Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-05-06
For tic Cdt0ctin Clarion.

Mr.. EDITOR 1T is an agreeable
task to commemorate virtuous life
and a useful one, if it be a worldly
favor to the hand that presents the
Sword of Honor to the Victor, or the
decoration TO successful merit. 1t is a
quiet but not less grateful privilege,
to be the deserving channel Of their
remembrance and praise.
Maj. WILLIAM SHIELDS, the subject
of this sketch, was native of Ireland,
and emigr~A 4 to this country, when
quite a yE51ulihg yE1lhg man. He was the CO.
temporary Of Samuel Emlnit, the
father of Wnl. Emmit, the founder OF
Emmitsburg. He settled on a farm
on the banks of Toms creek, at the
foot of the Blue Ridge, where in 1880
he built large brick house. 1t is
still standing, but in the hands of
strangers. But few of his desccndents
are to be found in the neighborhood,
although he raised seven sons. Some
of his sons emigrated to Tennessee,
and a grandson, Hon. JAMES SHIELDS,
some thirty-odd years ago represented
the Lincoln and Giles District of that
State in Congress. He was q cousin
to DR.. Jefferson Shields, and was well
known to the Hon. Francis Thomas.
When the war of the Revolution
began, Major Shields was nearly 40
years of age, with a large family to
support, and quietly cultivating his
farm, but being a very intelligent and
we'll read man, and of fine physical
powers, he was selected in connection
with Capt. Wm. Blair and Capt. Henry
Williams to lead the fighting spirits Of
Emmitsburg Hundred to the front
He was with Washington, when he re-
treated through the JERSEYS, and at
Valley Forge in the darkest days of
the Revolution in l776. Maj. Shields
at one time represented what was then
known as the Upper District Of Fred
crick county, i'll the Legislature of
Maryland, and assisted in the election
of Governor Tom Johnson, the first
Republican Governor Of Maryland :;
and a whoIc-soulcd patriot was old
Tom. As Uncle Toby said Of the
English Army Of Flanders, he "swore
terribly But his great deeds and
sterling virtues outweigh all his de-
tects. From the year l,1O up to 1890,
MAJ Shields was one Of the most
prominent men Of our District. both
as a public man and private citizen.
The Major belonged to what was
called the "Flying Camps" They
We're the terrible Militia Of Maryland.
Whenever General Washington was
in a tight place (Which was very often)
old "Tom johnson" ," as he was irrev-
erently called, would bring out all the
fighting men of the State, and organ
ize them and send them to the front.
He would be there in person to ln-
nounce their coming. Washington
would see "old Tom Johnson when
he would see no other person. Fred
cricll county had great many fine
fellows within hor borders at that
time. Three of the Prices Of Taney-
town (now in Carroll county,, served
seven years and some months in the
Maryland Line with Generals Small
wood, Gist, Howard and Otho Holland
Williams In the German Battalion
of Frederick county, were the Bait
zell $, Mantz's, Goods s, Grabill's, Crea-
gers and old Capt. Boyer, and other
daring spirits, 1t seems to me that
these men of the Revolution were es-
pecially raised up for the occasion.
They We're men Of strong nerves and
great physical powers. When we con-
template the lives of the leaders of
our Army, We are irrcSistibly attract
ed by their valor and the glory of
their exploits: but in conGning our
selves to their deeds Of heroism we
rob them of half of the need Of ap-
plausc which they have justly earned.
They not only fought our battles, but
for eight long years were the watch
full guardians of their country. Eight
years witnessed their entire self-de-
votion, in which property, health,
personal safety, and the pleasures of
domestic life, were exchanged for the
scanty and unpalatable rations Of the
soldier, the diseases incident to eXpo-
sure in every season and climate, the
dangers of battle, and the checrless
shelter of the tented field.
Near Emnntsburg. Y.