Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-08-06
From the Nashville Union of the 18th inst
Letter from General Pillow.-His Opinioa Oh
franklin Pierce.
COLUMBIA, (Tenn., July 8. !

Letter from General PilIow.-Hls Opinioa OF
Franklin Pierce.
COLUMBIA, (Tenn.,) July 8: 1852.
AS everything touching the character OF Generai
Pierce. well as the opinion Of pubic men, now
interest the public, have thought it not improper
to give you for publication an extract OF private
letter OF the late ex-Presdent Polk, written to my
self. on the 18th day of May, 1847, and delivered
to me in the city of Puebla, Mexico. The extract
is as follows, viz
wallader who will be under your immediate COM
mapd are noble men, General Pierce is now the
first man in New England He is man OF line tai
ents He is my personal friend, and you may fully
confide in him He was with me IN the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES, for several years and afterwards
in the Senate General Cadwallader is gentleman
of high character, and of decided military reputa-
ton. You may vel be proud of two such ofhcers
under your command"
Of General Cadwallader, who is not betnre the
country. it is not my purpose to make any remark.
His character for gallant conduct and chivairlc bear
ling has never been. and never will be. questioned
Nor should deem it necessary to add single re-
mark to the paragraph so fully expressive of the
opinion of the late distinguished ex-Presdent OF the
nation. except fn the very unjust 'bera and false
reflections upon the conduct of General Pierce while
an officer of the army in Mexico by certain Eastern
presses, and by Senator Jones and Mr. Netherland.
of Tennessee.
In the operations of the army in the valley Of
Mexico that General Pierce fully sustained the eX-
allied opinion of ex-Presdent Polk. will be seen by
reference to the reports 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 eXemptng those omcers
from any possible motive to over-estimate the I'M
portance of his services the character of his con-
duct
The reports of the first and last of these officers
agree in the statement of the fact that Gen Pierce
was severely injured by the fall of his horse the
rocks of the Pedriga while galantlv leading his
brigade in the battle of Contreras. They also bear
full testimony to the fact. that though SO badly in
jured he might have retired to the hospital as dsa-
bled for duty. and though barely able to keep his
saddle.n yet he remained upon duty, and led his
gallant brigade into the bloody battle of Churubus-
Co. and continued in its command until overcome by
exhaustion and pain, he tainted fell from his horse,
and was borne from the field.
When it is known to the country that the whole
army, including General Pierce, had been upon duty
from early on the morning of the 10Th till late in
the day on the Goth of August, without refreshment
or repose. and that Gen. Pierce badly inj ured
by the fall of his horse that he lay upon the field
and in the midst of the Pedrigal all night and that
next day he "barely able to keep his saddle, .
before this long and bloody battle commenced, after
a long and hot pursuit of the enemy when these
facts known to the country, they to those
who shared in the gores and suffering of that field
| am persuaded that no will either feel or ex-
press surprise that Gen Pierces physical strength
overcome with long continued suffering, pain, and
exhaustion, should have given way, and that he
should have tainted and fallen from his horse. But
it is presuming great deal to suppose that those
who bore him from the field should not have known
the difference between officer whose physical
strength was actually overtasked, and in state
of total helpessness and Inconsistencies, and one
who had from tmidity affected this condition.
But it is impossible for an intelligent people to be-
lieve that had an officer of Gen. Pierce's rank and
command so acted, his immedediate division com
mander and General Scott himself. and Generals
Worth and Shields-the former of these his assoc
ate on the field. the latter commanding him in thai
part OF it-would all have concurred in making out
false reports to the governments thus dishonorine
themselves to screen from merted condemnation
and disgrace officer who had basely and coward
1y shrunk from duty. Those who entertain this
opinion utterly discredit and dishonor all those off
GERS, and among them General Scott himself; fol
upon supposition the character and conduc
of General Pierce for courage and gaantry be call
ed in question.
Why not call in question that of Gen. Scott him
self? Because during the battle of Contrer he was
with the exception of short perioi, at San Angus
tine; while during the battle OF Churubusco he wa
at Covacan; aud during the battle of Moline del Re,
, and during the stormng of Chepultepec he was a
Tacubaya. And yet who has done so? Gen
! Scott might have been these fields. He was
however, enough 10 successfully direct the oper
f atoms of the army, which required not his immediate
presence 10 INSPIRE IL 20 ueeUS OF courage ana nefOi
daring He knew that results would be obtained b,
unnecessarily exposing his person aud hence he pru
a IDENTIFY and wisely occupied positions, though some
what remote, from which he could safely direct tn
operations OF the army Yet it would be as reasona
Bile and as just 10 reflect upon Gen. SCOTS conduct AM
character for gaantry as Gen Pierce's
: If Gen Pierce had sought less active participation
in these bloody operations, the wound he received b
tine fall of his horse would have thrown him out
the after operations, and he would (as he could will
honor have retired to the hospital his tent. dis
abled for duty, and thus have avoided all risk in III
= battle Of Churubusco. IT, owing to the iniury he re
ceived on The 10Th, he had less distinguished par
than did ohe's yet his participation was by mean
. a negative
An officer who won honorable mention for gallantr
y and good conduct in bait es where all had SO full
If glorious share. in the official reports OF every Office
. upon the field who was his senior. (ncuding Genera
Scott hmself,) could have performed negative pal
a upon other fields; and among officers less distinguish
j. ed his services would have greatly distinguished him
j. and might have satisfied the highest aspirations of tn
most ambitious soldier.
Having personal knowledge OF the facts here STA
ted, feel ii duty of honor to state them in vindca
= ton of the character Of brother officer, Justly
l. Elected upon by those knowing personally nothing
T. the facts and if | know myself, would not by m
silence acquiesce in any false statement before tb
" public so deeply woundng 10 the pride and sensib
e lies of American soldier whether wing or democrat
have wish to throw myself before the public
W nor into the canvass before the country, nor
" make any issue with any portion of the press, Meth
o co seek wish a collision with any gentleman
the whig party. have the honor of personal &C
quanance and OF kind relations with both the gentle
n men named above OF my State, and mentio
their names that mag be understood as corrcctin
heir statements based. suppose, upon erroneou
le information. But, be this it may, the mpu tato
il falls and atn