CIC 481

Past Issues
CIC 480
CIC 479
CIC 478
CIC 477
CIC 476
CIC 475
CIC 474
CIC 473
CIC 472
CIC 471
CIC 470
CIC 469
CIC 468
CIC 467
CIC 466
CIC 465
CIC 464
CIC 463
CIC 462
CIC 461
CIC 460
CIC 459
CIC 458
CIC 457
CIC 456
CIC 455
CIC 454
CIC 453
CIC 452
CIC 451
CIC 450
CIC 449
CIC 448
CIC 447
CIC 446
CIC 445
CIC 444
CIC 443
CIC 442
CIC 441
CIC 440
CIC 439
CIC 438
CIC 437
CIC 436
CIC 435
CIC 434
CIC 433
CIC 432
CIC 431
CIC 430
CIC 429
CIC 428
CIC 427
CIC 426
CIC 425
CIC 424
CIC 423
CIC 422
CIC 421
CIC 420
CIC 419
CIC 418
CIC 417
CIC 416
CIC 415
CIC 414
CIC 413
CIC 412
CIC 411
CIC 410
CIC 409
CIC 408
CIC 407
CIC 406
CIC 405
CIC 404
CIC 403
CIC 402
CIC 401
CIC 400
CIC 399
CIC 398
CIC 397
CIC 396
CIC 395
CIC 394
CIC 393
CIC 392
CIC 391
CIC 390
CIC 389
CIC 388
CIC 387
CIC 386
CIC 385
CIC 384
CIC 383
CIC 382
CIC 381
CIC 380
CIC 379
CIC 378
CIC 377
CIC 375
CIC 374
CIC 373
CIC 372
CIC 371
CIC 370
CIC 369
CIC 368
CIC 367
CIC 366
CIC 365
CIC 364
CIC 363
CIC 362
CIC 361
CIC 360
CIC 359
CIC 358
CIC 357
CIC 356
CIC 355
CIC 354
CIC 353
CIC 352
CIC 351
CIC 350
CIC 349
CIC 348
CIC 347
CIC 346
CIC 345
CIC 344
CIC 343
CIC 342
CIC 341
CIC 340
CIC 339
CIC 338
CIC 337
CIC 336
CIC 335
CIC 334
CIC 333
CIC 332
CIC 331
CIC 330
CIC 329
CIC 328
CIC 327
CIC 326
CIC 325
CIC 324
CIC 323
CIC 322
CIC 321
CIC 320
CIC 319
CIC 318
CIC 317
CIC 316
CIC 315
CIC 314
CIC 313
CIC 312
CIC 311
CIC 310
CIC 309
CIC 308
CIC 307
CIC 306
CIC 305
CIC 304
CIC 303
CIC 302
CIC 301
CIC 300
CIC 299
CIC 298
CIC 297
CIC 296
CIC 295
CIC 294
CIC 293
CIC 292
CIC 291
CIC 290
CIC 289
CIC 288
CIC 287
CIC 286
CIC 285
CIC 284
CIC 283
CIC 282
CIC 281
CIC 280
CIC 279
CIC 278
CIC 277
CIC 276
CIC 275
CIC 274
CIC 273
CIC 272
CIC 271
CIC 270
CIC 269
CIC 268
CIC 267
CIC 266
CIC 265
CIC 264
CIC 263
CIC 262
CIC 261
CIC 260
CIC 259
CIC 258
CIC 257
CIC 256
CIC 255
CIC 254
CIC 253
CIC 252
CIC 251
CIC 250
CIC 249
CIC 248
CIC 247
CIC 246
CIC 245
CIC 244
CIC 243
CIC 242
CIC 241
CIC 240
CIC 239
CIC 238
CIC 237
CIC 236
CIC 235
CIC 234
CIC 233
CIC 232
CIC 231
CIC 230
CIC 229
CIC 228
CIC 227
CIC 226
CIC 225
CIC 224
CIC 223
CIC 222
CIC 221
CIC 220
CIC 219
CIC 218
CIC 217
CIC 216
CIC 215
CIC 214
CIC 213
CIC 212
CIC 211
CIC 210
CIC 209
CIC 208
CIC 207
CIC 206
CIC 205
CIC 204
CIC 203
CIC 202
CIC 201
CIC 200
CIC 199
CIC 198
CIC 197
CIC 196
CIC 195
CIC 194
CIC 193
CIC 192
CIC 191
CIC 190
CIC 189
CIC 188
CIC 187
CIC 186
CIC 185
CIC 184
CIC 183
CIC 182
CIC 181
CIC 180
CIC 179
CIC 178
CIC 177
CIC 176
CIC 175
CIC 174
CIC 173
CIC 172
CIC 171
CIC 170
CIC 169
CIC 168
CIC 167
CIC 166
CIC 165
CIC 164
CIC 163
CIC 162
CIC 161
CIC 160
CIC 159
CIC 158
CIC 157
CIC 156
CIC 155
CIC 154
CIC 153
CIC 152
CIC 151
CIC 150
CIC 149
CIC 148
CIC 147
CIC 146
CIC 145
CIC 144
CIC 143
CIC 142
CIC 141
CIC 140
CIC 139
CIC 138
CIC 137
CIC 136
CIC 135
CIC 134
CIC 133
CIC 132
CIC 131
CIC 130
CIC 129
CIC 128
CIC 127
CIC 126
CIC 125
CIC 124
CIC 123
CIC 122
CIC 121
CIC 120
CIC 119
CIC 118
CIC 117
CIC 116
CIC 115
CIC 114
CIC 113
CIC 112
CIC 111
CIC 110
CIC 109
CIC 108
CIC 107
CIC 106
CIC 105
CIC 104
CIC 103
CIC 102
CIC 101
CIC 100
CIC 99
CIC 98
CIC 97
CIC 96
CIC 95
CIC 94
CIC 93
CIC 92
CIC 91
CIC 90
CIC 89
CIC 88
CIC 87
CIC 86
CIC 85
CIC 84
CIC 83
CIC 82
CIC 81
CIC 80
CIC 79
CIC 78
CIC 77
CIC 76
CIC 75
CIC 74
CIC 73
CIC 72
CIC 71
CIC 70
CIC 69
CIC 68
CIC 67
CIC 66
CIC 65
CIC 64
CIC 63
CIC 62
CIC 61
CIC 60
CIC 59
CIC 58
CIC 57
CIC 56
CIC 55
CIC 54
CIC 53
CIC 52
CIC 51
CIC 50
CIC 49
CIC 48
CIC 47
CIC 46
CIC 45
CIC 44
CIC 43
CIC 42
CIC 41
CIC 40
CIC 39
CIC 38
CIC 37
CIC 36
CIC 35
CIC 34
CIC 33
CIC 32
CIC 31
CIC 30
CIC 29
CIC 28
CIC 27
CIC 26
CIC 25
CIC 24
CIC 23
CIC 22
CIC 21
CIC 20
CIC 19
CIC 18
CIC 17
CIC 16
CIC 15
CIC 14
CIC 13
CIC 12
CIC 11
CIC 10
CIC 9
CIC 8
CIC 7
CIC 6
CIC 5
CIC 4
CIC 3
CIC 2
CIC 1

Profile - Franklin Pierce, Militiaman, Volunteer, President

An “amateur” soldier who rose to brigadier general in the Mexican War, during his presidency Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) presided over a major reorganization of the army..

Pierce came from a family long settled in New England.  On April 19, 1775, the president’s father, Benjamin Pierce, a 17-year old Massachusetts farm boy, having heard the news of Lexington and Concord, reportedly grabbed his “uncle’s fowling piece” and joined the army that gathered outside Boston.  He served several enlistments, fighting at Bunker Hill, in the relief of Fort Stanwick, and at Saratoga.  Benjamin Pierce endured the hard winter at Valley Forge and served with the Northern Army until the end of the war.  Having risen to lieutenant, he was with the Army when it entered newly liberated New York City on November 25, 1783, and was present at Washington’s famous “Farewell Address” to his officers in Fraunces’ Tavern a few days later.  In 1786, Benjamin Pierce joined the New Hampshire militia as a major.  He rose to brigadier general before retiring in 1807, having in the meantime turned down an appointment as a colonel in the regular army in 1798.  Benjamin’s older sons, Benjamin and John, the future president’s brothers, both served in the Northern Theater during the War of 1812, rising from enlisted men to officers.  Benjamin remained in the army after the war, serving until the Mexican War, while rising to lieutenant colonel.   

Despite being born in a log cabin, Franklin Pierce received a very good education, and in 1820 enrolled at Bowdoin College.  In 1823 he helped organize the “Bowdoin Cadets”, a campus militia company, and was elected captain.  One of the enlisted men in the company was Nathaniel Hawthorne, later the author of The Scarlet Letter and other notable works, who became the future president’s lifelong friend.  Graduating in 1824, Pierce enlisted in the New Hampshire militia, and eventually became an officer.  Meanwhile he read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1827.  He began to practice law and dabble in politics.  In 1831, by then a rising young politician, Pierce was appointed a colonel in the state militia and an aide-de-camp to the governor.  He served in that capacity for two years, as reviewing officer and inspector of militia.  Meanwhile he had a successful career in politics, including a term in the U.S. Senate, and was offered, but declined, the post of Attorney General by President James K. Polk.  On the outbreak of the Mexican War in May of 1846, Pierce enlisted as a private in a volunteer company raised at Concord, New Hampshire.  In February 1847 Secretary of War William L. Marcy offered Pierce a commission as a colonel in the Regular Army, with command of the new 9th Infantry Regiment, which was to be raised in New England.  Pierce accepted and his commission was dated as of February 16th.  Little more than two weeks later, however, on March 3, 1847, Pierce was offered a brigadier generalcy in the volunteers, which he promptly accepted.

In late June 1847 Pierce landed at Vera Cruz with a brigade of some 2,500 men.  He was shortly in command of a column consisting of his own brigade, plus additional reinforcements, including siege artillery and a large supply train, with orders to march the 150 miles over the mountains to Puebla, where Winfield Scott was resting his army in anticipation of the final drive on Mexico City.  Setting out on July 16th, Pierce brought the column safely to Puebla in 21 days, despite having to beat off six attacks by Mexican forces, and an outbreak of disease among the troops.  His brigade was soon incorporated in the 4,500-strong 3rd Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. Gideon Pillow.  Pierce and his men took part in Winfield Scott’s final operations against Mexico City.  On August 19th, Pillow, an inept commander with strong political connections to President Polk, undertook an unauthorized attack at Churubusco.  This led to a hard, difficult fight.  During the attack, some Mexican artillery rounds landed near Pierce, and his horse took fright.  Pierce was slammed against the pommel of his saddle, and then thrown to the ground.  The incident caused a severe injury to his groin, and badly injured his left knee, which caused him such pain that he passed out and had to be carried to the rear.  Although he soon regained consciousness and found a fresh horse, Pierce was unable to command his brigade effectively for the rest of the battle.  The fight dragged on into the morning of the 20th.  Then one of Pierce’s subordinates conducted a diversionary attack that permitted two other brigades to work their way around the left of the 5,500 Mexican defenders.  Their attack drove the Mexicans from the field.

Later that day Pierce had recovered sufficiently to return to the saddle, though still unable to use his left leg.  Seeing him in this condition, General Scott told him to go the rear, but Pierce protested, saying “For God’s sake, general, this is the last great battle, and I must lead my brigade.”  Scott relented, and ordered Pierce to support his attack across the Churubusco River.  Pierce advanced at the head of his brigade, but soon found the ground too difficult for his horse to negotiate, it being swampy and cut by many little arroyoss and streams.  Dismounting, Pierce hobbled forward under fire, until his left leg collapsed beneath him.  Some of his men attempted to carry him to safety, but he ordered them to leave him where he was and continue the advance.

After the battle, General Scott appointed the still-injured Pierce one of the American negotiators to a parley that had been requested by the Mexican commander, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.  Nothing came of these negotiations, but Scott’s gesture demonstrated considerable confidence in Pierce’s abilities.

Pierce was under fire again at the Battle of Molino del Rey (September 8).  During preparations for the final attack on Mexico City, however, the bombardment and storming of Chapultepec Castle on September 11th and 12th, Pierce collapsed with a severe case of dysentery. 

After the war, Pierce returned to politics in New Hampshire, where he was highly popular, even being elected to serve as president of the 1850 state constitutional convention.  In 1852 a deadlocked Democratic National Convention ended up choosing Pierce as the party’s standard bearer, the first “dark horse” candidate to run.

Although Pierce had served honorably in Mexico, during his presidential campaign, his political enemies, among them amazingly inept Gideon Pillow, nicknamed him “the fainting general.”  This was, as U.S. Grant observed in his Memoirs, “exceedingly unjust and unfair . . . . [Pierce] was a gentleman and a man of courage.”  Despite the attacks on his courage and service, an early example of "Swift Boating," Pierce, a "doughface," or "Northern Man of Southern Principles," handily defeated brevet Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, running as a Whig, and took office on March 4, 1853

Pierce appointed Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, a West Point graduate who had acquired an excellent record in Mexico, to serve as Secretary of War. 

Under Davis' aegis the organization, administration, and equipment of the army underwent extensive examination and revision.  Four new regiments were added, two each of cavalry and infantry, a party of officers – including Capt. George B. McClellan – was sent to observe British and French operations during the Crimean War, the famed Springfield M1855 rifle was adopted and experiments were conducted with breech loading weapons.  Acting on a proposal actually first made in 1851, Davis procured camels for the army, which operated experimentally out of Fort Bliss, Texas, for several years.  At the suggestion of Superintendent of West Point, Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee, Davis instituted a five year curriculum which lasted for several years.  In addition, army engineers surveyed possible routes for a transcontinental railroad, pay was increased, re-enlistment and longevity bonuses were introduced, and the Medical Corps was expanded to include Hospital Stewards.  In addition, Davis supported William J. Hardee’s efforts to write what became the army’s standard drill manual, known forever after as Hardee’s Tactics.

Pierce had not proven a popular president, and he was not re-nominated by his party in 1856.  Leaving the White House in declining health, Pierce lived quietly in retirement until the Civil War, when he became a severe critic of the Lincoln Administration.

The Pierces had several children, none of whom lived to adulthood.  The President’s elder sister married John McNeil, a career Army officer who served in the Northern Theater during the War of 1812, rising to lieutenant colonel of volunteers.  Her son, Scott McNeil, was killed in action during the Second Seminole War.

 


© 1998 - 2024 StrategyWorld.com. All rights Reserved.
StrategyWorld.com, StrategyPage.com, FYEO, For Your Eyes Only and Al Nofi's CIC are all trademarks of StrategyWorld.com
Privacy Policy