The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-04
OUR BRAVE MARINES
They Have Borne . Gallant Part In
American History.
New York Herald.

New York Herald
Tell IL TO the marines But be sure you
tell IT politely. For the United States ma
rines are ngh,ing corps. and you nigh.
fare as badly as some " those Spaniaras
are sure 10 il the marines once take aim
and fire upon them There's the marine
SQUAD OF the cruiser Philadelphia They
have record OF making ST. hits out % 80
shots at lorsg range and OF hitting the tar
get every time at short range.
People generally think OF the marines as
paraEng around the marine barracks az
Washington 10 the strains OF the fsrras.2s
Marine band or doing police and sensinel
duty aboard ship. Bu: the MARINES are
fighters frc'n way back. They help man
the military tops in sea 6gh; and help
fight the guns, several OF which are often
entirely il charge of the marines When
II comes % repelling hcardeFs they rally AZ
a certain point. that they can sweep the
deck with their rifles The commander %
a warship who - 10 send out a landing
party feess io,Aeiy secure Of success il ne
has a detachment of marines 10 steady the
sailors With.
In all our wars the United States marine
corps has made a record FOR itself 10 be
proud OF. Ii has often earned the thanks
OF congress. many OF its officers have been
promoted or hrevetted for gallantry. and
sergeants. corrsorals and privates have re-
ceived medals OF honor Ii is one Of She
oldest fighting organizations in this coun-
try. for one OF the first acts of the cont
mental congress before a single vessel Of
the navy was sent TO sea was 10 organize
two haitalions OF American marines. and
ore Of the FIRST naval ''ScrapS'' Of the rev
oliition Capt. Nichols in the descent on
New Providence in the Bahamas. led de-
tachment of marines which captured the
forts by assault. Thus in the very first
event irsSshich the regular American navy
h., ~,r,aS
honor.
II was an officer Of marines. Lieut..
O. Bannon. who with Midshipman Mann
hauled down the Trpotan ensign after
having stormed the principal defenses Of
Derne and hoisted the flag of the repuhlic
on that fortress of the old world.
Mai Richard s. Collins, of the United
States marine corps relates N his history
of the corps that in the fight between the
Hornet and the Penguin. during the last
year of the war of 1912. a marine named
Smith was shot through the upper part OF
the thigh and almost at the same momeft
had his leg broken by the Hornets spank
or boom. Yet, while lying bleeding upon
the deck and unable to rise, he was seen
to aim and discharge his musket at the
enemy in the Penguin's top
In the famous expedition against Quail
lah Batto. under Commodore Downes, the
marines formed the van OF the landing
party ana were III the tfiSheft Oi tiic itEis
With the Mafays. The marine corps also
participated with brilliant results in the
Fiorida-India war. During the Mexican
war they rendered DISTINGUISHED service. In
fact Gen Scott himself is authority for
the statement that they were placed where
the hardest work was to be done. AT the
storming OF the fortress Of Chapuitepec.
Mai. Lew Twiggs Of the marines led the
assaulting party and was killed. This fort
ress having been captured the marines IN
Gen. Quitman's division moved directly
on the City Of Mexico ard entered the city
with their division. To this division was
accorded the honor of first entering the
palace and hoisting the American flag,
fact which explains the motto upon the
colors Of the corps, From Tripoli to the
halls OF the Montezumas.
The marines also distinguished them
selves In the civil war. In the fight be-
tween the Merrimac and the Cumberland
the marine division was under Lieut.. Hey
woo d. now brigadier general and command
er of the marine corps. Lieut.. Morris, in
his report OF the action, speaks Of Lieut..
Heywoods gallant conduct during the
fight The first shot from the Merrimac
killed nine marines, yet the division was
so little demoralized by this loss that 1t
not only continued fighting. but actually
fred the last SHOT which was discharged
from the Cumberland al the Merrimac.
In our scrap with Korea the marines
were in the assault on the forts and Lieut..
Mckee. In carrying the works. fell, his
father fell In Mexico, at the head of his
men and first inside the stormed works.
The Koreans fought desperately to the Bit
ter end The yellow flag which few from
tho fort captured by the marines.
Comma nder (afterward admraD Kimber-
ly stated in the report that TO the marines
belonged the honor OF first landing and
last leaving the shore. Chosen as the ad-
vance guard on account OF their steadinesa
and discipline their whole behavior on the
march and to the assault proved that the
confidence in them had not been mis-
placed.
In the railroad riots of 1877 the conduct
OF the marines was such as TO elicit A
general order of commentator. from Gen.
Hancock, in which he praised their sol
derry bearing. excellent discipline and de-
votion to duty.
From the past record of the United
States marine corps there is doubt that
IT will distinguish itself anew In the pres
ent war. 1t Is not a corps intended only
for the policing Of our ships and to have "A
disciplinary effect upon sailors. II is a
corps OF brave fighting men.