Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/236

184 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS volcano, bristling with sharp, jagged, splintered rocks, which afforded shelter to the Mexican skir mishers. Gen. Pierce s horse stepped into a cleft between two rocks and fell, breaking his own leg and throwing his rider, whose knee was seriously injured. Though suffering severely, and urged by the surgeon to withdraw, Gen. Pierce refused to leave his troops. Mounting the horse of an officer who had just been mortally wounded, he rode for ward and remained in the saddle until eleven o clock at night. The next morning Gen. Pierce was in the saddle at daylight, but the enemy s camp was stormed in the rear by the flanking party, and those of its defenders who escaped death or capture fled in con fusion toward Churubusco, where Santa Anna had concentrated his forces. Though Gen. Pierce s injuries were intensely painful, and though Gen. Scott advised him to leave the field, he insisted on remaining. His brigade and that of Gen, James Shields, in obeying an order to make a detour and attack the enemy in the rear, struck the Mexican reserves, by whom they were largely outnumbered, and a bloody and obstinate struggle followed. By this diversion Gens. Worth and Pillow were enabled to carry the head of the brigade at the front, and relieve Pierce and Shields from the pressure of overwhelming numbers. In the advance of Pierce s brigade his horse was unable to cross a ditch or