Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-22

self Joined in the applause, and frankly adj
mltled that he was fairly beaten. The
Mexican smiled, and bowed, and said:
Now, if the senior will wait Il moment
| will show him feat of horsemanship
the like of which he has never SEEM
Magruder assentcd, and the Mexican
rode half way round the square, and then
putting spurs to the horse, disappeared in
Il twinkling
What the ID does that mean p said
Magruder
know of only one man who can ride
like that, said II by-stander, and that is
Molino.
'Molino, the guerilla? groaned the own
er of the horse.
The same, sir l don't think you'll
ever see your horse again.
He never did the Mexican who held the
stakes had also Disappeared d-probably one
of Molino's men. Magruder never heard
the last of this exploit among bis brother
officers, and while his vexation lasted he
declared he was the biggest fool in the
American army.
A SPIRITED RECSUE.
One of the thrilling episodes of the Mex
lean war, which is not found in any of its
histories, is that of the rescue of IN Eng
lish family from the city of Mexico, before
its capitulation, by detachment of Ameri-
can soldiers.
The city had been invested some days,
when q refugee one night entered that
part of the lines which Gen. Shields COM
manded, lie was taken to the General,
and to him told his story.
He was an English boy, and with his
mother and II sister just arrived ut woman
hood occupied II home in the capital at
the time of the investment. One of the
lawless guerilla chiefs, who held the peo-
pie Of the city, as well rs the country, in
terror had conceived violent passion for
the sister, who repulsel his advances, and
he had declared in his rage that unless 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 terror,
made his way out of the city, past the SEN
tinels and lines, gained the American
camp, and now besought the General to
save his sister and mother. The ardent
soul of Shields-who was then but 81
was fired at the thought of the miserable
fate awaiting these hapless ladies, and
without communicating ut all to headquar-
tiers, where flat refusal would have been
certain, he formed plan for their rescue.
10 call it rash, quixotic, or daredevil,
would be but the truth; the best defence of
his proceedings of that night is, that it was
II brave act, promoted by generous heart,
and that he succeeded perfectly, where dis
aster would have ensured his dismissal
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 ad-
venture. Placing himself ut the head of
the little column, he silently left the AM
erican lines, and, favored by the darkness
of the night, approached close to the
walls of the city without discovery. The
sentinels could be plainly seen on the
walls, and the cry, "SeHti1ale GIere ~ was
heard as it passed from mouth to mouth.
Guided by the lad, the party scaled
the wall at favorable place, and
seizing two or three of the astounded
sentinels, 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 in
formed the ladies that deliverance had
come; they hastily collected II few valua-
bles and articles of wearing apparel in Il
bundle, and placing the rescued party in
thu Of bn np1,,p,n SbinlIs sto nh I'D 10
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 place between the
houses and the wall was filled with Mexi-
can infantry and artillery. Shields instant
ly deployed. and gave the command to fire.
A rafting voley, followed by bayonet
charge, threw the MeXicans into disorder,
and the Americans rushing through and
over them with their small party, made
their way out and returned to their own
camp with but few casualties, although
they drew the fire of both sides on their re-
turn, for the American 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 comfortable rs 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 quarters with Il
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.
| answered that | would report in person,
which | at once did.
On the way | thought the affair over,
and concluded that it would be best tc
make clean breast of it, and | did So
The story threw General Scott into II tre-
mendous rage. Ever since Cerro Gordo was
fought he had addressed me us My Cerrc
Gordo friend but he now dropped that
familiar name. General Shields he
thundered, you are insubordinate and
reckless in the highest degree, You have
put in peril the fruits of the whole cam
paign; you have, perhaps, frustrated all
my plans for the capture of the city ol
Mexico! Sir, I'll disgrace you; III court
martial you, and have you dismissed from
the servicen
At this my temper r)se, and answered
him plainly that he might court-martial
me, and perhaps get me dismissed, but af.
ter all that had occurred in this campaign
neither he nor any other man could dis
grace me. and being by this time pretty
we'll stirred up, said that under like cir
cumstanCes would do precisely the same
thing again.
Instead of being more angry, the Gen.
eral was rather Sollened by this speech.
L was wrong, General Shields, he said
: in saying that would disgrace you.
ask your pardon for that. You are brave
man, and disgrace is not the word to ust
! toward you. But you are greatly to blaine