The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-09-17
WHOLE NO. 59s.
SHIELDS vINDIcATION.

ZEN. AAEhOE iduucu uioT OtfBduC ~
Vera Cruz in June, lS47; marched from
there 10 PuebIa, where he joined the
headquarters Of the army on the 9th Of
August. On this march, which was very
severe on fresh !evies, his brigade was
constantly barassed and attacked by large
parties Of fgueriIlos. II was the univer-.
sal opinion amongst military men in Pue-
bla at that time that Gen. Pierce con-
Quoted the march with uncommon ability,
and exhibited remarkable skill and cour.
age in his conflicts with the enemy.
Soon after his arrival, he entered the
valley of Mexico. The battle Of Con.
treras opened the campaign in that valley,
on the 29h ofAugust. Pierce's brigade
took very active part in that engage
ment. He himself commanded in person
on that occasion, and behaved with ac-
knowledged gallan,ry; and though very
severely injured by fall from his horse
--or rather by the fall Of his horse--he
continued IN command in The midst Of the
FIRE until late in the night, when that &C.
ton terminated.
The battle of Churubusco, one OF the
bloodiest battles of the war, was fought
The mex, day. On this occasion, | was
ordered by lSen. Sco,,,o take command
of Pierce's brigade and the mouniain
howlizer battery, in addition to my own
two regiments, and with this force TO fall
on the enemy's rear and cut off his re-
treat. Pierce and myself with our united
command, proceeded as rapidly as the
ground would permit to carry this order
into faithful execution. Pierce was suf--
(ering dreadiully at this slime from the in-
|jury Of the proceeding day. and, as Gen.
Scott himself says in his report, was only
"just able 20 keep the saddle" As we
approached the epemy's position, directly
under his fire, we encountered deep
ditch, or rather deep, narrow, Shiny
canal, which he'd been previously used
for the purpose ofirrigaion. Il was no
time 10 hesitate; so we both plunged in.
The horse happened TO ride that day was
a light, active Mexican horse. This cir.
cumstance operated in my favor, and
enabled me to extricale myself and horse
after considerable difficulty. Pierce, on
the contrary, was mounted on a large,
and heavy American holse, and man and
horse both sank down and rolled over in
the ditch. There | was compelled to
leave him, for, being in charge of the
whole command; had not a single mo-
ment TO spare, and the manner in which
few moments are employed on such an
occasion may determine The fortune of
a field and the fate Of an army. After
struggling there cannot say how long,
he extricated himself from his horse, and
hurried en- foot to join his command, then
CLOSELY engaged in desperate contest
with the enemy; and there he remained
till, overcome by suffering and exhaustion,
he sank on the ground, and was carried
all but lifeless from the field. This is a
true statement in relation to Gen. Pierce
at Churubusco; and this statement /
would have made at San Augustln, four
days after the battle, when made my Of
fetal report; bat the brigade having re.
Joined IFS division Immediately after the
action, the officers, instead Of reporting
to me who commanded them in battle,
made their report TO their division COM
mander; and as his report on an action.
which he had no opportunity TO witness
cannot be very circumstantial, think ie
due TO military justice 10 make this state
ment at this time, when my silence might
be liable to misconsiructon. Whoever
takes the trouble 10 read my report Of
this engagement dated at San Augustin.
Maxico, 24tb, ls47, will find the follow.
ing paragraph:
"Perce's brigade, under my command
in this action, lost considerable number
in killed and wounded, amongst the lat
ter was the gallant Col. Morgan, Of the
18th. This command baving rejoined it's
division, | have yet received no official re.
port Of lis loss. "
As never received this report, Of
course could make no oificinl statement
on Inc s0oJect.
As my own objectin Introducing this
matter is to place the military conduct Of
Gen. Pierce, while under my command.
in its true ligh. before tas public, | do
not deem il necessary TO follow him
through the reat of the campaign, where
that conduct has never been the subject
of injurious criticism. Permit me 10 say,
in conclusion, that in reference 10 Gen.
PIerce's courage and conduc. in Mexico,
| only do for him VIII o. would be ready
to do for any other gallant officer with
whom ! had the honor 10 selve-that is,
declare the truth in vindicaticn Of bis
military reputation.
JAS, SHIELDS.