Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-07-25
RESCUED FROM GUERILLAS.
4 "Reminiscences Of Gen. Shields Service
in the Mexican War.
From the Utica Observer

One of the thrilling episodes of the
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 capitulatlon 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, alid
to him told his story He was an Eng
fish boy. and, with his mother and sister
lust arrived ut womanhood occupied a
home in the capital ut the time of the
investment. One of the laWless guerilla
chiefs, who held the people Of the city
as well as of the country III terror, had
conceived a violent passion for the sister,
who repulscd 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 of 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 thrty-seven) was
fired at the thought of the miserable
fate awaiting these haplcss ladies' and
without communicating at all with head
quarters where flat refusal would have
been certain) he formed a plan for Their
rescue. TO call it rash, QuiXotic, or
daredevil would be the truth; the best
defense of his proceedings of that night
is that it was II brave act, prompted by
IL generous heart, and that he succeeded
perfectly, where disaster would insure
his dismissal from the army. lie 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 he 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, Sentlncla
alcrtcW was heard rs it passed from
mouth to mouth. Guided by the lad
the party scaled the wall at favorable
place, and SEEING two of the three as
founded sentincls descended into the
city, and quickly made their way unop-
posed through the streets to the house
to which the lad'guidcd them. The boy
ran in and informed the ladies that
delivcrancc had come they hastily col
lected few valuablcs and articles of
wearing apparel in II 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-
lcry. Shields instantly dcploycd and
gave the command to fire, a rafting
vollcy, followed 10y bayonct charge,
threw the McXlCanS 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
pickcts were firing rapidly. But the
umult soon ceased ON both sides,
the adventurous soldiers returned to
their quarters rs though nothing had
happened out of the usual course,
and the ladies were safely bestowed for
the night in a hut made rs comfortable
rs possible.
How he WAS called upon to ac-
count for this nights work will I've best
told in Gen. Shields own language:
"Thc next morning an officer of
Gen. Scots staff came to my quarters
with u 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 mt once did.
On thcWay thought the matter over,
and concluded that it would bC better
To make clean breast of it, and did
So. The story threw Gen. Scott into a
tremendous rage. Ever since CcTo
Gordo was fought he had addressed me
rs My. Ccrro Gordo friend. but he
now dropped that familiar name.
General he Numbered, YOU are in
subordinate and reckless i'll 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-maltial You,
and have you dismisscd.fr the service.
At this my temper rose, and answered
him plainly that he might court-martial,
and perhaps getmc dismissed, but that
after all that had occurred ON this
campaign neither hcnor amy other man
rnulI llsmrnnn mo. nnd hnlnm hN lhis