River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-02
Spirited Rescue.

siding at Kansas City, Mo. was lately
given a reception at Lockport, n y, by
the citizens and some Of his old comrades
who served under him in the Mexican
war. The public life of Gen. Shields be-
gan IN 1885 and embraces two terms in
the United Sites Senate and services In
three wars. Y. lille at LOckpOrt the vet
eran delivered an entertaining lecture,
giving many interesting "reminiscences of
his legislative and camp life. One of Il
thrilling episodes of the Mexican v,
told By the general. and which is no,
found in any Of the histories, Is that OF
the rescue of an English family from the
city Of Mexico before the capitulation, by
a detachment of American soldiers
The city had been invested some time,
WHEN refugee one night entered that
part of our lines which General Shields
commanded. lie was taken 10 the gen
eral, and to him told his story. He was
On English boy, and with his mother and
a sister just arrived at womanhood, oc-
Cupiel hume in tile capital at the time
IT the Investment. Une OF the lawless
guerrilla chiefs vino held the people of
the city as well as Of the country in ter
Tor. had conceived "A violent passion for
the sister, who repulsed his advances, and
ne declared in his rage that unless she
consented 10 his proposals on the follow
ing morning he would carry her of 10y
force, and cause her mother and brother
tu be executed The lad, in the ex-
tremity of his terror, had made his way
out of the city past the sentinels and the
lines. gained the American camp, and
now besought the general to save his
sister and mother.
The ardent soul OF Shields twho was
then but thirty-seven) was fired at the
thought of the miserable fate awaiting
these hapless ladies. and. without com
municating at al with headquarters
where flat refusal would have been Ter
tain, he formed plan for their rescue.
To call il rash, quiXotic, or daredevil
would he hut the truth: the best defense
of his proceedings of that night Is that it
was brave act, prompted 10y a generous
heart, and that he succeeded perfectly,
where disaster would have insured his
dismissal from Tire army. lie had about
100 picked men of his command detailed,
and after quickly informing them what
he proposed 10 do. he found every man
eager for the adventure. Putting himself
1T TIT lAEAAA ga AtE llAtAt AtfAttAAAAts ga
entity left the American lines, and. favor
"a by the darkness Of the night. APP
preached close to the walls 81 tlle Citv
without discovery.
The scntinel> could d. plainly seen oH
the walls and the cry: .'>s.fiat8l aieFft -
was heard as it PASSED from mouth 10
mouth Guidcd br the ia'l the party
sealed the WALL "a favorable place ard
s-i1ing twu OF three Df th, astunisheti
>entinels. descended into the city, and
quickly made their way un0pposed
through the stre9tS 10 the house To which
the lad guided them. The hoy ran III
and informed the ladies that deiiverance
had come they hdsiilt collected few
valuables and articles ut wearing apparel
in a bundle, AMI placing the rescued party
in the center of the column, Shields star
tel to tetlrr nrt meantime the alarm
had been given. and drums tT"rc beating
aud lanterns flashing an around the walls
Arriving near the point 81 entrance. II
was found that the whole open place he
tween the houses and the wall was filled
with Mexican infantry and artillery
Shields instantly deployed. and gave the
command TO fire.
rattling 1ullcv, followed 10y q bay
unet charge. threw the MeXicans into dis
urder. and the Americans rushed through
and over them with their little party
made their way out. and returned - theii
own camp with but a few casualties. al
though they drew the fire of both sides az
their return. for the American camp wa;
now aroused. and the pickets were firing
Rapidly. But the tpmult soon ceased on
sTs. n.1v-srr ftrs-f,Tre soldiers To
tired To their quarters as though nothing
had happened out of the usual course
and the ladies' were safely bestowed fol
the night in hut made As comtortabl,
- possible.
How he Was called upon To- account foi
his nights work will be best told IN Gen
Shields own language:
The next morning an officer of Gen
SCOTS staff came To my quarters with 8
message from the general that he would
like to know the cause of the previou,
nights alarm, as ii originated IN that par
Of the line which was under my com
mand. I answered that | would repOr
in person. " hich | at once did. On tn,
way | Thought the matter over, and con
cludcd that ii would he best 10 make ;
clean breast of il. and l did 50. The
story threw Gen. Scott into trcmendOu.
rage. Ever since CerrO GoriO wa:
fought he had addressed me as My CerrC
GorClu friend. but he now dropped that
familiar name. Gen. Shields, he thun
dered, Won afe insubordinate and reck-
less in the highest degree GOu have
put in peril the fruits of the whole cam
paign YOU have. perhaps. frustrated al
my plans for the capture of the city q
Mexico, Sir. I'll disgrace Won: I'll court
martial Won. and have YOU dismissed th'
service
st this my temper To>t.and | answeTe,
him plainly that he might court MARTA
me, and perhaps get me dismissed. In
that after all that had occurred en- thi
campaign. neither he nor any other MAJ
could disgrace me: and being hy thi
time pretty we'll stirred up. I said tha
under like circumstances would 10 pre-
cisely the sane thing over again. InStea,
of being mole angry. the general Wa
rather Softened by this speech. i wa
wrong. Gen. Shields. he said. in >ayin:
that i would disgrace YOU; / ask You
pardon for that You are brave man
and disgrace Is not the word TO use 10
ward YOU. But you are To blame in IN
matter, sir. You have acted without Of
ders. and have imperiled the whole cam
paign.' Gen. Scott, l said. before you sa
ANYTHING more about II. suppose yo
come over 10 my quarters and see the~
ladies'
After some further talk he promised
do so. and rode back to my tent preti
vel satisfied that l should have no flu
ther trouble with the affair. In an hou
over came Gen. Scott, and | at once il
reduced him to the ladies. The daugl
ter was a picture of beauty, with her gold
en- curls and her blue eyes; and after tll
mother had thanked the general for the
preservation with tearfrl eyes and tren
hing voiee. the girl seized his hand
vepf over them. called him her preserve
~ invoked the blessings Of heaven q
= . L.