The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-04-12
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 Battleields-
Conspicuous Acts of Many officers.
Richmond ?. Fobson sank the Merri-
mac and won plaudits and promotion.
He deserved both. 1t is z 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
in their way with as much acclaim as
was the act of Nobson and his mates.
Yet who to-day outside Of few griZ-
Zled veterans remembers anything
about what the specific act was!
BY climbing q tree General Shafter,
May. 81. 1861, won medal Of honor.
He was badly wounded, and to avoid
being seen by a passing surgeon, VINO
he feared would order him to the rear,
he climbed a tree. Then he came
down. and with hardly leg to stand
on he fought all day, and Congress
gave him his medal.
General Nelson A. Miles, May 3,lS63,
was in command Of Skirmishers as
Colonel of the Sixty-frst New York
Volunteers. They were holding line
of abattis against a 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 an0
exposing himself. inspiring his follow
ers by his voice. lie fell, finally, badly
wounded He wears medal OF honor.
Bricadier-General Guy V. Henry,
whom me 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 We're reached anu
General Henry spurrad his horse at
the obstruction and with its rider fell
in the enemey's lines. The place was
carried. Henry was promoted and Vot-
ed medal.
General Lloyd Wheaton's act at Fort
Blakely, Alabama. April 9, 1868, was
officially called distinguished gallan-
trv." He was leading the right wing
of his regiment across the open to-
ward the fort in the face Of a terrific
fire Of musketry and artillery. Reach
inc the place, he sprang through an
ambrasure from which bullets We're
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 subai-'
tern in a Wisconsin regiment. The
troops were charging up the bullet
swept slope of Missionary Ridge. The
color bearers Were being picked OH
one after another. At critical NOM
ent the flag fell from the hands OF &
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 90 If he wanted to bad en-
ouch." 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
:ovets chance to win.
General o. o. Howard's fighting days
are over. but he was at the front never
rheleSS. leading religious services for
the soldiers. He wears medal and
carries an empty sleeve. He led {
charge June /. 1862, across the whole
face Of the enemy's line. - bullet
struck bis arm above the elbow. He
led on. The charge was successful.
At its end Howard walked to the hos
pital and had his arm cut off.
Gen. John r. Brooke, who, under
Miles was at Porto Rico, never receiy-
ed a medal Of honor. There are COM
oaratively few officers who have. Cen
aral 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 Spottsylvania and twin stars at Cold
Harbor.
General Wesley Merritt, now Of the
Peace Board. has no medal. bat he re-
,eived more brevets for gallantry than
any other officer in the American
Army. They run from Captain to Ma
ior-General and We're received for spe-s
cial acts of gallantry at Gettysburg
and at the different battles which took
place I'D to the time Of the fan OF
Richmond.