The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-12-21
GEN. LAWTON KILLED.
Shot by Rebel Sharpshooter at SaI
MateO,

Sho1 Dy heDel SharpShooter at San
Mateo.
MANILA, Dec. 19.-Maior-General
Henry Lawton was shot and killed at
San Mateo to-day. He was standing
In front of his troops and was shot in
the breast and died Immediately.
San Mateo was attacked at s o'clock
IN the morning, and q three hours
light ensued. This resulted in IL few
casualties on the American side. apart
from the death of General Lawton,
but the attack was difficult because
OF the natural defences of the town.
General Lawton was walking along
the firing line, within three hundred
yards of small sharpshooters'
trench, conspicuous in the big white
helmet he always wore and a light
| yellow rain coat. He was also easily
! osstinguishable beca Sc of his com
:nanding stature The sharp shoor-
ers directed several close shots. which
clipped the grass near. His staff
officers called General Lawton's at
tention to the danger he was in, but
he only laughed, with his usual con-
tempt for bullets. Suddenly he ex-
claimed, II am shot, clenched his
hands in desperate effort to stand
erect and fell into the arms of a staff
officer.
Almost at this moment the cheers
of the American troops rushing into
San Mateo were mingled with the
rifle volleys. After the fight six stall
wart cavalrymen forded the river to
the town, carrying the litter on their
shoulders, the staff preceding with
the colOrs and a cavalry escort fol-
lowing. The troops filed bareheaded
through the building where the body
was laid, and many tear fell from
the eyes of men who had long fol-
lowed the intrepid Lawton. The en-
tire command was stricken with grief
as though each man had suffered IA
personal loss.
Owing to the condition of the coun-
try, which is impossible so far as We
hicles are concerned, the body could
not be brought to Manila to-day.
Mrs. Lawton and the children are liv-
ing in a government residence form
erly occupied by Spanish general.
Henry w. Lawton, major general of
volunteers, colonel and assistant in
spector general in the regular army,
has been in the military service since
April IS, 1861. He served as Il volun-
teer during the civil war. was an eX-
perienced Indian fighter in the regu-
lar army service, was one eff the he
rOes of Santiago and was the most
brilliant and intrepid fighter in the
Philippines.
General Lawton was born in Ohio
on March H. 1S43, and entered the
volunteer army as n sergeant in the
Ninth Indiana infantry Immediately
firing Oh FCrt Sumter. He was re-
peatedly promoted, received a medal
for gallantry before Atlanta on Aug
lc--sist,3 3, 1864, and was brevetted colonel
! of volunteers for gallant and merit
orious service on March 10, 1865. A
few months after he was mustered
out he entered the regular army July,
| 1861 as second lieutenant Of the 41st
infantry (colored). Five years later
he was transferred to the 4th cavalry,
becoming in March, 1879, captain,
in which rank he led his troops in a
number of the hardest Indian cam
palgns ever conducted by the army.
HIS brilliant career as an Indian
fighter reached a climax in the sum
mer OF 1896 in the long pursuit md
capture OF Geronimo and his band of
Apaches. In recognition of his
spledld service in this campaign Cap
tain Lawton was transferred to the
Inspector General Department, and
on September II, 1888, was promoted
to the rank of Major. On January 2,
1895, he was commissioned lieuten
ant colonel.
On the outbreak of the Spanish
War he volunteered for active ser
vice at the front, and was appointed
brlgadler general of volunteers and
assigned to General Shafter's corps at
the latters request. About this time
he became colonel in the Regular
Army.
General Lawton sailed for the Phil
ippines on the transport Grant on
January 10, and on his arrival at
Manila he relieved General Anderson
in command of the Regulars. On
June 1st he was placed in command
of the defences of Manila and early in
October took the offensive, moving
along the road between Bacoor and
linus, and thence northward, captur-
ing a number of towns and driving
the insurgents before him. He and
General Young arrived at Arayat on
October 10. He next made his head
quarters at Cabanatuan, and from
that place took an active part in dis
persing the insurgent bands in the
surrounding country. About the
middle of November their movements
as. they rapidly chased Aguinaldo
| from place to place. became almost a G
mysterious as those of the Filipino
chieftain. Their men had to suffer
great hardships, but General Lawton
thought that by capturing AguInaldo
he would most quickly end the war.
He was at Tayug, and on December
10th started from Manila for San Ma
teo, where he was killed.
General Lawton was man of strik-
ing personality. He was feet 3 ins.
in height, and weighed 210 pounds.
His forehead was low and broad, and
his iron gray hair was thick and was
worn erect. He was man of unus-
ual strength and vigor. AS a fighter
his equal has not been known in Ar
my circles since the death of General
! Custer
TO say that man elbows his own
| horn" is an expressive way of assert
ing that he resorts to self-praise, self
recommendation or the energetic
employment of successful method of
| lf-adVancementTin private or busi-