Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-06
Came Just as He Was Re-
turning to Firing Line.
A WOUNDED LIEUTENANT
Has Been Carried Back Out Of the
Range of the Bullets When the
Gallant General Was Struck Near
the Heart.

Washington, Feb. 6.-The war depart
merit has received the report of Colonel
Sargent of the Twenty-ninth infantry at
Manila detailing the action at san Ma
teo during which General Lawlon lost
his life. The report says General Law
ton had ridden all night to be able to ar
rive on the scene at half past SIX IN the
morning, but he said: Sargent, l WISH
to give you. full swing, go ahead With
your command and carry out your
plans"
It was rather significant that Law
ton had said he did not expect much re-
s~istance considering that he lost his life
in tina engagement. Between a Ma
teo and the troops lay a river which 1t
was necessary to ford and the location
of the ford was ascertained with great
difficulty, the enemy being strongly en-
trenched on the opposite bank and vol
leying upon the troops. The report
says:
"At his time, about SIS a. M, the first
firing began and l dismounted ana start
ed to the front. General W had
already arrive on the firing line, n as
I descended the hill in front of wh1ch
was the rec field, General LaWton was
cooIly walking up and down the firing
line within about $50 yards of the en-
emy's entertainments. A few minutes
afterward Lieutenant Breckenridge was
wounded and I saw General Lawton act
ing as one of the four litter bearers,
helping to carry Lieutenant Breckenridge
from the field.
after helping to carry back Lieuten-
ant Breckenridge, to the generals head
quarters during the battle, he renamed
a few moments, asked Lieutenant Breck-
inridge how he felt, said a few words to
Major Rogers about my disposition OF
troops for the fight and then started back
to the firing line, was shot before he
had advanced but a few steps. He was
shot just above the heart with his face
turned toward the enemy. He ell to
the ground and lived but a few mo-
ments. Thus died on the battlefield this
great and brave heroic soldier, large of
heart and large of frame, with an in
domitable will and with a power un-
surpassed Of overcoming obstacles-a
soldier who had never known fear. who
knew not what fear was"
The remainder of the report is devoted
to a description of the battle and its re-
suits and agrees with the accounts here
tofore published. Says Colonel Sargent
in conclusion:
The officers and men under my COM
mand behaved magnitfcently throughout
Conspicuous bravery was apparent ev'
~erywhere l saw no faltering n nc
sinking. The officers walked up ant
down the firing line almost continuously
taking no cover whenever there was any
work to be done. Major Hawthorne, .
the Twe~nty-ninth, displayed conspicu
Gus bravery at all times and under al
circumstances and his battalion, com
panies e, r, G Il H, did splendid work
Major Byram, of the ~Twenty-seventii
was cool and brave and Major Slime, o
the Eleventh cavalry, did effective work
Lieutenant Pike, of the T~Wenty-ninth, i
accorded great credit for bringin!
through the supply train under condi
tons so adverse that General Lawtol
did not think it possible. Captain he
nan, of the Twenty-ninth. is recommend
ed for brevet for gallantry and plucl
in fighting after having been wounded.
For fearless and gallant conduct dur
ing the fight Colonel Sargent also rec
ommends the promotion to second lieu
t%enancies of Sergeants Frank Catches
Company c, and William r.. onh
company E., TWenty-ninth infantry.