Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-12-23
northern Indiana, where his military
spirit was aroused by exhibitions of Ellis
,,o,tb', fn 1S,iavaS

northern Indiana, Where MS military
spirit was aroused by exhibitions of Ellis
worths famous zouaves.
At H. in April, 1861, he was made
sergeant in company T., Ninth Indiana
regiment. At IS he was first lieutenant,
the youngest commissioned officer of his
regiment and the best in the Thirtieth
Indiana volunteers.
At 10, in June, 1862, he was commits
stoned as captain of his company, after
having done gallant service at Shiloh,
Corinth and luka. Then and there"
he said afterwards, II determined to
make the service of my country my life's
work" He took part in hard fighting
with General Bragg in 1862 in Kentucky
and Tennessee and with General Rose
Grams, ending at Chickamauga in SheM.
dams division. and was then made lieu
tenant colonel in the Thirty-sixth In
diana.
His career in the regular army began
in July, 1866, as second lieutenant in the
Forty-fl first infantry. Soon after he OBJ
tained a captaincy in the Twenty fourth.
and with his colonel, young Ronald Mac
kenZie, was one of the two most con-
spicuous figures in the Apache cam
paign in Arizona. In the Comanche and
Arapahoe campaigns he also proved his
ability and bravery.
With his chief, Mackenzie, he was COM
missioned a captain Of a troop of horse
in the Fourth cavalry. which rank he
held until about 12 years ago, when he
was transferred to Washington as as
sistant inspector general, with rank Of
major.
When the Spanish war broke out he
got an infantry command, and after
brilliant service at the close of the war
went to the Philippines, where he used
with wonderful success his tactics and
strategy learned years ago from the In
dians.
General Lawton left home Monday
night, having returned from his north
ern operations Saturday to lead an ex-
pediton through Mariquina valley,
which has been an insurgent stronghold
throughout the war. The valley has
several times been invaded, but never
| held by the Americans. General Ger
onimo was supposed to have there the
| largest organized force north Of Manila;
and General Otis wished to garrison
Mariquina.
The night was one of the worst of the
| season. A terrific rain had begun and
| Is still continuing. Accompanied by his
| staff and troop I, Fourth cavalry, Cen
| eral Lawton set out at 8 o'clock in ad
vance OF the main force, consisting of
| the Eleventh cavalry and one battalion
| each of the Twentieth and Twenty
| seventh infantry, which started from
La Iona at midnight. With n small
escort he led the way through az almost
| painless country. dista nee of IL mil .s
over hills and through canebrake and
deep mud, the horses climbing the rocks
and sliding down the hills. Before 1uy-
break the command had reached the
| head of the valley.
San Mateo was attacked at o'clock
and three hours fight ensued. This
resulted in but few casualties on the
American side, apart from the death Of
General Lawton; but the attack was diff
ficult because of the natural defenses of
the town.
General Lawton was walking along the
firing line, within 200 yards of small
sharpshoOters' trench, conspicuous in
| the big white helmet he always wore
and light yellow rain coat. He was
easily distirguishable because of his
commanding stature.
The sharpshooters directed several
close shots which clipped the grass near.
| His staff officers called General Lawton's s
attention to the danger he was in. but he
only laughed with his usual contempt
| for bullets.
| Suddenly he exclaimed, Il am shot,"
clenched his hands in desperate effort
to stand erect and fell into the arms of
| a staff officer.
| Orderlies rushed across the field for
| the surgeons. who dashed up immedi-
ately. but their efforts were useless. The
body was taken to a clump of bushes and
! laid on a stretcher the familiar white
helmet covering the face of the dead
| general.
Owing to the condition of the country.