Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-08-21
General Shields Mexican War Reminls-
cenes

General Shields Mexican War Reminls-
Genes.
General Shields III speech before
the citizens Of Lockp0rt, n Y, some
years ago hEmorously describes his
first interview with General Taylor:
II was sent with my brigade to report
to him on the Rio Grande. After
getting my command into camp / put
on the most showy uniform | bad,
aud spent much time ID rigging my
self up to do honor to such an occa-
sion as the meeting of the commander
in-chief Of the army Of occupation
Arrived ct tho head quarters inquir-
ed for General Taylor, and was shown
into the tent By the orderly, who
went away TO announce me. Pres.
emily entered a hard-featured, but
still very benevolent faced man, quite
undersized, who, from bis appearance
would easily have been taken for q
WAGNER, A great Tapping straw hat
crowned his head, he bad no collar, q
linen coat, and the coarse pentaloons
be wore, had no suspicion Of rank
about them, and his unstockened feet
were covered by common infantry
shoes. While / was trying to igure
out ia my mind what this apparitiOn
be, he grasped my hand and heartily
exclaimed, "I'm very glad to see you
here. General Shields, and will cut
out some work for your command be-
fore long. Aud this was actually
General Zachary Taylor, one OF the
bravest. kindest and nObIest men that
ever lived.n
Previous to the brilliant American
victory at Cerro Gordo, the engineers
both Of the attacking and defending
armies had carefully surveyed the
highest of the eminences that bristle
about the place and had reported it
inaccessible. Itovorlooked the whole
Mexican army, but the Mexicans were
confident that It could not be occu-
pied, and the same belief prevailed in
the American csmp. The night be-
fore the assault was a very dark one.
Shields was in bis tent, when to-
ward midnight number of soldiers
Of bis command came to him and ask
ed permission to put six-pound gun
on the top Of this cliE.
Il was astonished Don't you
know, | asked, ''tbat lhe engineers
say it can't be cIimbed2 TO saw moth
ing about putting a cannon up there. !"
They insisted, however, that they
should like to try it TRY ID, then,
boys said: 'sNo harm will De
done, even If you fail. They went
away, and In two hours they we're
back again, with The amazing news
that they actually bad six-pounder
in position on the summit Of that al
most perpendicular height.
And if you consent, sir, said one
Of them, "we'll put q twelve FOUNDER
there, too
Go ahead :, / replied. "I'll believe
you can do anything now And
long before daylight they Feported
that the twelve-pounder was up there
beside the six FOUNDER ready 10 open
on the Mexicans In the morning.
thought the news too good to be kept,
50 | went to General Twigg's tent
and reused him up. He heard my
story, aud looked aE me as though be
did not believe q word 81 it.
10 Yon mean t0 tel me, Be ex-
claimed, that those fellows Of yours
have hauled . twelve-pounder and q
sixpounder up to the top Of that
height Z e
Yes. sir; and what DO you think
81 that ~
II think there are two pieces of ar-
tillery lost to the United States: for
there are not men enough Ii tt s army
70 get them down again.
but those two pieces did excel
lent service against the astonished
Mexicans that day, and they were
got down again aiterward
General Santa Anna was ia con-
mand of the Mexicans at Cerr0 G0rd0.
He was utterly defeated and cempell-
ed to retreat with heavy losses ID
prisoners. material AID killed and
wounded Cen. Shields was danger
0usIy wounded ID lhe Eight. aud az
course lell behind 81 Jalapa When
be became descent bc was a.
formed that ladv living opposite tie
house where he lay Rad heof rn@r