The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-09-25


rear by Pillows anil Twigys divisions both.
with Shields brigade. under the immediate
command of Genera! Pillow 1t was now that
Gen. Pierce joined his command. At Coya-
can. the general in chief came up and Capt.
Lee, OF the engineers. with Capt. kearncy's
troop Of the l>t Dragons. and the rifle regi-
mcnt, under Loring. was sent to rcconnoitrc
IN the rear OF San Antonio. He then dcs
patched Gen. Pillow with CadwalIadcr'> brig
alc, to make an attack upon it in conjunction
with Worth on the opposite side. He also
LETT. Lieut.. Stevens of the engineers, sup
ported by Lieut.. Smiths company OF sappcrs
and miners. to reconnotrc the strongly fort
feed church OF ChurubuSco and then ordered
Twiggs with his l>t brigade Smiths less the
rifles, and Taylor's battery of the LIST artillery,
to make the attack. 1t was here that the 50
called 'twrign hgion' made so obstinate a
stand, and instead of one gun battery, one of
seven guns had to be attacked and Brig.
Gen. Riley was ordered up in support.
General Pierce. under the guidance of
Capt. Lee. was sent by a third road. little
further to the left, to attack the encmv's
cnt off the retreat towards the capital. Next
Shields, senior Brigadcr to Pierce, was di-
rcctrd to follow that general, and take COM
mand of both bri"adcs Pierce. lust able to
keep his saddle" there being no present dan
ger, rode calamity forward at the head of
his command, until the balls of the enemy be-
gan to fall close to our lines, and then faint
ed, from exhaustion and fatigue" and was
carried to the rear So that, lowing to the
fall OF his horse at Contrcras," the '.gallant
general ~"S nga'n compclIed To SuGtr HE
sommn"d u his Mlp"kc to DE .oIrc upou the
T,lIam Ransom, who, on this occasion. was
under the immediate command of General
Shields.
General Scott. learning from Capt. Lee, on
his return to head quarters, that Gen Shields
was in danger of being outhankcd, if not over
whelmed by greatly superior numbers, i'm
mediatcly sent, under Major Summer, he RI
flies. which had been detached from Smiths
hrgadr and Capt. Siblcy's troop. ID drag
oons' under the guidance of Capt Lee, to the
support of Shields. In winding march of a
mile around to the ri .ht, this temporary d.
Yer ion found itself ON the edge o. an open
the capital. The enemy, favored by better
ground, and supported by three thousand cav
airy, were enabled to Illustrate this move
mcnt, by more rapid extension of his right.
1t was now determined to attack in front; and
Shields Immediately concentrated his divis
ion and made that gallant charge through the
cncmy'S centre, which contributed so LARGELY
to the success OF our arms at ChurubuscO.-
In this long and fierce encounter, in which
$50 of the enemy were made prisoners.
Piercc'> brigade, nndcr tie communal of RAN
SOM. did its duty so ably as to call forth the
respect and admiration of every true hearted
soldier. Bnt ''o~ing to tie tM of his hor<e
the day betore." the 'yalI'tm Gen. Pierce" was
prevented from sharing in its glory,
1t is not at all necessary to follow thc GAL
liant 9th,and the remaining portion of picrce'>
brigade in the various other actions of the
valley. History will do them Justice. whcth-
or it speaks Of them as the stormers at Cha
pultepcc, or of those who were amongst the
first TO enter the city. and plant the old fash
toned stars and stripes upon the citadel of
Mexico.
That Gen. Pierce was not present in anv
Of the actions of the valley after the 10Th of
August, is most certain. General Scott in
his report dated National Palace. Mexico.
Sept. Sth. 1917. SAYS: at Moline del Rev.
Sept. Sth. but three bri gades. with some cav
airy and artillery, making in all 1921 men.
were in the battle These were Garland's
and Clarkc's, of General Worth's own diyis
ion-thc latter brigade under command Of
Colonel Mcintosh (Col. Clarke being sick)
and Gen. Cadwallader'S of the third division.
If this is not sufficient. perhaps the testimony
of General Worth will be of more Importance.
He saws in letter to General Scott dated
Dec. -. 1917: Il have to assert that the
battle had been won mare Mau on. hour be-
.tore Ge". Pi'rre's b,iy,de, or any oMer sup
part Tcoched the gro",.d; that had been
nearly that length of time engaged in col
lccting the wounded and the dead: THAT zen.
Picrrc'S brign'e dm nat approoch FL JI,lino
to replace Garland, and to occupy that cap-
turcd work, until two hours after its arrival"
Chapultepcc was the next point of attack
after the battle of FL Moline del Rev. Gen
"ral Scott in his report of that battle saws -
major General Pillows approach on the
west side, lay through an open grove. filled
with sharp shooters, who were speedily dis
odgra; when. being mp with the front of the
attack. and emerging into open space. at the
foot of rocky activity, that gallant leader
was struck down by an agonzino wound
The immediate command dcvolved upon Bril-.
Cen Cadwalladcr. N the absence attic senior
Briqndirr. Pierce, IN. inruld since tile erc,,tS
Of Augud 19H."
battery after battery along the Belen
Aqne'lurt was taken. As early as two o'clock
on the afternoon of the 18th. we had effected
an entrance into the city: Int Gen. Pierce
SIN consequence of $crcrc mdipos;tion," was
"ronfned to his bcH." until the fighting was
over, and then. at most unusual hour for a
sick man to leave his bed, he came forth,
that he mi"ht have the 'noHon" of cntcripo
the city of MeNiro. "mith the lendin1 t,oop<''
Was he not a brave General, who fell with
his horse at Contrcras, and received so severe
hurt that neither lcech. cup nor lancet had
to he applied who was able to mount his
horse and then faint at Chmrnhusco who
was we'll enough TO attend to the "armisticc."
but indisposed at Chapultepec who was
so ''S'ch' as to be confined to his bed when we
were taking battery after battery along the
Gclen Aqncduct. and then weH enouob 10
leore III" s;rl' b"d when Santa Anna, with his
troops: had fled. and the AIcalle appeared
with the white flag? Was he not a brave
man? Respectfully.
: \ DISCHARGED SOLDIER.
HAVANA MATTEES.-.Ncr York, Sept 90
Havana letters report the total number of
persons under arrest as over 1000. MANY of
whom are in the most abiect and wretched
condition. Among those most recently ar
rested was an old woman 50 years of age and
her two launLt crS aaal IN