Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-09-05
GEN. SHIELDS STORIES.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF TIE
MEXICAN WAR.

Shields told at his recent Lockport,
N. Y, reception, are the following:
CROUCH AND READY"
His first interview with Gen. Tay.
lor was humorously described Il
was sent with my brigade to report TO
him on the Rio Grande. After get
ting my command into camp put on
the most snowy uniform | had, and
spent much time in rigging myself up
to do honor TO such an occasion as
meeting with the commander in chief
of the army of occupation. Arrived
at headquarters 1 inquired for Gen.
Taylor, and was shown into tent by
the orderly, who went away to an
nounce me. Presently entered hard
featured but still very benevolent
faced man, quite understood, who,
from his appearance, would easily
have been taken for a wagner. "A
great tapping straw hat crowned his
head, he had no collar, linen coat,
and the coarse pantaloons he wore had
no suspicion of rank about them, and
his unstockinged feet were covered by
common infantry shoes. While |
was trying 10 figure out in my mind
what this apparition could be, he took
my hand heartily, saying: I'm very
glad to see you here, Gen. Shields,
and will cut out some work tor your
command before long. And this was
actually Gen. Zachary Taylor, one OF
the braYest, kindest and noblest mon
that ever lived.
CERRo GORDo.
Previous to the brilliant American
victory of Cerro Gordo, the engineers
both of the attacking and defending
armies had carefully surveyed the
highest Of the eminences that bristle
about the place, and had reported it
inaccessible. 1t overlooked the whole
Mexican army, but the Mexlcans were
confident it could net be occupied, and
the oarne belief prevailed IN the A mar
can camp. The night before the as
sault was q dark one-Shields was IN
his tent, when toward midnight 4
number of soldiers of his command
came to him and asked permission to
put 6-pouud gun on the top Of this
cliff.
l was astonished "Don't you
know | asked, "tbat the engineers
say that it can't be climbed -? to say
nothing about placing cannon up
there
They insisted, however, that they
should like to try it. TRY it, then,
boys l said. No harm will be done,
ever if you fail
They then went away, and IN two
hours they were back again with the
amazing news that they actually had a
6-pounder in position en- the summit
OF that almost perpendicular height.
'And if you'll consent, sir, said one
of them, well put a l2-pounder there,
too.
GO ahead ! replied, I'll believe
you can do anything now.' And long
before daylight they reported that the
12-pounder was up there beside the
6.pounder, ready to open on the Mex
leans in the morning. thought the
news too good to be kept, SO | went
to Gen. Twiggs' tent and reused him
up. He heard my story, and looked
at me as though he did not believe a
word of it.
do you mean to tell me, he ex-
, claimed, that those fellows Of yours
: have hauled Il l2,pounder and also a
= 6-pouuder up to the top of that
height? I?
'Yes, sir and what do you think of
that ?
Il think there are two pieces of ar
, tillery lost to the United States for
there are not men enough in the army
to get them down again
f But these two pieces did excellent
| service against the surprised Mexicans
, that day, and they were got again at
, terward.
} AN INCIDENT.
Gen. Santa Anna was in command
= of the Mexicans at Cerro Gordo. He
: was utterly defeated and compelled to
: retreat, with heavy losses in prisoners,
material, and killed and wounded. -
Shields was dangerously wounded in
| the fight, and of course lett behind at
Jalapa. When he became GONZALES.
cent he was informed that a lady liv.
ing opposite the house where he lay
had been very kind and attentive, and
had been OF much help TO his attend