Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-10-02

Bridge Here the Mpxcans were strongly nos.
! ted. The place furnished strong natural advan.
tages' Across The main bridge they had thrown
a harrcade, and on high bluff which commau.
ded il they had added breastworks There WIS
no way in which this position could he turned,
and the Generals artillery would have been in.
effective orthe most commanding point in which
il could be placed. He determined to cross un.
der the fire Of the enemy's escopeues. His or,
der to storm these words was admirably execu,
ted. Lieutenant Colonel B0nham's battalion
rushed forward with shout, under heavy fire
from the enemy that struck down many Of his
men. But they pressed forward and leaped the
barricade, followed by Captain Duperus compa-
ny OF cavalry. In ten minutes the enemy were
in flight in every direction. General Pierce
was by the sid . of Colonel Bonham in this at.
tack. Both had narrow escapes The. Colon~
ELS horse was shot, and ball passed through
the rim of the Generals hat. This was q we'll
devised and gallant affair, and the fame of il
went fore General Pierce, and he was hand.
somely spoken of in the army. This was the
| first action of much account in which he was en-.
gagged.
| General Pierce was again in action at Contre
ras on the I9h Of August. His brigade
was ordered to attack the enemy in front. He
came in sight of the MeSicans at two O'Clock in
the afternoon, and led his men in the attack
He was under calling fire OF the enemy three
hours.
General Scou's official account of General
Pierce is that Of being "more than three hours
under heavy fire Of artillery and muskels along
fhe almost impassible ravins n front and to the
le of the enrenched camp. Besides twenty
two pieces of artillery, the camp and ravine were
defended closely by masses Of infantry, and these
again supported hy clouds Of cavalry AT hand and
lowering in view" This was the front of the
enemy's works al Coulreras. The gallant ninth
and twelfth regiments of infantry General Pier
ce's command- with great alacrily and
GOODNESS, and 10 the admiration OF tar army, for
three -iourths of a mile, under a heavy fire of
round shot and shells, To position which they
noby msintained from two ill nine o'clock p. m
Is he was leading his brigade through perfect
shower of round shot and shells from the strong
entrencbmens in from and the musketry of the
infantry, his horse, being at full speed, fell un1er
him upon a ledge Of rocks. He sustained severe /
injury by the shock and bruises, but especially I
by a severe sprain in his left knee, which came
under him. AT first he was not conscious of
being much hurt, but soon became exceedingly
faint. DIR. Richie, a surgeon in his command.
assisted him and administered to bin. In few
moments he was able with difficulty 10 walk,
when he pressed forward to Captain Magruder's
battery Here he found lbe horse of Leulen-
ant Johnson, who bad just received a mortal
wound. lie was permitted to take this horse,
was assisted into the saddle, and continued in il
until eleven O'Clock that night. At nine o'clock
he was the senior oiiic on the field, when he
ordered his command to a new position. The
night was dark, the rain poured in torrents aud
the ground was tiflicutyet the General kept still
on duty. Al one O'Clock, in his biyouac be re-
ceived orders from General Scott by GENERALLY
Twiggs and Captain lee, when, at the head oil
his command, he moved to take another posi-
ton, 10 he in readiness to aid in the op5ra ions
ol the next morning. Such was General PIER
ce's service in the afternoon and night Of August
10.
At daylight on the morning Of the ooh his
assaed the enemy with great inlrep-
idty, and contributed much To the consummalion
Of the work begun on the previous day. That I
morning Valencia, with seven thousand troops, :
" as defeated. General Pierce still kept the !
saddle, aud was at the head Of his brigade. lie |
was ordered to pursue the flying enemy, and as !
ne passed the eneiny's works The scene was aw- .
ul: the road, he says, aud adjacent feds, every Il
where strewed with the manged bodies, Of he I
lead and the dying. ave continued The pursuit." 2
le says, "unlil one o'clock, when our front came Q
Up with the enemy's strong works at Chuubus c
% and San An'onio." There, after one o'clock, d
bis great conflict commenced. Il
Al San Angel dispositions had been made to !,
uack in reverse the enemy's works on the San y
Augustine road. Gen. Scott ordered him lo >
march his brigade, in concert with that of the b
4 - ] 4
" between Santa Casriia and the above road, p
0 order to cut of the retreat oiihe enemy. This il
osiun was promptly reached. The enemy's /
me was found in perfect order. extending a. far g
a either direction as the eye could reach, and o
resen,ing a splendid show. lie was vigorous. q
, and successfully auacked. Al The head Of his d
ommand, General Pierce arrived at ditch n
,hicb il was impossible for bis horse 10 leap. cI
Ie dismounled. and, without thinking Of his ia. .,
Iry. he hurried forward At the head Of bis brig Al
ie for about three hundred yards into the midst pr
the ehpmy's fire. Turning suddenly upon n
S knee-ihe carthage of which had been bad -
niured-be Giulei, and I'll upon a bank in IN
rect range aud perfect reach Of the Mericar "a
ot. The route Of the Mexican force was soon Va
mpleie. Colonel O'Hafa, who saw hlm and
rived with him ia this battle, says "he was "a
md in the fremosi rank Of aaitle, and through 60
osl of that hIuoiy day be was The spirit Of the ID
ing in which be was placed 50
This was the fret time that be fIught under ths
oits eve, who, in bis despatch, Terms him '1he Va
liant Gen. Pierce" That noble solder. Gen. sal
orih. TOO, 10 bis official report, acknou edges fl
, obligations and expresses bis admiration ol ma
gallant hearing Gen. Pillow. asp. says 10 ob
official report, (August "a, l5i7.) Brig 81
n. Pierce iboagb badly injured by the fill Of ihs
horse while gallaHily leading his brigade into NJ
ihckesl Of the battle on The lgh. d d not qlH rec
field but continued in command Of bis brig -
:. two regiments Of whick--ihe oh and l2h ms
antry under the inimedi ale carnrnsnd Of the ma
-. f.-f...f D.. - -. C-fo,.fi II.