Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-16

that he was capable of successfully
conducting any undertaking howso-
ever great. Shields led on through the
Mexican war to repeated victories not
alone the Illinois regiments, but the
regiments from several other states,
thus proving that generals like poets
are bofn-not made.
Defeats Santa Anna.
1t would make this address entire
ly too long to recount the many acts
of heroism placed to the credit of Gen
eral Shields during that war. He was
first with General Taylor, then with
General Wood and next with General
Scott Oh his campaign for the capture
OF the city of Mexico. At the siege
of Vera Cruz ne especially distin-
Suished himself. After the fall of
Vera Cruz the American army had to
encounter the whole Mexican army at
Cerro Gordo, place which gave I'd
the MeXicans the strongest natural 90
sltion. Here General Shields was as
signed to attack the Mexican reserve
under the command of their greatest
general, Santa Anna. This he accom-
plished with such intrepidity and cou-
summate skill that he fairly surprised
The Mexican forces and swept them be-
fore him, carrying battery of six
pieces Of cannon at the point of the
bayonet. Unfortunately, before this
battery he received a terrible wound
supposed at the time mortal-a can
non grape shot measuring an inch and
third in diameter having puncturcd
his right lung, tore through his body
and passed out near the spine. To the
surprise of everybody and the aston
ishment of the medical staff of the
army, in ten weeks he was again in
the saddle and at the head Of his
command
Plants Flag in Captured City.
He entered the valley of Mexico with
the American army and leading his
brigade consisting of the New York
volunteers, the Palmetto regiment Of
South Carolina and a battalion of
United States marines, he was tia
first American to plant the stars and
stripes in the captured city The first
battle of the valley fought was that of
Contreras where the enemy was
strongly posted within their intrench-
ments. The next day was fought the
battle of Churubusco, which was one
of the most bloody engagements of the
war In this battle General Shields
was appointed to again attack the
Mexican reserve, under his old antag-
onist, Gen. Santa Anna. This he ac-
complished with rapid and fearless
audacity and although the enemy were
five to one, he carried their position,
captured their artillery and drove
them broken and shattered into the
city Of Mexico; but this daring ex.
plot cost him the lives of some Of his
brayest officers and about one-third of
his entire command His gallant Pal
metto regiment lost half its number in
killed and wounded on that bloody
field. Next succeeded the storming of
Chapultepec, in which General Shields
was again seriously wounded, mus
ket ball having torn through his arm
passing out through the elbow. Not
withstanding this wound, he pursued
the enemy to the very gates of the
city, having his horse shot under him.
Presented With Swords.
Over the senate staircase in the CAP
itol at Washington is a painting rep
resenting this great battle and in IL
General Shields appears in his shirt
sleeves in the very front encouraging
his troops to greater action. This
painting has been reproduced from an
actual photograph taken by a photog-
rapher who accompanied the army.
After the conquest Of Mexico General
Shields returned to Illinois and again
enteed upon the practice of the legal
profession. South Carolina as a tok-
en- of her esteem for the distinction
hu bn,s hro IN, -
under the able leadership of General
Shields, presented him with diamond
hilted sword which cost five thousand
dollars. The state of Illinois also pre-
sented him with sword that cost
three thousand dollars These he
priced more than all his earthly pos
sessions and he left them to his wild
ow and children as priceless heirlooms
OF brave and noble life.
Chosen U. S. Senator
General Shields appears to have
been popular at all times, but upon
his return from the Mexican war ne
was more popular than ever and in
1S48 he was elected United States SEN
ator and for six years he, with Steph-
en- A. Douglass, represented the state
of Illinois in the national assembly.
The student Of history will readily re-
call that this was a very important
and critical period in the affairs of
the country. 1t was a period when
Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Benton, Cass
and Jefferson Davis were some of the
grandest figures of the age. AS an ac-
tive and intelligent participant in the
stirring events of the times Senator
Shields proved himself a great man
among very great men. After the
close Of his term of Office Shields re-.
moved to Minnesota, where he was re-
ceived with great favor and upon the
admission of that state into the union
he became one of it's first United
States senators and he served that
state with marked ability.
Defeats StoneWall Jackson.
Later he became citizen of Califor-
MIA, where he was residing at the
breaking out of the rebellion. He at
once rendered his services in defense
Of the union and was commissioned a
brigadier general He distinguished
himself as brave and able general
in that war and to him belongs the