Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-09-23
round shots and shells against The assailins

way with difficulty over the broken tract
called the PedregaI, brislling with sharr
points OF rocks, and which is represented as
having been The crater of an exhausted and
now extinct volcano. The enemy had thrown
out skirmshers who were posted in grea,
} force among the crevices and inequalities OF
this broken ground, and vigorously resisted
the American advance while the artillery
OF the intrenched camp played upon oul
troops, and shattered the very rocks ovel
which they were to pass.
General Pierce's immediate comma nd ha
never before been under such fire of arti /
lery. The enemy's range was little toe
high, or the havoc in our ranks must have
been dreadful. In the midst of this fire
deneral Pierce being the only officer mount
ed IN The brigade, leaped his horse upon an
abrupt emnence, and addressed The colonels
and the captains as they passed, in few alb
rupt words, reminding them OF the honor OF
/ their country, Of The victory their steady val
or would contribute to achieve. Pressing
forward TO the head of the column, he had
nearly reached the practicable ground that Law
beyond, when his horse slipped among the
rocks, thrust his foot into crevice, and fell,
breaking his own leg and crushing his rider
heavily beneath tim.'
Pierce's mounted orderly soon came 10 his
assistance. The General was stunned, and
almost Insensibe. When partially recovered
he found himself suffering fiom bruises, and
especially from spraln of the left knee,
which was undermost when the horse came
down. The orderly assisted him to reach
the shelter OF a projecting rock and as they
made their way lhther, shell fell close be-
side Ihem, and exploded covering them with
earth. THAT was lucky MISS said Pierce
calmy. Leaving him in such shelter as The
rock afforded, the orderly went in search of
aid was fortunate TO meet with DR.. Richie
OF virginia. who was attached to Pierce s
brigade, and was following in close proxirni-
ty to the advancing column. The doctor adj
mInIstered TO HIM as well as the circumsan-
ces would admit. Immediately ON recover
ing his full consciousness, General Pierce
had become anxious TO rejoin his troops and
now in opposition TO DIR. Ritche's advice and
remonstrances. he determined 10 proceed to
| the front.
With pain and difficulty and leaning on
his orderly's arm, he reached the battery com
manded by Captain McGruder, where he
found The horse OF Lieutenant johnson, who
mad Just before received a mortal wound
In compliance with his wishes, he was as,
sisted INTO the saddle; and, in answer TO a
remark that he would be unable 10 keep his
seat, Then, said The General, you must tie
me on Whether this precaution was actu-
ally taken is point on which authorities diff.
Ter; but al all events, with injuries so Sc
we're as would have sent almost any other
man to The hospital, he rode forward into the
battle.
| The contest was kept up until oipbtfalI
! tbnuf tprcIpu VnIauci,3, Il.
General Pierce remained in the saddle until
eleven O'Clock at night Finding himself, at
nIne O'Clock, the senior officer in the field
he, IN that capacity, withdrew The troops
rom their advanced position, and concentra-
TED them at the point where they were TO
pass the night. AT eleven, beneath torrent
oil ram, destitute of o tent or other protection,
ana without food or refresbment, he Law down
on an ammunition wagon, but was prevented
oy tue pam OF his injuries, especially that of
his wounded knee, from finding anv repose
AT one o'clock came orders from General
scout 10 put the brigade into new position.
III front OF the enemy's works, preparatory 10
taxing part IN the contemplated operations of
the next morning. During the night, the
troops appointed Tor that service, under Ri
ley, Shields, Smith, and CadwaIlader, had
occupied the villages and roads between Va
lencias position and the city; so that, with
daylight, the Commanding Generals scheme
oil the battle was ready 10 he carried ont. as
II had originally existed in his mind
CAT daylight, accordingly, Valencia's in
renched camp was assaulted. Gen. Pierce
was soon in the saddle, at the head of bis
brigade, which retained its position in front.
thus serving to attract the enemy's attention
and divert him from the true point of attack.
The camp was stormed in The rear by the
American troops, led on by Riley, Cadwalla.
der, and Dimmick; and in the short space
OF seventeen minutes 1t fell into the hands
of the assailants, together with a multitude
Of prisoners. The remnant of the routed
enemy fed towards Cherubusco. As Pierce
led his brigade in pursuit, crossing the battle
field, and passing through the works that
had just been srormed, he found the road
and adjacent fields everywhere strewn with
the dead and dying. The pursuit was con-
tinued until one O'Clock, when the foremost
of the Americans arrived in front of the
strong Mexican positions at Cherubusco and
San Anlonia, where Santa Annals army had
been compelled TO make a stand and where
the great conflict of the day commenced.
Gen. Santa Anna entertained the desion
| v.
In order TO intercept this movement, Pierce :
brigade, with other troops, was ordered 10
pursue route by which the enemy could be
attacked in the rear. Col Noah E. Smith,
ia patriotic American, long resident in Mex
lco, whose local and Typographical knowl-
edge proved emInently serviceuble had of.
Tered 10 point out the road, and was sent
10 summon General Pierce TO the presence
Df the uH.r ,af
Pierce, near Coyacan, at the head of his
brigade, the heavy fire of the batteries had
commenced. He was exceedingly thin.
4 writes Col. Smith, worn down by the IA
tlgue and pain of The day aud night before
aud then evidently suffering severely. Still
there was glow in his eve. as the cannon
doomed, that showed within him spri,
ready for the conflict He rode M to Gen,
Scott, who was at this time sitting on horse-
back beneath tree, near the church of Gov.
acan, issuing orders TO different ind vduals
of the staff Our account of this interview W
is chiefly taken from The narrative of Col
Smith, corroborated by other testimony.
The commanter-n- chief had already
heard of the accident that befeiI Pierce the
; day before; and the latter approached
, Gen. Scott could not but notice the marks Of
! pam and physical exhaustion, against which
J only the slurdiest constancy of will coulC
, have enabled him to bear up-'Pierce, my
: dear fellow, said he-and that ePithet O
familiar kindness and friendship, upon the
J battle field, was The highest of military com
mendaIlon from such a man-'you are badly
injured, you are not fit TO be in your saddle.
Yes, General, | am,' replied Pierce, sin {
case like this 'You cannot reach your foo