The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-01
4 Spirited Rescue.

siding - Kansas City, Mo-, was lately
given = reception at LockpoIt, n. \ 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 e $50 and embraces two terms in
the United States Senate and services in
three wars. While at Lockport 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 ;'y the general, and which is not
jounss II any of the histories, is that of
the 1cac;se Of an English family from the
city o.. Mexico before the capitulation, by
4 detachment of American soldiers.
The city had been invested some time,
when d refugee one night entered that
part Of our lines which General Shields
commanded He was taken to the gen
eral. and 70 him told his story. He was
PA English boy, and with his mother and
a sister Just arrived at womanhood, Oc-
cup;ec: {; home in the capital at the time
OF the Investment. One Of the lawless
guerrilla. chiefs who held the people of
the cicy as we'll as of the country in ter
the sister, who repulsed his advances, and
he declared in his rage that unless she
consented to his proposals On the follow
ing morning he would carry her off by
tolr:. end cause her mother and brother
10 }'2 executed. The lad, in the ex-
treniitv Of his terror, had made his way
out of the city past the sentinels and the.
line>, gained the American camp, and
now ;,esought the general to save his
sister and mother
The ardent soul of Shields (who was
then but thirty-seven) was fired at the
thought Of the miserable fate awaiting
these l!apiess ladies, and, without COM
munic%ting at all with headquarters
whcrc fat refusal would have been GER
taiu'. he formed plan Tor their rescue
To ca! i rash, quixotic, or daredevil
wolli: sc but the truth; the best defense
OF ir:S proceedings OF that Dight is that it
Wa l. :,ravc act, prompted by a generous
heart and that he succeeded perfectly,
where disaster would have insured his
dismissal from the army. He had about
400 }}::hed men of his command detailed,
and ;.ttor quickly informing them what
he proposed to do, he found every man
cage: for the adventure. Putting himself
at the head Of the little column, he sill
entity left the American lines, and, favor
eel by the darkness Of the night, APP
preached close to the walls of the CITY
without discovery.
Tn: aentinels could be plainly seen on
the wallis and the cry: "1Scntineaz azerter'
was heard as it passed from mouth to
mou1h. Guided by the lad the party
scaled the wall at a favorable place, and
Selling two OF three of the astonishcd
sentinels, descended into the city, and
quickly made their way unopposed
through the streets to the house to which
the lad guided them. The boy ran in
and Informed the ladies that dcliverancc
had come; they hastily collected a few
yaiu"oles and articles Of wearing apparel
in Il bundle, and placing the rescued party
in the center OF the column, Shields star
ted to return. But meantime the alarm
hat i,ccn given, and drums were beating
and lanterns flashing all around the walls
Arriving near the point Of entrance, it
was found that the whole open place be-
tween the houses and the wall was filled
witt. Mexican infantry and artillery
Shields instantly dcployed, and gave the
command to fire.
A rafting volley, followed by bay
onct charge, threw the Mexicans into dis
order, and the Americans rushed through
and over them with their little party.
made their way out, and returned to their
own camp with but 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. But the tumult soon ceased on
both sides, the adventurous soldiers re.
tired to their quarters as though nothing