Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-08-30
From The Utica Observer
Recessed from GueriIlas.

From The Utica Observer
Recessed from GueriIlaa
One Of the thrilling episodes Of TIE
Mexican war, which are not found ii
any Of is histories, h that Of the rescue
OF an English family from the city Of
Mexico before the car!tulation, BY. a
detachment of American soldiers. II.
city had been invested some time, wheii
a refugee one night entered that part of
our lin.s which General Shields COM
tnaaded. He was taken to the Cer.raa;
and TO him tod his story. He. was an.
Engssh boy, and, with his mofher asxa
sister, just arrived at womanhood, occu-
Piled home in the capital at the time
of the investment. One Of the lawless
guerilla chiefs, who held the people Of
the city as well as OF the country in ter
ror, 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 morning, he would car
ry her of by force, and cause her moth
er 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 Amer
lean camp, and now besought the Gene
raj to save his sister and mother. The ar
dent soul of Shields (who was then but
lhirty-seven) was fired al The thought
OF the miserable fate aw aiting these hap
| less ladies', and without communicating
at all with headquarters (where fiat re-
iusal would have been certain,I he
formed plan for their rescue. To call
it rash, Quixotic or daredevil would be
the truth: the best defense of his pro-
ceedings OF that nigh. Is that il was a
brave act. prompted by a generous heart,
ara that he succeeded perfectly, where
disaster would insure his dismissal from
the army. He had a5ou; 400 picked
men of his command detailed, and after
briefly informing them W hat he proposed
to do he found every man eager for the
adventure.
Putting himself at the head OF the lit
tie column he silently lett the American
lines, and, favored by darkness of the
night, approached close to the walls D.
The city without discovery. The senti-
ncis could be plainly seen on the walls,
ard the cry. "Sentincla alertc !" was
heard as II passed from mouth 10 mouth.
Guided BY the lad the party scaled the
wall at a favorable place, and seizing
two or three OF the astounded sentinels
descended into the city, and quickly
made their way unopposed through the
street to the house which the lad guided
them. The boy ran IN and informed the
ladies' that deliveTance had come; they
hastily collected a lew valuab!es and ar
ticles OF wearing apparel in bundle,
and placing 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 en-
trance. il was found that the whole open
place between the houses and the wall
was filled with Mexican infantry and
artillery. Shields instantly deployed
and gave the command to fire. A rat
Ting volley, followed BY bayonet
charge. threw the Mcxicans into di>or-
der, and the Americans rushed through
and over them with their little party,
made their way out and returned 10
their own camp with but few Casual
ties, although they drew the fire OF both
sides on their return, for the American
camp was now fully aroused. and the
picket~ were firing rapidly. But the
tumult soon ceased on both sides, the
adventurous soldiers returned TO their
quarters a though nothing had happened
out Sf the usual course, and the ladies
were safely bestowed Tor the night in a
hut made as comfortable as possible.
How he was called upon to account for
this nights work will be best told in
Gen. Shields own language.
The next morning an officer of Gen.
SCOTS staff came 10 my quarters With
message from the General that he
would like 10 know the cause OF the
previous nights alarm, as it originated
IN that par. of the line which was un;
der my command answered that |
would report in person. which at once
| did. On the way thought the matter
over. aud concluded that il would be
better 10 make q clean breast OF 1t, and
I | did 50. The story threw General
Scott into tremendous rage. Ever
since Cerro Gordo was fought he had
addressed me as 'My Cerro Gordc
friend" but he now dropped that tamil-
Jar name. General Shields he ,hun-
dered, you are in>ebord,nsse and reck.
less in the highes, degree. You have put
in peril the fruits of the whole campaign;
YOU have, perhaps, frustrated ell nv
plans for the capture OF the city of Mex
leo. Sir, I'll disgrace you: I'll Court
martial YOU. and have yon dismissed
the ser,icer A: this my temper rose
and ! answered him plainly tina, he
might c"urt.mar,ial, aud perhaps get
me dismissed, but that after all that had
occurred on this campaign neither he
nor any other mar could disgrace me:
and. being by this time pretty well stir.
red ur. | said that under ike circum-
stances would do precisely the same
thing over again. Instead cf being more
ansev, the General was rather scftened
BY this speech. I ives wrong. General
Shields, be said, in sayinsthat would
disgrace you. | ask your pardon Tor that
You are brave man. and disgrace il
not the wcrd 70 use toward ycn. Blu,