ATTACK AT THE NATIONAL BRIDGE.
DEFEAT OF THE MEXICANS AT THE NATIONAL BRIDGE.
The first affair in which General Cadwalader distinguished himself in Mexico was a skirmish at the National Bridge, during his march to join Scott at Puebla. Colonel M’Intosh had started with a train for the interior; but being attacked by an overpowering force of the enemy, had been forced to await the arrival of Cadwalader, who, hearing of his danger, hurried up, with eight hundred men to his succor. On approaching the National Bridge, Cadwalader, at the head of the united forces, seized some heights which the enemy had previously occupied. He was here attacked by a strong force, but made good his defence, charging the Mexicans incessantly, until their strength was broken, when the bridge was passed in safety. In this action the foe lost one hundred in killed and wounded: Cadwalader about fifty. This victory was won principally by artillery, a species of force with which Cadwalader was perfectly familiar.
GENERAL PIERCE, ENTERING PUEBLA.
GENERAL PIERCE.
General Franklin Pierce was among the bravest of the brave who fought during the Mexican war. He took command of a reinforcement of twenty-four hundred men, at Vera Cruz, shortly after the battle of Cerro Gordo, and set out to join General Scott, who was waiting at the city of Puebla for more troops. At the National Bridge, he was attacked by a large body of Mexicans, and narrowly escaped being killed, a ball passing through his hat. He succeeded, however, in defeating the enemy, and inflicting upon them a heavy loss in men. He then pushed on, and met with no interruption till he arrived at Puebla. After his arrival, the commander-in-chief completed his arrangements and set out for the capital. In the first attack upon Contreras, General Pierce was wounded in the knee, while leading his brigade against the enemy. But he kept the field until midnight. The next day he joined the brigade, and pressed forward among the most heroic. He had dismounted to leap a ditch, forgetting his wound, when he fainted and fell directly in the line of the enemy’s fire. His escape from death was a miracle.