The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-27


and Insignificant member, 10 belong have said here
no for the than have frequently urged for the
other, under similar circumstances, nos no more than
would feel II imperative duty TO Tor any brother
officer whom believed to be grossly ealumniated
Wllh great respect, have the honor TO be, sir your
obedent servant,
O. f. WINSHIP,
Major U s Army.
To SHERMAN CRoswELL. esq Albany, New York,
From the Nashville union OF l9th inst
Letter from General PiiIow.-His Opinion Of
Franklin Pierce.
COLUMBIA, Tenn, July 8. 1881.
AS everything touching the character OF General Pierce
as we'll the opinion OF our public men, now Interest,
the public have thought IT not improper TO give you.
for publication an extract Of private letter OF the late
ex President Polk, written 10 myself. the 18th day OF
May. lsi7 and delivered 10 me in the city OF Puebla,
Mexico. The extract 10 as follows, Wis
sYour two brgadier generals Pierce and Cadwalader,
who will be under your immediate command. are noble
men General Pierce il now the hrst man in New Eng
land. He Is OF fine talents. He is my personal
friend, and you may fully conhde in him. he was with
in the House OF Representatives for several years,
and was afterwards in the Senate General Cadwaader
is gentleman OF high character and OF decided military
reputation. You may well be proud OF two such officers
under your command"
OF General Cadwallader who is not before the country,
is my purpose TO make any remark His character
for gallant conduct and chivac bearing has been,
and never will be. questioned Nor should | deem il
necessary 10 add single remark 10 the paragraph so fully
President OF the naon except for the very unjust b
eral, and false reflections upon the conduct OF General
Pierce while officer of the army in Mexico, BY certain
eastern presses and BY Senator Jones and Mr. Neither
land, OF Tennessee.
In the operations OF the army the valley of Mexico
that General Pierce fully sustained the exalted opinion OF
ports Of Major Generals Scott and Worth. and those OF
my own These dispatches Were all prepared with
personal knowledge OF the gallant bearing OF General
Pierce and at time and under circumstances exempng
those officers from any possible motive 10 estimate
the importance Of his services the character Of his
duct
The reports Of the first and last Of these officers agree
in the statement Of fact that General Pierce severely
injured by the fall OF his horse the rocks OF the Ped
gal while gaanily leading his brigade IN the battle OF
though badly injured he might have retired 10 the
hospital disabled for duty, and though barely able to
keep his saddle" yet he remained aroa duty. and led his
continued in its command until, overcome by exhaustion
and pain he fanied fell from his horse and was borne
from the field.
When il is known to the country that the whole army,
including General Pierce, had been upon duty from early
the morning OF the 10th till late in the day on the 2Oth
Of August without reieshment or Iepose and that Cen
Pierce badly injured by the fall OF his horse that
be lay upon the field and in the midst OF the Pedga all
night and that next day he barely able 10 keep his
saddle" before this long and bloody battle commenced,
after long and hot pursuit OF the enemy; when these
facts known 10 the country, as they are to those who
shared 10 the gloes and suffering OF that field am per-
suaded that will either feel express surprise
that General Pierces physical strength, overcome with
long continued suffering, PAIN and exhaustion, should
have given way, and that be should have tainted and
fallen from his horse But il is presuming AT deal
suppose that those who bore him from The field should
not have known the difference between an ofcer whose
physical strength actually overtasked and IN
state of total hepessness and aud one
who had from tmidty affected This condition.
But it is impossible for intelligent people 10 believe
that had officer of General Perce's rank and command
so acted his immediate division commander and General
Scott himself, and Generals Worth and Shields-lhe for
OF these his associate on the held the latter CON-
manding him in that part OF iwould all have concured
making out false reports TO the government thus dis
honoring themselves to from merted condemDa-
ton and disgrace officer who had basey and cowardly
shrunk from duty. Those who entertain this opinion
utterly dscredt and disbonor all those officers and among
them General Scott himself; for upon supposon
the character and conduct OF General Pierce for courage
and gallaniry be called in question,
Why not call III question that of Gen. Scott himself :
Because during the battle OF Contreras be with the
exception OF short PERIOD at San Augustine; while
during that Of Chuubusco be was al Coyacan and during
the battle OF Moline del Rey and during the stoming OF
Chepulipec he at Tacubaya. And yet who has
done so Gen. Scott might have been nearer these
fields he was, however, near enough TO successfully d.
rect The operations OF the army as the result fully shows
He knew that the army required not bis immediate
presence TO inspire it 10 deeds OF courage and heroic
daring He knew that results would be obtained by
unnecessarily exposing his person; and hence he pru-
IDENTIFY and wisely occupied POSITIONS though somewhat
remote from which he could safely direct the operations
of the army Yet it would be as reasonable and just
TO reflect upon Cen SCOTS conduct and character for
gsan,ry as Gen. Plerces.
II Cen Pierce had sought less active participation in
these bloody operations the wound he received By the fall
OF his horse would have thrown him out OF ibe after
operations, and he would las he could with honor)
have retired TO the hospital his tent disabled for
duty and thus have avoided all risk in the battle OF Chu
rubusco. IT, owing TO the injury he received the 19h
he bad less distinguished part than did Others yet his
participation was by no means negative one.
An officer who won honorable mention for galantry
and good conduct, IN battles where all had full
glorious share the official reports of every officer upon
The Held who was his senior, nclnding General Scott
himself) could have performed no negative part upon
other fields and among officers less disiDg his
services wosld have greatly distinguished him, and might
have satisfied the highest aspirations Of the most
bilious soldier.
Having personal knowledge OF the facts here stated
feel il duty oil honor to state them 10 vinicsion OF
the character Of brother officer unns1y reflected upon
by those knowing personally nothing OF the facts; and il
/ know myself would not by my silence acquiesce in
any false statement before the public deeply wouding
10 the pride and sensbilites OF American soldier
whether wing or democrat.
/ have no wish to throw myself before the public, nor
into the before the country, to make any
issue with any portion of the press. Neither do seek
or wish collision with any gentleman OF the wing party
have the honor OF personal acquaintance and OF kind
own State and mention their names that may be
derstood as correcting their staieneusbased, sup
pose upon erroneous information. But, be this may,
the impuation is unjust--is false and calumnious.
am, sir, with great respect your obedieut servant
GIDEON J. PILLOW.
THE LIQUOR LAW IN MAssAcHUsErrs.--T The law against
the sale OF liquors in Massachusetts went into operation
Thursday last In Boston very little regard appears