The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-31
WHERE LAYTON WAS KILLED.
STORY OF THE FIGHT IN WHICH
THE GALLANT GENERAL FELL.

EA&nts VI " Hlcn II NFaphlc DescFip-
ton Is characterization of the
Twenty-NInth Was in the Thick of
It-Campaigning i'm the Philip
pines Is Full OF Dimculties--Sergt
BOnham Gets n Mention. s,
The engagement in which Gen Henry
W. Lawton was killed in the Philippines
is graphically described in a letter that
has been received by a savannahian from
member of Company E of the Twenty
Ninth Volunteers, portion OF which reg
iment was in the thick of the fight The
description of the battle isvery interest
ing, particularly when one knows those
who are mentioned as having taken prom
inent parts.
Capt owen r. Kenan is in command of
Company f. Many Savannahians know
him well. and his reputation as a military
man is not confined to Georgia. His abil-
ity is well known and has been gained
through long years of experience in the
Georgia militia and service in the United
States volunteers. During the war with
Spain he was a major in the First Geor-
gia and was made captain in the Seventh
Immunes upon the muster out of the
Georgia Regiment. Capt. Kenan was
struck by bullet during the engagement
but continued at the head of his men.
Company of the First Georgia had a
first sergeant named Bonham, who now
holds that position in Capt. Kenan's COM
pany. He will be recalled by the Savan-
nah men who served in the First Georgia.
Bonham is mentioned in the letter as hav-
ing been the first man in when it came
to swimming a river TO get at the Fill
of Il nd
Sergt. Bonham will lend greater interest
to the story of the fight as told by the
letter. Savannahians recall the gallant
Lawton, zoo, who was here in the fall of
1898 with the President.
The letter was written on Dec. % and,
in part. is as follows:
ION the night of Dec. IS. four compan-
les of the Twenty Infantry U. S.
VII. (McGheel. G.. (Stevens) +.
(Shields) and e. CKenan), were assembled
under command of Maj. Hawthorne to
take part in the expedition under COM
mand Of Gen. H. w. Lawton. In this ex-
petition the infantry and dismounted cav
alrymen were under command of
Lieut.. Col. II. H. Sargent, Tween
ty-ninth Infantry, U. s. ", with
Col. Lockett in command of the
mounted cavalry. Their destination
was San Mateo, the strongest place held
by the enemy in the front of these lines
and eighteen miles distant
We marched all night through pour
ing rain, through mud knee-deep, with
four rivers to cross up to our arm pits
1t took us until a. m. to cover the dis
| lance. At that hour we reached the top
of the mountain overlooking San Mateo
and the men, exhausted, lay down and
slept for an hour.
AT a. m. Gen. Lawton came up with
one troop of the Fourth United States
Cavalry, and Immediately made a recon
noissance. AS soon as we were Joined by
the Eleventh Cavalry, the general order
ed formation for attack on the city, a
mile away. The cavalry were sent three
miles above the city for a flank attack,
and our little battalion ,.was sent
against the city with its thousand-strons
garrison, in the most beautiful trenches
| that l have ever seen. Down we went
into ravines, over hills, through jungles
and creeks, with F on the left, G next.
E next and II on the right. was right
in the center of the works. There was a
level open rice bog or paddy" as they
call it, right in front of the whole line
OF works. On the side next to the city
were two rivers, or branches of a river.
with narrow Island between. Each river
was about forty yards wide and only ford
able at one point, as we found out The
whole was swept by the fire of the trench
es for 200 yards without a bush to hide
/ us.
mere was no Oatte lorna ton. We
were ordered to get through the briar Jun
gle as best we could and form in line of
skirmishers as soon as we came out; one
little thin thread stretching neary a mile
intervals about five yards. No support: no
reserve. e company was the first out and
we deployed at once, followed by II, then
F.
1T was beautiful night. The line
was perfect Forward was the order. and
away the thread went, down on their
hands and knees most of the time, the
only command being Don't crowd Moth
ing else was needed.
when within 800 yards they opened fire
on us, but fortunately shot high and the
line got within 500 yards of their works
with only two wounded, Here the line
was put behind little ridge and we were
ordered TO fire by sections. The men be
haved beautifully and the .Yolleys were
almost perfect. In twenty minutes the fire
on the other side ceased temporarily Nal
Hawthorne had just told Capt. Kenan to
prepare to cross the river in our front,
when the Captain was struck by bullet
which entered his clothing on the left side
and cut across the stomach, cutting the
hesh and buried itself In fine plate of his
belt. 1t was at first thought that he was
mortally hurt but an eXamna ton proved
1t a very close CALL but fortunately moth
ing more serious. The Captain was soon
on his feet and preparing to carry out his
orders.
Gen. Lawton was standing very
near us, when Col Sargent came
up for a short talk with the
General. They moved off to the
left, and within three minutes the General
was killed. Col. Sargent came back in
few minutes, and putting himself in our
front, said: NOW, men, We are going
right across the river, and into their
works Come on whereupon the lne
rose and moved after him.
Under heavy fire we plunged into
the river and over our heads and every
man seemed to disappear as we struck the
water, ten feet deep, with First Sergeant
Bonham of the old First Georgia leading
Fortunately, we got our men out of the
water and back up the Hill with only the
loss of two rifles, though the whole line
of breastworks opened on us as we came
out of the water, and we have the poor
shooting 20 thank for getting out OF IT as
we did We were then ordered to move
by the left flank and make another trial
above the city in front of their stone
~.