The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-08-18
Rescued from GuerlllAs.
A Renaissance or GEN. SHIELD :
SERVICE IN TIE MEXICAN WAR.
T From the Utica Observer.

any OI !(S histories Is tual III VIC les
cue Of an English family from the
city of Mexico before the capltulatlon
Ivy a detachment of American sol
diors. The city kali been invested
somc tEc. when a refugee one night
entered that part OF our lines which
General Shield commanded, lie was
taken to the General. aud to him told
his story. lie WAS an English boy aud,
with his mother and sister just al
rived at womanhood, occupied a
home in the capital at the time of the
investment One of the iawless gucr-
lila chief, who held the people Of the
city as we'll as of the country III ter
ror, had conceived violent passion
for the sister, who lcpulscd his adj
vancrs, and he had declared in his
rage that, unless she consented to his
proposals on the following morning,
he would carry her OFT by force, and
cause her mother and brother to bc
executed. The lad in the extremity
of his terror had made his way out of
the city past the sentinel and the lines,
gained the American camp, and now
bcsought the General to save his sis
ter and mother. The ardent soul of
Shields (who was then but thirty
scven) was fired at the thought OF
the miserable fate awaiting these hap
less ladies', and without communica.
ting at all with headquarters (where
fiat refusal would have been certain
he formed a plan for their rcscnc.
TO call it rash, Quixotic 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 sue
cceded perfectly, where disaster would
insure his dismissal from the army.
He had about 400 picked man 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 Amcrisan;ines, and favored
by darkness of the night, approached
close to the walls of the city without
discovery. The scntines( could be
plainly seen on the walls, and the
cry, "Sentincla alcrte" was heard as
it passed from mouth to mouth
Guided by the lad the party scaled
the wall at favorable place, and
Selling two or three of the aston.
ished sentinels descended into the
city, and quickly made their way un
opposed through the streets to the
house which the lad guided them
Tn" boy ran in and Informed thu
ladies that dcliverance had come
they hastily collected few valuable!
and articles of wearing apparel il
a bundle,, and placing the rescued
party in the centre OF the column
Shields started to return. But mean
time the alarm had been given, AM
the drums were beating and lautcr
flashing all around the walls. Ar
rived near the point of entrance, i
was found that the whole open place
between the houses and the wall wa
filled with Mexican infantry and ar
tillcry. Shields instantly deploye(
and gave the command to fire. (
ratt|ipg vollcv followed bv a bay
onet charge, threw the Mexicans int
disorder, and the Americans rushe'
through and over them with thci
little party, made their way out, AM
returned to their own camp with bu
a few casualties. although they DIRE,
the fire of both sides on their return
for the American camp was now full
ly aroused, and the pickets were firm
rapidly. But the tunult soon cease
cn both sides, the adventurous sol
l;.els returned to their quarters a
though nothing had happened out {
the usual course, and the ladies wer
safely bestowed for the night in
hut made rs comfortable as possible
How he was called upon to accoul
, for this nights work will be best tol
in General Shields own language:
"The next morning an officer {
General SCOTS staff came to m
!, quarters with a message from I'll
: General that he would like to kno
r the cause of the previous night
f alarm, as it riginated in that pa
$ of the line which was under my con
Il mand. answered thatI would II
y ort in person, which | at once di(
: On the way l thought the matt
). over, and concluded that it would |
: better to make a clean breast of
and | did so. The story threw GEL
oral Scott into a tremendous rag
Ever since Ccrro Gordo was fought
had addressed me as My Ccrro Core
friend,' but he now dropped TIL
\ familiar name. General Shields
} he thundeled, you are insubordina
and reckless in the highest degre
You have put in peril the fruits
the whole campaign ;you have pc
haps frustrated all my plans for Il
capture of the City of Mexico 81
kdisgrace you; III court'marti
you, and have you dismissed the Sc
vice" At this my temper rose, al
l answered him plainly that he mig
d court.martial, and perhaps get n
9 dismissed, but that after all that h;
d occurred on this campaign neither
nor any other man could disgra
= me; and, being BY this time pref
we'll stirred up l said that under iii
circumstances would do precise
the same thing over again. 1nste'
of being more angry, the General "
y rather eoitened by this speech.
was wrong, Gen. Shield he said
saying that I wonld disgrace you
ask your pardon for that. You a
a brave man, and disgrace is not Il
word to use toward you. But "
IS are greatly to blame in this matte
sir. You have acted without order
and have imperilled the whole cal