The North-Carolinian., 1852-09-04
The STATE IS THE COMMON PROPERTY OF IT'S CITIZEN
VILE. N. sEPIEMBER 4 1852 <S--~z-zSsSs


lon bel 9th Of Asgust.. Pflfce's brigade
lock very active part 10 that eneasemenf.
/ q = hsmseif commanded IN person on fI,at
|occaslon, apd behaved viii, a<k nowISj eesl
gallAptry and though very severely in.
jcteH by~a fall from his horse-ors rather
By the fall of his horse--he continued IN
command IN the midst of the IRE until
la a!e e the night, when that action ter,ni-
mated
;. Me battle OF Churubusco, one Of the
biesdiest battles of the war. was foueht the
nex1 day. On this occasionsI was ordered
BY Gen. Scott to take comm nd ufsPierce's q
aif and the snountain .hoai er.hattery
n adYtioh TO III yesUr. tx, II
with this force to fall on the enemy's rear
and cut off his retreat. Pierce and myself
with our united commands, proceeded as
rapidly as the nature of the ground would
permit to carry this order into faithful ex-
ecution. Pierce was suffering dreadfully
at this time from the injury Of the preced-
ing day, and. as Gen. Scott himself says
in h'slreport, was oniy y '.just able to keep
the saddie.'' AS we approached the>e
emy S position. directly under bis fire. we
encountered deep ditch, or rather, deep
narrow, slimy canal, which had been Previ-
ousIy used for the purpose of irrigation.
II was no time to hesitate; SO we both plung-
ed in. The horse happened to ride that
day, was light, active Mexican horse.
This circumstance operated in my favor.
andfenabled me to extricate myself and
horse after considerable difficulty. Pierce
on the contrary. was mounted on large.
heavy American horse. 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 single moment to spare, and the
manner in which few moments are en-
ployed 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 on foot to join his com mand.
then closely engaged in desperate con-
test with the enemy; and there he remain
ed till. overcome by suffering and exhaus-
ton, he sank on the ground, and was car
rIcd all but lifeless from the fieId.-This
is true statement of facts in relation to
Gen. Pierce at Churubusco; and this state
ment would have made at San Augustn,
four days after the battle, when made my
eficial report; but the bri gaIe having re-
asiiuet its division immediately after the
action, the officers, instead Of reporting to
me who commanded them in battle, made
their report to their division commander:
aud as his report of an action, which he
had no opportunity to witness cannot be
very circumstan,ial, think it due to mil
itary Justice to make this statement at this
time. when my silence might be liable to
misconstruc ction. Whoever takes the trou-
ble to read my report Of this engagement
dated at San Augustin. Mexico, August
Gath, l847, will find the following para
graph:
'.Pierce's brigade, under my command
in this action, lost a considerable number
in killed and wounded; amongst the latter
was the gallant Col. Morgan. of the 18th.
This command having rejoined its division,
have yet received no official report Of its
loss
AS never received this report. of course
I could make no official statement on the
subject.
As my only object in Introducing this
matter is to place the military conduct
of General Pierce. while under CIV com
mand. in its true light before the public.
| do not deem it necessary to follow him
through the rest of the campaign. where
that conduct has never been the subiec of
injurious criticism. Permit me to say, in
that in reference to General
Pierces courage and conduct in Mexico. |
only do for him what | would be ready to
do for any other gallant officer with whom
had the honor to serve-that is, declare
the truth in vindcation of his military re-
putatlon.
regret the unexpected length Of this
letter, but the Importance of the subject
must constitute my apology.
have the honor to be, gentlemen, your
obedient servant,
JAS. SHIELDS.
To Messrs H B McGinnis. Mathew Plum
stead, John J. Crawford, and others. Ga
lena, Illinois.
CHANCE FOR YoUSG W1Dow.-Thc
following. which we clip from the n. Y.
Herald. is decidedly the latest, in poi nt
Of novelty
4 ,oife uonfea.-I have under my
charge nephew. So years of age, a
lawyer. whom | wish to see married to a
suitable widow lady Beauty and wealth
are deemed indispensable. a small family
no objection. and a Southern or country
lady acceptable. Persons disposed TO act