Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-06-17
. Sudden Death of Gen. James Shields.

OTTUMWA, Iowa, June 2.-3en. Jas.
Shields, late United States Senator from
Missouri, died suddenly in this city at
1880 o'clock last night. He had appear
ed in his usual health on the Sabbath
day, and ate hearty supper at 6 o'clock,
after which he wrote several letters, but
just before retiring he complained of
pain in the chest, and shortly afterwards
said to his niece that he was dying, and
in thirty minutes expired sitting in his
chair, remaining conscious to the last.
He lectured in this city on Wednesday
evening last, and had remained here
visiting relatives. His remains will
leave here at o'clock this evening for
his home in Carrollton, Mo.
EGeneral Shields was born in 1910, at
Dungannon,. county Tyrone, Ireland,
and emigrated to the United States in
1926. He studied law and embarked in
the practice of his profession at Kaskas.
kia, Illinois, in 1882, speedily attaining
popularity and position. He was elect
ed member of the Illinois Legislature in
1886, State auditor in 1889, judge of the
Supreme Court (Of the State) in 1913, and
commissioner of the general land office
in 1S45. Upon the breaking out of the
Mexican war Shields volunteered at
once, was commissioned brigadier Gen
cTal anu aSSlSueu W OCOttS COluulu VI
invasion, in which he speedily distin-
guished himself by his bravery on the
field. He was dangerously wounded in
action at Cerro Gordo, securing his
brevet as major general; still more sew
erely wounded at Chapultepec, where he
got an escopettO copper ball in the stOm-
ach, which, as the surgeons said at the
time, would have killed ''any one but
an Irishman" After the war General
Shields was elected United States Sena-
tor from Illinois, and served until the
expiration of his term, in 1866. He then
went to Minnesota, from which State he
was elected Senator in 1858. In 1860
General Shields migrated to California.
In 1861, August 10, he was commission
ed brigadier general of volunteers, and
Joined the right wing of the army of the
Potomac. where he had the satisfaction
of coming nearer defeating StOnewall
Jackson in the battles of KernstOwn
and Port Republics than any other Fed
eral general ever attained. General
Shields resigned his commission in 1868,
and settled in Wisconsin, but soon after
removed to Missouri, where he resumed
the practice of his profession and served
also as railroad commissioners. 1t will
be recolleoted how, in the second session
of the Forty-fifth Congress, he was
pressed for the position of sergeant-at-
arms of the House of Representatives by
Gen. Butler, after Mr.. Polk was forced
out of that position, and how also he
was elected by the Legislature of Mis-
souri, to fill out the end of the term in
the United States Senate made vacant
by the death of Senator Louis V. Bogy.
General Shields was prominent as
member of the Association of Mexican
Volunteers, in which connection he was
we'll known in this city. His last ap-
pearance here was at meeting of this
association, held at the Maryland Insti-
tute on the 4th of last March, when he
spoke with all his natural eloquence.-
EDS. ]-Rdlt. San.
Seen. Shields was not personally pre-
sent in the battle of Port Republic, in
which his forces were defeated by Gen.
Jackson. He remained, we believe, at
FrontRoyal whilst a portion of his forces
pushed on to Port Republic where they
expected an easy victory over Jackson,
but were wofully disappointed, as they
were disastrously defeated.-Ed. Specta-
tor