Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
AMERICAN HEROISM.
BRAVE ACTS THAT WON FAME, RANK.
PRAISE AND MEDALS.
some Gallant Deeds OF Days Gone by
Generals of To-day Who Disting uished
Themselves on Former IisttleGslds-
Conspicuous Acts of Many Oacer-.

Themselves on Former BattIeGsids-
Conspicuous Acts of Many oaoer-.
Richmond L. Hobson sank the Merri-
mae and won plaudts and promotion.
He deserved both. 1t is "A curious fact
that the world, save in rare Instances,
fOrgets all about the specific acts of its
heroes before the heroes themselves
have grown gray-headed.
There are men of high rank who
were at the front ia the lnte war with
Spain who years ago won advancement
ANA medals Of honor 10y deeds hailed
in their way with as much acclaim as
was the act of Hobson and his mates.
Yet who to-day outside OF a few griz-
Zlcd veterans remembers anything
about what the specific act WaSt
by climbing tree General Sbafter,
May. 81. 1861. won a medal OF honor
lie was badly wounded and TO avoid
being seen 10y a passing surgeon, who
he feared would order him 10 the rear.
he climbed a tree. Then he came
down. and with hardly a leg 10 stand
on he fought all day, and Congress
gave him his medal
General Nelson \. Miles. May 3,lS63.
was i'm command Of SliirmiShcrs AS
Colonel of the SiXiy-hrst New York
Volunteers. They were holding line
Of abattis against 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 eninence and
exposing himself, inspiring his follow
crS by his voice. He fell. finally, badly
wounded. He wears Il medal of honor.
Bngadier-General Guy V Henry,
whom the soldiers love, led his brigade
in an awful charge at Cold Harbor
one horse went down under him BE
mounted another and led on. I he enc
lny's breaStwOrkn were reached ana
General Henry spurred 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 a medal.
General Lloyd Wheaton act AZ Fort
BlaEely, Alabama April o. 1850, 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 musketry and artillery Reach
ing the place. he sprang through an
ambraSurc from which bullets were
raining He was the first man 10 enter
the fort He wears his medal VI honor
modestly.
General Arthur Macarthur received
= medal Of honor when he was SuDal-
tern in a Wisconsin regiment. The
troops were charging mp the bullet
swept slope Of Missionary Ridge. The
color bearers were being picked of
one after another At a critical nom
cnt the dag fell from the hands of "A
wounded sergeant. Macarthur grasp
ed the staff and IN a few moments
planted ii with his own hands on the
crest OF the ridge ia the face OF the
retreating enemy.
General Henry c. Merriam. at Fort
Blakely, Alabama, was Colonel OF col
ored troops With his men ne was i'm
patiently waiting for the order 10
charge. Finally he asked permission
TO charge ahead OF orders, and was
told 10 20 If he wanted 10 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 chance 70 win.
General O. .. Howard's lighting days
are over, but he was at the front never
theless. leading religious services for
the soldiers. He wears medal and
carries an empty sleeee. He led a
charge June /. 1862. across the whole
face OF the enemy's line. \ bullet
struck his arm above the elbow. He
led on. The charge was ssccessful
Al its end Howard walked 10 the hos.
pital and had his arm cut OF.
Gen. John r. Brooke, who, under
Miles was AT Porto Rico, never receiv-
ed a medal Of honor. There are com
paratively few officers who have. Gen
eral Brooke. however, wss three times
advanced in rank for gallant conduc,
and specific acts of personal courage.
He won an eagle at Gettysburg, a star
AT Spottsylvania and twin stars at Cold
Harbor.
General Wesley Merit, now Of the
Peace Board. has no medal. but he re-
ceived more brevets for gallantIy than
any other officer In the American
Army They run from Captain 10 Ma
1or-General and were received for spe-
cial acts of Galhntry al Gettysburg
and at the different battles which took
Mace nm TO the time of the fell of