The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-21
From the New Orleans Mercury

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The Vera Cruz Eagle, of the 3th instant has long ar
,ce on the subject OF General Pillows late appointment.
of Major General and opposition to the charges uas
have been freely made regarding his competent n
an offset to these charges the Eagle gives he
account of his conduct in his late military services;
..Wheu the investment of this city was commenced IT
became his duty TO execute tne hist ouei VI renei
Patterson This order was TO take possession ~ q in'
i've nile known as the Old Convent, and which was
also known as one of the suongholds OF The enemy
This was done with promptness ana ntrepdly WHICH
was deserving oil and received, the highest encomms
rom all present In performing this vaorous achleVe-
ment Il was found necessary to resort TO almost every
method known to the soldier IN order TO gam the desired
object but most OF il accomplished oy assault leu
by General Pillow in person, sometimes on horseback, al
others on foot, and often wadng through agoons or
creeping through Businesses OF chappara so at ne might
obtain advantageous positions, or get nearer view
of the enemy The taking of the old RUNS and adjoining
heights was soon followed by dash to the maya
zine which being accomplished, movement was made
for the mountain heights south OF the city, to which the
enemy had retreated in large force, intending 10 make a
stand that they might resist the further OF the
CITY Here sharp conflict ensued General Pillow lead
ing on the troops person terminating by the rout and
entire defeat OF the enemy, and the planning OF ue Amer
lean coors upon the highest peak ms was 50 brilliant
an affair, that troops who occupied high points IN the
distance could not suppress three hearty shouts OF um-
plant Joy and satisfaction at the achievement In con
querng this much, he closed his portion OF the ne ana
was thus far its pioneer These daring and successful
exploits were performed with a command of about 1900
men, -,
'sThe next time we hear of the gallant General, he has
discovered the site for battery he spot where the naval
battery was paced) three hundred yards the city
than any other position occupied, from whicn
plunging and destructive fire could be thrown INTO
the city, doing much damage as nearly all the
other batteries put together In the erection OF this
battery and the placing II in working order Cen Pillow
abored necessarily, and underwent almost every prya-
ton that nature could endure II is fact not generally
known but nevertheless true, that General Scott had
ected Generals Pillow and Worth to lead the sormin
parties. in it should be found necessary to resort TO
that mode of subdung the beleaguered city, which was
happily rendered unnecessary by ITS capua,on, wnere
mander Int chief to draw mp articles oil capnation,
and treat for its surrender. This betrayed unbounded
confidence in his abilities firm, sigacous and ser
viceahle general and, besides, places him IN position
which will command the attention OF the civilized world
SIN the recent battle chat of Cerro Gordo) he was
chosen assault the works of the enemy in front ana
alone-a position attended with danger, but with
less hopes OF success than perhaps any other which could
have been given him. This he executed in the most ell
ecve MANNER leading the charge in person This charge
was made against party q the continuous In ne OF WORKS
kerry and all covered by stone breastwork. with the
most embarrassing brush enangemens in 'front.' During
the charge seven pieces OF cannon opened upon the a-
vancing column, with grape and canister and four with
round shot, together with the full fire OF the whole line OF
muskery In the assault which certainly as daring
and desperate any which has been made since the COM
mencement of the present war; third OF the assulhng
force was almost instantly cut down, and we are inform
ed that out of twenty and officers who were about
the generals person during the assault every man fell
either killed or wounded, except his aud camp, Lieut.
Rains. who caught and supported him when he was
wounded. This, however, did not drive hun from the
field for he said TO have Immediately formed the whele
command for the assault OF battery No and was IN fn
readiness for the charge, when the enemy ran up the
white flag, and all further movements were arrested by
the surrender of his forces 1t may be well to say here
that during the whole action, and notwithstanding the
severe wound he received by which his sword was
nearly cut in two by grape shot, he quilted
the field or yielded the command