1848.21

US General Swats at Cannonball with Sword During Mexican American War Calling it Baseball

Salience	Noteworthy
Tags	Mexican-American War, MilitaryMexican-American War, Military
Location
City/State/Country:	Contreras, Mexico
Modern Address
Game
Immediacy of Report
Age of Players
Holiday
Notables
Text	General Pierce's Game of Ball A letter from an officer in the army, contains the following anecdote of Brig. Gen. Frank Pierce : “At the battle of Contreras, as our regiment was marching to take up our position in front of the enemy's works, Gen. P. was with us at our head leading over the pedregal. [editor: stony ground] When we got within grape range there was some shot whistling about our ears in a way that indicated very clearly that there was no sham about the matter. At this point I noticed a twenty-four pound shots hiss directly over the General's head and not more than eight or ten feet above it; as it passed over he struck at it with his sword but did not hit it. and he turned coolly to the regiment and said: “Bovs, we are having a good game of ball this afternoon." His coolness had its effect. It will be a long day before the Ninth regiment will forget Frank Pierce's “game of ball."
Sources	Alexandria Gazette, 06/28/1848, p.4
Warning
Comment	Pierce later was elected president. Edit with form to add a comment
Query	Edit with form to add a query
Source Image	File:Alexandria Gazette 18480628.pdf
External Number
Submitted by	Gene Draschner
Submission Note
Has Supplemental Text

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