The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-06-11

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eod sviaashcs y liis iiithsss lfor lIie pfssilsn
cy jet when coupled with civil abIIhIes u
ahlgh order they are notto be disregarded,
informing an opiOnion as to the kind Of a,
Chief Magistrate, one possessing such quail.
ficaticns would make. AS every acl--eyen
the smabiest-of the men who come before
the peopleas candidates forthat responsible
Office are closely scrutinized by the watchful
eye Of the public press, and as the Tribune
and Clippet has even already intimated that
Gen. Pierce was never 'where bullets flew
thick and fast.p we subjoin short sketch Of
bis services while In Mexico-not that we
consider ourselves pound to answer every
|questibh put 10 US BY that paper. nor yet re.
sponsibIe for its editors ignorance, but 10 re-
mind our friends Of incidents which many
of them have probably forgotten.
Brigadier General franklin Pierce was ap-
pointed to the army on the 3D. Of March, lS-
A.. He reached Mexico shortly after the
capture Of Vera Cruz. Contrary to his wish
les he was detained at TSwa Calisnts for
three weeks. On the 10th Of July he pushed
forward with. his brigade consisting Of over
1000 men, and on the 9Th of August reach
Pueblaj with his army in good condition, al
though he had been alta cked six times, and
harrassed continually, on, the route. We
now copya paragraph, In his own wordsi
"The National Bridge afforded the enemy
great natural advantages, to which they had
added breast works on a high bluff which
commanded the bridge perfectly. Across the
main bridge they had also thfown barri-
cade. soon discovered that there was 70
way In which his position could be turned,
and that my artillery was ineffectiyefrom the
most commanding point where it could be
placed. determined, Of course, To cross un-
der the plunging fire of the enemy's estope-
tas. My order to advance was admirably ex-
ecuted. At the moment Lieut.. Colonel Bon
hams battalion rushed forward with sll6ut,
the enemy poured down heavy fire by,which
several of my men were severely wounded
Colonel Bonham's horse was shot dear ME
and ball passed through the rim of my hat,
in very disagreeable proximity tom my lace
Our men leaped the batricade, followed by
Captain Duperu's company of cavalry and in
less than ten minutes The enemy were in
flight in every direction. and the American
flag waved upon the high bluff which they
had occupied. The Mexican force as they
said afterwards, consisted of five hundred
men. Had they possessed courage, and skill
in the use of arms. our loss must have been
very great. You can hardly conceive the
strength Of the natural defences Of the road
over which which we passed. Rumors came
10 me almost every night that we would be
attacked by large forces the next day, but
they made nowhere any thing like brave
and stern resistance"
Gen. Pierce was in the battle of Mexico,
his command being in the thickest Of the
fight. One of the regiments Of his brigade
lost inkilled and wounded, one third Of its
force. On the evening previous 10 the great
battle, his horse fellunder him when he was
leading his brigade through a shower Of round
shot and shells. He was severely bruised
and his left knee was seriously sprained
In his account Of the action Of the Goth
Gen. Pierce says.
"At San Angel dispositions having been
made 10 attack, at reverse, the enemy's works
on The San Augustine road. Gen. Scott order
led me 10 march my brigade, in concert with
That Of tie interpid Gen. Shields, across the
| lopen country between Santa Catarina and the
above named road. in order 10 cut of the en-
lemy's retreat. We gained the position
sought, and although the enelnys line was
perfectly formed end extended as far as The
eye could reach in, either direction, they were
attacked vigorously and successfully Arriv-
ing at ditch which it was impossible for
my horse to leap, Idismounied and turned
forward, without thinking Of my injury, a.
the head Of my brigade, when turning sudt
de lily upon my knee. the cartilage Of which
had been seriously injured, / tainted and fell
upon the bank, in the direct range, and with
in perfect reach Of the enemy's fire. That !
escaped, now seems TO me providentiaI. The
rout and overthrow Of the Mexican force soon
became complete &C., &c.
From This time forward, we believe, Gen.
Pierce,was Obliged TO remain almost entirely
inactive'owing to the severity Of his wound.
He was complimented by Gen. Scott, and
received the breveto of Major General.
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