The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-25
From mo Burlington ty.) ssnliAs


Manchester, an old Jeersonlan and Jackson democrat
we are permitted 10 lay before readers private letter
10 him from his son, Lieutenant Colonel Roberts OF the
army 10 relation 10 the military conduct aud services Of
| General Pierce in Mexico.
Colonel Roberts IN every battle from The landing
Of army al Vera Cruz to the somng OF Chepulepee
and twice breyeted, FIRST major and second heuiena ut
colonel, for has gallant conduct ~ that campaign lie is
native oil Vermont, OF whom she is and has good
reason 10 be proud and his statements will be believed
wherever he is known
The letter is written in the unrestraned freedom which
ought always 10 exist between father and son, and
shows clearly It's face that II not intended for
the public eye and ii only through the influence OF
friend 10 whom Gen read H. that we have been able
10 obtain II for publication Ii adds another to The many
scathing rebnkes which the Infamous beers OF Gen.
Pierce almost daily receiving from officers OF the old
army, as well the new levies, who in Mexico were
bis companions in arms and witnessed his conduct
wAsnIsoroN, August a. 1852.
NY ps1n rAfnka' Ia ansTstns your Inquiries Of my
Mexico feel some distrust officer Of the old line.
that natural bias against citizen generals May operate
will the facts of my knowledge, doubt
that you WIN see that am Jsst To your model statesman
was in Puebla when il first generally known that
General Pierce his march from Vera Cruz that
for the old army ecoeci that at that time the gueras
strongly organized and occupying The seemingly
Hoya Rio FRO, NC, General apprehension ielt
the safety OF his command, twas com posed OF
sria-newly appointed officers and men just recruited
The nnpropoos, the climate presidential and
sicky, and bis march was in the epdemcs months The
greatly depended upon this command La small degree
its effectiveness would upon the prestige Of
the march would inspire in the sodicry, aud the
certain elance they feel Ia officers whose courage and
ample have been approved.
Such reliable Information had reached General Scott
about the 18th July that the guerlas great
beers strongly enrenched at the passes of La Hoya that he
detached Smiths brigade reinforced by dragons and Do
mingo spies, go 10 Pierces relief This command rap
Where General smith eeeiSed a,eseaee as Pierce
had brushed away The force enenehed La oga, and
that he was moving rapidly down the western slope
wards Puebla
General smith returned there with the welcome in
diligence tat Pierce had fought his way through every
pass from the Puenc Nacione, ami had efeciuaily
disorgonzed and defeated the entire guerilla force.
the army. The sentiment of rnpincibiy for the fret
time seemed to pervade the whole line. New officers
and joined US, with the confessed fus of
peterans and with courage OF old soldiers
Other distinctive features OF this command likeped
old drilled corpss order, discipline, suhordnaton
Common danger has always been acknowledged great
assistance in creating these essential elements Of all milf
are commanded by generals equaso the OCCASION pressing
continued peril will result division. dsaffecion and
reputation, when General Pierce reached PGeba would
have pu, il hazard by the denial Of his claim be
ranked with sklful and successful generals
Again can speak Of General Pierce rom personal OBJ
On the l9h Of August Gas you know was de-
ached from Twiggss division as an advanced guard with
companies of The rifles with orders from that geDerei
clear the pedrga in front Of Coneras OF its pckets
and SIX and getting close enough the works
FOR reconnaissance, 10 send for him This done
While Gen. Twiggs was with me, within TWO hundred
yards OF the enemys works, estimating their force and
strength noticed their sudden change Of guns andrspd
flung a direction In short observed
troops making Their way through the pedfsai % our right
and Not knowing the purpose, We carefully watched
their bearing exposed as they We're to one OF the most
messed Round shot and shells iell among them like
hail-stones Still they moved firmly on, led by oi-
Ger on horseback whom we could NOT recognise at the
distance of 600 700 yards Ga they pressed,
,aaed anIioasly regarding hem. until T@sss suddenly
exclaimed TO me- "by Cd it's the old third see how
beautifully they stand IL" This force proved be Pierce's
brigade he leading IRE ha We de- cribed.
No better commentary be offered to the Than this
Pierce's command. The regiment leading was the
Oh, commanded by the gallant Ransom fro.a our STATE,
This and heard IL was under this ,e his horse
became nnnansgeable and falling among the lava rocks
until day. the halt OF the army Coyocan
a few minutes before the commencement Of The terri
BILE battle of Churubnsoo. He was then suffering from
the injury received from the fall Of his horse The ped
risal, bat resolved upon remaining with his brigade
wasting fire muskery that thnncd with destruction the
ranks Of his and shieds's brgades la their opinions
that officers and alike in those brgades bore with
yielding consistency the brunt Of this conflict The gallant
conduct OF the generas-Pierce and Shelds-was
household words in the There, 10 rs credit be IL
said found insensble TO honor to breathe
upon their well earned aurels breath that would soil their
freshness waste leaf that should remain green forever
have now, my dear isther, tod you all thai, Of my own
obse rvaton know OF General Pierces military history
eyond this that General Scott ia bis dispatches
mendcd Nun in terms OF praise, aud gave him tide
that he Sc dom mistakenly bestows-the gallant Pierce
Were General Scott In postono speak for himself, he
would libeers Of gsant onicer, whose services
their i'll ged attempts TO stain the honor Of tiled sol
der and eminent citizen.
The kumilating idea of cowardce inirmy that in
all ages excited the pity OF man. Is seldom entertained
by any in the army Among the thoughtess the md
ever are a by.xord and iesto thinking the idea of
cowardce is pssful and revolving To my mind, he who
conceves this libel upon human nature must be depfayed
and radically wicked To auept TO coil that feature that
kens to Deity impey against that sacred text
q let us make IN in image The highest pun
shine nj thar could be visited upon the who conceived
this libel General Pierce would be TO publish his
name TO the world The mark OF Cain may be washed
the brov
81 sin that passion prompted, and the world fogives
libel mans good name is insure the Of and
the curse Of Heaven. This is cowardice!"
My Indignation my dear taber, TO use General SCOTS
mpeach the manness OF General Pierce than any po
tcai man9uvring within my recollection But In these
days Of national degeneracy, when national conventon
for the high purpose Of nominating 10 the exalted office OF
where reputation and character hawked about things
OF trade and barter nothng however revotng should
/ tonish
But perceive that have gone quite hot into politics
EKousing myself for this ersuo DEPRESSION, viii return TO
| the military narrative of General Pierce.
In uly esiiaton, General Pierce is not qualified
for general 10 faci be has never desired military
re military fame. HIS habits Of lite aud
wholly Of other and higher csstes lie shnks from o.
tentaon and display preerrng that quiet life whose paths
are tracked with blood, whose memories are not dis
uuieted the phantoms OF battle fields He called
from by the deman nd the country for citizen
soldiers He took the sword not from choice profession
bat from the higher demand Of duty While IN the MILF
tary service he fulfilled every duty IN the camp, the
arch and the bstile field, win fidelity and conancy
His modest bearing him the universal esteem Of The
army and his condoc In battle that TUE deacon cannot
alter nor thieves seal away"the gallant Fierce" THIS
wa. the Christening Of General Scott the high priest 81 the
battles baptzsd bis army Ia blood, and whose seal
\ gallant men time viii never change