The daily union., 1852-08-15
Cap,ain Cdlisndsr's Liter.
AUGUSTA, (Me.,) } A

AUGUSTA, (NIe.,) Aug, ., 1892.
DEAR sIR As furnishing full aud detailed answer to
your nq ues respecting the conduct and bearing oil Gen
Pierce in Mexico beg leave 10 refer you 10 the enclosed
letter from Major Wnship, which contains complete
and conclusive vindcaion OF his old commander, Gen,
Pierce from The vile assaults made upon him by vile ira
ducers OF his fair fame.
know Major Wnship personally. Drawer. more
uprigb or more truthful man does not exist But II Is
moi OF Major Wnshp that desire TO speak, any further
than 10 endorse the entire accuracy Of his letter Nor do
propose to enlarge upon General Perces patriotic mill.
ary services: of his courage and high military con-
duet in his most admirable march with new troops from
Vera Cruz Pueba; OF his several severe conflicts
on that march with the Gueas who infested his path
nor OF his bearing he led his brigade under the eneys
hottest yoeys OF shot and shells across the pedsal al
Conre,as, on The 10Th OF August nor OF his courage,
5aae al chap"bnseo on Inc day following because
they all set forth with great mnuteness
of detail in Major Winships truthful and lucid letter,
which every man who served with General Pierce ~
Mexico knows 10 be true. Yet desire to say that, In
addition 10 his gaantry IN the field, equally conspicuous
was his ndeatgabe and Kindness, when the battle
in rendering IN person 10 the wounded and III
causing 10 be rendered by Others every possible aid
Owing, under kind Providence, probably my own
life this distinguishing trait OF General Piefces gen.
erous nature beg leave briefly TO menon the ercum-
stance | was in command oil the howizer battery,
which, with Magrudes battery, first took up position
at Conreras in front OF Vaencias en,Fenchea camp
The enemys skirmishers had prevented, for the ime
our engineer officers from making their Reconnaissance
The field batteries Magruders and the howtzer battery
were ordered forward 10 drive back the sknishers and
completed their work When our batteries opened Their
fire. il of course drew upon them The concentrated hre OF
all the guns OF the enenys enenched camp which could
be brought TO bear. General Pierce's brigade was or
dered forward sustain this attack. and gallantly he
led his brigade the pedga under perfect shower
OF shehs, grape-shot and escoree bullets.
There was no mistake but what the shot few thcky
and necessarily that day. plosghng up the ground IN
every drecton and ncting severe loss on our iorce
Lieutenant Johnson of Magruders battery, was moEtally
wounded number of men were killed, and myself
was entirely disabled having been twice severely wound
ed and lying on the ground when night came on
And such night! Major Winsbip has well described
it 1t rained and poured il seldom rains and pours else
where. Ii then that General Pierce, though hardly
able to move account of the severe injury which he
himself had received on that day. came to me, and having
made kind inquiries respecting the nature OF my wounds
had litter prepared, and sent me back four miles 10 the
town Of ST. Augustine, where hospitals and de
pots Ii was most fortunate thing for me that thus
fell under the Generals observation for had been
posed to the of that night il is impossible 10
ell what the result would have been This IS only one
instance among many of Generals Perces active care
and considerae thoughiuness His bravery no one can
dou b. much less any who knows the and has
served with him in the field
Very respectfully, Sc,
+. ID. CALENDER,
Brevet Capt U. 5. Army.