Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/235

FRANKLIN PIERCE 183 brigadier-general in the volunteer army. On May 27, 1847, he embarked at Newport, R. I., in the bark "Kepler," with Col. Ransom, three companies of the 9th regiment of infantry, and the officers of that detachment, arriving at Vera Cruz on June 28. Much difficulty was experienced in procuring mules for transportation, and the brigade was de tained in that unhealthful locality, exposed to the ravages of yellow fever, until July 14, when it be gan its march to join the main army under Gen. Winfield Scott at Puebla. The junction was effected (after a toilsome march and several en counters with guerillas) on August 6, and the next day Gen. Scott began his advance on the city of Mexico. On August 19 the battle of Contreras was fought. The Mexican General Valencia, with 7,000 troops, occupied a strongly intrenched camp. Gen. Scott s plan was to divert the attention of the enemy by a feigned attack on his front, while his flank could be turned and his retreat cut off. But the flanking movement being much delayed, the attack in front (in which Gen. Pierce led his brigade) became a desperate struggle, in which 4,000 raw recruits, who could not use their artillery, fought 7,000 disciplined soldiers, strongly in trenched and raining round shot and shells upon their assailants. To reach the enemy, the Ameri cans who attacked in front were obliged to cross the pedregal, or lava-bed, the crater of an extinct