The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-11-12

had fair knowledge of the classics
and spoke French fuently. His rise
in the new state of Illinois was rap
i'd. Shields and Lincoln were both
members of the general assembly of
Illinois in 1885. Those were the days
when partisan feeling ran high in the
new states of the west.
Becomes State Auditor
In 1910 Shields was elected as
state auditor of Illinois. He dis
charged his duties effectively and Wig
orously and was reelected without
opposition. Gradually he began to
be drawn into the personalities that
were so common in the political
fights of those times Bitter attacks
were being made upon him in the
newspapers of some parts of the
state.
During this period he had a seri-
Dus quarrel with Abraham Lincoln,
over a series of articles in whig news
papers entitled, "Rebecca, or the Lost
Township Letters" which were re-
puted to have been written by Miss
Mary Todd, afterward Mrs. Lincoln,
and which the latter, perforce, was
called upon to defend. 1t is reported
that a duel between the two was ar
ranged, but this is disputed by his
friends.
General Shields made an honored
place for himself in military annals
during the brief and swift campaign
In the Mexican country. He was
with Taylor when that redoubtable
old warrior burst through the lines
Of the Mexicans at Monterey and
Buena Vista. When the army of in
vasion under Scott advanced inland
from Vera Cruz Taylor dispatched the
Palmetto brigade among the troops
sent for SCOTS reinforcement. 1t
was a remarkable march that the
little army of Americans made inland
along the old roads used centuries
before by the Aztecs and the Con-
quistadores. At Cerro Gordo Santa
Ana made determined effort to
check the American advance.
The key to his position was cliff
overlooking a narrow defle COM
manded by his guns. Unobserved by
the Mexicans the Americans dragged
themselves up to the heights, pulling
q couple of field pieces along with
them. They opened a plunging fire
on the helpless cohorts of Santa Ana,
and the Mexican line began to waver
uncertainty Shields, fresh from his
laurei-gathering at Buena Vista, led
dashing charge against the stub
born Mexican left wing. AS he
crossed the first redoubt he was
struck in the right breast by grape
shot, and fellow-officers of Shields
gathered around him and babe him a
soldiers farewell. When they left
him it was thought that he was dead,
T.. Wound Is Treated.
d, A French surgeon captured with
the Mexican troops asked permission
to treat the wounded man. Twining
silk handkerchief about ramrod
he drew it through the gaping wound,
cleansing 1t, after which the wound
was dressed. Shields recovered and
soon was restored to the army again
at the head of his troops. During a
night attack on Contreras he was
wounded again in the arm, but re-
fused to allow the injury to keen
him from taking glorious part in
the attack on the great defenses of
Churubusco. Less than a week lat
er he was one of the first to climb
the heights of old Chapultepec and
finally drive the legions of Santa Ana
within the city's gates. He was CIV
en- charge of the forces at Belem gate
during the siege of the city that fol-
lowed.
During the siege he entered the
city to save a young English girl. On
the day of the formal entry he rush
ed the gates and planted the flag in
advance of General Quitman, who
had been selected for the honor.
Then he returned to Illinois and
notwithstanding the criticisms of his
superiors, became a popular idol.
& Serves as Senator.
He served as senator from that
state from 1S4S to 1854. In the sem
ate chamber in those days he met
and mingled with Webster, Clay,
Calhoun and others of the great men
of antebellum days. On the expira-
ton of his senatorial term he was
made territorial governor of Oregon,
"a region just then coming into prom
tnence as one of our newest possess
stons. The wanderlust was strong
In the Irish lad who had crossed the