conduct as a commander. At the '■ Puente Nacional," in leading on a party of his men against a barricale on the bridge, he received a bullet through his hat, whilst another grazed his cheek, producing no materid damsge, fortunately, in either case, but proving, at the same time, that he was not more backward in making himself acquainted with the arguments of war than with those of the hw. The .^ame gallant and eoldier-like bearing marked the conduct of the General on an occasion which came under my own observation. It was during the evening attack upon tlie enemv''3 eritrenched camp at Contreras that Pierce's brigade was or- dered to the support of Smith'.s, in an attempt upon the front of the Mexican position. The route ■which these troops were obliged to pursue, for some three-quar'ers of a mile, lay along a rough and narrow road through the ptdregd, and under a heavy fire from the JNIexican batteries. It is well known to military men that, of all the terrors of battle, there are none more dreaded by raw re- cruits than a storm of heavy shot and shells. In this species of v,-arfare, (a favorite one, by the way, with the Mexicans,) General Pierce was as inexperienced as the new levies he commanded ; but he weathered the iron tempest like an old ■veteran, and well knowing the efi'ect of a word fitly spoken, in a crisis like this, he posted him- self conspicuously in the line of the enemy's heav- iest fire, which was then concentrated upon Ma- gruder's battery, and addressed his men, as they defiled past him, in language so appropriate and spirit-stirring, that rone but the veriest coward and poltroon that ever skulked i'com danger could have resisted the eloquent appeal he made to the pride and patriotism of those whom he was wont to call his " brave New England boys," The effect of his words was magical, especially upon the New Englanders, nearly all of whom were personally known to him, and almost worshipped him. It was here that the General, in attempting to cross the pedregal, (an enormous bed of vol- canic rocks,) on horseback, was violently thrown to the g'.eund, in consequence of his horse step- ping into a concealed fissure of ihe rocks, and falling with, and partly on his master. The effect of the shock was such as, for a time, to render the General almost insensible, and his injuries were so serious that it v.-as with great difficulty he could be lifted into his saddle, and kept there while the troops were retiring to their bivouac for the night. The night of the 19th of August, 1847, will ever be remembered by the Americans who were then iu the valley of Mexico, and especially by thoee who passed it on the field of Contreras. It waa as dark as erebus, and a cold drenching rain came on v/hich soaked us to, and even through the skin. The only thing in tlie shape of a shelter from the deluice which was pouring down upon us con- sis'.ed of the wagons of the engineer company and of the light batteries which chanced to be on the field, and these were filled with the wounded. The General managed, hov/ever, to find a f)ariial cover in or under one of these wagons for the niaht; but v/hen morning came, it found him bo stiffened from the effects of his bruises and the cold wet air that he could scarcely move He nevertheless persisted in tnking the .saddle, al- though he was utterly incapable of getting into it without assistance. In the mean time General Persifor F. Smith, the hero of this field, who had been actively and indefatigably engaged all night long in gaining the rear of the enemy's entrenched camp, came thundering down upon the astonished Mexicans, a little at'ter sunrise, like an alpine ava- lanche. The scene v/as too exciting fir so r^rdent ai>d enthusiastic a temperanaent as that of General Pierce, and forgetting his physical pains in the exultation of his spirits, he hurried to join in the pursuit of the already flying foe. Arrived at the town of San Ani;el, some six miles from the field of Contrera.'^, a halt was directed in order to re- fresh the troops and prepare them for the great struggle of the day, yet to come, in which hun- dreds of gallant fellows, now Hushed v;ith the morning's victory, were destined to find thiir next repose in the s'eep of death. The General was, even now, paying the penalty of his over-exertion and excitement in the pursuit; and his aid-de- camp, Lieutenant (now Brevet Major) Fitzgerald, and myself, both urged him to go no farther, as he woulJ, sooner or later, be forced to yield to physical weakness and pain. A little further on, and at the church of Coyacan, where the com- mander-in-chief habitually held himself during the battle of Churubusco, we casually encountered that officer, who, having been informed of General Pierce's mishap of the evening before, and seeing the difficulty with which he kept the field, kindly added the weight of hi.=' influence and authority to the importunities of Lieutenant Fitzgerald and myself, in order to dissu.ade General Pierce from going into the action, now already commenced. The General, however, was immovable in his determination to lead his brigade into the engage- ment, and the reasons he offered for so doing were too forcible and too consonant with the sol- dierly feelings of those who surrounded him, to admit of any farther remonstrance or expostula- tion. From this time I was separated from him until the battle was over, and cannot, therefore, speak of ray own personal knowledge of what befel him or how lie deported himself in the ever- memorable conflict of that day. He accompa- nied the two regiments of his brigade then at hand (the 12th and loth) in an operation which had for its object the turning of the enemy's posi- tion and the intercepting of his retreat towards the capital, whilst I was sent for the 9th or New England regiment, which, together with a section of the Mountain Howitzer Battery, had been pre- viously posted on one of the roads leading from. San Angel to the city, but was now ordered to join the brigade. Agreeably to my instructions I hurried in this detachment, and arrived at the^ 1^ position occupieil by Sliields'.s ; nd Pierce's troops, at a moment when no little confu.sion prevailed in their ranks, owing to a galling flank and reverse fire which they were then receiving from the enerny. Seeing no one on ihe ground at the mo- ment, authorized to give instructions relative to the troops 1 had brought, I took the responsibility of posting them, in the Gencrars name, perpendi- cular 10 the left of General Shields's line, in order to show front to the enemy hovering on our left flank. Having made this disposition of the New England regiment, 1 remained with it until the close of tlie battle. 1 am thus minute in these particulars, in order to show how 1 came to be separated from General Pierce during the entire engagement, os well as to explain certain passages of liis official report, whicJi might otherwise appear unsatisfactory, in the meantime, I have it from several reliable sources that General Pierce was on the field, and was as much expos'^d as any other man in it, though, unfortunately for him and for his com.mand, he was unable to participate ac- tively in the struggle. Lieutenant Fitzgerald, than •whom a more gallant soldier and chivalric genile- man does not exist, inlormed me, immediately after the battle, that he was continually by the side of the General, excr pt when carrying his or- ders to the troops, and that, owing to the difficul- ties of the ground over which lie had to struggle, (it being sort and yieldii g, and cut up by many broad and deep ditches,) in his then weak and bruised condition, he finally fell, faint and com- pletely exhausted, within the range of the enemy's musketry on the one side and his cavalry escope- tas on the other ; thus showing that, if he had in- tended to avoid the dangers ot the field, he made a most unfortunate selection of a hiding place ; for the ground on which he is said to have fallen is a dead level, and was incapable of affording the least shelter from the cross-fire which raked nearly every foot of its surface. * * * General Pierce, as is well known, was selected by the General-in-Chief one of the commissioners to settle the terms of the armistice which was pro- posed immediately af.er the battle of Chuiubusco — an evidence of the confidence whicli General Scott had m his abilities, diplomatic as well as military. * * * At iivlolino del Rey General Pierce rendered good service in relieving Worth's division, after the long and sanguinary conflict maintained by that gallant coips. His brigade was posted some miles ofFwhfii the action begun, but arrived in time to take the place of Worth's troops and bring off ihcir kjlletl and wounded from under the guns of Chepultepec and the fire of the enemy's mus- ketry posted in tlie wood behind the mills. — His gallant bearing on this occasion attracted particular attention. * * * To claim for General Pierce the title of a great military chieftain would be to ask more for him than It wcie possible ihat a man, wiili the military capacity oi a Napoleon, even, could earn in so short a military career, and much more than he ever dreamed of cit.iming for himself. There is no man more sensible than himself of a truth ■which is but too little appreci.=ited in this country, namely : that war is a science, vwhich, considered in all Us various and complex details and combi- nations, is thoroughly understood but by a very jsnriall portion even of those who ■ha.ve ^ade it their profession, and have passed the best part of their hves in the camp. General Pierce never, for a moment, flattered himself that miliiary rank, of necessity, confers correspondii.g military qualifi- cations — an illusion but too cotnmon among those who have been newly invested with it. He fiasikly and honestly acknowledged his compara- j live ignorance and inexperience in military mat- tprs, and, like the gallant and lamented G:ncral j Hanier, was ever ready to listen to the suggestions ; of experience, come from whence they might. * * i But the chief merit of General Pierce's military ! career consists in his having left the peaceful oc- I cupations of his previous life, giving up a lucra- j tive practice, upon which he and his family were I dependent for ruppoi;L and hurrying to the tented '< field without the hope, expectation or wish, even, ' of additional honors or emolwments, present or I f)rospective, but simply in obedience to his coun- try's call, and with ihe view, a. one, to vindicate her integrity and promote her interests. He who I takes up his country's cause merely for the ad- 1 vantages which will accrue to himself by so doing, [ is deserving of no more credit than attaches Id any j other commendable act suggested by inieresteU : motives; but he vvho, on the contrary, sacrifices private interests for the public, good, is entitled to j consideration, not only for the benefits he confers, but fur the motives which prompted them. Such a man, if there ever was one, i veriiy believe to j be General Frank. Pierce — the most sincere and j ardent patriot, I have no hesitation in sayjng, that j I ever knew. I do not make this asaeriion in a mere strain of exaggerated eulogy, as any one can bear me witness v.ho has had half an hour's con- versation with the General upon those incidents in our country's history of which every true American i.s proud. * * * j In conclusion, my dear sir, I wish it distinctly understood that the foregoing statement of facts ; and impressions, relative to General Pierce, are ; intended merely as a refutation of some of the [ base slanders which have been uttered concerning ' his character and cfrMhict a.s an officer in the late war with Mexico. They are not designed to have I the least bearing upon the issue uf the great po- j litical contest which is now near at hand, and in I which General Pierce is arrayed in antagonism 'o ' the illustriou.s chief of the military body to which ' I have the hdiior, as an humble and insignificant ! member, to belong. I have said here no more for ! the one than T have frequently urged for the other, i under similar circumstances, nor no more than I ' would feel it an imperative duty to say for any I brother officer whom I believed to be grossly cal- ! umniated. Willi great respect, 1 liave the honor to be, sir,. j your obedient servant, ! 0. F. WINSHIP, { Major U. iS. ^?!»ijy. I To SnEnMAK CR0bWKLi.,Esq., »5.'iir.n(,', i/V. Y. Lelttr from (Jcixfral Pilhw. Coi.vMBiA, Tenn., 7u/i/ 8, 1852. To the Editor .->/ the J'-fcskvUle Tmion: A.s every- tiiing touching the character of Genera! Pierre, as well as the opinion of oar public men, now incer- tsts the public, 1 have thought it not improper to give you for publicaiioQ an extract of a private 14 letter of the late ex- President Polk, written to i myself on the 18th day cf May, 1847, and deliv- j ered to me in ihc city of Puebla, Mexico. The j extract is as follows, viz : I " Your two brigadier-generals, Pierce ard Cad- ' walader, who v/iil be under your imrricdiate com- ' rnaad, are noble men. General Pierce is iimv iht first ma-a in .Veio England. He i? a man of fine taleiiis. He is my personal friend, and you may fully confide in him. He v.os with me in the House of Representatives for several years, and was afterwards in the Senate. Gen. Cadwalader is a gentleman of high character and of decided military reputation. You may well be proud of two such officeis under y(Air eomn:and." * *. * * * * In the operations of the aimy in the valley of Mexico, tisat General Pierce fully sustained the exalted opinion of ex- President Polk will be seen by reference to the leports of jVlajor-Generals Scott and Worth and those of my ov/n. These despatches v.fere all prepared with a personal knowled?,c of the gallant bearing of Gen. Pierce, and at a time and under circumstances exeniptirg those officers from any possible motive to over- estimate the importance of his services or the character of his conduct. The reports of the first and last of these officers agree in the state- ment of fact, that General Pierce was severely in- jured by the fall of his hoise on the rocks of the pedregal while f;allantly leading his brigade in the iaattie of Coiureras. I'hey also bear full testimo- ny to ihe fact, that though so badly injured, he might have retired to the hospital as disabled for duly, and "though barely able to keep his sad- dle," yet he remamed upon duty, and led his gal- lant biieade into the bloody battle of Churubus- co. " * * * * * Lcilc-rfrcm Colonel IVynkoop. \ Washington, D. C, July 3, 1852. ! Gentlemen: I am obliged to you for your let- ter ot the Gth July, and take great pleasure in { promptly replying to it. During- the last war ■with Altxico I knew General Franklin Pierce per- sonally and well ; but it is proper to say that it Avas not my good fortune to participate with him in tho.~.; several battles wherein he earned for himself so justly the high reputation of a gallant soldier and a good general. My knowledge of General Pierce was,, how- ever, the reflected opinion of the whole army. From the rank and file upward he was uniyer- eally regarded as a dit:criminating, self-sacrificing, and devoted officer. The men esteemed it a favor to serve with him, and officers deemed themselves unusually fortunate to be brigaded under his com- naand. General Pierce was afterwards offered the ap- pointment of brigadier-general, v/hich he accepted, and immediately entered upon the duties of his new position v/ith alacrity and decis'on. He ar- rived at Vera Cruz during the most pestilential season of the whole year, (June 28, 1847,) and found there a camp filled with disease and death. Lpaving that point in the middle of July waih the 9th, I2th, and 15ih infantry, (in all about 2,500 nien,) he made one of l!ie mcut rapid and suc- cessful marches recorded during the whole war. His troops weie new, and to u great extent un- disciplined : 'lie read was beset v.ith guerillas along the whole line, and the heat was intensely oppressive; yet steadily, firmly, and bravely he encountered these difficulties — always leading, al- ways encourfging — until he reported to Scott at 1 Puebia, with slighter loss, in proportion to the I size of his command, than that sustained by any 1 other commander under like circumstances. At j the National Bridge, when attacked by guerillas, ; he led his command against the barricades, and i in the clfarge received a ball through his bat. I The new s of his successful progress had preceded j him to Perote, and upon his arrival there I found j in him ail that could attach the respect and admi- j ration of a sold.er. I General Pierce saw his first general battle at ! Contreras, August 19, 1847. # * * * j General Pierce was ordered forward wilh the i Sih and 13th regiments at about 2 o'clock, and it I was late in the evening of the same day, after { having been exposed to a murderous fire of more i than three hours, that his horse fell and injured I him. An old friend of mine, snd an oflicer of I distinction, lelis me that at the time of Pierce'.3 j advance upon Valencia's camp at Contreras he was j standing beside Major General Twiggs, watching I their ap.proach, and as they came up under that I withering fire, led by an officer on a black horse, ! Twiggs exclaimed, '-By heavens! it is the gal- j lantoTd 3d ; see how steadily they move up." It I was the 9ih infantry, and Pierce leading ! I A.!thoii£h severely hurt, and sufficiently to have j justified his retiring under surgical treatment, we . find him again in the field on the next day ; and I here 1 propose to give General Scott's own lesti- i mony 10 his conduct. In his report of August i 28th, when speaking of the occurrences on the i 20ih, he says: "Accordingly, the two advanced I divisions and Shields's brigade marched from Con- ] treras, under the immediate orders of General Pil- low, who was now joined by the gallant Brigadier General Pierce of his division, personally throv/n I out of activity late the evening before by a severe j hurt, received from the fall of his horse." * * * ] General Pierce's service^:, however, did not end j here ; for on the 8ih of September we find him I with the 9ih and 2d regiments of infantry, under {a heavy fire from the" batteries at Chepultepec, I covering successfully the retreat of Cadwalader ! and Garland's brigades from the field at Molino- I del Rey. * * * Very reepeclfullv, your friend and fellow- oitixpn, FRANCIS M. WYNKOOP. To Messrs. Strange N. Palmer, Joseph Wea- ver, Henry Geis, Isaac M. Cake, R. M. Palmer,, and Edward Kerns. Exlracts of a Idler from Lieutenant Drum, U. S^ ^irmy Fort Brady, Saut St. Marie, (Mich.,) Jnl3 20, 1852. Dear Sir : In reply to your interrogatory re- specting the absurd allegation that " Generah Pierce managed to faint at the commencement of every battle" during the campaign in the valley of Mexico, I will give you the following detailed statement, as an oje-ioilness cfmosl, if not all, Gen- eral Pierce's movements dxi,rins tkose engagements. , u On the 18lh of August, 1B47, General Pierce wss t'.irected to act witii bis brigade as a suppcrt- ,ing force to that portion of Gen. Twiggs's division order-ed to attack in front the enemy's position at Contreras. In. complying with these instructions, he was • exposed to a continued discharge of round shot and shells. The General was at this time mounted and riding along a ledge of pcdiegal, (volcanic rock.) Afier liaving advanced with his force about half a mile, directly towards the enemy's work, the fire frora their battery became very se- vere; (ho air bring filled with mi;;siles, his horse look flight and fell with him on the ledge, throw- ing the Geneial some distance and injuring him very sevsrely. The general impresbion at the time with those who wiinesf^ed the accident was, ihat he .was either killed or severely v/ounded. Ke wac, ] think, when this accioetit happened, in advance of his brigade, and certainly displayed during that engagement as much gallantry as any one whose actions came under my observalipn. Though seriously disabled, as was indeed evi- (dent from his physical appearance, he remained in the field tiiat night, and insisted upon joining in the contest on the mo-rnmg of tite 2()th ; and .although it was with difiiculty he could retain his seat on horseback, yet he led hi^^ command into the engagement of Churubusco. # ^ * Gen. Pierce's .conduct during his march from Vera Cruz to Puebla was cerfainly sufficKrni to shield him from so foul an accusation as the one abov,e.r;noted. Witiiin my own knowledge he was frequently exposed to the enemy's fire, and upon every oc- casion conducted hini-self with that propriety that should characterize the conduct- of every brave and true soldier. * *' * There was, however, one great military virtue diat Uen. Pierce never failed to exercise. I al- lude, sir, to his unceasing efi'orts to alleviate the sufteriugs and necirbsary privations of the men under his commard. li was with him a duty to contiibute with kind words and atientions to the comfort of the sick and wounded soldiers, and from his personal means secured them many necessaries of which iliey were destitute. * * 1 am, sir, re.'^pfctfully, youis, RICHARD C. DRUiVr, Lievtenanl 4i/( .irtitlny, U- S. .1. Hon. ClIAP.LES SllALER. Extracts of a letter from Capt. George Boicers, an j Jo S. JL Hnmmelt, Esq. | Nashua, July 8, J852. Dear Sir : Enj(3gements that could not well be | deferred have prevented me from giving an earlier } answer to your letter of the 23d ult. * * T have been well acquainted with Gen. Pierce for at least fifteen years. * * * His great em- inence as a Iciwyc", and signal success and ability as an fjdvocats, you doubtless know. * * * But I desire to ,~ay that I have never known a rtiixr, with a kinder heart, one who performed more honoj-ably or moro readily all the duties devolving upon the privjve citiizen, or who exhiliited a daily 'ile more wor!l>y ■ f universal commendation, than General Pimcu. The infamous falsehoods which unscrupuli.ua partisans have circulated, with re i gard to the public and private character of Gen. Pierce, since his nomination for the presidency, need no refutation where he is personally known. They can do no injury anywhere where a desire for truth shall be sufficient to prompt an investi- gation of their falsity. A v/ord as to his biief but brilliant military ca- reer. I belonged to the 9th infantry, of which he was originally colonel, and served in his brigade through the campaign from first to last. When the 9ih infantry arrived at Vera Cruz, June 28, 1847, troops from dilferent sections of the country, ihe Sth and I2'h infantry, tv.o com- panies of cavalry, a corps of marines, and detach- ments, numberiRg, of all arms, about tv/enty-five hundred men, were assembled there, or, rather,, at Camp Vergara, below the city. It was in the midst of the vomito season, and the General, with- out a day's delay, devoted himself to a thorough organization of the mixed elements of his com- mand, and a prepr.raiion for the march to join Gen. Scott at Puebla. Gen. Pierce's eye waa everywhere, and his labor and exposi^re in the work of preparation were oir.azing. He msiin- tained rigid discipline, which was indispensable ^ but, at the same time, by his admirable jadgment and redl kindness, and unremitting attentions to the wants of all, lie secured not only the respect, j but the affection of all— a respect and aflection I which were maintained under all the privations i and hards-hips of the march and the severe service inthevalhy. We all regarded him not only as our safe and ever gallant commander, but, as it were, our father. No real grievance o''officer or sol- dier was ever brought to his notice without redress. I have seen him under fire many times, and his bearing was always marked by an intrej.idity and coolness iliat commanded perfect confidence, and his entire disregard of personal danger excited on the part of his command the highest enthusiasm. This was eminently the cpse'at the National Bridge, where the variation of the eighth of an inch in the range of the ball that struck his hat from his head would have cost him his life, and also at Contreras and Churubusco. His endu- rance, fortitude, and vigilance, under ail circum- stance^^, could not be surpassed. His judgment was quick, and when once formed, execution fol- lowed with the rapidity of light. His daring in- tiepidity, known to all who participated v.ith him in danger, and who were inspired by his example, no one but un infamous blackguard and coward would deny. This will be affirmed by all good officers and men — whether of the old' army or new levies — who served wiih General Fierce. His assiduous attentions to the wants and com-- forts of the feeble, the sick, and the wounded, have borne to him the blest^ings of many who are now dead, and will continue to bear to him the grateful blessings of many who survived. * * * You have perfect liberty to make eucli use of this letter as you may deem proper. Very respectfully, your obedient f^i -. GEORGK E ■ .-' S. A. Hammett, Esq., Alio Ycrk ( Exlrac's from a private letter of Brer : lAeui. '^^*' Ki.^^^^^ i^-^>, I i« o .■^'"•^ »•>' V?* ' »•%!.'■ - ^oV^ ^^--^^ '^ »J^vL% '^ -o-o' ,-?,» V »i*°.