The New York herald., 1877-12-27
SERGEANT VAN MoLL, U. S. A.

sEhpEANl VAN NULL, u D. A.
Sergeant Van Mol, oi the Third cavalry. although
he never held u commission rs as much lamentcd Ny
our little army the frontier n he officer
OF high rank His murder by Private Kennedy, soIue
time ago, was narrated by telegraph
Tho Sergeant was, perhaps, tho tallest man In the
American cavalry, being at least six feet four inches
in stature. lie was slight and graceful nsure and
was, witha. us bravo trooper as ever drew sword
or sung caronc An exchange gives the following
sketch Of Van Moillc was boru In Massachu husetts in
1874. HIS father Be- gian aud his mother was
Irish. He received tair education, AMI. when little
than fifteen years old, no Joined one OF the New
England regiments as drummer boy, and all the
fighting that Mcdowell, Mcclellan Pope. Burnside
ana Hooker were engaged In during tho years 1861
1862 and 1868 In the latter year he dropped
the drum ana took up the riao d.stin-
gushing himself particularly at the furious
ngnt OF Gettysburg, where he was promoted to
sernoantcy. He followed the boody fortunes OF Gen.
eral Grant through the dreadful campaign OF the
Wilderness, and, although several times slightly
wounded, always appeared in the ranks tho day Of
battle. When Petersburg WAS takeu he was recon-
mcndcd tor commission, but the sudden collapse of
the war spoiled his chauccs III that respect Alter
naming short time with his Massach usetts friends
ho enlisted IN the Third cavalry and because
oil hs skill IN tactics anu his line military bearing
and gcntlemaniy department. was soon advanced TO
the responsible position OF nrst sergeant oi
puny which he held at the time OF his death ln
Crooks Indian campaign OF 1876 Van MolI dis.
tinRuishci Tor his dasbing bravery. When the limo
halted ON Rosebud heights on juno IL, aud tho
friendly ami hostile lnaans fought hand TO hand
400 yards in advance, tho tail sergeant
obtained the consent OF his commanding officer
Lieutenant Lawson, to accompany the Shoshonc tribe
IN their attack on the Sioux. The Shoshones made
brave stand, but were soon overwhelmed aud CON-
PEELED to retreat. They were all mounted but Van
Mol fought loot, his horse beng ncd with hose OF
tho rest OF tho regiment, IN rear OF the heignts
When tho Crows alo Shoahones drew or tho gallant
sergeant found himself alone with tho Sioux. VINO
came with Derce ycls TO scalp HIM. He retired,
nrng as he went and several Soldiers started 10 his
rescue They would have been too late, however for
tho hostile savages were close upon hun At this
critical moment solitary iudian warrior of the
Shoshonos, distinguished by the nickname of
"Humpy," turned back from tho mass oil MS
treating comrades and rode IKE streak oil creased
lightning down toward The mpcrllled Sergeant.
Yho sioux bullets flew like haii around him,
| throwing up the dust In little clouds
| but tho heroic savage never needed them Bending
low his war ponys neck, he rode right up TO Van
Moli who was becoming ed, halted his horse
turned hlrn and cried jump" Tho Sergeant Icaped
up behind his dusky deIivcrer, ana, although chased
ny dozen sioux the twain arrived saio in tho urrny
lines amid the cheers oil the whole battalion. Ii
Of the most thrilling episodes ot the Sioux war Van
Moll was recommended by somc OF the officers for
commission, ana his name was OF ne Tor lIeutcnancy
at' the War Department He was dasLing rider, d
splendid SHOT aud thoroughly sober and consclcn
tious mi iss.olcd olicer. He better read
IN military science than many Of his supero-s, and
in every way fitted for The higher rank 10 which
he aspired In his death the Third cavalry las
sustained severe loss Ior he set an example OF
hcr0lsm anu honor TO tho entire comnund.
On the march, IN uniscn with his stanch
friend, Corporal Bessie he always kept the company
cnliveEed by his sweet singing. Inis faculty made
him most agreeable bivouac Lre comraue. Que of
his avorlto melodies uscl To Ue that old Scotch lyric,
so iuil OF tender pathos, tho refrain oil which is:-
u. May dear. lament mair,
I'm in deaths thraws beneath the sea;
Far. far from thcol sleep la DEATH
So Mary, weep nae mair tor me
II was to avcnge til Infamous slaughter OF such
that his comradcs, IN holy anger, broko into
guard house, and, taking Kennedy thence, scnt him
his speedy atonement with moose about his meek
The story OF his life aud the Nemesis whch overlook
his destroyer Is tragic drama oil romantic interest