New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-15
DEATH or LIEUT.. A6XIVELL-HTS LAST
FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS.
Prom The Southern fGa Banner, Aug. TO-

4 The Southern l6d banner, Aug 10
The melancholy dings the death Of this gallant
youug officer reached this place few days since. He
has many friends ia hi- place, where he well
known and esteemed for his noble qualities aud brave and
Generous bearing We the bereaved family Of
the decSosed have the sympehies Of tho whole
munty; The following letter. written by one who knew
him in bOyhoOd, and brother officer gives the partcu-
lars his tragic and untimely end:
| FORT USIoS, New Mexico,) July O. 1854.
DEAR SIR; For the last few months and deadly
has been waged between the troops in this Territory
aud q warlke though diminished tribe of Indians called
the Tsfcarella Apaches In one battle lost two KILLED
and four wounded; in another, twenty-five killed ana
twenty wounded But hJweyer severe those battles
were tSt Bellies aud Dansons no officers had faleo
And speak Of the ast fight winch has Just occurred
ion the 3oh ultimo and in which our little army mas ost
Young aud promising 0ccr-raised and educated IN
our town-namey; J. +. Maxwell, son of Mrs Maxwell
| Lent Maxwell graduated from the Military Academy
in 1880 and has served bonoraby and faithfully a
Ibreyet and second lieutenant in the third regiment of in
Iantry ever since in this country. In the fight which
Lieut. BE of the second Dragons had with the Apaches
Lieut. Maxwell although it the first time he had been
under fire. conducted himself moot gallanty, and
Georgian. In another skirmsh with the same Indians
~beng adjutan of the commanding officer he ran the
gauntlet with the GOODNESS of yet he TO the
last degree unassuming and who was brother officer
stationed at the same post never but once heard INN
conscious that he had acted so nobly and gaanty
Mid by nature yet those who have seen him in conflict
be wholly changed and cast all thought of death
behind him. Y death, without moments warning, has
| at length OvertskeD him.
On the morning of the Goth ult Brevet Captain Sykes
and Lieutenant Maxwell with about sixty dragons, There
being no dragon officers duty at the post started ia
pursuit the party of Apaches whose trail had been
The day BEFORE short distance from the post. After
hard ana vigorous TRAIL the command came in sight Of
the say ages early on the morning OF the 30th Captain
Sykes sent Lieutenant Maxwell, with twenty dragons,
ND precpitate mesa small mountain, to cut oil the
retreat Of band of about tweny Indians who were at
tempting to gain difficult and almost Impregnabe passes
Of the mountains Lieutenant Maxwell being well mount
ed charged at the head of his men, 10 cut on the enemy
ere they could pass certain point above hn Unioru
naeiy-possbiy from being better mountednimseif ana
one sergeant and arrived at the summit of the
mesa tow moments the rest OF his troops had
closed up. AS Lieutenant Maxwell, lwho was
ahead with the three men, arrived at the a6ovemen,
toned place. the Indians showed themselves above, and
commenced a deadly discharge Of arrows.
Lieut.. Maxwell with revolver in hand, empted it with
deadly eject but ere he had done he had received
Ms sabre and in doing his bride received another
VrOw which passed through. and glanced against his eit
Iast lie still used his sabre, and when he received his
last shot he in the act of sabrng an lldan but IN
that act while his head bowed to his horses name, he
tlan arrow in his brainand fell like knight OF old,
his haIr esshs sword grasped In his hand mile upon
il face. The Indians fled. Then came the troops thun-
eripg up the hillbut too late, alas for poor young
lEsxs ell had fallen And Capt Sykes saw him, with
Imurned face living stark dead whom but a moment
nee he viewed in the prime and bloom OF manhood, ne
owed his head and wert, as none but warrior can 49,
Lieutenant Maxwell was buried at his post with mill
.uy honors; and around his lonely grave were heard
obs and tears adown weather oeaten vSages
There tears were strangers who had known him from
lO,bood. followed him TO his long home and although
ssrs were TO me stranger, still, when he rd the sol,
ers requiem and the fusilade over his grave hey d@
hurst forth uneontroed and now, while pen this
lad memorial OF bis fate, they come unoldden' ,
Ind lies wrapt in his martial STROUD is soldiers due
Peace to him. my fr nd and brother soldier May 1t be
by lot thus to ole glorious death; o. W; u a.
To NJ III Athens Ga