The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-04-28
THE SER0EANT's MEDALS.


English soldiers regard the Victoria
cross as the highest prize that can be
won, and the Frenehman looks eager
ly forward 10 the time when he can
pin upon his breast the cross OF the
Legion of Honor. Individual acts OF
gallantry in the American army are
not often greeted with a flourish OF
trumpets or special decorations. but
there is at least one substantial and
much-coveted reward. IL is known
as the medal of honor. This little
bronze star is difficult 10 obtain, and
is only granted in rare cases. Con-
gress must vote upon the question
just as il il were an especial act.
Numbers OF veterans in the army have
gained such medal, but they are
far more limited in numbers than the
similar lists of other countries would
show. The rarity with which this
medal is awarded makes it all the
more highly priced by the recipients,
and Sergeant Wilson, Of Troop B,
United States Cavalry, now stationed
at Presidio, the military post OF San
Francisco, doubtless feels correspond
ing pride in the fact that he is the
only man who has ever won two Of
these medals. The sergeant is still
further distinguished by having per-
formed deeds of bravery emitting
him TO two other decorations. The
medals OF honor were both gained by
him in the space OF two years, and
were conferred for deeds OF daring in
Indian campaigns.
Wilson was sergeant OF Troop |,
Fourth Cavalry, in the year 1872,
when il was ordered to Fort Concho,
Texas. One morning he was ordered
to report TO the officer in command
for an especial service.
There is band OF Comanches
up the river, and IL has just carried
off lot OF cattle" said the officer to
him. Take a corporal and ten men
and see il YOU can head them of. -
1t was only few moments after
that boots and saddles" was sound
ed, and the little party was in full
chase on the track Of the redskins.
All the morning and all the after
noon the men kept up their rapid
pace, stopping half an hour at dusk
to refresh their horses. Then into
the saddles again, and they pressed
forward.through the star-lit night
hot on the trail. All the night long
the chase was pressed, until n faint
glow in the horizon announced the
break of day. They had reached the
mountains, and now the trail led up
the steep declivities toward the canon
OF the Colorado river. Sleep was not
thought Of then and fatigue was for
gotten, for now the scent was hot.
AT noon they reached the river and
called halt for breakfast. Hardly
was the GIMP fire lit when the man
whom they had sent some distance
ahead as lookout was observed TO
be running toward them at full speed.
At this alarm the soldiers dashed
water over the fire and flung their
brides over the horses heads.
''They~are just ahead OF us, up the
riverW gaspcd the breathless scout.
Bounding into their saddles, the
troopers clapped spurs to their horses
Nv iuli
Wilson was i'm the lead, and, as his
animal took IA small stream at n jump,
he was greeted by struggling volley
OF rife shots. Needless Of all OBJ
stacles, the cavalrym IN charged at
full gallop through the Indian camp
to a small eminence in their rear
They sheltered themselves behind
rocks, realizing that they had their
quarry at bay. The Indians, who
outnumbered them, had rallied, and,
after the savage fashion, fought des-
perately to escape. II was bitter
contest, and only the cool, deter
mined fire which Wilson and his men
kept up, won the vistory. At last,
after fight Of several hours, when
some OF the Indians were killed and
wounded signal OF surrender was
made. Saddles and wigwams OF the
captured were burned and Sergeant
Wilson escorted his prisoners back TO
Fort Concho without the loss OF n
man or horse in his detachment,
and with the record~f l20 miles in
fifty-four hours. And this is why
Congress awarded him medal No. i.
rGop Eropoigco Evotninar