Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-25
RESCUED FROM GUERILLAS.
A Renaissance of Gen. Shields Service
i'm the Mexican War.
TFrom the Utica Observer |

Mexican war which is not found in any
of its histories is that of the rescue of
an English family from the city of Mex
leo before the capitulation by detach-
ment of American soldiers. The city
had been invested some time, when a
refugee one night entered that part of
our lines which Gen. Shields command
ed. He was taken to the General, and
to him told his story. He was an Eng
fish boy, and, with his mother and sister
just arrived at womanhood, occupied a
home In the capital at the time Of the
investment. One of the lawless guerilla
chiefs, who held the people of the city
as well as of the country in terror, had
conceived violent passion for the sister,
who repulsed his advances, and he had
declared in his rage that, unless she con-
scented to his proposals on the following
morning, he would carry her off by force,
and cause her mother and brother to be
executed. The lad in the extremity 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
(who was then but thirty-seven) was
fired at the thought of the miserable
fate awaiting these hapless ladies, and
without communicating at all with head
quarters (where fiat refusal would have
been certain) he formed plan for their
rescue To call it rash, Qulxotic, or
daredevil would be the truth; the best
defense of his proceedings of that night
is that it was brave act, prompted by
a generous heart, and that he succeeded
perfectly, where disaster would insure
his dismissal from the army. He had
about 400 picked men of his command
detailed, and after briefly informing
them what he proposed to do he found
every man eager for the adventure
Putting himself at the head of the little
column be silently left the American
lines, and, favored by darkness of the
night, approached close to the walls of
the city without discovery The SEN
tinels could be plainly seen on
the walls, and the cry, "Sentinela
alerte!" was heard as it passed from
mouth to mouth. Guided by the lad
the party scaled the wall at a favorable
place, and Selling two of the three as
founded sentinels descended into the
posed through the streets to the house
to which the lad guided them. The boy
ran In and informed the ladies that
deliverance had come; they hastily col
lected few valuables and articles of
wearing apparel In bundle, and plac-
ing the rescued party in the centre of
the column, Shields started to return.
But meantime the alarm had been
given, and drums were beating and
lanterns flashing 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 Mexican infantry and artil-
lery. Shields instantly deployed and
gave the command to fire. A rafting
volley, followed by a bayonet charge,
threw the Mexicans into disorder, and
the Americans rushed through and over
them with their little party, made
their way out, and returned to their
own camp with but a few casualties,
although they drew the fire of both
sides on their return, for the American
camp was now fully aroused, and the
pickets were firing rapidly. But the
tumult soon ceased on both sides,
their quarters as though nothing had
happened out of the usual course,
and the ladies were safely bestowed for
the night in a hut made as comfortable
as possible.
How he was called upon to ac-
count for this 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 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 matter over,
and concluded that it would be better
to makes clean breast of it, and [ did
SO. The story threw Gen. Scott into a
tremendous rage. Ever since Cerro
Gordo was fought he had addressed me
as My Cerro Gordo friend, but he
now dropped that familiar name.
General, he Numbered, you are in
subordinate and reckless In the highest
degree. You have put In peril the
fruits of the whole campaign; you have,
perhaps, frustrated all my plans for the
capture of the City Of Mexico? Sir, I'll
disgrace you; I'll court-martial you,
and have you dismissed from the service!
At this my temper rose, and [ answered
him plainly that he might court-martial,
and perhaps getme dismissed, but that
after all that had occurred on this
campaign neither he nor any other man
could disgrace me; and, being by this
time pretty well stirred up l said that
under like circumstances [ would do
precisely the same thing over again
Instead of being more angry, the Gen
eral was rather softened by this speech
1 was wrong, Gen. 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 Use
toward you. But you are greatly to
blame in this matter, sir. You have
acted without orders, and have imper-
lied the whole campaign General
Scott, [ said, before you say anything
more about 1t suppose YOU come over