Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-08-18
From tho Louisiana Courior.l
Cen. Pierce in Mexico.
NEW ORLEANS. Lulv 3D.. las


Col, j. F. FL Claiborne.
DEAR SIR In the New Orleans Bee OF
the I'd inst, perceive an assertion rela,
tive to tie military services OF Gen. Pierce
which Is so erroneous and unjust towards
that gentleman that, having had the hon.
or OF serving with him, cannot allow it
10 pass unrefuted ; others, less charitable
than the Bee, have even gone so far as tc
accuse him indirectly of couardice! Il
was my luck during the war with Mexico
osee or hear ofnocowRrds in our small but
gallant army-especially among our gen.
oral officers, some of whom, on the con.
trary, on to many occasions we're but toe
rash and impetuous confounding the du-
ties OF the Subaltern with those of the
commanding general, the proper position
OF the latter not being always at the head
OF his columns Of attack, but wherever lie
can best see to the execution of his orders
when, however, they waver or faltcr, and
victory had become doubtful, then, and
not till then, does it become his impera.
tive duty to puthimself at their head, and
colors in hand, if need be, like NAPOLEON
at Arcole, show his soldiers the way to
'J W w SlOLlOuS ueUtn
The article referred to says, "He (Gen.
~ was present at none of the battles
fought by Gen. Scott :" and further on.
that his only exploits during the war with
Mexico, were limited to fall from his
horse and a sprain % Now, this is bold
assertion, which arises no doubt from n
wan. OF proper information on the subject
tor the editors of the Bee are generally
TO Just and correct not to admit their or.
ror after shall have stated what posi-.
lively know on the subject, either from
what saw personally or from the unques.
tionabIe authorities of eye witnesses. In
the first place, few days after the arrival
OF Gen. Pierce at Vera Cruz, in the month
OF July, he had organized and equipped
nearly $500 now levies. volunteers and
recruits for the army then at Puebla
Notwithstanding all the difficulties he had
to encounter He started for Vera Cruz
on the 18th of July, and after MANY diff.
!cultles encountered on the route, and be-
ing harrassed by the guerillas, (Riply's
history OF the war with Mexico, D. 1854.
vol. I'd, under that celebrated chief aud
roooer Padre Jarauta, he arrived in safety
with his command at Puebla ON the 6tI
OF August, having lost but few of his mer
from sickness and disultory FIRE of the
guerillas.
AT the battle Of Contreras l had the on.
portunity to see him under heavy Ere
OF shells and shot, before his HORSE had
fallen upon him, and saw nothing in hi.
manner and looks, Notwithstanding the
novelty Of the position to him, (for thi,
was rather different affair from his rue,
TllIa warfare, which could have possibly
been interpreted as tho sentiment of feaI
or irresolution, let alone that of cowar,
u'o' :. on the contrary hc appeared tc
Ine 70 DC quite at home for new hand
az .ne business will not assert, howev,
er, that ne was fully of the opinion of tho
o%ea,sh nero at his first battle, "that the
Whistling of the balls was delightful mn
sic to fight by - for saw few Who agroe ="
with HIM in that respect especially Sbon
each solid shot that struck the pedr;~o1
spread death and destruction in every. al.
recNon. But he was in appearance "a,
from being also of Henry the Fourth's (oi
France mind at his first battle. e ina,
.MhistIing of the balls were SO disapreea.
+ole to his nervous system that he felt
more like running away from than TO-
ds'the enemy" Yet notwithstandino
this admission, but few battles afteT.
wards his advice to his officers was, (" cen.
' .iems en- follow my white-crested plume
H." I M,lI always see it waving wherever
,t tbo S usngeF is the greatest and the fight
' 't.D hottest, and it will always lead You
'on 70 victory. To any one who has ev.
'er seen the +" Pedrigal " which had 20 ho
crossed at the battle of Contreras to ,' De
at the entrenched camp of Valencia tS "S
wonder is. not that the Generals horse
' ." have fallen and sprained the
Generals foot" but that he should NOT
have broken his neck for those who were
dismounted had the utmost difficulty to
get across thasbroken and rugged country
and under any other circumstancss a.