Sharp County record., 1879-07-17

wound. removing the eXtravasated
blood, when daylight could be seen
through the hole. He lived to be q
hale and hearty man, free from disease
or any inconvenience from his wound,
which was considered at that ume NOR
tai.
On the 18th of September he was in
the thick of the fight at ChapultePe.c'
His horse having been shot under him
Gen. Shields fought on foot, barehead-
ed and in his shirt sleeves, leading his
brigsde, sword in hand, with bravery
that has made his name imperishablel IN
American history. In reply to a qQles-
ton asked him in Washington last
spring, whether the painting of the bat
tie of Chapultepec over the Senate STAIR
case, where he is represented as stand
inc in his shirt-sleeves, was fancy
sketch, Gen. Shields said; "No; we
were taken Just as we stood by.a photog-
rapher who followed the army to take
sketches whenever he could. 1t was al
terward transferred to canvas. The In
cident which it commentaries was one
of the most notable and curious IN my
history. | had been ordered by Gen.
Scott to make a demonstration on the
City of Mexico from the Cbapultepec
side. gathered up the magnificent Pdl-
metto regiment, Col Butler; the Mount,
ed Rifles, the New York volunteers, and
O'Brien's battery, and led a sudden
dash along the aqueduct toward the
city. The enemy gave way, and, see
ing that, we pressed them all the harder
to prevent reforming. Gen. Scott, who
intended that Gen. Worth should take
the city by the San Cosme route instead
of the Belen 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 Mel
son, you know, at Copenhagen was the
second in command. When the signal
was given him not to attack, one OF his
officers called his attention to it. He
put his glass to his blind eye and said:
ID if | can see any signal. Attack ,
| didn't want any message from Gen.
Scott at that precise moment, and when
the aides-de camp got within speaking
range and said. 'Gen. Scott sends his
compliments to Gen. Shields l holler-
ed out, All right, but | haven't time to
talk with you now; wait a Bit Gen.
Scott, seeing that we were still pushing
ahead at a breakneck pace toward the
city, sent Gen. Qaitman to me, and, my
horse having been shot under me, l was
on foot explaining to Gen. Quitman that
it would be madness for US to desist
from our advantage, and that Gen.
Scott never would have ordered it if he
knew how gloriously we were advanc-
ing. Oh! he was gallant soldier, was
Gen. Quitman, and a generous one, and
instead of ordering me back he told me
to 90 ahead. So on we went, and in less
than 20 minutes we entered the garrita,
or city gate, and uufuled the first
American flag in the City of Mexico
the flag that was borne by the gallant
Palmetto Regiment. The artist hap.
pened to get his camera in focus just
while l was talking to Gen. Quitman,
and so l apprehend it is more correct
battle piece than The most Of those that
ornament our public buildings"
Before the capture of the City Of Mex
leo an English boy, arrested as spy,
asked private audience of Gen. Shields,
and told him that a Mexican despera-
do had sought his sisters hand, and be-
ing refused had threatened vengeance.
To accomplish his evil purpose he had
obtained from Santa Anna the control
of that part of the city in which the
boys father, mother, and two sisters
lived; had hired a gang of villains
who were to plunder the house. keep
the booty and deliver the girls to the
tender mercies of this Mexican scoun-
drel. Properly. disguised the boy had
entered the American ranks to beseech
assistance of Gen. Shields. The emer-
gency was rare one. 1t was certain
that the COMMANDMENT Chief of the
Army would not authorize q rescue.
To abandon the girls to their fate was
foreign to the nature of Shields. He
took sudden resolve, called for volun-
teers, selected 400 men, and entered the
beleaguered city unperceived. The la
dies were rescued, the alarm was given
by the bewifdered Mexicans. and the
daring band was obliged to cut their
way through host of enemies. They
reached the ramparts ia safety, and re-
turned to the camp with the rescued
ones. By that time, however, both ar
mics were alarmed, and scene of bus
tie and confusion ensued. Gen. Scott
flew into a terrible rage when he heard
the story, and threatened all the penal
ties of cour5-martial on the culprit
(Shields) for such gross disobedience
of orders. The young ladies succeeded
in pacifying the choleric old hero, and
! 1 L. - ofl