Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-10-09
SKETCH 0FTHE LIFE OF GEN. PIERCE
Democratic Candidaie for the Presidency.


!, General Pierce, on resgning his cornn,issio,
returned to Concord His reception was moa,
honorable TO the patriotic citizens of that town
They assembled in large numbers. and Gan
Low acted as president Of the day. General
3 Pierce was accompanied by Lieutenant Tbomas
I. Pierce, of the ninth regiment, his acting aid
: and Lieutenant Cove, Of the same regirnep,
General Low, on addressing the citizens. alludsd
to The object of the meeting paid tribute 10 tbe
nigh motives and profound sense Of honor from
which General Pierce acted described the tr
umPhs oi the American army as ii planted the
American flag on the Mexican capital, and con-
cluded as follows;
Here we see our fiend iriumphanty leading
on his command. But this is not all we see of
blm, We behold the camp after the hour Of bat.
tie has passed away. We behold II wrappod in
silence Of night. We seek the killed and wopn,
ded and we look for our friend We find hin,
unattended passing through the long line of tents
IN which we're to be seen the pad cheek and
exhausted frame Of the dying soldier. To min.
lister to them is the business of his lonely rounds
tie visits the tents. be hears their last words. and
and receives their last moral requests and e1.
| pehds upon them his last shrng to procure-for
/ them hecessaries which they could not, in such
place, otherwise obtain, Is not such son
worthy of the State that gave him birb1'-
LCheersJ Turning 10 General Pierce, he con
tnoed; Il can say no more, sir Your seryi.
ces are understood here; and now in the maine
OF This meeting, and in my own behalf likewise,
bid you hearty welcome home to your adopted
town. Aud in the name of all the people in ey- I
cry town in this State congratulate YOU upon
your safe return 10 the capital of your native
State;"
General Pierce now advanced to the front Of
the platform TO reply. He abored under deep
emotions, the nature Of which could be well gath
cred from the tone and topics of his remarks. |
Although one of the most forcible and fluent
speakers in the country, on this occasion he a,
voded everything in The shape Of speaking for
effect lie spoke of matters which intensely
interested his audience:
Gle said, whatever had been his portion of
the danger encountered or exposure endured. or
The long sad days and sleepless nights of those
he had left behind, none of which would have
occurred to him but for the remarks of the nresi.
dent, he had been more than compensated by ,
the reception he had met, setting aside the con ,
cionsness of duty performed. IL LEFT mn emblr-
rassment in addressing the meeting that he could
hardly account for. lie fell profoundly grealiul {
to that BejnI who not only watches over the ma. !
Z
humbles ind,i iual. lie did not take 10 himself !,
he honor Of attracting such a numerous ande1 ,
cited assembly as stood before and around him.
The gathering was on account Of 'he great num- +
1er oi their gallant sons, brothers, aud friends
bat had formed part of his command. They 9
lad come to hear not only Of those who live, but A
# those who, having displayed their devotion to n
heir country, now repose on a foreign soil :,
ct speech to an audience acluaed by the feelings n
'hlch he perceived, would be altogether out of n
lace II would be a sort Of desecration to at n,
'mpt any display on such occusons. Upon Ike !,
lain topic which they must be anxious TO hear /,
bout, he could no. frame a set speech. They -,
sned 70 hear Of the ninth regiment, which was n,
ssembIed in such hot haste, and in such hot n
aste met the enemy. There was not gen. 80
'ous or just man in The State who had not 81
onourced 10 favor of their motives Lqyinp 70,
ide all tbs ties Of home, and the fair promises
youth and It's enloymeuts, and suffarinns the n,
rlings which press the life blood FROM our Young en-
arts, they responded TO their cuuntry's cal,wb 40
high moral purpose that could not be exceeded. Go
'During the three weeks al Vera Cruz, cans. am
by the want Of mules and wagons Tor fraus> al
ta.on-a delay aggravated by widespread ina
knees he never heard a murmur from a ;ns
dier under his command A more cheerful On
OF lads they could not have been If they had f, q
en- at home by their own happy fresides.- he
eir subsequent exploits had been read in the So
cial reports. He would not detail them. On wo
march, ia the fight everywhere, one predom- m,
Mt feeling animated them. The question was c,a,
who should he ordered forward: but which rny
ps should be allowed 10 90 forward first a,'.
ilhs, we enemy a, night they were cheer ofli,
in their tents, and longing for the morning. a.,
ich should bring with il the order to move for ~,
I'd to battle. New Hampshire had no occa, h.;
} for any other feeling than that Of pride in 8.
ard to her sons who belonged to The command sian
y had proved themselves brave. devoed, SELF ns,,
rificing -pirits. And Concord, TOO was well 1,o,
resented among them. There was Henry .,rs,
dwell, one OF the bavest and most determin- ,rd
soldiers in the army. There was Sergeant Cor
veil, who was shot plump through The head %,
'humbusco. As bis last breath flowed be nres
spered to me, DO he boys say | behaved n
Z II ! have, write home 10 my people. - , sal
q there was Sergeant Pike, who had his leg n N
oh in advancing along on a causeway rim
II by three batteries. Two amputations r, he
b did not answer the purpose were perform pier,
nd third was deemed hopeless. Die be Ass,
IL was thought. 4 know better than they c,,,,
IN Try another; and when they cut il again, ,bs5
'e they will cut Il so that it viii stay cut. 81
ampaaiicn was performed, and be lived ole =
gh i. He and The others named were prin. ibe n
In the new levies The printers exceed By prow
~ per cent, those Of any other vocaiions; oot !,
N account II their intelligence and high rseeit
they have proved the most efficient soIjiers ar \.
: field -.
ensral Pierce also named Brown and Sweet confd
'ncofe, as particularly distinguished; and pose
I'm Cady and Lieutenant Potter and Dana, n the
Old line. Nor DID be forges Sergeant er an,
OF Manchester, who fell at the head Of leg,s'
'iumu. and was always there when there vas q
NJ fghling 20 he dane Rs;s l. .,...i... .s.,.t: