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Barnes escaped, and found me, within half an hour, at Governor Wilson’s
quarters. I immediately despatched a troop of cavalry in pursuit; but no
trace of the miscreants has been discovered, and great alarm is felt for
the safety of our gallant, but too adventurous, friend. There was in my
command no braver man or better soldier than Whipple. July 12. Being
informed that Adjutant Whipple’s life had been spared, and that he was
a prisoner with a band of guerrillas about twelve or fourteen miles from
my camp, I sent a strong detachment, by night, to surprise the ranchero,
and, if possible, to recover our valued friend. The village was taken, but
the guerrillas had fled with their prisoner. Captain Dun, the efficient and
gallant commander of cavalry, attached to my command, having been
greatly exposed in an excursion in search of Whipple, is dangerously sick of
vomito.” Whipple was later exchanged and returned to duty.
Seymour was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 12th U.S. Infantry on
August 12, 1847, following his leadership during the Battle of Chapultepec,
and Pierce was promoted to brigadier general on March 3, 1847, and led
his brigade to reinforce General Winfield Scott. They joined Scott for the
Battle of Contreras during which Pierce was wounded when his
horse got out of control and fell on his leg and then injured the leg
further the next day. The pain was so severe that he fainted during
the Battle of Churubusco after he insisted on leading his men. He
continued on through the capture of Mexico City and occupation of
the capital. Afterwards, Pierce, Seymour, and Whipple returned home to
New Hampshire as military heroes. Pierce and Whipple resumed their law
careers and continued their friendship, and Colonel Seymour was elected
governor of Connecticut in 1850 and remained Pierce’s political ally.
Though his wife did not want him to resume his political career, Pierce
ran for president in the Election of 1852 as a Democrat against his former
commander General Winfield Scott, the Whig candidate. Seymour served
as an elector and endorsed Pierce, and Whipple is noted as a colonel and
neighbor and friend of Pierce while supporting his run for office. Pierce
officially became the 14th President of the United States on March 4, 1853,
and he appointed Seymour as U.S. Minister to Russia.
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