The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-08-21

N--NNN
is Molino."
"NTolino, the guerrilla 2" groaned
Magruder.
"The same, sir. don't think you'll
ever see your horse again"
He never did; and the Mexican who
had held the stakes had also disappeared;
probably one of Molino's men. Magru-
der never heard the last of this exploit
among his brother officers and while
this vexation lasted he declared that he
was /" the biggest fool in 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 rescue of
an English family from the City of Mex
leo before the capitulation, by detach-
ment of American soldiers. The city
had been invested some time, when q
refugee one night entered that part at
our lines which Gen. Shields command
ed. He was taken to the General, and
to him he told the 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 lawless
Guerrilla chiefs who held the people of
the city as well as of the country in ter
ror, had conceived a violent passion for
his sister, who had drepulsed his advances
and he had declared in his rage that un-
less she consented to his proposals on
the following morning he would carry
her off by force, and cause her mother
and brother to be executed. The lad, in
the extremity of his terror, had made
his way out of the city, past the senti-
nels and the lines, gained the American
camp, and now besought the General to
save his sister and mother. The ardent
soul of Shields (who was then but 81,
was fired at the thought the misera-
BILE fate awaiting these helpless ladies.
and without communicating at all with
headquarters (where flat refusal would
have been certain,) he formed plan for
their rescue. To call it rash, quixotic.
or dare devil would be but the truth
the best defense of his proceedings of that
is night that it was brave act, prompt
ed by a generous heart, and that he sue
ceeded perfectly, where disaster would
have insured his dismissal from the
army. He had about 400 picked men of
his command detailed, and after quietly
Informing them what he proposed to do,
he found every man eager for the adven-
ture. Putting himself at the head of
the little column, he silently left the
American lines, and, favored with the
darkness of night, approached close to
the walls of the city without discovery.
The sentinels could be seen on the walls.
and the cry, "Se,atiraela alerte 20 was
heard as it passed from mouth to mouth.
Guided by the lad the party scaled the
wall at favorable place, and seizing two
or three of the astounded sentinels. de-
scended into the city, and quickly made
their way unopposed through the streets
to the house to which the lad guided
them. The boy ran in and informed the
ladies that deliverance had come: thew
hastily collected few valuables and ar
ticles of wearing apparel in bundle.
and placing the rescued party in the
centre of the column, Shields started to
return. But meanwhile the alarm had
been given, and drums were beating and
lanterns flashing all around the walls.
Arrived near the point of entrance. it
r
was found that the whole open space be-
tween the houses and the wall was filled
with Mexican infantry and artillery.
Shields instantly deployed, and gave the
command to fire. A rattling volley, fol-
lowed by bayonet charge, threw the
Mexicans into disorder, and the Ameri-
cans rushed through and over them
with their little party, made their way
out, and returned to their own camn
with but few casualties, although they
drew the fire of both sides on their re-
turn, n,for the American camp was now
aroused, and the pickets were firing rap
idly. But the tumult soon ceased on
both sides, the adventurous soldiers
returned to their quarters as though
nothing had happened out of their usual
course, and the ladies were safely bestow-
ed for the night in hut, made as COM
Portable 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.
SCOUTS staff came to my quarters with
message from the General that he would