Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-11

/ stant and my succeSsion to tho command
the nancy n
and Companies r. q ana H, have the
1 honor to submit tina following report, pur-
suant to paragraph 1857 Of the regulations
| for troops In campaign:
1.-THE formation 8&s made at am. on
| the 18th instant at the Nong Pc Quiio Nor
tuary. near the Tien fsin University. on the
south side of the foreign settlement.
$3.50 am. following the British Naval
| Brigade. After a circuitous march Of
about two hours we took position as q
reserve In line Of battle fronting the west
arsenal. at a distancs Of about 800 yards.
From dropping shots at long range we suf-
| fered considerable Joss, the heaviest being
Company c. the second company from the
| left. Capt. c. r.. Nayes. the adJutant Of the
| regiment. was slightly wounded at this
place, but continued on duty. We then
| moved forward about am. to the protec-
| ton OF the mud wall at west arsenal. the
as a support to the Japanese, the I'd Bat
| talon being on the right. At about 7:3O
am. we moved quickly over the wall and
| the command reformed short distance for
ward under fire from the direction of some
mud huts.
Men Enthusiastically Charged.
I'm a few minutes the men enthusiastic
caily moved forward. rapidly crossing a
bridge. and by Col Liscum's orders took a
the banks OF broad canal Owing to the
| contracted space Company B was moved
from the right to the front on q road at an
angle to the general line and followed soon
after by Companies C. D, G., and II, 1t
| being the intention for this entire line to
anese toward the Taku gate At this juno
ture heavy enfilading fire was opened on
the 9th Infantry at point about l. 200
yards distance, and many casualties re-
anti cd Tp1 7
sonal directions we fronted this fire and
moved forward. Capt. Brewster, Company
B. in advance. This was about am The
nre became hot and heavy from fortified
mud village in our front, which practically
nanked the advancing column on the Taku
gate OF the walled city. We moved rapidly
forward. suffering severe losses, Capt E.
V. BookmIler falling severely wounded at
the first advance. Until about am the
two battalions occupied an advanced posi-
ton. within 100 to 200 yards of the fortified
village. where we were subjected to
deadly fire of musketry and shrapnel
1.-THE ground passed over was irregular.
filled with bikes and bitches the mud and
water varying from three to eight feet deep
1 repeatedly met Colonel Liscum, who with
uplifted arms, coolly and calmly urged his
men forward When within about $50 Yards
OF the enemy's fortified position which was
protected by an unfordable canal or moat
manding the I'd Battalion, where he fell
severely wounded. After locating his wound
I directed the men to put him under cover
and moved forward. Capt Moves. the adju-
severe one. and was taken to q house for
partial protection.
The Colonel Falls.
Shortly before am / inquired for the
colonel and was informed by Lieut.. Joseph
Frazier that he had been hit and was In the
trench mortally wounded. 1 then took COM
mand OF the remnants of the 1st and I'd
Battalions. directing Capt. A. w. Brewster
to command the LIST and First Lieutenant
Joseph Frazier the I'd. A further advance
was impossible and to retire was out Of the
Question About 10 am. l directed my gall
liant adjutant, First Lieutenant B. Lawton
to go to the rear, he being compelled to
cross the field swept by a most destructive
nre and report to General Doward of her
majesty's service our needs and condition
This he did and in less than two hours re-
turned and, though twice wounded cody
reported the result of his per,lous mission
he was afterward again hit by a shot in
the sole of his shoe We remained in this
position under musketry and machine gun
fire. many Of the men lying in water from
their knees to their arm pits with no hone
or withdrawal until $40 pm when, under
cover OF darkness. we withdrew by squads
unaer nre, with losss in so doing of one
man OF Company c killed.
Our final withdrawal was handsomely
covered by the British naval troops and
United States marines sent to our aid by
Eenerai Toward. These, gallant men also
aided US In the removal of cur wounded
and we owe General Doward and them a
ospt OF gratitude which will never be for
gotten by the, American soldiers on that
bloody field and the high tribute given by
General Dorward to the officers and men
OF the 9th Infantry will be sacredIy cher
ished as long as the battle Of Tien Tsin
shall remain inscribed on our colors.
Reported to Col. Coolidge.
Having removed our wounded, and the
body of our colonel we assembled at the
south gate of the west arsenal at about BIS
pm.. where I reported to Lieutenant Colo
mel Charles A. Coolidge 9th Infantry, the
senior officer of the regiment 1t Is but
just to state that throughout the trying
ordeal OF the day the officers and the great
majority OF the men behaved with splendid
gallantry. When our ammunition was nea rIy
exhausted and our force on the firing line
greatly reduced there was a grim determi-
nation on the part of every officer and man
there under my command to hold on
through the long hours Of constant and
deadly fire until such time as withdrawal
could be effected under cover of night.
In this connection attention is invited
to the accompanying sketch of the field
OF operations prepared by First Lieutenant
Harold Hammond. also to q report by Cap
tain Charles r. Noyes. adjutant, made in
response to my request. Company A OF
Ing the day. having been ordered on the
preceding day to duty at the north pontoon
bridge as reserve to the troops at the
railroad station. This command consisted
OF Company A. sxty-six men and thirty
two men OF Company d. commanded by
First Lieutenant w. w. Weeks. I1th Infan-
try. with Second Lieutenant F. r. Brown,
9th Infantry attached.
This command suffered casualties Of two
killed and five wounded from q bursting
she'll
Recommended for Medals of Honor.
1.-The following named officers are recon-
mended for medals of honor: Captain Chas.
r. Noyes, adjutant, for conspicuous gal
lantry for continuing on until twice
| wounded Especial report forwarded): Cap
| tain Andre w. Brewster for conspicuous
| gailantry in rescuing at great risk to his
| life wounded soldier who would have
| drowned
First Lieutenant Joseph Frazier for con-
| spicuous gailantry in rescuing at great
| peril the colonel Of his regiment, who had
| fallen mortally wounded. and conducting
! him to the trench.
| First Lieutenant Louis B. Lawton, adj
| Jutant, LIST Battalion, for conspicuous gal
| lantry in carrying a message for relief over
| a field swept by deadly fire. returning
| and reporting after having been twice
wounded In doing So Especial report for
| warded.)
For breyets-Major James Regain as
| lieutenant colonel. for GOODNESS, courage
l n div fra, mt