The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-20

patience for congress to take action.
On the 2Sth day of July 1866, the reg
ular establishment by act of congress
was fixed at $4,000, rank and nile, with
the staff organization very much as
1t exists today. There were As regi-
ments of infantry, 10 of cavalry and 5
of artillery, the infantry regiments to
be 10 companies strong and the cav
airy regiments 10 troops EACH with
the same number of batteries to each
regiment of artillery. 1T seemed then
as though everybody wanted to get into
the regular army said an officer of
that period. II never saw such
scramble. Finally, when the appoint
ments each state was entitled to were
determined on, some system was
evoked out Of chaos"
A SECOND LIEUTENANT.
Lawton's friends thought he ought
not to be offered less than a captaincy.
He kept very quiet. If he had any
views. he kept them mighty close to
himself. He had simply asked for a
commission in the army, leaving the
authorities to decide what he ought to
have upon his credentials. They were
surely good enough for anybody.
Thomas J. Wood, a major general of
volunteers. and Gems Sheridan and
Sherman, had handsomely. recommend
ed him. Well. when the appointments
were made, his name was not among
the captains or first lieutenants. by
Jove, can l have been left out entire
ly?" he said in some aSrazement to his
former second in command. Surely,
Gen. Sherman and Gen. Sheridan's in
dorsement ought to call for some
thing" His former comrade mean
time was scanning list of appoint
ments. Lawton heard him say with
gasp, well, I'll be ID! Here you
are, Lawton, a second lieutenant in
the Firty-frst footI The appointment
dated from the 2Sth day Of July, 1866.
Don't be in any hurry about acting in
the matter" advised Gen. Sheridan.
What should do in a like case? Well,
if were you, think I'd take it. Once
in, Wen see if there isn't something
better for you" Lawton waited, how
ever, until May of the following year
before he did accept his appointment
In couple of months he was promoted
to first lieutenant
FAVORED BY FATES.
Meantime, the fates were at work for
him. When the army was again re-
duced at the cry of some demogogues
who wanted to make records as
watchdogs of the treasury" Lawton
went to the Twenty-fourth infantry.
Its colonel was one of the most re-
markable young officers the United
States army has ever known. He
graduated at the head of his class in
1862. Within two and a half years
thereafter, he had attained to a dis
tinction never obtained before or since
by an officer in the United States army.
He had the brevet of every grade in
the service from first lieutenant to ma
jor general for distinguished conduct"
and distinguished gallantry in action"
Every officer of that period will know
who is meant. His name wss Ranald
Slidell Mackenzie.
This officer was a captain of engi-
neers in the regular establishment when
the war ended, although he had been
distinguished division commander of
cavalry when he was "a years of age,
Shortly before Lawton was ordered to
the Twenty infantry, President
Grant had sent Mackenzie to command
that regiment. 81 regard Gen. Mack
enzie as the most promising
young officer in the army"
said Gen. Grant to Gen. Thomas G.
Pitcher at West Point when the latter
was superintendent of the United
States military academy. And so he
was. Gen. Mackenzie knew an officer
when he saw one. And, looking Law
ton over, noting mis- stalwart figure and
powerful makeup, Mackenzie said to
friend, 81 like that new captain of
mine, Lawton. Unless I'm very wide
of the mark, he will prove a great SOL
der" 1t was a new case of Jonathan
and David The two men took" to
each other at once. LaWton is ordi-
narily silent man, saturnine and tact
turn to degree So was his young
chief, Mackenzie.
AN INDIAN FIGHTER.
1t was in the Apache country in
Arizona and New Mexico that Lawton
showed his best, in trailing and cap
turing the notorious Geronimo. The
story of his work in that campaign is
known to every American by heart,
ana is one of the most interesting
amorg the annals of Indian warfare
in this country.
About IL years ago, Lawton felt that
he would like a change of service. He
thought he required an easier berth
than a captaincy of cavalry. So he
applied for a position in either the adj
jutant generals or inspector generals
department of the United States army.
His modest request was strongly in
dorsed by Gen. Sherman, and all the
general officers under whom hS- had
served. So very shortly after he had
filed his application, there were some
changes and retirements in the inspect
or generals corps, and Lawton was
made assistant inspector general, with
the rank of major. In less than a
year he was again promoted to lieu
tenant colonel.
OFF TO THE PHILIPPINES.
When the Spanish American Difficult
ty began, Lawton saw his opportunity,
just as Macarthur did I'm going to
the field" said he to a friend. but not
as staff officer. I want an infantry
command, a brigade, If possible" Well,
he got it, first, then a division, and,
has steadily grown in the estimation of
his military superiors and the Ameri-
can people ever since he has been in the
Philippines. He used these to
excellent purpose the tactics and STRAIT
egg he learned years ago against Ma
ches and Geronimo in Apache land, in
his pursuit of Aguinaldo.
Gen. Otis has shown fine judgment
in the assignment of his division COM
manders-Wheaton, Lawton, MacAr-
thur.
State Board of Trade
Boston, Dec. 1s.-The executive coun-