Franklin Pierce - Mexican-American War

Mexican-American War

Pierce volunteered to serve in the Army during the Mexican-American War. He was commissioned as a Colonel in the Infantry on February 16, 1847. On March 3, 1847 he was promoted to Brigadier General and took command of a brigade of reinforcements for Winfield Scott's army marching on Mexico City. His brigade was designated the 1st Brigade in the newly created 3rd Division and joined Scott's army in time for the Battle of Contreras. During the battle he was seriously injured, including a sprained left knee, when his horse stepped into a crevice, broke its leg and fell, pinning Pierce underneath.

He returned to his command the following day, having to be tied onto his saddle because of his injuries, but during the Battle of Churubusco the pain in his leg became so great that he passed out and had to be carried from the field. His political opponents used this against him, claiming that he left the field because of cowardice instead of injury. In his memoirs, Ulysses S. Grant (not a supporter of Pierce politically), who observed Pierce firsthand during the war, described criticism of Pierce's service as "unfair and unjust", and Pierce as "a gentleman and a man of courage". Pierce returned to command and led his brigade throughout the rest of the campaign, resulting in the capture of Mexico City. He resigned from the Army on March 28, 1848.

Although he was a political appointee, he proved that he had some skill as a military commander. He returned home and served as president of the New Hampshire state constitutional convention in 1850.