Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-09-24
PierCC's Military Cnrrnr.

Piercc's Military Career.
We find the subjoined excoriatinr and scorch-
ing review OF the military deeds and career of
Gen. Pierce, in Mexico, in the Lo,isrHe Jour-
nal. Prentice handles the Generals military
pretenslons Tor rather those which his indiscreet
friends have raised Tor HIM without rnlttens or
mercy, but he (PrentceJ is sustained by THE
DOCUMENTS. lie makes no statement of fact
except from the official Reports, though the
differences he draws from thcm almost una
vodabe as they seem to be. are undcniably in
furious to the military fame of the distinguish
ed conqeror referred to. lie certainly makes
no conceament of what his opinion is, as those
will perceive who reads what fo.lows:-
The first attempt Of General Pierce at fi,ht.
lng was IN the preliminary movements for the
battle Of Conlreras. that extraordinary achieve
mcnt OF General Fersler f. Smith. Durnr
the prcllmInares, on August 9th, Gen. Pierce,
horse fell with hm and hurt ms Ieg. That niyhi.
at o'clock, the leading spirits Of the AnIerl-
can army were actively engaged in the arran.rc-
ments for the battle of Coutrcras. Gen. Pierce
was waited upon, but he pleaded that his Gg.
would not permit him to take part in that
brilliant deed OF arms, winch was destined TO
cover all engaged III with glory. 1t was well
Tor Tie American army that persler +. Smith,
Riley, Cadwaladcr, Shields, and such mca
were not lncurably gwen to sudden attacks Of
sickness. They broke thruu. in all obstruction,
and gained splendid victory. The battle was
over very early IN the morning, lasting about
~ or 30 minutes, and tine defeat was 50 thor
ough that Gen. Pierce may he rarloned for
supposing that the Mexc4n, would not frbt
any more that day. Under thi, deusion. a Tho
he was too much mdtSpoSca before tocolnmand
his brigade, as soon as the lutte Of Cont, crGs
ras orcr, lie reported himself ready for duty
But, unfortunately for him, the Mcxicaus were
quite as enterprslng as his convaeScence.-
! h' battle OF Churuhusco lonmed up very un>
eXpectedIy to him on the day of Contreras, and
surprised HIM in the field on duty Caurht IN
tIs unuoky plight, he could not hang up his
lame leg, las ne had done u few hours before
Inus fairly ~ tn" tots General Pierce sccllad
unable to lind a retreat, and IN I'll Of do,perl-
ton, prepared to stand the brush # possible.
The batteries OF the enomy looked forui,la-
b'c' one OF twenty-five guns, espccln,ly, seem
cd to make an lndeilb'e impression on General
Pierce, and, Instead Of taking part IN Tn.
glorious action, he was iatea uM n G'nting
it, lie says: II fell a few yards from the st.
vercst ire Of tie enpmy." Before uln.iug. no
sees o have measured the range of tine fine
with mi'hr nGt.cll precision lie must have
felt, wtie Iy!a- - few yards from the fire OF
the enemy" as FalStaif GId at Shrewsbury =
"Ihough could escape shot free ut ConcorJ
| fear tle shot here: here ; no scorlnr but ~
on the pate. am as h., as moi.
ten lead, aud as heavy too. God keep lead ont
of me | need no more weight rhln nav owu
bowels Ih1re ici mn rardpUIfls jrter. THEY
are prpBortdn
" e can almoS. imagine we can So. t,.,.....'
Pierce, as We have seen lackett. la tlI~.aI.
after the fall of Hutsuur. peeD,nr cautiously
over the field TO see if the storm Of strife was
clearing up. H. hen the battle was ,,uI IN II,
tumult, and terrible N ItS carnage, Gen. cree
must have felt that ms sickness wa, .lst.ur an,
aye, and he must have onrcd for tn, moment
when it would be srte H. be IN health again.
" ha'he General Pierce suffered any IN the
way OF swoonlng ON the 2l>t of August, the
day after the butte OF Churnsbusco, we cannot
tell On the 22d he formed one of the board +.
Tor arranging an arnsucc, and went through
lhese IaOoTS, Tor three CONTINUOUS days, without
taInun" once.
General Pierce enjoyed COOL health during
the armSncs. On the l2)h OF September he .
was again IN the field, On that day his busi-
ness was one OF manTuvenng merely; and, as .
there was 10 hghInT there was 10 tlIntnL.-
General Pierce kept mp all day. But alas - /
there came an order TO INN to move his Brigade
after dark, under the cover of a long range OF
buildings known as MoIno del Rey, (which .
place General Pierce says most eXpresSWey, |
rs Wm'd'd'eiY Wder He guns Of LhcpWtC- |
pee. has was enough Tor General Pierce, for .
notwithstanding he enjoyed fine health from .
Abe 2o'h OF August throughout the armlsuce,
up to the l2th OF September, and was well .
enough In mHHTurc ms br'SGdc al o. tc day
Of the last da e, whie there rus no fighting, |.
yet. when the brigade had to move qtta dark, .
under the guns of CnnPultcpec, the stomach OF
General 1erce came to crisis, and he ,c1S