Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-11-04
From the Union of saturday
Letter from General Shields,

Ia obtaine circulation III Olner papers tnrouSn'
he Union rejecting severely upon the medl-
epaItment of the army, and referring TO the
ment Of my first wound as ah instance of The
cons of that department The following is the
lie to which aIludo
lany members of the medical department, Of
hrmy are lainentably deficient in skill and ex-
Pnce. In proof of of this, would point to
Wact that the surgeons IN attendance on Gen
"A Ids did not discover the extent of his injuries
" month after he received his wounds, being
that time ignorant that two Of his ribs were
& ed. Gen. Butler will, in all probability, be
for life. through either the ignorance or the
bet Of the surgeon who dressed his wound -
other instances Of like nature are within
knowledge
cgard il as an act of simple justice TO attempt
scue the character Of the surgeons who at'
ed me, in my time Of trial and suffering, from
mpulalions contained in this article. ! receiv-
Ie wound to which alllsion is made on the
of April, at Cerro Gordo, while assaultng
Try OF FIVE guns, with portion of nay COM
in front-anolher portion of my command
g attacked it at the same time, pursuant to
rders on tho faux. The wound was made
eaden of iron grape nearly Three times the
+ bfa musbel ball. 1t entered my right breast,
* ,nder the nipple, and passed out Of my back
n about half an inch Of the spine. From the
Y where | fell | was carried on the arms Of
E ers (under the direction of my aids, Leus
a mond and Dayis) about two miles TO the
n Fa hospital. During the whole OF this route
W purse might be tracked by the blood which
" med out Of the wound The agony suffer-
Ms so intoerable that longed for death, and
requested TO be stretched on same smooth
spot where | might breathe my last within
|hg of the victorious shouts Of my troops. -
lids, however, demonstrated with me on this,
Dad me borne EDWARDS to the hospital. Here
Pound was dressed, and the blood staunched,
Wright, Of the regular army, and DIR Nc
ID, then attached 10 one Of my regiments as
surgeon. From the hospital was again
on litter, the same day, about two miles
half to little hut on the Jalapa road. -
| was attended for several DAYS by DIR Nc,
p, every one expecting that every hour would |
last. From this place was borne in few
on litter TO Jalapa, where ! remained until
Fcovery. was attended during the whole Of
ness by DR. Mcmillan. who exhibited during
ime not only the most consummate skill as
on, but such care, assiduity and devotion,
endear him to me for life. ] must not omit
n,ion that DR. VanderIinden, Surgeon-G
3he Mexican army, (who had been made
Der by my commahd) rendered efficient aid
Mcmillan during portion Of this time
broken ribs to which allusion is made in the
were not only known to the surgeons who
led me, but to myself, the moment | Twas
ed and examined; but this was considered so
a matter compared with the terrible nature
wound, that il excited but little uneasiness
tenlion. 1t becomes me to say here-whal
erely feel-that my recovery has been provi-
j; medical skill and surgical talen. could do
lie for such terrible wound. | understand
is no instance recorded Of such recovery.
butte, therefore, with grateful heart, my
walton and recovery 10 God alone; but next
d, nay gratitude is due, and my recovery at
hble, to the skill and devotion Of my attend
rgcon, DIR Mcmillan, recently, am happy
permanently appointed. But will go
r, and say that the medical department of
ocular army will compare, in professional
nd intelligence, with any other medical body
al size in the world. Some of The more
appointments | know also TO he excellent;
ere are doubtless some who are confessedly
int in all the attributes of surgical skill and
ence. This could scarcely be avoided I'M
circumstances, and considering the hurried
pr in which the appointments had to be
regret to say that am again suffering $
the affection of another wound, received al !
Prming of Chapultepec. The wound is from I
ket ball, received III the left arm, which has '
oned me much pain, but my surgeons as !
ne the arm is safe. So entire has been my
Try from the effects of the former wound
Puebla assumed command Of a brigade
ing of The N. Y. and S. e. volunteers, and
brine corps under Lieut. Col. Watson. We
ed from Puebla and entered the valley Of
with an army amounting in all TO ten
nd two hundred men. Our march was one I
eme difiicul,y-over roads broken up and
vi,h rocks. We reached San Augus,ln on
tn of August, from whence we could see
emy's troops and works at Conlreras. On I
tn led two regimen,s-the New Workers
llmetlos across a .roate fhut was deemed {
fable by Mexicans for everything but goats;
the other forces ia the night; remained most ,
night wthou, shelter or covering, under in !
I rain; and Joined in the attack in the morn
dch carried the position, and cut ValencIas
force to pieces. All this encountered
1t suffering any injury from the effects Of my !
wound. From Con,reras Joined in pur-
the enemy towards Mexico. We came up 4
he maiu body of his army a. Churubusco. - :
nemy's force was about thirty thousand
psiton was most formidable. The lorifca. $
we're not only exceedingly strong, but their \
y was posted under cover of entertainments,
afforded them such protection as to enable
to fire on us with security. The battle at
ace was no, only a bloody bu, terrible
The Mexicans determined 10 make it their
eat struggle, and the Amelicaas fought with
alton: knowing that nothing was left for y
put success. Here lost over halfmy COM 5
in killed and wounded. Some Of the mob
icors and .bravest men that ever niMched 10 6
fell on that bloody Geld. Yet we routed
lole Me&ican array, and drove it, panic |
into The city; and had l., who happened to
he advance, only been permitted 10 continue 6
rsut into the city, doubt not, from what
hve since heard Of their fright, that they |
have run through the city, and sought shell
the mountains. Peace, how, ever, being {
pat object, it was hoped that the moment
avorable for that purpose Santa Anna, r
er, whose whole being is composition of :
pod and tseaohery, employed the time in .
alton for defence, and imposed upon US the
necessity of carrying Chapuliepec and taxi
city. This was all done, too, in the most
~ manner The whole American force on !
round, exclusive of killed and wounded,
Mexico was taken, was less than 5000; :
'hole force employed was little more than
So, my dear friend, you may tell the
that an army of between 6 900 and I, 900
cans has taken the city OF Mexico, strongly
ID. with an army Of between twenty and
thousand men within its walls. True, we
suffered, ard suffered severely. Many n
spirit has breathed his last in the valley Of
%; but the glorious results have proved 10
Prld the invinclbiity of the American arms.
been thus diiIusve, 10 show that my re.
has been tested by every species of trial