The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-08-02

And the work that Is sweetest and dearest,
The work that 40 many meier do
The great work OF making folks happy,
Can be done by lassie like YOU"
sr 10, {: s y 4t Rescue; :.
i, !, The veteran General James Shields, re-
siding at, Kansas City, Mo-, was lately
given 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 1888 and embraces two terms in
the United StateesSenate" and services in
three wars: While at 1ockport the vet
eran delivered an entertaining lecture,
giving many interesting "reminiscences of
his Legislative and camp life: One of the
thrilling episodes Of the Mexican war
told by the general, and which is not
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 a refugee one night entered that
part of. our lines which General Shields
commanded. + He was taken to the gen
eral, and to him told his story. He was
IN English boy, and with his mother and
sister just arrived at womanlood, oc-
eupied home in the capital at the time
Of the investment. One of the lawless
guerrilla chiefs who held the people of
the city a. we'll as of the country in ter
FOR, had conceived a violent passion for
the sister, who repulscd his advances, and
he declared in his rage that unless she
consented Mhissproposals on: the follow
ing morning he would carry her off by
force, and cause her mother and brother
to be executed. The lad, in the en-
tremity Of his terror, had made his way
ont of the city past the scntinels and the
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 thirty -scven) was fred at the
thought of the miserable fate awaiting
these hapless ladies, and, without COM
municating~ at AT with headquarters
(where fiat refusal would have been Ger
taip)j ne formed d plan for their rescue:
To call it rash, quixotic, or daredevil
would lie but the truth; the best defense
Of his proceedings OF that plight is that it
was brave act, prompted by generous
heart, and that he succeeded perfectly,
where disaster would have insured his
dismissal from the army. lie had about
400 picked men Of his command detailed,
and after quickly informing them what
he proposed to do, he found every man
eager Grtlie adventure. Putting himself
at the head Of the little column, he sill
emily left the American lines, and, favor
ed BY = the darkness OF the night, APP
preached close to the walls of the CITY
without discovery.
The sentinels could be plainly seen on
the walls, and the cry: "ISentineal ale,1e!'
was heard as it passed from mouth to
'hoath. Guided by the lad the party
scaled thcwall at favorable place, and
selling two or three Of the astonished
sentinels, descended into the city, and
quicl<fyfa mel6 their sway unqpposoil
through the streetsfo tile House to which
the ladsguided them: = Tie boy II I'm in
and informed the ladies that dcliverance
had come; they hastily collected few
valuables and articles Of wearing apparel
in a bundle, s1d pncing the rescued party
in the center OF the column, Shields star
ted to return. But meantime the alarm
had been givep, aud drums were beating
and flashing all around the walls.
Arriving near the point Of entrance, it
was found that the whole open place be-
tween the houses and Tie wall was filled
with Mexican infantry and artillery.
Shields instantly deployed, and gave the
A rat.a9Et vSitsx followed By ii bay-
onet Charge, threM the Mexicans into dis
order, and the Americans rushed through
and over them with their little party.
made tleir.w9yout, and returned to their
own camp with but 1 few casualties, al
though they drew the fire of both sides on
their return, for the American camp was
now aroused, and the pickets were firing
rapidly. aBnt- tho tumult soon ceased on
both sides, the adventurous soldiers re.
tired TO- their quarters as though nothing
had happened ont of the usual course,
and the ladies were safely bestowed for
the pignt, IN 4 hut made as comfortable
as possible.
How he was called upon to account for
his nights work will he best told in Gen.
Shields own language:
"The next morning an. ofticer~~of Gen.
Scotts staff amesto my Quarters with a
messd ge 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 COM
mand. answered. that Izwould rerort
in person, which Il at once did: On the
way thought the matter over, and con-
cluded that it would be best to make a
clean breast of it., ahtd I did so. The
story threw Gen. Scott into tremendous
rage. Ever since -Cerro. Gordo was
fought he had addressed me as My Cerro
9"r3o!ttiend, f:hlt0ita how dropped SHAT
familiar name. Gen. Shields he thun=
dered, :yeW ffe iasnbondinats and reckS
less 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 of
Mexico! Sir, III disgrace you; I'll court
martial martial YOU and have you dismissed tile
service! .pG>E :'',: ~ , '''''c
At this my temper rose, and l answered
him plainly that he might = court martial
me, Ind perhd ps get me dismissed, but
that after PA that had occurred. on this
campaign, heff'er' he nor any other man
could disgrace me; and being by this
time pretty we'll stirred up, / said that
under like circumstances would do pre-
cisely the same thing over again. Instead
OF being more angry, the general was
rather sottene4 by this tspeecl.,'I was
wrong, Gen. Shields he said. lin saying
that would disgrace you'll ask your
R PA g. eeit e y ); &, %to
ward You. But YOU are to ,hlame in the