Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-10-01
GENERAL PIERCES ACCOUNT OF THE
BATTLES.

i
indignantly denies statement which has ap-
peared in several newspapers, to the effect that
Gen'l Pierce required, as sine qua non, be-
fore he would consent to go to Mexico, that
he should receive six months pay and ratiOns
in advance. The Boston Post publishes let
ter from Gen'l Pierce under date of the 9th
ult, in which he gives description OF the late
battles. We make the following extracts 1t
is but Just to add that the author had no idea
of its being seen by any one save his relatives
| and immediate friends, and hence so much per-
sonal history. The last paragraph upon the
prospect of peace, will of course attract the
readers attention -
Our force on the goth consisted OF less than
nine thousand men the Mexican force, with
in supporting distance and engaged, undoubt-,
edly exceeded thirty thousand We attacked
him in position upon ground of his own selec-
ton, admirably fortified. You will dlstln-
guish, SO far as numbers are concerned, be-
tween the battle of the morning and that OF
the afternoon, although spoken OF In official
reports as one engagement, under the des'sna-
ton of the battle of Mexico. We took, du-
ring the day, thirty five pieces OF artillery, an
immense quantity of ammunition, eight nun
bred mules and horses, and more than two
thousand prisoners-among them eight Gene
rails and any number of Colonels
The Mexican loss in killed and wounded
must have been immense. Our troops buried
500 Mexicans uron the field of battle COM
menced in the morning at Contreros, and the
loss in the afternoon was much greater. Our
loss has been heavy. With this small army
| We could not afford to purchase many such
, victories at such price. One of the regiments
, of my brigade (the 13th) lost, in killed and
wounded, one-third of its entire force. In
killed and wounded we number not less than
900; and among them, lament to say, an
unusual proportion of valuable officers. The
: New England regiment suffered severely, and
behaved throughout in the most gallant man.
: ner. My horse, at full speed on the evening
5 of the 10Th, when leading my brigade through
perfect shower of round shot and shells, fell
/ under me upon ledge of rocks, by which !
: sustained severe injury by the shock and
bruises; but especially by severe sprain in
my left knee, which came under him. AT first
was not conscious of any serious injury
but soon became exceedingly faint, when DIR.
f Richie, surgeon of the 18th, "a portion of my
: command) who was following the advancing
columns closely, overlook me, and administer
! ed to me as we'll as he could under the circum-
= stances. In few moments | was able tC
: walk with difficulty, and pressed forward tC
Capt McGruder's battery, where found the
Y horse of poor gallant Lieut. Johnson, who had
: Just received d mortal wound, of which he
: died that evening. l was permitted to take
$ him, (my own having been totally disabled,
n was helped into the saddle, and continued in
: it until IL o'clock that night. 1t was exceed
5 ingly dark, the rain poured in torrents, and
= being separated from my servants and bag
s gage, was without tent or covering; add tC
d this, that during the afternoon of the 10Th WE
: had gained no advantage over the enemy, who
d remained firmly entrenched with 1000 men
r opposed to about 1900 on on our side, with
] out the possibility of bringing our artillery to
bear, and YOU will readily conceive that ou1
= situation was not the most agreeable. The
: morning of the Goth was, however, as bril-
d liant as the night Of the 10Th was dark anC
:; gloomy. Soon after daylight the enemy:
works were carried with the bayonet and O
L their 1000 men, regular troops, under the com
d mand of Gen'l Valencia, probably 1000 can
i not be found to-day.
: AS we passed this field in pursuit Of the i'll
f gtives, the scene was awful, the road and ad
5 iacent fields every where strewed with man
t gied bodies of the dead and dying We con
: tinued the pursuit until o'clock, when oul
r front came up with the enemy's strong work:
5 at Churubusco and San Antonio, where tht
: great conflict of the afternoon commenced. A
Y San Angel, dispositions having been made t
d attack in reverse the enemy's works on thu
San AugustIn road, Gen'l Scott ordered me t.
march my brigade, in concert with that of thu
: intrepid Gen'l Shields, across the open coun
IF try between Santa Catarina and the above ma
n med road, in order to cut off the enemy's re
k treat. We gained the position sought, and al
o though the enemy's line was perfectly formed
e and extended as far as the eye could reach il
either direction, they were attacked vlgorousl,
n and successfully. Arriving at a ditch, whicI
J. it Was impossible for my horse to leap, dis
y mounted, and hurried forward without think
:, ing of my injury, at the head of my brigade
:, for 200 or 300 yards, when, turning suddenl,
|, upon my knee, the cartilage of which ha
e been seriously injured, tainted, and fell upo
y the bank in the direct range, and within per
t. feet reach of the enemy's fire. That | escape
IS seems to me now provdential. The rout an
h overthrow of the whole Mexican force sool
d became complete, and we could easily hav
h taken the city; but Gen'l Scott was met Wit
l. a proposition for an armistice, CATER demand
f. ing the surrender of the city,) with view
$ open negotiations for peace.
10 In my Judgment, the army, full of ardor an
l. confidence, was humanely and wisely restrain
ut ed Major Gen. Quitman, Gen. Persitor +
n Smith, and myself, were appointed commits
l. sioners to meet the Mexican commissioners
l. settle the terms of the armistce. | had nc
IF taken off my spurs, or slept an hour tor tw
he nights, in consequence of my engagement
s, and the pain of my knee. obeyed the sum
V, mons; was helped into my saddle, and rod
Mt p miles to Tacubaya, where the commsslo
is assembled at the house of Mr.. Mcintosh, tn
IS British consul general. Our conference com
menced late in the afternoon. and at o'cloc
III the next morning the articles were signed.
X Now word with regard to the great oblet
lie of this war-peacc There is no doubt thu
j. Santa Anna is sincerely DESTROYS of peace
lg Commissioners to treat have been appointed
I'd and met Mr. Trist this afternoon at four. NJ
is belief is that peace will be the result, althoug
to no man can speak with confidence.
- SILAs WRIGHT ON HIS FARM-Interestin
W Extract from one of his last Letters.-W
nr r have been kindly permitted to publish the TO
Or lowing extract of a letter from Mr.. Wright t
= gentleman in this village, with whom, in tn
o. language of the former, he had &c maintained
more minute correspondence than with an
other number of that body to whom he refers
and it cannot fail to be read with absorbin
u interest =
y Sc / am trying to become, on a small scale
S. a farmer in fact, and have, during this season
#. labored very steadily. Each day tries me
Mt good deal, but eat and sleep well and enio