The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-24
Letter from Gen. Pillow on the Character
OF Sen. Pierce.
From the Nashville Union. 18th mss
TrN<s I..lx-

Letter from Gen. Pillow ON tho Character
OF Sen. Pierce.
From the Nashville Union 18th mss
COLUMBIA, TENN. July 8, 1852
As everything touching the character of Gen.
Pierce, as well ms the opinion Of our public men,
new interests the public, have thought il not inn
proper to give you, for publication, extract of
private letter Of the late President Polk written
to myself, on the 18th day Of May, lSf7, and deli
vored TO me in the city of Puebla, Mexico The
extract is as follows viz
HYour two Brigadier- Generals, Pierce and Cad
walader, who win he under your immediate COM
mand, are noble men. Gen. Pierce is now the first
man in New England He is man Of fine talents,
He is my personal friend, and you may fully confde
in him. He was with me in the House Of Represen-
tatives Tor several years, and afterwards in the
Senate. Gen Cadwalacer is q gentleman OF high
character and ofdecided military reputation You
may well be proud Of two such officers under your
OfGen. Cadwalladcr. who is not before the coun-
try, il is not my purpose to make any remark His
character for gallant conduct and chivalric bearing
has never been. and never will be. questioned Nor
should deem il necessary TO add a single remark
to the paragraph so FULLY expressive of the opinion
of the late distinguished Elk President of the nation,
except for the very unjust liberal. and false re-
Elections upon the conduct of Gen Pierce, while an
officer Of the army in Mexico, by certain eastern
presses. and by Senator Jones and Mr.. Netherand,
of Tennessee.
Mexico, that General Pierce fully sustained the
exalted opinion of ex President Polk will be seen
by reference to the reports of Majors General
Scott and Worth, and those of my own. These
dispatches were all prepared with a personal
knowledge of the gallant bearing of General
Pierce, and at time and under circumstances
exempting those officers from any possible mo-
tive to- over estima'e the Importance Of his
services or the character of his conduct. The
reports Of the first and last of these officers agree
in the statement of fact. that General Pierce,
was severely injured by the fall of his horse the
rocks Of the Pedrgal while CALAMITY leading his
brigade in the battle of Contreras They also bear
full testimony to the fact. that though badly in
jared he might have retired to the hospital as dis
abied for duty, and ''though barely able to keep
his saddle" 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 be faintcd, fell from his horse,
and was borne from the field.
When 1t is known to the country that the whole
army, including Gen Pierce, had been upon duty
from early on the morning on the 10Th till late in
the day on the 10th Of August, without retr shment
or repose, and that Gen Pierce badly in
Jured by the fall of his horse that he lay upon the
hed and in the midst of the pedriga all night, and
that next day he was barely able to keep his sad
die, before this long and bloody battle commenced
aftera long and hot pursuit of the enemy; when these
facts are known to the country they are to those
who shared in the gores and suffering ofthat field,
am persuaded that no one will either feel
press surprise THAI 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
pcsumlIlR u great zeal TO suppose tlaC those
who bore him from the field Should have known the
difference between officer whose physical strength
was actually SO over-taxed, and in state of total
helplessness and Inconsistencies, and one who had
from timidity, affected this condition.
But 1t is impossible for an intelligent people to
believe that had an officer of Gen. Pierce's rank
and command so acted, his immediate division
commander. and Gen Scott himself and Generals
Worth and Sbieds-the former OF these his associ-
ate on the field, the latter commanding him in that
part ofit-would all have concurred in making out
false reports to the governments thus dishonoring
themselves to screen from merited condemnation
and disgrace officer who had basely and cowardy
shrunk from duty. Those who entertain this OPT
MON utterly discredi and dishonor all those officers
and among them Gen Scott himself: for upon no
other Imposition the character and conduct of
Zen. Pierce for courage and galantry be called in
question.
Why not call in question that of General Scott
himself! Because during the battle of Contreras
he was, with the exception of short period, at San
Augustine while, during that of Churubusco he
vas at Coycan and during the battle of Moline del
Rev and during the stormDg of Chepultepec, he was
at Tacabaya. And yet who has ever done SO Gen
scott might have been nearer these fields ? He was
however, near enough to successfully direct the op,
erations OF the army, ar the result fully shows.
de knew that the army required not his mme-
date presence to inspire it TO deeds of courage
and heroic daring. He knew that no results
would be obtained by unnecessarily exposing
MS person; and hence he prudently aad wisely
occupied positions, though somewhat remote,
from which he could safely direct the opera
tions Of the army. Yet it would be as reasona.
Bile and as just to reflect upon General Scotts con-
Duct and character for gallantry Gen. Pierce's.
Ii General Pierce had sought a less active partci-
patton in these bloody operations. the wound he re-
ceived by the fall OF his horse would have thrown
him out of the after operations, and he would (as
he could with honor) have retired to the hospital
or his tent, rs disabled for duty. aud thus have
avoided all risk in tbe battle of Churubusce. IT,
owing to the injury he received upon the 10Th, he
had less distinguish part than did others, yet
his participation was b. no means a NJ gative one.
An officer, who won honorable mertion for gall
lantry and good conduct, in battles where all had
so full and glorious share, in the official reports
OF every officer upon the field who his senior,
Gncludipg Gen Scott himselD could have perform
ed no negative part upon other fields, and among
officers less disin guished, his services would have
greatly distinguished him. and might have satisfied
the highest aspirations Of the most ambitious sol
der.
Having personal knowledge of the facts hero
Stated, feel IL duty of booor TO state tdem, in
yindicaton Of the character Of brother officer I'm
justly reflected upon by those knowing personally
nothing Of the facts and il knew self, would
net by my silence acquesce in any false statement
before the public 80 deeply wounting TO the pride
and sensibilitles Of an American soldier, whether
whig or democrat.
have wish to throw myself before the public
nor into the canvass, nor before he country, to
make any issue with any portion of the press Nei-
Their do l seek or wish a collision with any gentle
man OF the wing party. ] have the honor Of per-
sonal acquaintance and ofknd relations, with both
the gentlemen named above, as Of my own State,
and mention their names. that mny be under
stood, &c connecting their statements-hased, as !
suppose, upon erroneous information But be this
sc II may, the imputation IL unjust, is false, aud
calumnious. am, sir, with g'eat respect, your
oosoiens servant, GIDEON j. PILLOW