Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-02-01

ade OF new troops, OF which they knew
nothing-they were under the commant
of Gen. Cadwalader, who was a new man
in the field, and, as they said, "might be
a very good officer" but they did no
know him; and if he made one missteI
in SO important crisis. they were utterly
lost beyond redemption-and old troop:
have great aversion to new commanders
How were they to be extricated, and
where was the giant mind to plan and d.
rect it! At this important stage of the
affair, Gen. Smith, who had found it i'm.
possible to approach the enemy on the
other flank without great loss. now eros.
sed the deep ravine aud joined the force
with his brigade. While his command
was crossing, he sent his aid de. camp,
Lieut.. Vandorn, forward to ascertain the
situation of the forces and the nature OF
the ground. As soon as he was seen by
the old regulars, they exclaimed, "Here'
the Little Lieutenant Here's the
Little Lieutenant General Smith is
about somewhere !" "We're all right,
now! !" "No, there's no such good luck;
| am sure he went with his brigade'to the
other Aank-it's him, they've been firing
on so heavy" "But, if he is over there,
what's the little one doing here 2" While
they were thus remarking and coniectur-
ing, Gen. Smith with his brigade turned
the corner of the lane and came in view
of the whole line. AS soon as their anx-
ious eyes fell upon him, a hundred voices
joyfully exclaimed--"Here he is !" "Here
be is :" "Here's General Smith, "Now
we'll have them!" Nov we'll give il to
them!" And a cheerful, bustling hum
was heard among them, where all was Il
dead displriting silence before-their
dulness became a lively gayety-confi
dence and enthusiasm took possession
where distrust and lethargy had just now
now prevailed. While this was the very
highest compliment that could or can pos.
sibly be paid to the eminent ability of the
gallant general, it also showed that the
rank and file never lose confidence in
themselves they feel competent to sur.
mount all difficulties and overcome any
obstacles-they only want to feel that
they will be properly commanded--that
they will be skiIfully handled, and that
their commanding officer possesses the
ability to dispose of them to the best ad-
vantage that the;circumstances will admit
they fear not to die, but they want to be
satisfied that they will not be unnecessa-
rily sacrificed.
Gen. Smith took the command, and by
different movements diverted the attention
of the enemy until the engineers recon
noitered their positions and the nature of
the ground. At night the plan of attack
was formed. General Shields joined with
his brigade about 2 o'clock. At the dawn
ofthe morning, the enemy, who but few
hours previous felt so confident of success
found the brigade of Col. Riley, supported
by Gen. Cadwalader, in their rear, bear
ing down upon them like an avalanche,
their commander infusing into them, by
his language and his looks, his own un.
comparable enthusiasm & determination,
the unerring riAemen Kidding their TANKS.
and as they commenced their retreat, the
brigade of Shields dealing them death and
destruction. Victory perched upon our
banner-our arms triuinphed. Our loss
was very small the enemy suffered Sc.
verel y. and were routed from q position
they deemed impregnable-and one of
the first things heard, was soldier ex-
claiming, ''Did'nt l tell you, boys, W hen
General Smith joined us last night, we'd
give them h before they knew what
they were about % "But" says another,
you didn't think we were going to come
| this way" III! who says did but
| knew there were foxes about and that
we were as certain to whip them as my
name is john"
Again: there was another instance,
equally strong, showing the affection of
the men for their commander. General
Shields was wounded in the attack upon
the works under Chapultepec. As saon
as he saw the Notifications carried, he re.
turned to the rear for the purpose of hay-
ing his wound dressed. As be passed
along the line of his brigade. the men
seemed to sympathize with him as though
he had been brother to them all. But
the feeling showed itself stronger when
thay came to advance upon the city along
the acqueduct; and, as they were com,
PEELED to halt at different points, heard
them frequently asking, 81 wonder who
will command our brigade now?" 81
don't know" says another, "but, live or
die. I'll stick by the palmetto as long as
there's any one to carry it, "That is
not the thing. exactly. We will all stand
our colorS. We want some chief that we
all know, who will look out and see that
our cOlors don't get where We will all get
our heads knocked off, standing by it. We
want some one who will not get US all
killed off, without doing anything" Al
this moment Gen. Shields came riding up,
with his arm in sling. His appearance