Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-30
General shields, Remin,sc.pcs,

The st: Lonls Evening Post prints a
report OF q recent lecture by General
James Shields in that city, and gives the
following abstracts Of some Of the stories
that the veteran told:
His first story was of a time when
himself and Stephen A. Douglas were
members of the Illinois legislature, and
roomlng together at Vandalia, Ill, in a
boarding.hous kept by a certain Colonel
Flack. The landlord, by the way, also
kept a grocery. Shields and Douglas.
as the custom tben was, always kent a
pitcher of Bourbon whisky on the table.
They had plenty Of friends, aud the
pitcher was replenished-jus how MANY
times daily he could not teIl-but Flaek.
who had to carry the liquor around, cot
tired OF it and said some other wsy of
dispensing the liquor must be provided.
There was a partition between Douglas
and Shields room and the c and
Douglas suggested hat a hole should be
cut In the partition, and two faucets
placed IN the barrel, one on the grocery
side and one inside the partition. The
landlord wes to sell on his side, Douglas
and Shields were to drink on the other
and the cost of the barrel OF whisky was
to be equally shared. The proposit;nn
was accepted. The first day Flack zane
out ahead, the second day they were
even, but IN the third day Dcagias and
his chum were way before the proprietor,
tlaek couldn't stand it; saw they we're
selling whisky cheaper than he was. and
compromised the contract. which other.
wise was to have lasted all winter nv
payment OF a FIVE gallon key.
The last story a concerning the
rescue OF some ladies from the city of
Mexico befoIs its capture. An English
boy, arrested as a spy, had asked private
audience OF General Shields, and told
him shes a Mexican desperate had
sought his sisters hand, and being re-
fused had threatened vengeance. he
had, therefore, obtained from Santa
Anna the control of that part Of tho city
in which the boys father, mother and
two sisters lived; had hired a gang Of
r~utians who we're to pluuder the bonse.
keep the booty, but to deliver the girls 10
this Mexican miScreant for his W evil
purposes. Properly disguised, the how
bad entered the American oamp 10 be.
seech the assistance Of General Shields.
The emergency was a rare one. Author.
lty to make the rescue it was certain
Gen. Scott, c~ommander.in chief, would
not give. With the girls unsaved, Shields
felt be would be- unable to look any
oma in the face again. Volunteers
were called for, and four hundred men
responded TO the call. Led by signal,
they ran ike antelopes up tha Mexican
rampant, found the ladies, and were re.
turning when they encountered q body
Of Mexican infantry. They cut their
way through, descended the rampant and
reached camp With the fair ones safe and
sound, But the Mexican army mad bv
this time been reused, and the American
army had heard the alarm, and oom.
menced to bugle and call TO arms. Each
side was looking for the other, and in
due time General Scott asked explana.
ton Of General Shields. When The
story was told Scott was wild with rsve
and threatened to court martini Shields
Ind have him removed. When. hew.
ever, Scott cane to see the ladies' And
recslved their thanks he gradually re.
Tented. Shields was not conrtmartialed
but promoted, and he left the arm /
major general as the result eg the strs5sa
sortie.