Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Life and Public Services of Gen. Franklin Pierce: The Democratic Candidate for the Presidency of 1852
General Pierce was again in action at Contreras on the 19th of August. His brigade was ordered to attack the enemy in front. He came in Sight of the Mexicans at two O'clock in the afternoon, and led his men in the attack. He was under a galling fire of the enemy three hours.
General Scott's official account of General Pierce is that of being more than three hours under a heavy fire of artillery and muskets along the almost impassable ravine in front and to the left of the entrenched camp. Besides twenty two pieces of artillery, the camp and ravine were defended closely by masses of infantry, and these again supported by clouds of cavalry at hand and hovering inaview. This was the front of the ene my's works at Contreras. The gallant ninth and twelfth regiments of infantry - General Pierce's command - moved with great alacrity and coolness, and to the admiration of the army, for three-fourths of a mile, under a heavy fire of round shot and shells, to a position which they nobly maintained from two till nine o'clock p. M. As he was lead ing his brigade through a perfect shower of round shot and shells from the strong entrenchments in' front and the musketry of the infantry, his horse, being at full speed, fell under him upon. A ledge of rocks. He sustained severe injury by the shock and bruises, but especially by a severe sprain in his left knee, which came under him. At first he was not conscious of being much hurt, but soon became exceedingly faint. Dr. Ritchie, a surgeon in his command, assisted him and administered to him. In a few moments he was able with di?iculty to walk, when he pressed forward to captain-magruder's battery. 'here he found the horse of Lieutenant Johnson, who had just received a mortal wound. He was permitted to take this horse, was assisted into the saddle, and continued in it until eleven o'clock that night. At nine o'clock he was the senior officer on the field, when he ordered his command to a new position. The night was dark, the rain poured in torrents, and the ground was difficult, yet the General kept still on duty. At one o'clock, in his bi vouac, he received orders from General Scott by General Twiggs and Captain Lee, _when, at the head of his command, he moved to take another po'sition, to be in readiness, to aid in the Operations of the next morning. Such was General Pierce's service in the afternoon and night of August 19.
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