The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-08-31
GEN. SHIELDS AT THE FAIR.

| Gen. Shields is one of those great men whom
to see, and hear, and shake by the hand, is an
event in a lifetime. TO HIM belongs the tri-
unc distinction and eminence of the statesman,
the soldier and the patriot AS civilian he
filled with exceptional ability and fidelity the
important offices of auditor of the state of Hi
nols, Judge of the Supreme Court, commits
sioner of the General Land Office at Washing
ton, and United States Senator. And in all
these offices no people were served with "A
more ardent and devoted fidelity than were the
people of Illinois by Gen, Shields. The writer
of this happened to spend year at Washing,
ton while Gen. 5. was in the senate and had
opportunities to witness in many ways his
singular and rrcless fidelity TO his official du-
ties. No man, it seemed to us, ever possessed
greater working qualities. If any one imag-
ines the position of L. 5. Senator Is sinecure,
he is sadly mistaken. In the case of Gen 5.
it seemed to be mountain of toll and drudg-
cry From the opening of the public offices
at 8 A. NJ. until the meeting of the senate at
noon it was an endless round at the depart
ments; and from the nd journment until mid
night It was committee work or writing and
answering letters, on business OF his constitu-
ents. No man ever wrote to Gen. Shields or
made any request of him but had 1t attended
to promptly or received otherwise satisfactory
answer At the same time he was never alb
sent from his seat in the senate, and certainly
no man ever welded a greater personal intlu
cnce in that body or enjoyed in higher de-
gree the confidence and esteem OF his fellow
members.
But even greater than as a civilian is the
distinction that belongs to Gen. Shields as a
soldier 1t was whileoccupying the honorable
position Of commissioner of the General Land
Office at Washington under President Polk
that the Mexican war broke out in 1916. The
military ardor of Gen Shields was enkindled,
and rcsignlng his Office he accepted the posi-
ton in the army Of Brigadicr General Of Vol
untecrs. He was at first assigned to duty in
the proposed expedition TO chihuahua, but af-
ter accompanying the army Of Gen. Wool as
far as Monclona in Mexico that programme
was changed, and Gen. Shields was ordered to
ION Gen Scott at Vera Cruz Space will not
permit us to follow his career in the brilliant
of 1S47 from Vera Cruz to the City
of Mexico. In the command of Gen Shields
was embraced the famous South Carolina brt
gade His first real work was at Ccrro Gordo,
where in April 1S47, 5000 Americans encoun
tceed a strongly entrenchcd and fortified force
of 10000 Mexicans. The hcrosm of Gen.
Shields and his brave South Carolinians in
that action has passed into history by the sRSe
of Inkerman and Wagram The imprognablc
Businesses of the Mexlcans were stormed, half
their army killed, wounded or taken prisoners
and the chief obstacle to the triumphant ad-
vance of Gen Scott to the "fIalls of the Monta-
zumas"was removed To Gen. Shields, however
It was dear victory. A grape shot had pass
ed through his lungs, and all the surgeons
shook their heads and said the man must die
Gen Shields knew better His iron constitu
ton and indOmitable will conquered even
his horse leading his more than decimated
regiments in the great battles Of Churubasco
Contreras and Moino del Rey before the City
of Mexico, during which our brave hero was
said though he again survived to coniound
their diagnostic skill.
His next appearance in the military role was
at the head of Il division Of McDowcl's army
in northern Virginia during the rebellion. In
a battle with Stonwall Jackson in the Shenan-
doah valley Gen. S was again wounded, but
not disabled, though he was compelled to dis.
mount from his horse and accompany his di-
vision in carriage. 1t was on the eve of The
great seven days battle Of Mcclellan in front
of Richmond The plan was that after the en-
gagcmcnt was opened Mcdowell with his 49, !
600 men should form ON Mcclellan ri ght At
the moment when Mcdowell ought TO have
been on his way 10 Hanover Court House an
order came from Washington to Mcdowell to
halt and TO send Shields viii, hls division To
the Shenandoah Valley "to head off Jackson"
surd order isssed. Jackson, the auth orihes at
Washington must have known rs well as Nc
Dowcl and Shields knew IL, had left the Shcn.
andoah Valley days before and was close on
AcClcllan's right which, through this order
and the thereby enforced absence Of Mcdowell,
was left wholly undcfended, thus insuring Nc.
Clellan's defeat. Gen. Shields was unable to
restrain his Indignation at what he at the time
saw was, and the world has since pronounced
Ia have been, Il reasonable order. He wrote
IN indignant letter 10 Stanton, saying that
while Of course he obcycd the order, he could
not refrain from saying that of all foolish or
wicked movements yet made, this was entitled
to the pre-eminencc, or words TO that effect
The honest, impulsivc zeal and patriotism of
Gen Shields in tins ouiburst % manly Indig.
nation was an objectionable oilcnsc in the eyes
OF Stanton, and the military career of our hero,
IL IL. a /. L. -.