Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-03
OF THE BALTIMORE
THE PILLOW CASE.

|
| It has been suggested that capital farce might
be written entitled "Lconidas," with prologue
commencing with the exuberant exclamation of the
Editor of the Government Official, when he first
learned Of the victory of the battles Of Contreras
and Churubusco, to wit: (September 18th, 1919
"See Pillow, marching through fields of corn. and
'wading with his gallant troops in water sometimes
waist deep, and falling in with Worth's division
on his march, and see those officers, waving all
questions of rank and etiquette, and pledging to
each other to fight together, hand in hand, and
defying every danger!'
| This and the testimony Of the witnesses before
the Court Of Inquiry, respecting the ''Lconidas'
letter. ond other letters of similar nature, remind
me of the 'Veritas letter from Mexico, published in
the Washington Union Of the 23d of October, 1S47
and dated the "City of Mexico, September 81,
| IS47," which was evidently written by the same
hand that got up the "Leonidas" epistle. From
the " Veritas" make the following e tracts:
"Since our army arrived in this valley we have
fought four bloody bates the first at 'Contreras'
OH the 18th and Goth of August. in which we car
red the enemy's great out-work, took twenty-five
pieces of artillery. 200 prisoners, and killed and
wounded 500 ofthe enemy. General Pillow was
1
der him Brigader General Twiggs's division and
] General Shields's brigade of volunteers The judg-
ment, skill, strategy, and science with which this
battle was planned and carried out, received the
warm approval of General Scott, and called forth
! the applause and admiration of the whole army,
and placed Gen. Pillow at once, in the estimation
of the army in the first rank of American Generals
! We had 500 men in this action, while the force
of the enemy exceeded $1,000. After we had gain
ed this signal victory, and by it opened the way TO
turn the enenny's works at San Antonio which had
hitherto held our army at bay and bid defiance to
its approach, Gen. Pillow, Selling the moment and
the advantage which this position and the enemy's
panic gave him, after apprizng Gen. Scott of his
success, rapidly pursued the enemy, and whired a.
round the valley to assail San Antonio in the rear
Having gotten close TO this position, it was discov
cred that the enemy had fallen back upon another
strong ratification at Churubusco Gen. Scott
having overtaken the army, for the first time
assumed command, and Immediately gave the enc
my battle at Churubusco After long. desperate,
and bloody battle, the enemy was completely rout-
| ed and driven from his works with great slaughter
| Throughout this battle General Pillow was dstin-
gushed by his great activity and gallantry. He
was once knocked down by The conclusion of a SHE'LL
and with his own hands shot dead Mexican Col
/ onel. General Pillows brilliant success
es in these actions induced General Scott to select
him, after the armlstice was broken, TO storm Cha
] puliepec-the Gibralter of the valley Of Mexico
This strong and giant work held our ar
my in check, and cramped operations in all
practicable approaches to the city I'm assauItino
one of the out works---the 'mis'-General Worth
lost, in killed and wounded, on the Sih instant, Sl4
men.
SAT length it became manifest to Gen. Scott and
the whole army that we could proceed no further
until this work was carried. and it was resolved
upon rs last desperate effort, upon which the very
fate of our army depended. Gen. Pillow was sent
for by Gen. Scott, and was told This work must
be taken,' and said that he had selected him to do
the work, and asked emphatically if he could take
it. General Pillow replied that he would carry it
;, or be left dead upon the field # y In
storming this work. Gen. Pillow was with his adj
vancing Forces nobly and CALAMITY leading the as
sault when he was cut down by grape shot, which
crushed his leg bone Just above the anke-ioint but
he made his men carry him forward, in order to
witness the contamination of the most glorious VIC
tory that has ever been achieved by the American
arms.
''The effect of these brilliant successes, in three
successive battles, has been TO place Gen. Pillow
In high position in the profession of arms and
mong the first Generals of our country. He has
shown himself TO be possessed of military talents of
the highest order, while he has established repu-
ta'ion for intrepidhy and daring which fears no
DANGER Though cut down the very feet Of Cha
pultepec, he had himself carried forward, under a
terrible fire. and entered the work, which he had
so nobly and calamity stormed, just as the sstar
spangled banner of his beloved country was reared
and oated gracefully to the breeze over the walls
of the castle.
SIN brilliancy this achievement is unsurpassed
by that Of this any other army. | was myself
an eyewitness to the whole assault, and speak what
know and they are the common sentiments of the
army When Gen. Scott came up TO where Gen
Pillow lay upon wall of the citadel, with his LEG
badly crushed by large grape shot, he exclaimed
J My dear General, thank God for your glorious
success. Your country will cover you all over with
honor, and will ponr out its heart in gratitude fo
your distinguished gallantry this day."
At the bottom of the "Vertas" letter, the editor
inserted the following editorial note, which of itse
goes to show that the author of ''Vcritas'' knew
something Of General Pillow and tina, terrible round
which he suffered so much from
81 1t gives us pleasure to state, for the gratfca-
ton of the numerous friends of Gen. Pillow, tha
his wound is rapidly recovering, and that he indu
} ges the hope Of soon resuming his command y
: This pi!lor-case is evidently bad one!
ARREST OF Mn. URIsT-It is stated that the
: President has ordered Dir. Trist to be sent home
under arrest, but we do not credit the statement
For what offence is heto be arrested? Is il because
It he negotiated treaty with Mexico after he haC
O been recalled from his misson2 This plea NIGH
o have answered had not the President and Senate
+ ratified the treaty thus made. BY the ratification
C the authority Of Mr. Trst to make the treaty wa
n recognised. But, even il it were not so, it wout
e be most extraordinary and unjust proceeding 4
d accept the treaty and to arrest Mr.. Trst for nego
ID tatng IT, II is certain that General Butler ha
lie been ordered to send Mr.. Trist out of Mexico
m This appears 10 us 10 he harsh, fit be a ega
c. measure. If Mr.. Trist be no longer in public ca
S pacty, it would seem that he is no more subject
or the control Of the President Of Gen. Butler. tina
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