Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-07-01
JULY /, 1852.
THE VIRGINIAN.
roMMU NfcATEr

| showing how he fell he fore one action, fafn-
| ted In another, md didn't get into a third,
besides performing other wonderful fssts.
Veriy.our country may lie said tobc a won
derful country. and our people a most wonder
fol people There is no limit TO our resources,
wherhcr cf the physical or intellectual order.
Not only have we boundless treasures hidden
beneath The surface of the earth. hich are being
constantly brought to light. by the research and
labor of the enierprIsing; but there are mex
haustaklcstores of wit and talent concealed from
the know ledge Of the masses; which. upon oc-
casion. can by the knowing he brought to bear
with terrible effect. upon the issues involved
in our political contests. We had scarcely re-
covered from our amazemcnt at the grand cx-
ploit performed by the Democracy of this
State. when il elevated to office that astonish-
ing rio,composed of''Joseph and his bre'hrcn." "
by which the people. for the FIRST tima had
their eyes opened to the important fact that
they had in their midst, and could command
the services Of. such hrilian wit, such profound
sfatesmanshir, and such faithful devotion TO
their dearest rights. when VIC are. now. almost
overwhelmed with admiration and astonisli-
mont. at the marvellous discovery and won
derful achievmcLt made and effected by the
| Democracy of the nation, in Convention as
senihled at Baimorr-the discovery among
the barren rocks Of New Hampshire OF the
great unknown statesman and hero General
Franklin Pierre:and the consequent Hominaiion
Of that Young Hickory Of the Granite Hills, "
whose reputation has sprdng up with growth
Ear exceeding that Of Jonah's famous gourd;
and whose nomination FOR the Presidency has
given such unalloyed delight 10 the "Harmo
NOUS Democracy" and especially 70 the de-
featrd aspirants and their particular adherents.
The unknown virtues. the unheard ofpatriot
ism. and the Yet 10 l.c re, called services OF the
Democratic candidate, who has no doubt been
equally great in the cabnrt and in the field
will Doubtless all be made known in due time
by the manv writers and orators of the Demo.
cratic party who are now engaged IN looking
up. or mlking his history. Something has al
read, been given, but this is but faint begin
ming: for instance the Washington Union leads
of in an article from which tie following is an
extract:
Upon tho co,nmrnccucnt of the Mexican wpr, how
hi patriotism prnmrrcd him be among the first
TO offer his services 10 the country He volunteered rs
private soldier hut President Polk, confident in hi
fitness lead well in his arior sent him.
unsolicited first tie commission Of cnonc and then
that of brgndier general in the army Of the United
Satrs. Inths and untrcd position his intelligence
| and gallautry for him The high communications o
the and his mnr'v and sodicr-likc
but scmcr, and utlunc drpclmenthe respect and a
frron o h. surbordnetes and tue whole rank and ls
| of the army"
Anorher Democratic paper in the interior
follows it up by an article fom which the fol
lowing is an extract:
"I> patriotism. however. prompted him to volunteer
his services private soldier urou TIE breaking ou
of ostiiities with Mexico; but President Polk. aPprein
ting his superior WORTH voluntarily sent him commits
sion Of Brigndicr General in the Y. s Army. He par
ticpatei ia all of Gen SCOTS battles from his landing
at Vera Cruz the Of the city of Mexico, and
by his gallant and patriotic bearing won the warmes
commendatinn. Of the commanfer-in-chi"f'
Anoiher admirrr and eulogist Of "the grca,
unknown" says. Gn the New York Herald
"Thc commission of General Pierce was dated
March 3rd. lS47. He took command of g,
500 men and reached Vera Cruz June %
1917. which shows he was not asleep" Thu
hiogruphcr has discovered that he was not on
ly a great soldier who was wide awake, bu
he was good Samaritan. Having sailed OF
board the bark keplcr with his command o
$500 men:) "Many Of the troops on boart
having becomc sick suffered great deal from
the want ofwater. and were placed on shor
allowance. After receiving his allowance hs
used to take a pitcher Of water and go abou
and distribute it to the soldiers" Again cor
arriving at Vera Cruz, he lent every dollar h'
had to them. and he was frequently seen car
rying the musket Of a weariel or sick soldier
on his own shoulder" Then follows some &C
count of his deeds as a commander, and il il
stated that the troops under General Pierce
having been attacked by Gucrrillas near the
Matt nal bridge he made his disposition. to re
pei them which, Colonel Rarsom. an olde
and better soldier, disappearing, undertook tc
advise him TO change bu, the General said, a
have given the order" and adhered to his plan.
1t is said then Col. Ransom afterwards spok,
Of Tie matter in praise Of the Generals firm
ness.' But it don't appear that he spoke il
praise OF either the Generals judgment or skill
This liograhcr continues: Shortly aic
the train was again attacked by the Gucrrilla
at the National bridge. which was barricadee
with charparel. the troops were fired upon
and ,wo bullets passed through Gen. Pierce
ha', not his lead He ordered his troops I,
dash over The barrcade and to charge the enc
my. Captain Dupercau.of the Dragons charg
ed up the hill and put the Guerrias to flight
Under all these circumstances. he displayed
GOODNESS and courage which showed he wa
fit for command"
1t will be seen thai the eulogiss Of the Gene
raj have made pretty bold start. and have pro
gressed rapidly so far. and that his reputation
for marvellous deeds loses nothing by repeti
ton. The Union went it toierably strong. il
followers went it stronger, and it is not at al
unlikely that many an unsophisticaied demo
crat will be made to believe and assert before
the end Of the canvass. that had no, Genera
Franklin Pierce gone to Mexico, then had no
victory rerched upon the American standarc
at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo. Contreras Churu
busco, Molino del Rey and Chepu!iepec-
nor had the flag of the Union waved in tri
umph over the Halls Of the Monfezumas.
1t is proposed to give an authentic account
Of the operations Of General Pierce as shown
by the dispatches Of General Scott, the Other
Generals and officers who speak of him, and
his own dispatches; and it will appear to ~ha,
extent he is entitled to the fame OF Military
Chieftan and hero. and to what extent the a.
bove extracts are true.
In the FIRST place. If il be true that Genera
Pierce volunteered as private soldier at the
breaking out Of the war, 50 far IS his own rep
utation is concerned, and 80 far as the country
was benefited by any thing he did or said. h
had as well have remained in thar position, q,
will he seen by the record. As a private sol
der he might have substantially slsih Mexi
can." as Pillow said he did. As it was, h
neither performed that remarkable feat, MOI