The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-11

the American people.
The great battles were those Of Contrers and Chu
rubusoo Here find the gallant Shields once more
ready for action, though still weak aud suffering nom his
wounds Il is remarkable that after having been carried
In an ambulance from Jalapa Pueba, bleeding and saf
erng from his wounds he insisted upon going into the
fight and did 50, when 50 weak and wasted that his
physicians declared il impossible for him TO survive
Again General Scott paid him the highest compliments
for his skin and daring fulfilling his orders This
the 18th q August ls47
On the 2sth Of the month General Scott more
reports the Secretary Of Warand this time he writes
rom the gates Of Mexico What does he say Of Shields
We copy from his despatch
Sheds the senior officer Of the hamlet after smith had
arranged with Cadwalader Riley the plan OF attack
the morning deeatey aiyed interference b., rssrsd
10 himself s double task u hodiag he hamlet rI Ais ho
regiments, (SouA Caroline and Ssw York; agai. ass
his aabrs the side n the c, iaetading hs slopes A'
% aad ~ the camp ks should BE- carried aos
aboaf and ou' Of tAe flying enemy"
And again speaking of the grand finale Of that day
Gen. Scott says:
Shields too by the wise disposition Of his brigade and
his gallant activity contributed much the general results
He held Of cavalry and infantry, supported by art
ery in check below him. and captured hundreds with
general, (Msndoza) Of those who fed from above"
Referring the nm cietory of that glorious day, Gen.
Scott says:
- 1t has been stated that hours and half before
Perce brigade followed closely after the volunteer brigade
both under the command Of Brigader General Shields had
been detached to left the cnemys works. pre-
the escape Of the garrson and oppose
of the enemy's corps from the upon and
around our left
"In a winding march around to the right this temporary
division itself the edge open meadow and
in the presence Of 900 of the enemys infantry little
III IL
right a strong building, Shields extended his left parallel
the road oafdnk the enemy towards the capital But
the enemy extending his right supported by three thousand
cavalry rapidly (beng favored by better ground) in
dreeon Shields thc diviSion about
hamlet determined attack front The battle long,
hot paried ultimately croHed s seal and ga
antry of troops led BY their distinguished commander
Brgader General Skeds Shields took 800 prisoners in
Guiding officers"
General Worth spoke highly of the gallant bearing of
Pillow Shields Cadwalader and Pierce in this fierce
gagement His praises re-echoed by Generals Twggs
and Smith General Shields, in his report which is
model of its kind presents agraphc and beautiful sketch
of the battle
But we find General Shields in the last in the first
conflict In the terrible attack upon the city of Mexico he
was in the advance with the Quitman and the
compshed Persiler r. Smith. General Scott refers him
warmly and says in part Of his report Of the battle
General Quitman being in hot pursuitgaant himself
and ably supported by Generals Shields and Smith
SHIELDS BADLY CHEPuLrEpEc REFUSING
TO RETIRE." &c.
General ouman writes " In directing the adoancs, Brig
adler General Shields pas badly ,counded The No
per suasions hooerer could induce that officer leapc has
command and quit the field" And again: Until carried
from The field on the night Of the l3t consequence Of the
severe round rececsd The morning Re conspicuous far
hi, gallaatry energy, and skill"
There is in this striking and interesting recapulaton
taken at random from the reports before almost ro
mantle interest Every battlefield this gallant citizen
in the advance and though shot through the body at
first and severely wounded last his early injuries
torturng him with agony, his sword seemed to be
cleaning in the forefront of victorious army from
the landing at Vera Cruz the capture of the capital
Providence watched over his life Every battle gave him
laures Almost every despatch his brave
deeds He returned his adopted country be received
with open arms The that took place South Carolina
whose chvarc children he had led triumph before city
of Mexico recalled the days when Lafayette hailed by
grateful country the benefactor Of nation The APP
plause of the people-the eoquence of the oraor-he
inspiration of the poetthe smiles of the fair daughters of
the Palmetto Stae-contributed to make his sojourn in
that quarter of the Union ovation Cities
We'd do him honor and the story of bis noble bear
ing his modest merits and his constant courage in the
face of peril suggested comparisons between the Trshman
Montgomery who fell for his country before Quebec and
the Irishmans son who pucked immortal renown from
Englands soldery on the field of New Orleans
Illinois like a proud, fond mother, had followed her
adopted child through all the vicsudes Of war and when
others applauded she responded by browning his
with an election to Senate Of the United States there
to sit among the ablest of the land But the soldier was
not mere soldier He proved himself to be equal 10
his new position and after service of years full Of honor
and of distinction he may be said have all hearts
by his personal qualities his intellectual resources and
the directness of those patriotic instincts which have
guided him from the beginning.
1t is by no means gratifying spectacle to see
such a prescribed for the country of his
BIRTH We objected this when he fought against
Catholic Mexico The native Americans whom he led in
triumph did not fail to follow him because he was an
Irishman. The public voice less ardent in his
praise because he naturalized citizen for the people
remembered that he had been twice naurazed-onee by
the laws Of bis chosen country and again in the fire and
the blood Of that countrys foes II remains of this
day to witness the Acknowledgement Of who had Of
ered his life and shed his blood in the Of the repub
ic Here was that occurred within almost universal
recollection. 1t is fashionable forget ne past in these
days Of blatant and rampant anatcsn and il no new
thing to hear the Of the revolution ignored this