The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-24

Letter from Gen. Pillow on the Character
OF Sen. Pierce.
From the Nashville Union 18th mss
COLUMBIA, TENN, July 8, 1852
As everything touching the character Of Gen.
Pierce, as well as the opinion Of our public men,
new interests the public have thought it not i'm.
proper to give you, for publication, an extract of
private letter Of the late President Polk written
to myself on the 18th day Of May, lS47, and deli
vered to me in the city Of Puebla, Mexico. The
extract is us follows viz-
"Your two Brigadier Generals, Pierce and Cad
waiiaoer, who will he under your Immediate COM
mand, noble men. Gen. Pierce is the first
man in New England He is man of fine talents,
He is my personal friend, and you may fully confde
in him. He was with me in the House of Represent
tatives for several years and afterwards in the
Senate. Gen Cadwal' acer is gentleman OF hlgh
character, and of decided military reputation fou
may well be proud of two such officers under your
OfGen. Cadwallader, who is not before the coun.
try, il is not my purpose TO make any remark His
character for gallant conduct and chvairc bearing
has never been, and never will be. questioned Nor
should deem it necessary TO add single remark
to the paragraph fus expressive of the opinion
of the late distinguished President of the nation,
except for the very unjust, iberal. and false re-
Elections upon the conduct of Gen Pierce, while
officer Of the army in Mexico, by certain eastern
presses, and by Senator Jones and Mr.. Netherand,
Of Tennessee.
Mexico, that General Pierce fully sustained the
exalted opinion Of ex President Polk will be seen
by reference to the reports Of Majors General
Scott and Worth, and those of my own. These
dispatches all prepared with personal
knowledge of the gallant bearing of General
Pierce, and at time and under circumstances
exempting those officers from any possible
tive to- over estma'e the importance of his
services the char acter of his conduct. The
reports Of the first and last of these officers agree
In the statement of fact. that General Pierce,
was severely injured by the fall of his horse the
rocks Of the Pedrgal while CALAMITY leading his
brigade in the battle Of Contreras They also bear
full testimony TO the fact. that though badly in
jured. he might have retired to the hospital dis
abled for duty, and 'though barely able to keep
his saddle yet he remained upon DUTY. and led his
gallant brigade into the bloody battle of Churubus-
co, and continued in its command until overcome by
exhaustion and pain, be tainted, fell from his horse,
and was borne from the field.
When it is known TO the country that the whole
army, including Gen Pierce, had been upon duty
from early on the morning on the 18th till late in
the day on the 10th of August without retr shment
or repose and that Gen Pierce was so badly in
jured by the fall of his horse that he lay upon the
field and in the midst of the pedriga all night, and
that next day he was barely able to keep his sad
de-, before this long and bloody battle commenced,
after long and hot pursuit of the enemy; when these
facts are known to the country they to those
who shared in the gores and suffering ofthat field,
am persuaded that will either feel or ex-
press surprise THAI Gen Pierces physical strength,
overcome with long continued suffering, pain and
exhaustion, should have given way, and that he
should have tainted and fallen from his horse. But
1T is presuming great deal to suppose that those
who bore him from the field should have known the
difference between an officer whose physical strength
was actually SO over taxed, and in state of total
helpiessness and Inconsistencies, and who had,
from timidity, affected this condition.
But it is impossible for an intelligent people to
believe that had an officer Of Gen. Pierce's rank
and command acted, his immediate division
commander. and Gen Scott himself and Generals
Worth and Sbields-the former OF these his associ-
ate on the field, the latter commanding him in that
part ofit-would all have concurred in making out
IN fba mt. fhns Iicbn
themselves to screen from merited condemnation
and disgrace officer who had basely and cowardly
shrunk from duty. Those who entertain this OPT
MON utterly discredt and dishonor all those officers
and among them Gen Scott HIMSELF for upon no
other snppositon the character and conduct of
Gen. Pierce for courage and gallantry be called in
question.
Why not call in question that of General Scott
himself! Because during the battle of Contreras
he was, with the exception of short period, at San
Augustine while, during that of Churubusco he
was at Coycan and during the battle of Moline del
Rev and during the stormDg of Chepultepec, he was
at Tacabaya And yet who has done so Gen
Scott might have been nearer these fields a? He was
however, near enough to successfully dire, the op,
eratlons OF the army, ar the result fully shows.
de knew that the army required not his imme-
diate presence to inspire 1t TO deeds of courage
and heroic daring; He knew that no results
would be obtained by unnecessarily exposing
his person; and hence he prudently aad wisely
occupied positions, though somewhat remote,
from which be could safely direct the opera
BILE and as just to reflect upon General Scott's con-
duct and character for gallantIy Gen. Pierce's
III General Pierce had sought a less active partici
patton in these bloody operations the wound he re-
ceived by the fall OF his horse would have thrown
aim out of the after operations, and he would Gas
he could with honor) have retired to the hospital
or his tent, as disabled for duty. aud thus have
avoided all risk in tbe battle of Churubusce. If.
owing to the injury he received upon the l9th he
had less distinguish part than did others, yet
his participation was by means a NJ gative one
An officer, Who won honorable mention for gal
lantry and good conduct, in battles where all had
so full and glorious share, in the official reports
OF every officer upon the field who his senior,
Gncludipg Gen Scott himselD could have perform
ed no negative part upon other fields and among
officers less distinguished, his services would have
greatly distinguished him. and might have satisfied
the highest aspirations Of the most ambitious sol
der.
Having personal Knowledge Of the facts hero
stated, feel il duty of booor to state them, in
yIndication of the character Of brother officer I'M
Justly reflected upon by those knowing personally
nothing Of the facts and if knsw my self, would
not by my silence, scquiesce in any false statement
before the public, deeply woun ling TO the pride
and senshilitles Of an American soldier, whether
wbig or democrat.
have 10 wish to throw myself before the public,
into the canvass nor before he country, to
make any issue with any portion Of the press. Nei-
Their DO l seek wish collision with any gentle
man Of the wing party. ] have the honor Of n per-
sonal acquaintance, and ofkind relations with both
the gentlemen named above, Of my own State,
and 1 mention their names, that | may be under
stood, &c connecting their etatements-hased, as ]
suppose, upon erroneous information But be this
as II may, the imputation is unjust is false, aud
calumnious ] am sir, with g,eat respect, your
obsdienl servant, GIDEON J. PILLOW.