The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-09-16
BRAVE CAPTAIN REILLY.
Gallant Artillery Officer Met Fate
He Had Dehed So Often.
FELL FIGHTING ATwALL OF PEKING

In TwOscOre Years of Service He
Had Experienced Many Marvellous
EScapes-His Bravery In the Phil
iDpines-EngIish Military Officers
High Tribute to Reilly.
Deplored as all the deaths among the
American forces fighting at Peking
will be, no man in the rank or file of
the American army will come in for a
more heartfelt tribute from his COM
rades, says the New York Press, than
Captain Henry ]. Reilly, who com
manded Battery +, Fifth artillery.
Captain Reilly was an Irishman by
birth, and his character was typical of
the most admirable traits of his race.
lie possessed the true Irish sanguine
temperament. No situation, however
desperate, could chill his hopefulness
or cripple the readiness of his re-
sources, and to these qualities, COM
bined with 4 nature absolutely fear
less, were due many remarkable es-
capes from death during a career
which was one of continuous activity
from the early days of the war of the
rebellion until it was ended by China
mans bullet at the wall of Peking.
He entered the volunteer service in
1861 as a private in the Fifth artillery
served with DupOnts battery al
| through the struggle between the
north and the SOUTH and was men
| toned time and again for his con
spicuous gallantry in action and hi
keen witted planning in keeping tbs
enemy harassed and perplexed. Cap
tain Reilly became known in and abou
New York when he was Quartermaste
on Governors island, during Genera
Hancock's time. Many of the im
provements in quarters and genera
betterments on Governors island wer
due to his quick appreciation OF need
and his ingenuity in meeting them. ii
was stationed at Fort Hamilton Wit
his command after the close OF tn
war with Spain. For the last 81
, years he was in personal command G
| Battery F, and accompanied Generi
, Miles expedition to Porto Rico. ii
went into camp at Montauk Point
his return to the United States, an
remained there until ordered to Fo
; Hamilton.
] Battery f, ordered to the Philippine
/. arrived in Manila in the latter part
Anril. 1859. and entered immed1ate
upon active duty. Up to the time
: its departure for China Captain Rell
was in no less than 10 engagement
. In October he had what was SAID
tle time to be his tenth marVelo'
escaDe from death. He was chattii
, with Captain Eldridge of the fot
teenth infantry in the linus river roa
A desultory fire was kept up by the
y surpents. but neither officer regard
l his nosition as perilous. Captain Rel
l. turned to go down the road, and t
i, infantry officer stepped to where
% had been standing. At the same Ii
a ment a bullet pierced his chest ana
- fell mortally wounded. Reilly hao
been out of the path of the bullet me
lu than five seconds when it struck
u brother officer.
g, The battle of Putol Bridge was Q
z. of the shortest and one OF the Diooui'
B, in the Philippines. Battery r was
the fore, with Reilly in the ieao'
usual. His men needed no urging
" long as they could see his commanui
fqure. The American force was un'
command of Colonel Birkheimer OF
g Twenty-eighth volunteer infantry, W
e. had come out with four companies
Y, his regiment and Battery + on rec
IN noissance. The presence of the enc
p was not suspected.
Behind a stone bridge the insurrec
had hidden themselves. and they
numbered the American soldiers. II
ng had thrown up a stone barricaoe
n. dug trenches and were prepared 10
no desperate resistance. Blrkhelmer
tachment was within 500 yards or
'n' bridge when the Filipinos opened
M terrific fire. Captain Reilly was
"a: dead run forward before the SIN
on had cleared away. Without know
how large a force he had to meet
determining instantly that nothihS
ms a dash could win, he went at the Da
ire cade like a tiger. After him came
battery with three inch guns
; with n steadiness that amazed and
'eo MAYED the insurrectos.
ue, "Come on, boys"' shouted Reilly
IA on they went with a yell. without
ee, more concern for the hail of ball
ed for so many missiles from pea 81
10, ers. The men in the intrenchm
10 Ia became panic stricken when they
'oN their comrades give way ana 10
DIS them in flight More than 100 OF
Tic, insurgents were killed. The Amer
ach loss was trifling. In Colonel /
ice beimers report of the engagement
;o., ,,r.icad Reillv warmly and said 1
lils, ing but the quick decision to rusl
'i'S fight won the day. Deliberatioh o
slightest wavering would have
as the enemy a chance to realize