Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-07-01
[PROPRIETORS.

sutneu rather mat bc look comm md OF ZJu0
men. new regiments which he found at Vera
Cruz. which arrived there after he did in
order TO carry them to General Scott, who
stool very much in need "fihem at that iime
asa large part ofhisfroors had returned home.
General Pcrce's biograpcr. thinks that the
tact Of his having received his commission the
3rd Of March. and reached Vera Cruz on the
2Sih Of June, shows that he was not aslccp-
Those who denounced General Scott, for
the few days he remained in Washington
in the Spring Of 1876, to make his arrange-
men's for the conquest of Mexico and who
clamore.l 20 much about what was called the
"soup letter." will hardly concur with him.
As to the fact Of his having distributed his al.
lowancc OF water among the troops on board
the kepler, ifthai he true, and he did in fac,
sail on vessel with troops he would have
better performed his duty. as commanding
officer. by seeing that abundant supply Of
wafer was put on board the vessel before il
sailed; and his dealing out the small supply al
lotted one man. among large body Of men.
was, but poor amends for his remissncss in
duty as their commander However.it must be
admitted that his subsequent course. shows
that he might have been more rsef,lly en-
ployed as Hospital Stewart or attendant up
'h 'ut SitN' 'Hiii Us Cuuifudtutt vi tpdut.
Again, if it be true, that after he reached
Vera Cruz he lent every dollar he had 10 his
men. then unless the Government had grossly
neglected its duties and obligations. and land
cd the men at Vera Cruz in destitute condi.
ton. and had not cansed adequate supplies
to be accumulated there, General Pierce did
an useless, foolish and mi.ciievous thing. in
lending his money TO his men They had no nee
for ii. and he bn, furnished them with the
means Of dissipation and drunkenncss--victs to
which soldiers are bu, too subject. and uhich
they rarely fail TO indulge in. " hen they have
the mcans-and. they would hardly forear
from them. when they had commander " ho
lent them money, and who had been in the
habit of courting the fave or Of men as a pu
lician and candidate. The Grnc-al wond
have been better employed in disciplining his
men for the nrduous duties they were to per
form. Perhaps, this fact may in some meas
nre account for the great delay he made il
reaching General Scott. delay which caused
Gen. Scott 10 he uneasy about his command,
and induced him 10 send General Smith in
quest Of him. As his carry ng the rnuskets
of wearIed sick soldiers, If that be true, he
would have found abundant employment for
body and mind, Lad he devoted himself 10 the
duties OF commanding officer, on a march
fraught with so many difficulties. o, march
from Vera Cruz to Purbla was. However. j,
cannot be denied that had General Pierce
shouldered musket and gone into the rank
permanently. anu devolved fhc command up
on his second in rank, the gallant Col. Ransom.
one who subsequently proved himself SO much
superior to his senior. the public service would
have been benefited and General Scott would
have been able to advance upon the city soon
er than he did, or al leost have beeen allowed
time IN place the troops brought him in Il better
state of discipline.
Whether Gen. Pierce acted wisely in dis
regarding the advice Of Col. Ransom. when
the attack was made upon his troops, by a
vastly inferior body of Guerrllas, because he
thereby "showed bis irmness' and because the
Guerrllas took to flight after having accom-
plished what they Intended. is question which
it is useless TO discuss. Firmness Is one thing
and obstinacy is another. Perhaps if lie had
ri taken Itansom's advice, founded on superior
! know ledge and experience, the subsequent at.
tack at the bridge mi ght not have been made
, 1t was fortunate circumsta nee that the two
bullets fired at the bridge. went through
Pierces hat. not his head The holes through
his hat. doubtless, in that warm climate, ena-
bled hun to keep COOL" and it may be that
hls head was already heavy enough. without
the addition of any more lead. Had ,liffe.
ent result taken place, the .'Harmonous'
might have been without candidate at this
time. and rent into ten thonsand fragme is
Ii was lucky thought. that Of bis bographer.
10 let it be known that the bullets did not go
through his head else some verdani Dcmoc at
might have supposed that candidate Of so
many wondrous virtues and accomplishments
was not denizcn Of this world, but an inhab-
liant of spirit land, who WINS 10 be cormuni
Gated with and to rule through tho medium ci
"the knockings." General Pierce's order 10
"dasa orer tie barricade and charge th. cne-
N.Y." has something grand and dazzling in ii;
1t was ono of those displays OF genius, which
scorn all rules and forms and sets The tactics
and science of older Generals at Defiance az
ter the manner Of Napoleon. The writer ol
this has never heard Of anything approaching
It in point Of brlliancy, unless it be an order
which was given by commander ola volun
feer force on different OCCASION when nppre-
: hending an ai:ack-which was TO Flank into
the Chapparcl and form the letter "
Whether General Pierce Won the "higl
Communications Of the Commander in Chief. -
or "the warmest commentators of the Com
ulander-in Chief" i'll be seen: but how is it
. that those who sought by every means To de-
. grade and disgrace TINT Chief.
i now attach so much importance to his "hish
commendaion?" And ifhs favorable opinion
, i. of such avail to candidate f,r the Presi.
dency, and shows his fitness for the Office.
!, what must be the claims of that Commander.
in-Cnief. hiinselfl
Somuch for v hat the eulogi,'s ofihc Demo
cratic candidate have said Of his prctensions as
hero. thus far. Let Us now look TO the re.
cord. Promising that General Pierce reached
Vera Cruz. the 2Sth June, he did not reach
General Scott at Poebls. until about the 9Th.
Or 7th ofAugust. That his arrival was delayed
much beyond the expectation Of General Scott
is shown by General Pierce's own despatch, Civ
en- below; and that General Smith was sent to
look for him is inferred from the accompany
ing despatch OF General Smith. Here are the
dispatches:
HEAD QUARTERS. PIrRcE's BE.cADE.
Pevote, Avgma1 I647.
GExERAL: | had the honor receive this morning,
BY Captain Ruff letter from General r. r. Smith, in
forming that you have experienced grent anxiety on
account Of my command. wrote you note from vers
Cruz and another from La Hoyn I presume that the
first intercepted the las trust you received yes
terday From the moment arrived OF vera Cruz 10
the hour OF my DEPARTURE necessarily occupied !.
achieving folcrabie degree of preparation for the
| march. will give nartcunrly the causes al