Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-03-23
ANECDOTES OF GEN. LAwToN.
New Version of the Charge by Which
Ell Caney Was Captured.


Ell Caney Was Captured.
Some National Guard officers who
served in the Spanish-American war
were discussing Gen. Lawton's death
and his services in Cuba. One of them
told the following stories concerning
his conduct at Ell Caney, where he
wore the white helmet which was the
cause of his death:
son the morning Of July Gen. Law
ton was sent with a force of about
5000 men to take Ell Caney, while the
rest Of the troops were to be engaged
at San Juan.
81 have seen some mention since the
death of Gen. Lawton of the order sent
to him by Gen. Shafter to withdraw
his troops from Ell Caney, proceeding
which would have been disastrous to
our forces, but 1 have never seen the
statement given to me by the same
staff officer. He told me that as Gen.
LawtOn stood directing the troops an
aid from the staff of Gen. Shafter rode
up and said:
"'Gen. Lawton, Gen. Shafter directs
you to withdraw your troops
"At first Gen. Lawton was non
plussed; then, turning to the aid, he
said: This is too serious an order to
be received verbally, and l shall re-
quire 1t in writing from Gen. Shafter.'
He well knew that Gen. Shafter was
eight miles in the rear, and that a writ
ten order from him could not be receiv-
ed before the charge was ordered. This
much is a matter Of history, but l do
not believe chat the whole story has
been told.
Gen. Lawton, knowing that the aid
would soon reduce the order to writing,
Immediately sent order to his officers
to charge. The aid returned in about
twenty minutes with the written order,
having only retired a short distance to
write, and he delivered it to Gen. Law
ton just as the whole American force
stormed across the field in that last
desperate, successful attempt to take
Ell Caney. When he handed the writ
ter, order to the General, Lawton point
ed to the charging troops and said: AS
you see, the troops have already COM
menced to charge. Tell Gen. Shafter
that God Almighty himself could not
stop them now
"Thus the capture of Ell Caney was
due to Gen. Lawton's perseverance un-
der difficulties
The following story of Gen. Lawton
was told by a sergeant in the regular
Cuba, and afterward went to Manila,
being now the oldest enlisted man in
the Eighth army corps: After the sur
render of Santiago the General was
standing in the main street Of the city
looking into the windows of shop, his
tall, massive form making him even
more conspicuous than usual. He Wore
blue shirt and campaign hat, and
was without any indications of his
rank. A young second lieutenant just
from West Point, and so belonging to
the class known in the army as John
y-come-lately," was walking down the
street, and having high sense Of his
own Importance, tapped the General
on the shoulder, taking him for non.
commissioned officer. AS the General
turned around he was addressed thus
by the young officer:
Sergeant, are you soldierT
"Yes, sir" replied the General.
"Then why don't you salute an off,
Ger when you see him"
The General saluted, but with so abb
rupt and fllppant an air that the anger
of the lieutenant was aroused, and he
further asked:
Sergeant, what's your name"
"Well," replied the General, assum-
Ing a slight drawl that was sometimes
characteristic, "my name is Maj. Gen.
Henry w. Lawton. What's your
name" leaving the lieutenant crest
fallen and stammerlng out some lame
apology.