Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-16
?aflistellanepns &eadiua.
MEXICAN WAR "REMINISCENCES.

MEXICAN WAR REMlNlSCENCES.
General Shields in speech before the citi-
zens Of Lockport, N. Y, who gave the old
hero public reception, humorously describes
his first interview with General Taylor: 81
was sent with my brigade to report to him on
the Rio Grande. After getting my command
into camp put On the most showy uniform
I had, and spent much time in rigging myself
up to do honor to such an occasion as the
meeting of the commander.in-chief of the
army of occupation. Arrived at the head
quarters, inquired for General Taylor, and
was shown into the tent by the orderly, who
went away to announce me- Presently enter
ed hard. featured, but still very benevolent
faced man, quite under-sized, who, from his
appearance, would easily have been taken for
WAGNER. A great Tapping straw .hat
crowned his head, he had no collar, linen
coat, and the coarse pantaloons he wore had
no suspicion of rank about them, and his un-
stockened feet we're covered by common in.
fantry shoes. While was trying to figure
out in my mind what this apparition could
be, he grasped my hand and heartily exclaim-
ed, "I'm very glad to see you here, General
Shields, and will cut out some work for your
command before long" And this was actual
ly General Zachary Taylor, one of the brav-
est, kindest and noblest men that has ever
lived"
Previous to the brilliant American victory
at Cerro Gordo, the engineers both of the at
tacking and defending armies had carefully
surveyed the highest of the eminences that
bristle about the place, and had reported it
inaccessible 1t overlooked the whole Mexi-
can army, but the Mexicans we're confident
that it could not be occupied, and the same
belief prevailed in the American camp. The
night before the assault was a very dark one.
Shields was in his tent, when toward midnight
number of soldiers of his command came to
him and asked permission to put six.pound
gun on the top of this cliff.
81 was astonished. "Don't you know" I
asked, that the engineers say it can't be
climbed 3-to say nothing about putting a
cannon up there" They insisted. however,
that they should like to try it. TRY it, then,
boys" said "no harm will be done, even
if you fail" They went away, and in two
hours they were back again with the amazing
news that they actually had six-pounder in
position on the summit of that almost perpen-
dicular eight.
"And if you consent, sill" said one Of them,
"wel put twelve-pounder there, too"
eco ahead 1 replied. I'll believe you
can do anything now And long before day
light they reported that the twelve FOUNDER
was up there beside the ix.pounder, ready to
open on the Mexicans in the morning. I
thought the news too good to he kept, so l
went to General Twiggs' tent and reused him
up. He heard my story, and looked at me as
though he did not believe word of it.
"'Do you mean to tell me, he exclaimed,
that those fellows of yours have hauled a
twelve.pounder and six.pounder up to the
top of that height"
"'Yes, sir; and what do you think Of
thatf'
"I think there are two pieces of artillery
lost to the United States for there are not
men enough in the army to get them down
again.
"But those two pieces did excellent service
against the astonished Mexicans That day, and
they were got down again afterward.
General Santa Anna was in command of
the Mexicans at Cerro Gordo He was Ut
terly defeated and compelled to retreat, with
HedVy lOSSes III PIlsoueISy iudIoEloiy oHu hlhou
and wounded. Shields was dangerously
wounded in the fight, and, of course, left be-
hind at Jalapa. When he became GONZALES.
cent he was informed that lady living oppo-
site the house where he lay had been very
kind and attentive, and had been of much
help to his attendants. AS soon as he was
allowed to walk out he went and thanked her,
when he learned to his surprise that she was
a daughter of Santa Anna. In the course of
the conversation that followed be re marked: /:
"But did you know who it was hat you
were ministering to all this time?
"Not at irst," she replied. II discovered
after time that you were General Shields,
who I had heard was killed."
"Perhaps. had you known at the first that
I was one who had Il large share in defeating
your father, you would not have relieved
me?"
She drew herself up with the air of an old
Castilian. "Sir," said she, chad you with
your own hand killed my father in fair fight
in fair 6ght-l would have done for you in
your extremity just as much as now have"
And she looked it as we'll as spoke it.