The Irish standard., 1896-04-18
ABOUT GENERAL Shields
------
Story of the Man Who Represented
Three states in the
Senate.
He Whipped "StonewaIP' Jackson
and Became the Friend
OF Lincoln.
Was Offered the Command of the
Army and Refused for a
Peculiar Reason.

Inc distinguished CaLn0ilc, COl. WIN.
j. Onahan, of Chicago, relates to the OBJ
server Of that city some interesting anec-
dotes of the late Gen. Shields. One CT
them at least throws new light on re-
cent American history. He says:
Few public men in the United States
had a more varied or more unique career
in the public service than Gen. Shields,
the senator from three states.
An Irish Immigrant TO this country In
the early thirties. he commenced his ca
Teer in Illinois as a school teacher stud
led law according to the primitive condi-
ditions and opportunities of the period.
Swiftly winning recognition by his abil-
ity and character he was successfully
elected or appointed auditor of state,
judge of the supreme court, commissioner
of the general land Office, governor of
Oregon, and after his brilliant service
in the Mexican war was chosen United
States senator for Illinois, the associate
Of Senator Douglas, the Little Giant" "
with whom he stood on terms of warm
political and personal friendship.
Not a few incidents Of his senatorial
career would be interesting, especially
when we consider the period during
which he served, and the remarkable
men who were in the senate and the
house of representatives. Webster,
Calhoun, Douglas, Benton, Breckenridge,
Lincoln and others of national and, con-
sequently, historic renown.
But it is a couple of incidents occur
ing in subsequent period set out to
narrate.
A few words, however, will complete
the brief epitome Of Gen. Shields public
career
Failing of reelection in Illinois, by
reason of well known political changes,
the general emigrated to Minnesota, then
territory. He gathered about him a
following and established the first Irish
colonz in The aDssss&ar R4taTgs in the vieia-
ity Of Fairbault, acknowledged to be one
Of the wealthiest and most prosperous Of
the numerous Irish colonies in the state
of Minnesota.
On the admission Of the territory as
state. Gen. Shields was elected one Of
the two first senators.
AS in Illinois a like result and fortune
befen his political asperations, and from
like cause was not reelected. At the
end of his term he drifted out to Cali
fornia, and settled there for time; in
deed, it is said that he surely would have
been elected to the senate from that state
had he prolonged his stay there. But
the civil war broke out and like a wal
horse shifting the battle from affair." he
was quickly on the scene and in the
| service.
| His usual military good fortune, the re-
suit Of his skill and valor, attended him
| in his campaign against StOnewail Jack
| son in the valley of Virginia. He
whipped the hitherto rsdoubtable and in
vulnerable Southern commander. Shields
| was the only Northern or Union genreal
| who achieved this unique distinction.
| 1t was following this event which gave
great heart to the Union cause, and nat
urally immense satisfaction to President
Lincoln that the curios incident | am
about to relate is said to have occurred.
This was no less than the tender to
| Gen. Shields of the command of the
army of the Potomac.
! am not aware that this fact (and as
sumo it to be fact) was ever before pub
! lished.
MY authority for the statement is nc
| other than Gen. Shields himself. / ha6
| it from his own lips when sitting at my
/ own fireside on the occasion of one ol
| his visits to Chicago long after the war
As Il recall the story, the general hai
gone over again the circumstances of his
encounter with Jackson and the defea1
which sent the hitherto irresistible
"stonewall'' whirling up Tor DOWN ths
valley, and joy and elation the news ot
/ this victory caused in Washington ant
| throughout the North.
Shortly after this event, the genera
/ said. Secretary Seward came to his eamI
one evening and had an interview with
! him at headquarters.
j The secretary of state announced tha
1 he came from the president to thanl
/ Gen. Shields and his army for the impor
| tant and successful campaign he, ths
general, had conducted, and especiall.
for its crowning victory.
Moreover, President Lincoln had EN-
/ powered Mr.. Seward to tender to Gen
/ Shields. the command of the army of tn,
i Potomac, and this for reasons of mill
| tary as well as political policy.
That great army had not been success
full; its command had been the shuttle
cock of emergencies. but only misfortune
and defeat had attended the variou
changes
Gen. Shields had demonstrated higl
i military capacities, he had been success
full, and he was free from militar.
cliques and political following henc
the president was drawn to him as tn,
| man for the emergency.
1 And, moreover, as Gen. Shields was Al
Irishman of foreign birth, he could no
consequently become factor in nationa
politics as possible candidate or riya
for president in the event of a crownin,