Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-09-08
- 0 litifal.

I
r-Wc publish below an article, in refer
ence to Cen Pierce's conduct in Mexico -
/ The facts set forth we know to be true, from
careful examination Of Gen Pierce's own
Reports. We viii with pleasure exhibit the
official documents, containing these reports
Douglas may denounee Democrats may rave
but the Jury Of the people will render a
verdict according to the testimony; what that
verdict should be, intelligent ard unbiased
men cannot hesitate to conclude:
PRENTICE ON PIERCE.
Prentice idulges in mercilcss criticism
Of Picrcc's military career However harsh
it may sound. it is certainly borne out by the
/! official documents and Prentice may be only
giving utterance to suspicious, which all who
have read those documents, and especially
Gen Piercc's reports, had begun to entertain
His falls at Contreras and Churubusco, though
very uulucky, might have been set down 10
bad horsemanship; but bis sudden ndisposi-
ton ard retirement from the Geld, when or
dered to move immediately under the guns
of Chepultepec;' and lis as sudden recovery
next morning when the fighting was over,
certainly have q very ugly aspect
But hear Prentice, and make every allow
ance possible for an uncharitablc critic:
The first attempt of General Pierce at
fighting was in the preliminary movements for
! the battle of Contreras. that extraordinary
achievement of Gen. Persifer t. Smith Du-
ring the preliminaries, on August 18th, Gen.
Pierce horse fell with him and hurt bis leg
That night, at o'clock, the leading spirits
Of the American army were actively engaged
! In the arrangement for the battle Of Contre
ras. Gen. Pierce was waited upon, but he
pleaded that his leg would not permit him to
take part in that brilliant deed of arms,
which was destined to cover all engaged in it
with glory. 1t was well for the American
army that such men as Persiier L. Smith,
Riley Cadwalader, and Shields were not IN
cnrably given to sudden attacks of sickness,
/ They broke through all Instructions and
gained q splendid victory The battle was
over very early in the morning, lasting about
20 or 30 minutes, and the defeat was 50 thor
ough that Gen. Pierce may be pardoned for
supposing that the Mexicans would not fight
any more that day Under this delusion al
though be was too much ilidisp0Sed before to
command his brigade, as soon as the battle
OF Coatreras i0as orer, he reported himself
ready for duty. But, unfortunately for him,
the Mexicans were quite as enterprising as
his convalesence The battle of Churubusco
doomed up very unexpectedly to him on the
day Of Contreras, and surprised him in the
field on auty Caught in this unlueky plight,
he could not hang up his lame leg. as he had
done few hours before, Thus fairly in the
tolls, Gen. Pierce seemed unable to find a
retreat, and, IN fiji Of desperation, prepared
to stand the brush ii possible.
The batteries Of the enemy looked formi
dabe; one Of twenty-five guns, especially,
seemed to make an indelible impression on
Gen Pierce, and, instead OF taking part in
the glorious action, he was taken ruth faint
ing IT, lie says 81 fell few yurds from
/ the severcst fire Of the enemy as FalstaH
did at Shrewsbury: Though could 'seape
shot free at Concord. | fear the shot here;
here's no scoring but upon the pate.
| am as hot as molten lead aud as heavy
too God keep lead out Of me ! need no
more weight than mine own bowels. Ihare
led my ragamutas lohefs THEY are pep
pered,"
We can almost imagine we can see Gener
AZ Pierce, as we have seen Hackett in Fal-
staff after the Fall Of Hotspor peeping eau
tiously over the field to see If the storm OF
strife was clearing up, When the battle was
I loud in its tumult, and terrible in its carnage,
General Pierce must have felt that his sick
ness was lasting an age, and be must longed for
the moment when it would be safe to be in
health again.
| Whether General Pierce suffered any in
4 the way Of swooning on the 2lst of August,
the day after the battle Of Churubusco we
cannot tell On the 22d be formed one of
the board for arranging an armistice, and
went though these labors, for three continu-
Gus days without fainting once.
General Fleece enjoyed good health during
the armstice On the 18th Of September he
was again in the field On that day his bus
4 mess was one of maneuvering merely aud,
as there was no fighting there was no faint
ing. General Pierce kept up all day. But,
/ alas there came an order to him to move his
/ brigade, after dark, under the cover Of a long
range Of buildings known as Moline del Rey,
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