ENERAL SHIELDS, one of the most distinguished of all our officers in the Mexican war, is a native of Ireland, but emigrated to this country in early life. Like many of his countrymen, he took a warm interest in our struggle with Great Britain, and entered the army as second lieutenant, 11th infantry, September 1st, 1814. He appears to have served with credit during the war, but left the service soon after its close. The history of his life from this time until the opening of the Mexican war, is lost in the

Shot through the Lungs.

obscurity of retirement. But his merit as a soldier seems to have been known to a large circle of friends; so that on the 1st of July, 1846, soon after the opening of hostilities on the Rio Grande, he received the appointment of brigadier-general. Leaving his residence in Illinois, he joined the Central Division of General Wool, and accompanied that able officer in his famous march through the provinces of Chihuahua and New Mexico, to Monclova. Here, in common with a number of other officers, he was detached as a reinforcement to the army of ʊeneral Scott. At Vera Cruz he was distinguished for his undaunted bravery, and indefatigable exertions, being in the field during the whole time that the siege lasted, and often exposed to the castle's heaviest fire.

But the military talents of General Shields were first fully developed at Cerro Gordo. In the general orders of April 17th, he was intrusted with the care of the Jalapa road, in order to keep the enemy in that quarter engaged during the main attack, and to cut off retreat. In both these objects he was successful. By his activity he contributed largely to the victory of that memorable day, and elicited the admiration of both General Scott and his brother officers. In the pursuit he received a musket ball through the lungs, by which he was immediately prostrated, the command devolving on Colonel Baker. His life was for a while despaired of, but eventually, to the astonishment of all, he recovered.

During the long stay of the army at Puebla we hear little of General Shields; but he again appears amid the toils and dangers of the march toward the capital. Late on the 19th of August, while the storming of Contreras was in progress, he was sent to a village near that fort

His Magnanimity.

in order to afford assistance to General Smith. A deep rugged ravine, along whose bed rolled a rapid stream, was passed with great difficulty, in consequence of the increasing darkness; after which the general ordered his weary troops to lie upon their arms until midnight, in order to prepare for further duty. In the mean while he threw out two strong pickets, who, perceiving a body of Mexican infantry moving through the fields toward the city, opened a sharp fire, and succeeded in driving them back. At midnight Shields' troops resumed their march, and soon joined Smith's brigade, at the place appointed.

At this time General Shields performed an action so delicate and magnanimous, as to deserve record with the more dazzling ones which were soon to follow. Previous to his arrival, Smith had completed those judicious arrangements for turning and surprising the Mexican position, which were afterwards so brilliantly successful. As Shields was the senior officer, he could have assumed the command, as well as the execution of General Smith's plans, thus debarring that officer from the fruit of his labour. But this he nobly refused to do, and withdrew his men to the position formerly occupied by his brother veteran. About daybreak the Mexicans opened a brisk fire of grape and round shot upon the church and village where the general was stationed, as also upon a part of the troops displayed to divert him on his right and front. This continued until Colonel Riley's brigade opened its fire from the rear, which was delivered with such terrible effect, that the whole Mexican force was thrown into consternation.

At this juncture Shields ordered the two regiments of

Retreat of Mexican Cavalry.

his command to throw themselves on the main road by which the enemy must retire, so as to intercept and cut off their retreat. Although officers and men had suffered severely during the night's march, as well as from exposure without shelter or cover, to the incessant rain until daybreak, this movement was executed in good order and with rapidity. Crossing a deep ravine, the Palmetto regiment deployed on both sides of the road, and opened a most destructive fire upon the mingled masses of infantry and cavalry; and the New York regiment, brought into line lower down, and on the roadside, delivered its fire with a like effect. At this point many of the enemy were killed and wounded, some three hundred and sixty-five captured, including twentyfive officers.

Meanwhile the enemy's cavalry, about three thousand strong, which had been threatening the village during the morning, moved down toward it in good order as if to attack. General Shields immediately recalled the infantry so as to place them in a position for meeting the threatened movement; but the cavalry soon changed its position, and retreated toward the capital. Orders now arrived from General Twiggs for the troops to advance by the main road toward Mexico; and accordingly having posted Captain Marshall's company of South Carolina volunteers, and Captain Taylor's New York volunteers in charge of the wounded and prisoners, Shields moved off with the remainder of his force, and reached the positions of those divisions already moving on the main road.

After turning the village of Coyoacan, Shields moved with his command toward the right, through a heavy