Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-08

Their Superior Fighting QuaIities-Dela
ware Well Represented.


ware Well Represented.
Communicated.
A multiplicity of articles commenda-
tory Of the army have formed great !
portion of current literature, but the |
deeds of the gallant marines are only
mentioned casually or when their eX-
traordinary fighting qualities compel
their recognition. This element of the
military branch of the government
service is not well known and little
understood, though the Oldest military
organization in the country, dating
from November 10th, IT'S. The United
States Marine Corps has always sus-
tanned the high reputation for steadfast
courage and loyalty which has been
handed down to it from the days or
Themistochs; but like their modern
prototypes of Great Britain, they have
felt the want of proper appreciation.
The marines were closely identified
with the very first aggressive movement
Of the American navy, that OF Commo-
dore Hopkins descent on New Provi-
dence, in the Bahamas, February 24th,
1776 A considerable quantity of mill
tary stores was understood to have been
collected there, and with a view to
capturing or destroying it a battalion
Nichols, was landed, capturing the
forts by assault In this engagement
the marines behaved with a steadiness
and eallantry that have distinguished
the CORPS from that hour down to the
present time The marines served with
distinction in every naval battle OF the
Revolution.
At no period in the history Of the
world is it probable that marines were
| more important than during this war;
In many instances they preserved tho
vessels to the country by suppressing
the turbulence Of their ill-assorted
crews, and the effect of their fire not
only then, but in all the subsequent
conflicts, under those circumstances in
which it could be resorted to, has
been singularly creditable to their
steadiness and discipline. The history
of the navy, even at that early day, as
well as in these modern times, abounds
with instances of the gallantry and
self-devotion of this body of sea
soldiers.
The marines in the war with Tripoli
reflected additional lustre upon the
glory of their corps remarkably bril-
liant exploits, for which they received
i the plaudits of the nation. The fate of
| Lub Is lduliiinI w an btp
it is not generally known that marines
played a part in that famous drama
in Trlpolitan waters.
Contemporaneous history relates how
the gallant Decatur, with few chosen
companions in the ketch Intrepid, with
the harbor filled with light cruisers,
gunboats and gaileys, and surrounded
by forts and batteries of the enemy,
assaulted and burned the Inflated
vessel. 1t is fact worthy Of note that
among those few chosen companions
were eight marines. Throughout the
War of 1912 the marines figure ed in every
one of those fierce engagements, on
the high seas, and served with great
distinction ashore, in cooperation with
the army.
At no time in our national history,
previous to the Spanish War, has the
marine corps borne more conspicuous
or more honorable part than during the
Mexican War. Even before the news
OF the formal declaration of war reached
the American forces on the frontier, tht
marines made record for theniselye:
and for the nation of brave unfalterins
, courage in their anti-bellum achieve
, ments in California. Gen. Scott STATED
at the close CT the conflict that he hat
placed the marines where the hardes
, work was to be accomplished, and tina
he had never found his confidence
! misplaced. In the naval operation!
on the east coast of Mexico the marire
served with special distinction in tn
, capture Of Frontera and Tobasco, Com
modore Perry directing the attention o
! the department to the gailantry dis
: played by them. During the siege o
, Vera Cruz detachment of marine
, fought with the Third ARTILLERY, &C
a quitting themselves SO nobly that tn
' general of brigade expressed his higl
4 appreciation of their energy, zeal AM
3 thorough soldiership which marke'
their cooperation. The battalion o
3 marines serving with Gen. Scott's arm
: in its operations against the city Q
Mexico, displayed great gallantry. j
I. the final stormlng and capture of tn
! city the marine battalion attached t
i Gen. Quitman's division was the frs
to enter the city. Soiled with dust an
smoke and begrimed with powder, the
rushed on to the charge with banner
furled and no music but the roar of tn
Il cannon ana the rattling of small arms
captured the city and hoisted upon tn
p palace our nation flag, thus explainin
n and iustifying the motto afterward
4 inscribed upon the colors of the corp:
+ From Tripoli to the halls Of the Monte
/, zumas."
In the spring of the year 1861 a Civi
a War was kindled in the United State
a which was neither pattern in charactc
"a nor a precedent in causes recorded in tn
= history of mankind. Never in tn
: history of the world were there occs
sions for such exhausting labors an
/. highest courage in service afloat as tn
a American Navy was subjected to in II
= operations among the rivers and bayou
q OF the southwestern regions of the II
public.
h Many victory over which the peorl
a shouted themselves hoarse in givin
plaudits to the gallant army migt
Il never have been achieved but for Ii
cooperation of the navy. To the con
s mon observer, it in many instance
;. seemed to be only an auxiliary, {
wholly secondary force, when in trut
it was an equal if not the chief powt
in gaining victory. Without it whit
mieht have been the result CT militaI
operations at Forts Henry and Done
:, q son, Shiloh and all along the Missi
- sippi River, especially at Vicksburgf
- Port Hudson and New Orleans? VIII;
, of Mobile, Pensacola, Key West, an
:, all along the Florida seaboard. tt
II seacoast islands, Charleston and IL
= borders of North Carolina, and even
:. holding Fortress Monroe and Norfol
y and then who will not remember ii
- gallant Cumberland's crew, which hi