Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-08-07
lFrom the Boston Courier, Whig.l

The folIovvinr. letter from Col. Smith, OF New
Hampshire. gentleman who rendered oiSIIns !
services TO the Americans in Mexico during the inVa
sion Of that country by our troops has been present.
d GU ~ - ''' GIIMANroN, N. H., June "a, 1859.
w, ,re probably aware that at the commencement
of ,h. war with Mexico had been than fifteen
wears resident Of the city Of the Aziecs. Dorlng
the war twice expelled from the city, the sus,
melons of the government having been awakened
and its dspleasure incurred In consequence OF 'ne
manner in which treated Maj. Gaines, Maj. BorIand'
and the other Encarnacion prisoners. Immediately
after the second order of my expulsion. desiring 20
control my own movements, made ny escape passed
the mountains in two nights, on horseback HAVING
brbed famous guerrilla chief, Colin who acconPa-
MED me with five of his desperate associates: Io"l
ried dispatches from - TO Gen. Scout l'ne" a.
Puebla,l which delivered at four ciocA III VIC
morning, and afterwards continued win Ihe "ooie
commander he avaing himself of my minute khoW-
edge of the country, until again entered the cry
with the American army. l arrived al ueo'd !"
days before Gen. PIerces brigade arrived ,romd
was never prouder OF my country and never SO PROUD
of nv native State, when that fine command
marched into The city. All balconies were crowded.
and such a reinforcement spread general 10y through
the army, The circumstances of the march, the en-
eroetic prudent and skilfu manner in which 1t had
been performed-the daring courage manifested oy
the commander, particularly in crossing the National
Bridge, when his hat was shot from his head-were
of course the subjects Of much conversation, and
secured for General Pierce high admiration and en-
tire confidence. And these, l may safely say, were
never abated during the campaign.
do not propose to give you details OF that cam
naio n but TO state some facts within my own knowl-
edge in relation the operations of the 18th and 2Oh
of August, and the 9th Of September. On the 18th
of August was al st. Augustine, about seven miles
from Contreras. Pierce's brigade marched out early
TO open the road across the mountain for the artillery
which followed that afternoon. did not see Ten.
Pierce again till near noon the next day. had been
with Gen. SCOTS staff all the morning of the goth,
and had heard of the dangerous injury Gen. Pierce
had sustained by the fall of his horse the Pedrega
the afternoon before. The horse supposed to
have caught his fore foot in the cleft of rock, being
at hard galop. The preservation of the life OF the
General seems here, as at the National Bridge, to
have been providentia Although the bones of the
horse were broken that he was left upon the spot,
the tenacy with which the rider held to his COM
mand during that day and the next, was the wonder
of ALL Ee rode, during the residue of that evening,
the horse of the gallant Lieut.. Johnson, who had
lust been shot in his saddle.
met General Pierce the Goth. near Coyacan.
Gen. Twigg's division had advanced on the road
towards the church at Churubusco, and when l
met Pierce the heavy firing Of the batteries had OPEN
ed shall never forget his appearance as he rode at
the head of that noble brigade destined TO suffer so
terribly in the afternoon. He exceedingly thin,
worn down by the fatigue and pain OF the day and
night beforehand then evidently suffering severely.
Still there glow in his eye the cannon boom
ed that showed within him spirit read for the con-
fict.
The brigade was soon formed on the west side of
the plaza Of Coyacan, opposite the church. was
familiar with all the roads and paths in that neigh
borhood, and informed Gen. Scott, who was in his
saddle, under tree, the church, from which he
issuing orders to different members of his staff,
that knew a route by which the enemy could be
attacked in the rear. Having decided at to send
Perce's brigade, and to support it by other troop
that might be at his command, he despatched me to
call Gen. Pierce. did !; and when he rode up,
conversation, in substance and as as can
ollect, in the following words, took place:
Gen. Scott said" Pierce, my dear fellow, you
hall Ipi,Yr So 10
dle.' Yes | am,'' said Pierce, IS in case like
this.' Gen. Scott said" 1t is temerity, we shall
lose you, and cannot spare you. ought 10 order you
back to St. Augustine. You cannot touch your foot
10 the stirrup." can, of them," said Pierce,
" and that is enough for to-day. This will be the
last great fight, and must lead my brigade'' The
order was then given, acting guide by the direc-
ton of Gen. Scott, Major Lee of the engineer corps,
accompanying the command. The brigade moved
rapidly forward for about mile, when we came 10 a
ditch, recollect, ten twelve feet wide, and six
or eight deep. Pierce lifted from his saddle, and
as IT to tread upon impossibities, he led the brigade
then under fire, in his crippled condition, for
siderable distance foot, when he fell from exhaus-
ton and suffering, too great even for his energies He
refused to be carried from the field and remained till
the final route of the enemy. More inHexIble deter
minatiou and daring courage, do not believe, was
ever exhibited upon the battle field.
On the night before the battle of Moline del Rev,
General Pierces brigade at the hacienda of San
Borjia, about one mile from Tacubaya where it had
how Gen. Worth most gallant division suffered The
carnage was dreadful Gen. Scott despatched me to
accompany my friend Major Gaines with an order for
Pierce to advance. They were ready on an instant,
and moved rapidly forward. l was upon the field
and witnessed Pierce's fine movement upon the
Kings Mil, 10 relieve Col. Garland, who had been
fighting till that hour. He advanced with the
9th infantry (and l recollect, I'd artillery not of
his brigade properly The enemy. whose fire had
nearly ceased, upon the movement of these new
regiments, reopened with round shot and shell from
Chepultepec. we'll remember that the bay horse
which the General took from the States, became, un-
der fire, difcnltto manage, and was well nigh pung.
ing over PrecPce close by the Kings Mill at the
bridge. in consequence of the bursting of shell but
few feet from him. Nothing could have been more
cool and admirable than this whole movement,
made the acquaintance ofGeneral Pierce thousands
OF miles from our native land, under circumstances
that I" tried mems sous.'' l found him there what
all know him TO be here, and cannot withhold this
act OF justice from who has as brave heart and
as self-sacrhcing spirit warmeda true mans
bosom. ] know Gen. Pierce needs no yindica,ion of
his military conduct. His merit in this respect is
proclaimed by the united voice of officers and men
those who participated and who know. But at the
same time he may not be displeased with these hasty
"reminiscences from me. l have been SO long from
the country that feel but little interest in mere party
conflicts. Your ob'dt. servant.
NOAH E. SMITH.
HieH TRIBUrE TO GEN. PIERCE. The mos, absurd
@aoNN~ "