Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-08-16

/ held the stakes had also disappeared
| probably one Of Molino's men. Ma
gIuder never heard the last of this
exploit among his brother officers
and while his vexation lasted he de-
clared that he was "the biggest fool
i'm the American army"
SPIRITED RESCUE.
One OF the thrilling episodes of the
Mexican war which is not found in
any of its histories is that of the res
cue of an English family from the
city ofMexico before the capitulation,
by a detachment of American soldiers.
The city had been invested some
time, when refugee one night en-
tered that part OF our lines which
General Shields commanded. He
was taken TO the General, and to him
told his story. He was an English
boy, and with his mother and sister
just arrived at Womanhood, occu-
pied home in the capital at the time
OF the investment. One OF the law
less guerilla chiefs who held the peo-
pie OF the city as we'll as OF the coun-
try in terror, had conceived violent
passion for the sister, who repulsed
his advances, and he had declared in
his rage that unless she consented to
his proposals on the following morn
ing he would carry her off by force
| and cause her mother and brother to |
be executed. The lad, in the extrem-
ity OF his terror, had made his way |
out OF the city past the sentinels and
the lines, and 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 await
ing these hapless ladies, and, without
communicating at all with head
quarters, where fiat refusal would |
have been certain, he formed a plan |
for their rescue. To call it rash,
Quixotic, or dare devil would be but I
the truth; the best defense OF his pro-
ceedings OF that night is. IL was a
brave act, prompted by a generous
heart, and that he succeeded perfect
ly. where disaster would have insured
his dismissal from the army. He had
about 400 picked men detailed, and
after quietly informing them what he
proposed to do, he found every man
eager for the adventure. Putting
himself at the head OF the little COL
umn, he silently left the American
line and favored by the darkness OF
the night, approached close to the
walls or the city without discovery.
The sentinels could be plainly seen
on the walls. and the cry "Sentina
alert~ was heard as it passed from
mouth TO mouth. Guided by the lad
the party scaled the wall at favor
ableplace, and seizing the astonished
sentinels. descended into the city,
and quickly made their way unop-
posed through the streets to the
house to which the lad guided them.
The boy ran In and informed the la
dies that deIiverance had come; they
hastily collected a few valuables and
articles OF apparel in a bundle, and
placing the rescued party in the !
center Of the column. Shields started
to return. But meantime the the
alarm had been given. and drums
were beating and lanterns flashing
all around the walls. Arrived nearthe
point of entrance, 1t was found that
the whole open place between the
house and the wall was filled with
Mexican infantry and artillery.
Shields instantly deployed. and gave
the command to fire. A rattling vol
ley followed by 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 cas-
ualities. although they drew 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-
turned to their quarters as though
nothing had happened out OF the usu-
al course, and the ladies were safely
bestowed for the night in hut made
as comfortable as possible. "A
How he was called upon TO answer
for this nights work will be told in
General Shields own language:
THE next morning an officer OF
General SCOTS staff cane to my
quarters with a message from the
General that he would like to know
the cause OF the previous, nights
alarm, as It originated in tina part OF
the line which was under my CON-
mand. 1 answered that 1 would re-
port In person, which / at once did.
On the way thought the matter
over and concluded it would be best
to make a clean breast OF IL, and
did so. The story threw General
Scott into tremendous rage. Ever
since Cerro Gordo was fought he had
addressed me as My Cerro Gordo
sriend.' but now he dropped the ia
miliar name. General Shields he
thundered. you are insubordinate 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 cap
ture OF the City OF Mexicol Sir. I'll