Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-08-04
From the Nashville Union, 18th inst.
Letter from Gen. Pillow on the character
of Gen. Pierce.
CoLuMBIA. Tenn.. jolly 8. 1852.

T OIL zen. FIERCE
! COLUMBIA, Tenn, Jolly 8, 1859.
| As everything touching the character OF
Gen. Pierce, as we'll as the opinion Of our
public men, now interests the public, have
thought it not improper 10 give you, for
publications, an extract of private letter
of the late ex-Presiden Polk, written 10
myself, on the 18th day of May, i847,
and delivered to me in the city of puebla,
| Mexico, The extract is as follows. viz:
| "Your tive Brigadier. Generals, Pierce
and Cadwalader, who will be under your
immediate command, are noble men. Gen.
Pierce is now the first man in New Eng
laUd. He is a man of fne talents. He is
| my personal friend and you may fully con.
1hdein him. He was with me 10 the House
Of Representatives for several years, and
was afterwards in the Senate. Gen. Cad.
wallader is gentleman Of high military
reputation. You may well be proud Of
-wo such officers under your commando"
OF Gen. Cadwallader, who Is n7i before
the country, il is not my purpose TO make
any remarks: His character for gallant
conduct and ehivaIric bearing has never
been, and never will be, questioned. Nor
should deem it necessary TO add single
remark TO the paragraph so fully expressive
Of the opinion Of the late distinguished ex-
President Of The nation, except for The very
unjust. illiberul, and false reflections upon
the conduct OF Gen. Pierce, while an eff :,
Ger Of the army in Mexico, by certain
presses and BY Senator Jones and Mr.. Meth,
erland Of Tennessee.
In the operations of the army in the val.
ley of Mexico, that General Pierce fully
sustained tie exalted opinion of ex President t
Polk, will be seen by reference to The res
ports Of Majors General Scott and Worth,
and those of my own. These dispatches
were all prepared with q personal knowl,
edge Of. the gallant bearing Of General
Pierce, and al timeand under circumsinn-
ces .exemptfng those officers from any pos.
sible motiys to over estimate the importance
Of bis services or the character of his con-
duct. The reports Of the first and last Of
these officers agree In the statement Of the
fact, that Gen. Pierce, was severely injured
by the fall OF bis horse on the rocks Of the
Pedrigal, while gallantly leading his brig>
ode in the battle os Conireras. They also
bear full testimony TO the fact, that though
SO badly injured, hesmighs have retired 10
The hospital as disabled for duty, and.
| Though barely able 10 keep his saddle, y
yet he remained upon duty and led his GAL
'ant brigade into the bloody battle Of Chur-
| ubusco, and continued in lis command until
overcome by exhaustion and pain. he fnin-
ted, fell from his horse and was borne from
/ the field .ss.z.s gzsfss z1ss5e-., 4=sg,,s{
When it's known to the country that the
whole army, including Gen. Pierce, had
been upon duty from early in the morning
on the 18th till iate in the day on the Goth
Of August, without refreshment OF repose
aud that Gen, Pierce was so badly injured
by the fall Of his herse that he lay upon the
field and in The midst Of the pedrigal all
night, and that the next day he was "bare.z
ly able TO keep his saddle before this long
and bloody battle commenced, after long
and hot pursuit of The enemy; when these
facts are known to The country rs they nre
to those who shared in the glories and suf>.
ferings of that field, ana persuaded that
no one will either feel or express surprise.
that Gen. Pierce's physical strength, over,
come with longscontinued suffering and ex.i
haustion, should have given way, and that
he should have tainted and fallen from his
horse. But it isprespming great, to
suppose that those who bore him frcm the
field should have known the difference be>9
tween an officer whose, physical strength
was actually 60 oyer-iaxed, and in state
of total heIplessness and unconsciousness,
and one who had from iimidiry, affected
this condition. =
But il is impossible for an intelligent peo.
Pile 10 believe tha, had an officer Of Gen.
Pierce's rank and command go acted, his
immediate division commander, and Gen.
Scott himself, and Generals Worth and
Shields-lhe former of these his associate
on the field, the latter commanding him in
that part Of it-would all have concurred
in making out false reports 10 the govern
ment; thus dishonoring themselves 10 screen
from merited condemnation and disgrace an
officer who had basely and cowardly shrunk
from duty. Those who entertain this opin.
ion, utterly discredit and dishonor oil those
officers and among them Gen. Scott himself;
for upon no other supposition can the char
acier and conduct Of Gen. Pierce for cour-
age and gallan.ry be called in question.
Why no, call in question that Of Gen.
Scott himself? Because during the battle
of Contreas he was, with the exception of
short period, at San Augustine; while,
during that of Churubusco be was at Coy.
can; and during the battle Of Molino del
-Rey and during the sterming of Chapulle
pee, he was a. Tacabaya. And yet who
has ever done so Gen. Scott might have
been nearer these fields He was, howey.
er, near enough 10 successfully direct the
operations OF the army, as the result fully
shows. He knew that the army required
not his immediate presence to inspire it To-
deeds Of courage and heroic daring. He
knew that no results would be obtained by
unnecessarily exposing his person; and
hence prudently and wisely occupied posi-.
tions, though somewhat remote, from which
he could safely direct the army. Yetit wo'd
be as reasonable and as just to reflect upon
General SCOTS conduct and character for
gallautry as Gen, Pierce's. If Gen. Pierce
had sought less active participation in
.. al ,ts,l L