Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-10-07

3 our readeEss Of all parties, TO the
>. following:
" Testimony or q Democratse ssldIeF.
o The Wheeling IntelIigencer has
|, the following spontaneous testimo-
Z nial from Democrat who served in
i the Mexican war under General
Scott. 1t is the unsolicited declara-
ton Of an honest man, and needs no
!. comment:
; "The statements of some Of the
I opponents OF General Winfield Scott,
respecting his arrogance, aristocracy,
I and exclusiVeness, are so utterly un-
] founded aud unjust to his noble
} character. thas cannot, though a
Democrat, refrain from detailing a
slight incident to which I was party
in the campaign in Mexico. / was
IN the entire campaign, from the
bombardment of Vera Cruz to tho
taking OF the capital, and have had
every opportunity, which a soldier
could have to know his character,
J and the estimation in which he was
held by the whole body of the SOL
} diery, and | hesitate not to say that
there was not a high minded and
honorable soldier in the whole army
who could or would say a word
derogatory to the military and gen.
erouS character of Scott. He was
admired by all, beloved by all; and
the soldier who, in that campaign,
would have uttered a word deroga-
tory TO our general, would have been
secuted at by his company. was
member Of Light Company g, Fly
ing illery, Captain Duncan,
Twiggs's division, and was engaged
in every conflict, except Churubusco,
to the taking Of the city. At the
battle Of Contreras it was my for.
;. tune to be in the column which re-
took the two s:x>pounders which
had been taken from Captain WASH
ington's battery at the battle of
Buena Vista. While engaged in
turning these guns upon their late
masters, | received a shot in my
thigh, which entirely disabled me for
the time, and my company were
forced to leave me on their onward
attacks. After the battle had been
concluded, and the victory had been
won by our conquering columns, |
endeavoreG as best could to regain
nv column, which had pressed for.
ward to the field of Churubusco-
the haste OF the consecutive battles
Of Doth August not having allowed
Of their providing for the dead and
wounded. After the most painful
efforts on my part to reach some
portion of the advancing column,
prompted as l was to almost supers
human efforts from the danger of
being exposed to the guerillas, who
infested the rear Of our army, made
my way TO field Of corn, bordering
on the field Of battle, and finally
sank, almost exhausted, near a stone
wall, which was raked by Riley's
(the deserter) battery.
ain this trying situation l was
about giving up all further effort and
resigning myself to fate, when my at
tention was attracted by the ap-
proach of a lone horseman, on the
opposite side OF the fence, who imme-
diately, upon seeing my helpless sit
uation, came to my relief. He dis
mounted from his horse and assisted
me over the fence, and rescued me
from the very jaws Of death. In
short time was relieved and placed
in safety; and thus was | indebted for
my life to Winfield Scott, the officer
who came alone TO the post OF dam
ger and rescued helpless soldier Of
the line. This is but one of the
many incidents which the generous
soldiers Of the army OF Mexico can
relate oi their kind, humane, and
great leader. Every moment he
spent in the vicinity where lay he
was exposed 10 the raking shot of
The base dsserter. yet he paused not,
faItered not; but then, as ever, he
proved himself the humane and gal
liant leader, whom the soldiers will
remember in his hour OF need. | am
a Democrat; | have never given a
Whig vote; but if | can get to the
polls will give my vote for him
whom | have tried in the hour of
need and found my friend. He was
ever ready 10 do his duty iE the hour
OF battle in Mexico, and the soldiers
of the army of occupation will in
their turn do their duty in Novems
ber, and rally again under the banner
Of their leader, who has so often led
them to glorious victory. In the ar
my we heard Of Pierce, but never
knew him. He was never with Us
on the battlefield. He may have
great qualities, and he may not
For myself, shall support the man
whom know TO be great. who was
with US and Of US, and with whom
and for whom / shall be at the polls
in November.