Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-23
THE TWO WARS.
Remi niscences of General shieIdl
in the Mexican War.

in the Mexican War.
Interview in Washington Post.l
"Well, General, how many wars
have you been in, anyhow"
"Two; unless you count in the
war over the doorkeepership, and
that being a skirmish that was over
before | came up, can hardly be
charged or credited to my account"
SIS the painting Of the battle of
Chepultepec over the Senate stair
case where you are represented as
standing in your shirt-sleeves talk
to General Quitman, a fancy
sketch2"
"No; we we taken just as we
stood, by a photographer who fol-
lowed the army to take sketches
whenever he could. 1t was after
wards transferred to canvas. The
incident which it commentaries
was one of the most notable and
curious in my history. l had been
ordered by General Scott to make
a demonstration on the City of
Mexico from the Chepultepec side.
| gathered up the magnificent Pal
metto regiment, Colonel Butler,
the mounted rifles, the New York
volunteers, and 0'Brien battery.
and led a sudden dash along the
acqueduct towards the city. The
enemy gave way and seeing that we
pressed them all the harder to pre-
vent their reforming, General
Scott, who intended that General
Worth should take the city by the
San Cosme route instead of the
Berlin route, saw from the heights
that | was making rather rapid
progress, and Immediately detached
two aides-de-camp to stop me. !
saw them coming and suspected
their errand. Lord Nelson, you
know, at Copenhagen, was the
second in the command. When
the signal was given to him by the
Admiral not to attack, one of the
officers called his attention to it.
lie put his glass to his blind eve,
and said: Damned if | can see
any signal; attackw II didn't want
any message from General Scott at
that precise moment, and when
the aldes-de-camp got within speak
ing range and said, General Scott
sends his compliments TO General
Shields hollered out all right,
bpt | haven't time to talk with you
now, walt a bit, General Scott see
ing that we were still pushing
ahead at a break-neck pace toward
the city, sent General Quitnan to
me, and my horse having been shot
under me, / was on foot explaining
to General Quitman that it would
be madness for ps to deGist from
our advantage, and that General
Scott never would have ordered it
IL hs knew how gloriously we were
advancing, oh !but he was gal
liant soldier, was General Quitman,
and a generous one, and instead Of
ordering mo back he told me to 60
ahead. So on we went, and In less
than twenty minutes we entered
the garFita. or city gate, and un-
furled the aFst American flag IN
the City of Mexioo-the flag that
was borne by the gallant Palmetto
regiment,
The artist happened to get his
camera in focus just while | was
talking to General Qqitman, and
so | apprehend it as a more COR
rect battle-piece than the most of
those that ornament our public
buildings
81 don't suppose you much re-
gret not being elected doorkeeper,
do you?" said the Post.
"No. While grateful to my
friends for their intended kindness,
and deeply grateful to Mr.. Hutch.
ins, of the Post, for his very COM
plimentary article, to which l
largely attribute my unexpected
prominence, should have felt my
self compelled to decline the posi-
tion."
"You are willing to be retired
with the pay of a brigadier?"
NATURALLY enough; | couldn't
be averse to that. If | have been
of any service to my country it has
been while acting as a brigadier-
general. l should consider it a
graceful and touching recognition
Of, not my deserts, perhaps, but of
my good Intentions and my fidelity
to my adopted country"
--1'-e-.b--