Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-06-23

lively an appointment to the same exalted sta
ton from which he retired in l842-a nomna.
ton for Governor of the State--and the appoint.
ment of Attorney General of the United States
But when the honor of his country and the safe.
ty of the army, halting at Pueba for reinforce
ments, called for prompt support even from the
walks of private life, he instantly obeyed the
| summons.
1t is worthy of remark that soon after he de-
clned the office Of Attorney General, Can office
so congenialto his pursuits and tastes), he ac-
cepted without hesitation Cooneey of lnfan-
try, and Immediately proceeded to raise that no.
bic New England regiment, subsequently so
much distinguished. He was soon after promo
ted to the office of Brigadier General.
Considering Gen. Perce's positon-the de-
ghtfu and prosperous circumstances by which
he was in all respects surrounded-the well
known fact that he must land with his command
at Vera Cruz, and pursue his march in terra ca
Hente, at season of the year when the fatal dis
ease of the climate, (vomito) would add its hor-
rors to the dangers and trials of the campaign
we hardly know anything more striking in the
history of self-sacrifcing patriotism than this
prompt and uncaculating response to the call of
the country. At Vera Cruz the Quartermaster's
and Commissary's Departments were very much
crippled by the enervating effects of the climate
and the ravages of disease. The requisite pre-
parations for the march necessarily occupied
three or four weeks. The posts at Jalapa and
elsewhere on the route having been abandoned,
the communication between the coast and Pue-
bla, was entirely cut off, and the whole line in
possession of the enemy. Under these circum-
stances the safety of the command and success
of the march depended, Of course, to great ex-
tent, upon the vigilance, energy and patient en-
durance of the commanding officer. From no
doubtful source, but from the lips of the officers
and soldiers who have returned from the war,
we know the admirable manner in which that
march was conducted Notwithstanding the har-
RAISING attacks of the guerilla forces and the OBJ
stacles to the advance interposed at various
points, the command pushed steadily forward
with dispatch and with but slight loss The in
trepidity displayed by the commanding general
at the National Bridge, where his hat was shot
from his head, and was not more striking than
the sleepless energy and vigant forecast which
precluded the possibility ofsurprise ,snrmounted
every obstacle,an inspired universal confidence.
That portion of the army at the disposal of Gen.
Scott, it is well known, was regarded as wholly
inadequate to the great achievements before it.
Every man became important The arrival OF
the force under Gen. Pierce could alone warrant
the advance upon the city of Mexico; and hence
the appearance Of that body, of twenty -four hun
dred strong, in fine condition, and was hailed
with Joy by Gen. Scott and drew from him the
highest commentator.
The best comment upon Gen. Pierce's servi-
ces and conduct on the march and on the battle
field is to be derived from the reports of his su-
periors in authority and from the united testi-
mony of the brave officers and soldiers who con-
stituted his brigade and survived the campaign.
After leading his command through the fiery
hail-storm over the pedrigal at Contreras and
after the exposure and Sutferings even more Sc
we're and terrible at Cherubusco, truly grateful
must it have been to the worn and wearied SOL
dier to receive, on the second day after those
bloody fields were 1.-The pleasant and cheering
evidence of remembrance and appreciation on
the part of his commander in the form of no.
tice TO join General Quitman and Smith as Com
missioners to arrange with the Mexican Com
missioners the terms of the armstice proposed
by Santa Anna with view to negotiation for
peace.
The honor of such career and the merit of
such services, appreciated and acknowledged at
the time, is reflected more or less upon us all,
and none but men lost to all sense of patriot
ism, truth and justice-nothing but the most
malignant and debased partisan spirit would at
tempt to tarnish the fame so gallantly earned
have thus briefly referred to Gen. Pierce's
active services in the war with Mexico. These
rebound to his honor, but perhaps not more than
those kindly promptings of his heart which
were manifested in Offices of benevoencc and
brotherly kindness to the sick, and the wounded
and the dying soldiers whom he vistsd in the
hospitals, and whose wants he relieved according
to his utmost ability with his own hand and his
own purse. These little acts of kindness are the
bright spots that shine thro' the smoke-clouds
of battle, receiving their beauty by those horrors
of war which turn the soul of humanity to sick
ness and shuddering.
Allow me to advert one more claim which
New Hampshire has to the consideration of the
Uuon in behalf of her distinguished son. The
early life of Gen. Pierce was peculiarly favorable
TO the formation in his mind of habits of strong
attachment to the Union Of the States. The
lessons learned from the lips of an honored IA
ther could not fail to leave their lasting impress
on the son. That father who had never left the
battle-6elds of his country till her independ-
ence was established, soon saw, with trembling
hoping fearing, all the hard labors of the revo-
utionary soldiers threatened and imperiled by
the fierce strife for constitutional freedom that
followed
In the same hall where in l776 was formed
and signed the glorious Declaration of lndepen-