Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-07-15
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY IA, 1889.
military service, of Cen. Pierce.

was great military man, that he has ever rendered
great military services These qualities they lrsely
award to Gen Scott But 70. Gen Pierce they do claim
that he did his duty. He had the confidence of the
Commanding General and of his brother officers He
was beloved by his soldiers. Modest and retiring he
claimed honors that he lied To- and with
stint awarded to others their full need of praise
When his country required his services he was ready TO
make the sacrifice When he could longer be useful be
retired from the field his iabors To the aniet repose
the private citizen.
Bred to civil life he assumed the command of his BRIG
ade without any experience as a military commander
His brigade the last that joined Gen Scott before
the great battles OF Mexico. The march from Vera
Cruz TO 10 Paeba conducted with skill and ability
The road infested by Guerras and al different
times his command had skrmishes with that willy and
dangerous enemy At the national bridge he sever
al men and received ball through his hat On the 9th
of August, ls47 he joined Gen Scott at Poebla Al.
though broken down with disease and the long march
he had time recruit his enfeebed health but i'm
mediately marched with the main army for the of
Their future operations in the Valley OF Mexico In the
first battle (Conreras Major Ripley who an acter
in the stirring of the day thus describes the oper
atoms of Gen. Pierce:
az Piercc's brigade once ordered to the front
bat passed the foot Of the HILL large of the
enemy were discovered moving along the San Angel
road, from the direction of the capital In this Of
things, It evident that Riley and Cadwaader would
require support and Morgan's Regiment was detached
from Pierce's brigade and halted for time the foot
of the hill.
" With his two remaining regiments Pierce pressed
rapidly forward the Mexican batteries played rapidly
upon his advance but the troops by the
inequalities of the ground, from showers of shot and
shell, with which they welcomed. Pierce was
however, temporarily disabled by the fall of his horse
which, stumbling IN cleft Of rocks threw him heavily
to the ground.n
This was the unfortunate accident which has exposed
him to the malicious sneers of his political opponents
By il he disabled in the ankle which il i'm.
possible for him to perform much more active service
during the battle of that day. We will give a few
extracts from the official reports.
Extracts from Gen. SCOTS Report Al irving on the
ground hour later, found that Pillows and Twigg's
division had advanced TO dislodge the enemy, picking
their way (all officers foot) along his 'front.' &oh
" These batteries, (Magruder's and Calender's)
gallantly served suffered much in the of The az
ernooa from the enemys superior metal" 1.-THE bat.
tie, though mostly stationary, continued rage with
great violence until nighfall. Brevet Bngader Gen. p.
Smiths and Brevet Colonel Rileys brigades, Twigg's
divson) supported by Brgader General Pierce's and
Cadwaladers brigades, pillows divison,)
than three hours under heavy fire Of artillery and mus.
kerry along the almost impossible ravne in front and
the left of the entrenched camp"-.4hnuat Documents
1S47, pages 304, $685.
Extracts from Gen. Pillo,c's Report To sustain
these movements, Brgader General Cadwalder was
ordered advance with his brigade and support General
Riley; and Brigader General Pierce, with his CON-
n.and, to support the column moving upon the enemys
front, under Brgader General Smith This last CON-
mand was soon closely engaged with the enemy, as
also the batteries Of Captain Magruder aud Lieu
tenant Calender"
The gallant Gen. Worth, now no more, 10 his official
report thus speaks of him
1.-THE division commander forego the opportu
nily presented. acknowledge his obligation and
his admiration of the gallant bearing OF Major
General Pillow and Brigadler Generals Shields, Cad
waader and Pierce with whom he had the qualification
of and cooperation various critical periods of
the conflict"
According military rule these officers named 10
the order of their rank, Gen. Pierce heng the junior
Brigadier General Of the army The next day the
great battle Of Churubusco. la this battle we admit
that Gen Pierce acted mprudently He went the
field against the advice OF his surgeon who sdmonshed
him. advances that he had the physical ability
stand the heat Of the day aud the iagnes OF the battle
owing the injuries of the previous day. The
service from the of the ground had be per-
formed on foot But Gen. Pierce's zeal 10 accompany
his brave soldiers the field OF danger and glory
came his discretion and his judgment. Feeble and
lame, under the burning rays OF an August sun in
tropical climate he led his troops to the conflict.
In describing the battle of Chuubusco, that faithful
historian Major Ripley, speaking Of the point and time
where the action became general, says
General Scott ordered Cen Pierce to move with two
regiments and the battery of mountain howiIzers, ty
byroad north Of the village Of Coyacan and having
gained sufficient ground to turn the right and fall upon
the Mexican rear. Pierce marched with the 18th and
18th and lie battery"
Gen. Scott in his official report says;
M poad s,I ds
brigade from ContIeras under the immediate orders OF
Major General Pillow, wis joined by the gallant
Brigadier General Pierce Of his division, personally
hrowa of activity late the evening before, by
we're hurt received from the fall Of his horse.
Again Gen. Scott says
Next (but all in ten minutes | sent Pierce, Gus,
able TO keep his sadde.) with his brigade (Pillows d
vision) conducted by Capt Lee, Engineer. by third
road, little farther 10 left, attack the enemys
right and rear, in order to favor the movement
upon the convent and cut off the retreat towards
the capital. And finally Shields, Senior Brigadier
to Pierce, with the New York and South Carolina VOL
unteers and Quitman's division ordered to follow
Pierce closely and to take the command OF left wing
All these movements conducted with the utmost
alacrIty by our gallant troops and commanders
Again Gen. Scott in the report says,
Brigadier Gen Pierce, from the hurt Of The ersRiay
besre under pain and exhaustion tainted in the action
It from this report that the Wings with unieel
ing malignty draw the evidence that Gen Pierce acted
cowardy, and tainted from fear, malicious charge
which is sufficiently refuted by The evidence Of Gen.
Scott who speaks of him the GALLANT PIRRcE. He
behaved galIantly Gen. Scott made a false report
But let what Major General Pillow, under whose
immediate command he acted, SAYS
Brigadier General Pierce, though still suffering
severely from his injury of the preceding day, had,
nevertheless been duty and in command OF his brigade
during The day, and until few moments before, when
ba ad fair ted mar and NH nat ar.