Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-02-21
AMERICAN HEROISM.
BRAVE ACTS THAT WON FAME, RANK,
 PRAISE AND MEDALS.

Some Gallant Deeds of Days Gone by
 Generals of To-day Who Distinguished
 Themselves on Former BsttlefeIds-
 Conspicuous Acts of Many Officers.
 Richmond P. Hobson sank the NIerri- mae and won plaudits and promotion. He deserved both. 1t is q curious fact that the world, save in rare instances, forgets all about the specific acts of it's heroes before the heroes themselves have grown gray-headed.
 There are men of high rank who were at the front in the late war with Spain who years ago won advancement and medals of honor by deeds hailed III their way with as much acclaim as was the act of Hobson and his mates. Yet who to-day outside of q few griz- zled veterans remembers anything about what the specific act was?
 By climbing a tree General Shafter, May, 31, 1867, won q medal of honor. lie was badly wounded, and to avoid being seen by passing surgeon, who he feared would order him to the rear, he climbed q tree. Then he came down, and with hardly q leg to stand on he fought all day, and Congress gave him his medal
 General Nelson A. Miles, May 3,1S63, was ill command of sIzirmishers as Colonel of the Sixty-first New York Volunteers. They were holding a line of abattts against q horde of the enc my. Miles is a big man and makes a fair mark. Yet to encourage his men he kept jumping on an eminence and exposing himself, inspiring his follow CTS by his voice. He fell, finally, badly "a 0 II of Brigadier-General Guy V. Henry, whom the soldiers love- led his brigade in an awful charge at Cold Harbor One horse went down under him. He mounted another and led on. The enc my's breastworks were reached and General Henry spurred his horse at the obstruction and with it's rider fell in the enemey's lines. The place was carried. Henry was promoted and yot- ed q medal.
 General Lloyd Wheaton's act at Fort BlakeIy, Alabama, April 3, 1865, was officially called distinguished gallan- try" He was leading the right wing of his regiment across the open to- ward the fort in the face of terrific fire of musl1etry and artillery. Reach ing the place, he sprang through an ambrasure from which bullets were raining. He was the first man to enter the fort. He wears his medal of honor modestly.
 General Arthur Macarthur received medal of honor when he was a subal- tern in a Wisconsin regiment. The troops were charging up the bullet swept slope of Missionary Ridge. The color bearers were being picked off one after another. At critical mom- ent the flag fell from the hands of a wounded sergeant Macarthur grasp ed the staff and in few moments planted it with his own hands on the crest of the ridge in the face of the retreating enemy.
 General Henry c. Merriam, at Fort Blakely, Alabama, was Colonel of col Ored troops. With his men he was i'm patiently waiting for the order to charge Finally he asked permission to charge ahead of orders, and was told to go If he wanted to bad en- ough." He led his negroes on one of the most heroic charges ever made. He was promoted and was given one of the medals which every army officer covets Q chance to win.
 General O. O. Towards fighting days are over, put He WdS Il Il2 1fOlll never theless, leading religious services for the soldiers. He wears a medal and carries an empty sleeve. He led a charge June 1, 1862, across the whole face of the enemy's line. A bullet struck his arm above the elbow. He led on. The charge was successful. At it's end Howard walked to the hos pital and had his arm cut off.
 Gen. John k. Brooke, who, under Miles was at Porto Rico, never receiy- ed q medal of honor. There are com paratively few officers who have. Gen eral Brooke, however, was three times advanced in rank for gallant conduct and specific acts of personal courage. He won an eagle at Gettysburg, a star at Spottsylyania and twin stars at Cold Harbor.
 General Wesley Merit, now of the Peace Board, has no medal, but he re- ceived more brevets for gallantry than any other officer in the American Army. They run from Captain to Ma jor-G General, and were received for spe- cial acts of gallantry at Gettysburg and at the different battles which took place up to the time of the fall of Richmond.