Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-23
RENT BY A GRApE-sBOT.
The True story OF General Shields
Terrible MOund nj CerEO GOI do.


The True story OF General khIeIds'
Terrible WOund at CerrO GOIdO.
San Francisco Examinor.l
An erroneous statement concern
ing the terrible wound received by
General James Shields in Mexico,
and from which he so wonderfully
recovered, has been going the
rounds Of the press. 1t is to the
effect that the gallant officer owed
his recovery mainly to surgeon in
the Mexican service, who had been
taken prisoner, and whose skill in
surgery surpassed that Of any Of
the profession in the American
army. This is an error, and as it
does great injustice to a well-known
pioneer citizen of San Francisco,
we propose to notice the matter in
the interest Of truth. Our author.
ity is the statement Of General
Shields himself, as we find it'in the
North American, a semi-weekly pa
per published in the City Of Mexico
during the American occupation, a
bound volume Of which has been
kindly loaned to us by Captain
Kane, a veteran Of that war. Gen.
Shields wrote the facts Of his case
to the Washington Union, Beptem-
Der 81, 1S47, and the letter was
copied into the North American.
1t is too long to be reproduced
here, but the following extract
will show to whom the credit should
be given. He says "The wound
was made by a leaden or iron grape,
nearly three times the size of a
musket-ball. 1t entered my right
breast, just under the nipple, and
passed out Of my back within half
an inch of the spine. l was carried
two miles, to the hospital, on the
arms Of soldiers, under the direc-
ton of my aids, Lieuts. Hammond
and Davis. The whole route wa:
tracked with the blood which pour.
ed from the wound. The agony ]
suffered was SO intolerable that
longed for death, and often request
ed to be stretched on some smooth,
green spot where l might breathe
my last within hearing of the vic.
torious shouts of my troops. My
aids demonstrated with me, however,
and had me borne to the hospital.
There my wound was dressed and
the blood staunched by DR.. Wright,
Of the regular army, and DR.. Nc
MILAN, then attached to one of my
regiments as acting surgeon. From
that hospital | was borne on n litter
to a hut on the Jalapa road, two
and a half miles, the same day
Here | was attended for several days
by DR.. McMillan--all expecting
that every hour would be my last
| was then taken on a litter to jail
apa, where | remained until my re-
covery. was attended during the
whole Of my illness by DR.. Mcmillan,
who exhibited during that time moi
only the most consummate skill
as surgeon, but such care, ASST
duty and devotion, as to endeal
him to me for life. must moi
omit to mention that DR.. Van.
derlinden, surgeon general Of the
Mexican army (who had been taken
a prisoner by my command), ren.
dered efficient aid to DR.. McMil-
Ian during a portion Of this time.
l attribute, with a CRATE.
full heart, my preservation and re-
covery to God alone, but, next tc
God, my gratitude is due and my
recovery attributable to the skill
and devotion of my attending sur.
geon, DR.. Mcmillan The Dir
| Mcmillan to whom General Shields
pays this noble tribute is DIR. Robt
! Mcmillan, who has been aresident
of this city since early in 1S4S, and
is known and honored as one Of
our most sterling citizens. Tc
him, therefore, is due the credit oI
having, under Providence, brought
General Shields safely out of the
Jaws of death. 1t may be well To
add that the Lieutenant Hammond
who was aid to General Shields, i,
Major r. P. Hammond, another o.
the most honored of the pioneers
of California, who likewise distin,
guished himself in the war with
Mexico.