General James Shields distinguished himself in several battles during
the Mexican war, and was severely wounded upon two occasions. In the
great battle of Cerro Gordo, General Shields, with his brigade of
volunteers, was directed to storm the height west of the principal
battery of the Mexicans, which commanded the Jalapa road. The order was
promptly and bravely executed. The volunteers advanced up the height
with all the steadiness and courage of veterans, and carrying the
height drove the enemy along the Jalapa road. As General Shields was
advancing with his men, he was shot through the lungs. This paralyzed
him, and he was carried off the field. The wound was at first thought
to be mortal, but it happily proved to be otherwise. The general
recovered and joined the army in time to share in the glory of the
battles of Contreras, Churubusco, and the Garitas of Mexico.
General Shields is something more than a mere warrior. After the
conclusion of the war, we find him assisting in the deliberation of
the highest legislative body in the country, the senate of the United
States. He is not a native of our country, but like the brave General
Montgomery, who fell at the storming of Quebec, he is one of our
adopted citizens. He was born in Ireland.
[Illustration: GENERAL SCOTT, ENTERING THE CITY OF MEXICO.]