Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-07-31
GENERAL PIERCE AS AN OFFICER.

We publish this week the following let
ter from Gen. Wynkoop. in reply to let
ter addressed to him by Judge Palmer and
others, at Pottsville, in relation TO the mil.
itary qualifications Of Gen. Franklin Pierce,
our candidate for the Presidency. Gen.
Wynkoop had every opportunity of judg-
ing Of the qualifications of Gen. Pierce,
and speaks of him in the highest terms as
do all who know him, as a statesman, SOL
dier, and gentleman.
WAsHiNoros, D. c., JvLY 9, 1852.
GeHtlemen--
I am obliged to you for your let
ter of July 9th, and take great pleasure III
promptly replying to ii, During The ias'
war with Mexico, knew General FRANKLIN
PIERCE personally and well, but it Is proper
to say that il was not my good fortune 10
par,icipaie with him in those several battles
wherein he earned for himself 30 justly the
high reputation of gallan, soldier and
good General.
My knowledge of Gen Pierce, was how
ever the reflected opinion Of the whole
army. From the rank and file, upward, he
was universally regarded as discriminating
self sacrificing and devoted officer. The
men esteemed it favor TO serve with him,
and officers deemed themselves unusually
fortunate TO be brigaded under his COM
mand.
The united testimony OF Gems. Scott, Quit
man, Shields, Pillow, and others, amply
concur in this regard, and the detailed his,o.
ry of his services makes up an aggregate
which the fair, truth loving American can
not consider without pride.
When the requsition was made upon the
State of New Hampshire for volunteers,
Franklin Pierce was the first 10 enroll him.
self as private in the ranks. Fired by his
example, in an almost incredibly shor, space
Of timc two Companies were organized, and
the Ten Regiment Bill having passed in the
meanwhile, Mr.. Polk rendered him the
Coloneicy Of the 9th Regiment Of Infantry
TO which command the New Hampshire
companies were attached. Ignorant of the
minor details of the service and knowing
that the regiment required immediate pre-
paration for the field, he modesly declined
the appointment in favor OF Col. Ransom, a
soldier by educaton and who, few months
later, glorously fell willis, leading that reg
iment to the assault upon Chepultepec.
General Pierce was afterwards offered the
appointment of Brigadier General, which he
accepted, and Immediately entered upon the
duties of his new position, with alacIity and
decision. He arrived at Vera Cruz, during
the mos, peslilenlial season of the whole
year, June %, 1879 and found there a
camp filled with disease and death. Leav.
ing that poin, in the middle of July with the
9th 18th and 18th Infantry, lin all abou,
$500 men, he made one of the most rapid
and successful marches recorded during the
whole war. His troops were new and TO a
great extent undsciplned-ihe road was be.
set with Guerrilas along the whole line, and
the heat was intensely oppressive yet
steadily, firmly and brayely he encountered
these difficulties, always leading, always
encouraging, nntil he reported TO Scott, a,
Puebla, with siigher loss in proportion to
the size Of his command than that sustained
BY any other commander under like circum.
stances. A, the National Bridge, when at.
tackled by Guerri!as, he led his command
against the barricades, and IN the charge
received ball through his hat. The news
Of his successful progress had preceded him
10 Perote, and upon his arrival there found
IN him all that could attach to the respect
and admiration OF soldier.
Gen. Pierce saw his first general battle a,
Conlreras, August 10, !s47. Cen. Scott, in
describing ,ha details of this engagement,
says that Gen. Pierce was "more than three
hours under heovy fire Of Artillery and mus.
kets along the clnsost impossible rapine in
front and 10 the left Of the entrenehed camp
Besides twenty-five pieces Of Artillery, the
camp and ravine sSerc defended closely by mas.
sss of Infantry, and these again supported By
clouds Of Cavalry at hand and hovsring ii,
r,clc.
Gen. Pierce was ordered forward with the
9th and l2lh Regiments n, abou, o'clock
and it was late in the evening Of the SANG
day. after having been exposed TO a mur
derous fire OF more than three hours, tina
his horse fell and injured him. An ole
friend OF mine and an officer OF distinction
told me al the time of Pierces' advance upot
Valencia's camp at Contreras, he was siand
ing beside Major General Twiggs, watching
their approach, and as they came up rnde
that whitening fire, led by an officer on
black horse, Twiggs exclaimed, by Hes.
veus it is The gallant old Third--see how
steadily they move up" Il was the Nntl
Infantry, and Pierre leading
Although severely hurt and sufficiently II
have justified his retiring under surgica
treatment, we find him again in the field ol
the next day, and here ! propose 10 Civ
General SCOTS own testimony 10 his con
duct. In his report of August 2sih, whei
speaking OF the occurrences on the 2oIh h
says--"Aeeord,ngly the tlco Advanced dtpison
and Shields Brigade marched from Contrero
under the iu1usaintc orders of General PHLo,