Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-09-05


rescue of an English family from the
city of Mexico before its capitulation,
by a detachment of American soldiers.
The city had been invested some
days, when a refugee one night enter.
ed that part Of the lines which Gen.
Shields commanded. He was taken
to the General, and to him told his
story.
He was an English boy, and with
his mother and a sister just arrived at
womanhood, occupied a home in the
capital at the time of the investment.
One of the lawless guerilla chiefs,
who held the people OF the city, as
we'll as the country, in terror, Lad
conceived violent passion for the
sister, who repulsed his advances, and
he had declared in his rage that I'M
less she consented to his proposals he
would carry her off by force, and
cause her mother and brother to be
executed.
The lad, in the extremity of his ter
ror, made his way out of the city,
past the sentlnels and the lines, gain
ed the American camp, and now be.
sought the General to save his sister
and mother. The ardent soul of
Shields-who was then but 37-was
fired at the thought of the miserable
fate awaiting these hapless ladi es, and
without communicating at all to head.
quarters, where flat refusal would
have been certain, he formed a plan
for their rescue.
To call it rash, quixotic, or dare
devil, would be but the truth the
best defence of his proceedings of that
night is, that it was a brave act, pro-
noted by generous heart, and that
he succeeded perfectly, where dis
aster would have insured his dismis-
sal from the army. He had about 400
picked men of his command detailed,
and after quietly informing them what
he proposed to do, found every man
eager for the adventure. Placing him
self at the head of the little column,
nv o;I..u, ,er. oac fAlic''."" ''l~',
and, favored by the darkness of the
night, approached close to the walls
Of the city without discovery. The
sentincls could be plainly seen on the
walls, and the cry, "Sentinalc alerte !!
was heard as it passed from mouth 10
mouth
Guided by the lad, the party scaled
the wall at a favorable place, and seiz-
inc two or three of the astounded sen.
tinels, descended into the city, and
quickly made their way unopposed
through the streets to the house to
which the lad had guided them. The
boy ran in and informed the ladies
that deliverance had come; they
hastily collected a few valuables and
article of wearing apparel in bundle,
and placing the rescued party in the
centre OF the column, Shields started
to return.
But meantime the alarm had been
given, and drums were beating and
lanterns clashing all around the walls.
Arrived near the point of entrance, it
was found that the whole open space
between the houses and the wall was
filled with Mexican infantry, and artil.
lery. Shields instantly deployed, and
gave the command to fire. A rattllng
vo|Iey, followed by bayoret charge,
threw the Mexicans into disorder, and
the Americans rushing through and
over them with their small parity
made their way out and returned to
heir own camp with but few casu-
alties, although they drew the fire OF
both sides on their return, tor the
American camp was now aroused and
the pickets were firing rapidly But
the tumult soon ceased on both sides,
the adventurous soldiers returned to
their quarters as though nothing had
happened out Of the usual course,
and the ladies were safely bestowed
for the night in hut made as com
Portable as possible.
How he was called upon to account
for this nights work will be best told
in Gen. Shields own language
"The next morning an officer OF
General Scots staff came to my quar-
ters with a message from the General
that he would like to know the cause
of the previous nights alarm, as it
originated in that part of the line
which was under my command. l
answered that l would report in per-
son, which ! at once did.
On the wav ! thought the affair