Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-04
NO. XXXyllI.

of the country expects Downingville to d'
its duty
le swell, Major" says Uncle Joshua
d "you've made out better case OF 1t than
!. I thought you could. I'm willing to take
e hold and see what We can do. But de-
a clare can't help laughing when think
v it's Glncral Franklin Pierce, Of New Hamp-
u shire, that we've got to ratfy. wish We
: knew something about him something that
e we could make little Austeration about.
] and wake up the Democracy"
r "Good gracious, Uncle Joshua" says
| shave you been postmaster Of Downingvlile
1 this twenty years, and always reading tho
papers, and don't know that Gineral Pierce
i, was one of the heroes of the Mexican war;"
: At that, Uncle Joshua hoped up out OF
his chair like boy, and says he, major,
is that fact?
Eyes" says I, "tis fact. You know
Mr.. Polk sent me out there as private am
bassador to look after Gineral Scott and MIR.
Trist. And Gincral Pierce mas out there;
I knew all about it. and about his getting
wounded"
GOOD m says Uncle Joshua, swapping lis
fingers; 'that's lucky; then we've got somc-
thing 10 go upon something that the boyt
can hoorah about. And If we don't have
TOO strong team ogin US we may carry the
day yet. Who do you think the 'tother
party will put up!"
"Well," says !, ''it's pretty likely to be
Mr.. Webster or Mr. Fillmore, and they
can't either of 'em hold candle 10 Gincra!
Pierce"
"Of couse not says Uncle Joshua, "if
he was the hero of the Mexican war. 1
sposc it was General SCOTS part Of the
war that he was in, because that's where
YOU was. Which of the battles did he fight
the bravcst in, and NOW down most of the
Mexicans? Did he help storm that Glib
raltar castle at Vera CRUZ
"No," says [, "that little matter was oil
over before Gineral Pierce got 20 Mexico"
"Well, the great battle of Cerro Gordo
come next" said Uncle Joshua, 81 dare
say Gineral Pierce was foremost in march
ing up that bloody Bunker Hill and driving
off Santa Anna and his fifteen thousand
troops" :.
"i'm sure he would been foremost, If
he'd only been there, says |, shut he hadn't
got into the country yet. and Gineral Scott
wouldn't wait tor him. 1t seems as if Giner-
al Scott is always ih hurry when there Is
any fighin' to do, and won't wait for no
body"
"Wcll, the next great battle, if / remem'
ber the newspapers right, sand Uncle Josh
ua, "was Contreras; and after that came
the bloody and hot timts OF Churubusco.
and the Kings Mill, and Chepultepec, and
marching into the City of Mexico. These
was the battles, 'spose, where Gineral
PIERCE fit like lion, and become the hero
of the Mexican war. But which battle did
he shine the brightest in, and cut down
most of the enemy1"
1.-THE truth is," says /, "he got wounded
at Contreras, and 50 wasn't able TO take
part in them bloody affairs of Churubusco,
and the Kings Mill, and Chepultepec."
"Then he was in the battle of Contreras,"
SAID Uncle Joshua, "and that can't be dis.
puted ~
20 yes" says I, he was certainly in the
first part of it, when they was getting the
battle ready, for there's where he got wound
ed"
Good" said Uncle Joshua; "he was in
one battle, and got wounded that's enough
to max. handle Of any how. Wherea-
bouts was his woundF'
"Well he had several hurts" said L.
ri believe in his foot and ancle and other
parts"
"RiAe balls ;" said Uncle Joshua, very
earnest.
10 no, nothing OF that kind, says !.
"What then sword cuts? Or did the
Mexicans stick their bayonets into him -
"No, no; nothin of that kind, mother"
says l. :, ;,
'"Then it must be grape or bombsheilss"
said Uncle Joshua, chow was il ~
"No. no, twasn't none Of them things"
says / ! s'the fact was, when they was skira
mishing round and getting ready for the
battle his horse fell down with hin, and
lamed him very bad"
Uncle Joshua colored little, and sot and
thought. At last he put on one OF his know
ing looks, and says he, "Well, Major, a.
wound Is a wound, any how, and we can
make handle of it without being such fools
as to 90 into all the particulars of how he
came by it. say let's 60 ahead and ratify
Gineral Pierce, and who knows but what
VIC can make something Cut Of this Mexi,
can businessF'
Well, Mr.. Gales & Seaton, the thing was
done. We ra!.6ed on the 2lst Of June, in
the evening, and It was tall piece OF bu-
sine.s. When begun, meant to give
YOU full account of 1t, with some OF the
speeches and resolutions. But Pve made
, my preamble so long that can't do it in
. this letter. We Rave had grand torch
, light procession. Cousin Ephraim took his
5 cart and oxen, and went into the woods and
] Got a whole load of birch-bark and pitch
e nine knots, and all the boys in Downing
neville turned out and carried torches
The school-house was Illuminated with fifty
: candles. Uncle Joshua presided, as usual:
5 Banners was hung round the room, with
large letters, giving the names Of all the
great battles in Mexico; and the enthusi-
asm was immense. When we'd got about
through, and was just winding up with three
!; tremendous cheers for the "Hero Of Mexi.
| co.. message came in to Uncle Joshua
from the post Office, stating that the tele.
graph had just brought news that the Wing
Convention at Baltimore had nominated
Gineral Scott for President. It gin the
whole meeting the cold shuggers in min
ute. Uncle Joshua looked very serious;
and saws he, "Feller-Democrats to prevent
any mistakes, I think you had better give
them three last cheers over again, and put
in the name of Gineral Pierce" So we did;
and gin three rousin cheers for Ginerol
Franklin Pierce, of .Nsw Hampshire, the
ILe-o of Merjco