The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-27
From the Albany Argas
Gen. Pierce and his AssaiIants "A Noble VIM
dication by a Brother Onicer.


TRoY, IN W July 10, 1881.
DEAR SIR; have the honor 10 acknowledge the re-
ceip OF your communication oil yesterday requesting me
% stale. Tor publication IN the Argus Lle result Of my
observation IN respect 10 the conduct and bearing oil Gen
Pierce as an officer 10 the late Mexican
10 view OF the intimate official and social relations
which Tor several months subssied between Inc Gene-
raj and myself and which gave me ample opportunities
Tor observing his conduct both ofhcer and man.
feel that, in justice 10 him. cannot do less than com.
Ply WIN your request particularly as my silence Would
eious attacks which have been made upon him OF late by
reckless and unserupulous partisan press
10 those who have been associated m arms with Gen.
Pierce. formal defence OF his character capable and
patriotic officer, gallant soldier, and an accomplished
aud hgh-toned gentleman, would seem wholly uneaes
for, ii not absolutely absurd and ridiculous No one
who knows him well has ever 10 my knowledge, ques,
TONED his capacity his courage, his patriotism, until
he reluctantly allowed himself to be made the stand
ard bearer OF great national political party for tue
coming presidential campaign This, indeed Is the head
and front OF his offending and is The doubt oil
those astounding discoveries much to his prejudice
which have been made by has political enemies, IN re-
gard TO his military Strange, indeed, that those
politicians, who dilate so much upon the Generals OBJ
security, should have come TO the knowledge OF facts
and circumstances relative 10 bis conduct 10 Mexico
which escaped the notice OF those who surrounded him
that OF his personal staff But do not envy these
people their skill indeamation and confidently predict
that in this instance al least their discoveries will prove
anything but gold mine to them. OF one thing am
certain and that H. il the united testimony OF The whole
body OF officers of the "Od Army is 10 be regarded as
OF any value 10 establishing The reputation Of Genera
Pierce as officer and gentleman, he has but little TO
apprehend as 10 the verdict which will eventually be
rendered him IN these respects ford hazard nothing IN
saying that the General left the service in higher favor
with the sod Guard than did any other man OF The
new leyies. This par,ali,(pr him on the part Of the
officers of the regular army VAS all the more remarkable
he supposed at FIRST 10 be nmical to the service
and especially TO the Military Academy. II is but just,
however, TO state that both parties upon thorough
qualntance with each other found necessary to change
their previousopnons and 10 give up their former preu
dces regarding each other.
But am willing to lei the officers OF the army speak
for themselves in this matter. OF them have al
ready done. and many doubtless will do il they
shall deem necessary the defence OF their gallant
friend, who himself never stops TO count the conse
quences of similar act OF justice towards any who
has the least claim to IT al his hands.
My acquaintance with General Pierce dates from the
period al which the American army became concentrated
in the " basin OF Mexico" / ordered TO report TO
him for duty the chief OF the staff OF his brigade but
the day before the army commenced its movement around
the south side OF Lake Chalco 10 the city OF Mexico
The order was anything but eeabie TO me al rs as
removed me from the sah OF oil the abes and most
distinguished generals OF the Mexican war; aad from duty
with brigade OF the beet troops OF the army and as
had until joining this splendid corps, been constantly
duty with troops since the close OF the campaign
the lower Rio Grande, with no little disappont
ment and chagrn tina, found myself compelled TO quit
my old companions arms, with whom was anxious 10
share the honors which all could 10 be won,
and TO take my chances for laurels with corps OF
recruits Who with the exception of some skIrmlshing
with the "guerillas. had been under fire. But in
compensation for this disappointment, was most agreea-
bly, prsed and delighted with the and bearing of
my commander, whom now for the FIRST time,
and who received me with open manly, and soldier
like rankness and cordialiiy which completely charmed
me- and made me forget that we had not been comrades
Of dozen campaigns. Alter interval OF general
sersaon, the all absorbng topic OF The army, relative TO
the war in which we were engaged naturally came IN
view. The motives he assigned Tor taking part IN the
peculiarly characteristic, and different
from any OF those which generally supposed to have
actuaed the mass OF our citizens who rushed by thou
sand and tens Of thousands 10 the theatre OF Acon that
could not but be struck with them.
He said in substance, nearly as can recoeci,
that in bis section OF the Union the very unpopu
lar that he, nevertheless, was among those who believed
il 10 be just and that whether Just not that
il had commenced, II ought TO be prosecuted with ygor
to favorable termination After decided stand be
had taken in behalf OF the policy OF the government and
the subject OF the Justice, the expedency and the
cessty even, OF The war; he knew he said, that 1T would
do for him shrink from any of the legitimate
sequences OF the views he had urged upon his fellow
countrymen adding, wha, then readily believed and
Of which am now more than ever convinced, that he
had not the least disposition TO avoid those consequences,
although be bad nothing to play for in the great game OF
which was then gong on--hayng already declined
higher honors than were possible Tor him, at his time
OF lie TO win in another and untried career. When,
therefore, New Engan was called upon 10 furnish her
quota OF men for the war, he felt bound consistency,
only to offer hs services, but to his inu.
ence in obtaining those of his fellow, citizens.
From this conversation, al became satisfied that
The leading motive OF General Pierce in coming TO Mexico
paiiO.ism pure and undehled by any selfish or
sodid motive; and believing this. should have respected
ure. But his military career not failure, as there
abundance OF evdence to prove. His march from Vera
Cruz Pueba conceded all hands TO have been OF
The most brilliant and successful OF the and drew
from the whole army, from the Genera-n. chief 10 the
lowest susaiern generous and unqualified commends-
ton. This march was performed in midsummer, under
burning tropical sun, and through a country infested
with ipnumerable bands OF guerillas" and sngulary
favorable for their operations With these active and
erocious bandit, the General hal several skrmsbes in
one OF which, in particular, he displayed less courage
and gallantry soldier than capacity and conduct
commander AT the Puene Nacional," in leading on
party OF his men against barrcade on the bridge, he
received bullet through his hat while another grazed
his cheek producing material damage, fortunately, in
either case, but proving at the time that he not
more backward in making himself acquainted with the
arguments OF war than with those OF the law.
The same gallant and solder-Gke bearing marked the
conduct OF the General occasion which under
my own observation II was during the evening attack
upon the enemy's entrencbed camp at Contreras that
Pierces brigade ordered 10 the support OF Smiths in
attempt upon the front oil the Mexican position The
which these troops were Obliged 10 pursue for some
threequaftes OF mile lay along rough and narrow road
rough the Psigo and under heavy IRE from the Mex
lean batteries well known 10 military that, OF
all the OF battle there dreaded by
recruits than storm oil heavy shot and shells IN
this species OF warfare, favore one by the way with
the Mexicans) General Pierce inexperienced ns
the new levies he commanded; but he weatbered the
iron tempest like old yeeran and well knowing the
effect OF word hy spoken IN crisis like this, he
posted himself conspcuously in the line OF the enemys
heaviest fire. which was then concentrated upon Msgru
ders battery and addressed his they dehled past
him, in language appropriate and spirit stirring that
lint ha ard and nj fyar