The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-07
IN FVLl-DRkss UNIFORM.


Washington star.
About twenty-five years ago" said .
weii-snown army officer. q the Modoe In
dian war. in the lava beds os Southern
oregon and Northern California. was In
progress In IL occurred some as severe
lighting, under adverse circumstances, ~
ever came 10 the lot Of the United States
army. Among the troops engaged in that
war was the Ninth United States infantry.
IT Is well known that this regiment was
never permitted TO take any part in the
civil war. but was kept during the whole
eveatflil period on the Pacific slope. II
was not the fault OF the officers OF the
regiment yet they felt very sentative on
the subject.
Among the officers Of tina; regiment was
young lieutenant. whose name / shall
mention later. on the evening preceding
the heaviest aght that occurred during the
campaign remarks were made rejecting
upon the courage OF what they designated
as the California contingent meaning
thereby the Ninth infantry. These re-
marks came 10 the ears 81 tho young lieu
tenant. WHO Immediately sought their
author. and in the presence OF large
number Of his feilow-ofricers. resented the
sspersions In the most vigorous terms,
branding the maa as a modern Ananias.
and also announcing that immediately
after the fight which was slated for the
following day he would personally make
good all that he then said.
Furthermore. as the matter of personal
courage had been put in question. he an
no.nced that In the fight OF the following
morning he should wear his full uniform.
aud he challenged the author OF the dis
parasing remarks to do the same. That
night the commanding general sent for
this lieutenant and informed him that In
the charge that was to 10 made on the
following morning he was going TO give
him the next position 10 the post Of honor,
that is. the Jeff OF the line. Any soldier
viii know that when troops are in line OF
battle the left is equally exposed with tho
right. IL happened. therefore. that On the
morning of the battle the California lieu
tenant. true TO his word, appeared In COM
mand Of the left OF the line In full uni
form. ard as 10 was well known that such
an exposure was To court almost certain
death. not another officer did so appear,
notwithstanding the iieutenants emphatic
challenge. In the gray dawn OF the fol-
lowing hour tina troops lined up In front
OF those terrible obstacles known as the
lava beds. The command. Forward was
given, aud over they went first one and
then another, In the face OF a whitening
fire from the savsges behind piles Of rocks.
some five and some fully forty feet In
height. the California lieutenant, Ia full
uniform, at the head OF his company on
the left OF tho line. The right was crushed
and fell back. but the left. encouraged by
its commanders splendid example, held its
ground.
''As may be imagined. the officer in full
uniform received the attention of every
Modoc warrior who caught sight OF him
and they finally brought him down with q
rifle ball through his thigh. cutting tho
tendons TO his leg. Calling two soldiers,
instead OF permitting them to carry him
off, thoy wished to do. he placed q hand
on the shoulder of each and. thus sup
ported. he fought on. until by sheer loss
of blood his whole strength gave way and
the soldiers laid him down till the fight
was all over. His gallant conduct on this
occasion won for him tho undyins friend
ship Of the late Maj Gen. Crook. to whose
department he was soon after called. To
his own valor and this friendship thu
United States owes II that ne Is now Brig
Gen. Charles p. Eagan. eommissapy gen.
eral OF subsistence
The Modocs touched the button In the
lava beds of Oregon, and President Nc
kinney has done the rest. The same con-
duct In the British army would have won
the Victoria cross. in tho French army Il
would have brought the cross Of tho
Legion OF Honor. In the United States
army II won only the friendship OF Gen.
Crook. and yet we fancy IL Gen. Eagan
were now to choose between them all he
would take the latter"