The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-04
Prentice ON Pierce.

Prentice, of the Louisville Journal, INDUCES in o
merciiess criticism of General Pierce's military
career. However harsh it may sound, it is Ger.
tainly borne out by the official documents His
falls at Contreras and Churubusco, though very
unucky, might have been set down to bad horse
manship; but his sudden indisposition and retire.
mediately under the guns of Chapultepec," and
his as sudden recovery next morning, when the
fighting was over, certainly have very ugly aspect
But hear Prentice, and make every allowance DOS
sible for an uncharitable critic. Boston Atlas.
The first attempt Of Gen. Pierce at fighting was
in the preliminary movements for the battle Of Con
treras, that extraordinary achievement of Gen.
Persifor F. Smith, During the preiiminaries, on
August 18th, Gen. Pierce's horse fell with him and
hurt his leg. That night, at O'Clock, the LEADING
spirits Of the American army were actively engaged
in the arrangements for the battle Of Contreras
Gen. Pierce was waited upon, but he pleaded that
bis ieg would not permit him to take a part in that
brilliant deed of arms which destined to cover
all engaged in it with glory. 1t was well for the
American army that Persifor F. Smith, Riley, Cad.
wallader, Shields, and such men, were not incura-
bly, given to sudden attacks of sickness They
broke through all distractions and gained q splen-
did victory The battle was over very early in the
morning, lasting about twenty or thirty minutes,
and the defeat was 30 thorough that General Pierce
may be pardoncd for supposing that the Mexicans
would not fight any more that day. Under this
deluson. although he was too much indisposed be-
fore TO command his brigade, soon - The battle of
Oontrsras scas ouer he reported himself ready for
duty. But, unfortunately for him, the Mexicans
were quite as enterprising as his convalescence
The battle Of Churubusco doomed up very unex :.
pectedly to him on the day of Contreras, and sur.
prised him in the field on duty! Caught in this
unucky plight, he could not hang up his lame leg,
as he had done few hours before. Thus fairly In
the tolls. General p. seemed unable to find re-
treat; and in fit of desperation prepared to stand
the brush If possible.
The batteries of the enemy look formidable
one OF twenty-five guns, especially, seem to make
an indelible impression on General Pierce, and
instead VI taking part in the glorious action he
was taken ,cih a fainting fit. He says; 81 fell a
few yards from the sevefest fire Of the enemy"
Before fainting he seems to have measured tho
range Of the fire with mathematical precision. He
must have felt, while lying ga few yards from II.
fire Of the enemy" as Falstaff did at ShrewsI %
Though could escape shot free at rr.o,cord1 :
fear the shot here; heres no scori.e but unon tbs
pate. l am as hot as molten lead.
s s,. as neavy, TOO. Cox keep lead out of me. |
heeo no more weight than mine own bowels.
-, we can almost imagine We can see General
rierce as we have seen Hackett, in Falstaff after
me iall Of Hotspur, peeping cautiously over the
neid 10 sec II the storm Of strife clearing up
hen the battle was loud in its tumut and terrible
ITS carnage, General p. must have felt that his
ionged Tor the moment when 1t would be safe to be
in health again.
Whether General Pierce suffered any in the wov
81 swooning on the 2lst Of August, the day after
the battle Of Chorubusco, we cannot tell On the
22a ne formed one Of the board for ranging an
continuous days, without fsinting once.
Genernl Pierce enjoyed good health during tho
armistice. On the 18th Of September he was again
In ting field On that day his business was one Of
merely; and, as there was no fiaht.
ing there was no faintng. General Pierce KEEP!