The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-14
IN THE CIVIL WAR.
ONCE DRILLED HIS REGIMENT WHILE
AMAZING BITTLE..

1t Was ae tho Battle of Franklin, Tenn,
and His Men We're Raw Recruits-Whsn
the Pickets Were Driven In He stopp"d
Drilling Promptly and Won't to Shooting.
II Jan. lS.-Concerning Gen
Lawton's career in the Civil War only the most
vague generalization has characterized tho bio
graphical sketches which followed his death.
As an enlisted soldier and subaltern volunteer
officer OF volunteers Of course there could have
teen no very important events to record, except
perhaps such as would illustrate bis soldierly
traits. HIS name appears in the official records
Of the rebellion only after he rose TO a %onp'eincy
and as such was Acting Assistant Inspector
General, or commanded a regiment In 1894 II
appears from the printed recon-. that Capt Law
ton handled his regiment with signal ability
throughout, the operations 10 repel the Tennessee
invasion Of zen. Hood In the fall OF 1854. His
regiment was the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry,
and belonged to the Third Brigade. First Divis
ion. Fourth Army Corps This division alone
captured some twelve hundred prisoners and thir
teen pieces Of artillery al the battle OF Nashville.
Gen. Nathan Kimball. the division commander,
speaking In his official report Of tho splendid
behavior Of tho troops writes These specific
words OF praise:
"To the bravery. energy and skill Of their ON.
GERS and men this division is greatly indebted for
It's success in charging the enemy's works Penn
sylvania Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky
may we'll be proud Of such sons their representa-
uves in the nations army. The honor OF those
States and tho welfare Of the nation will ever be
safe in their hands when led by such noble chiefs
as Bennett, Suman. Smith, Rose, Moore, Yco-
man, Evans Morton, Wood, Mcdonald. Tasin.
Nor,hrup, Humphrey. Hicks, Taylor. Mathey,
Jamison. Pollard. Cunningham and Lawton."
These names are mentioned IN the order OF their
Official seniority. and disclose that At that date
LawtOn was the Junior officer Of all the twenty
reglmental commanders in the division. He
was then three months under 81 years OF age.
Capt VITO brigade commander, Gen
William rose, had this to say In his official report
Of The same battle Of Nashville.
This regimcntal commanders Col. Bennett
Col. Rose. Col Sumsn. Lieut. Col. Morton. Major
Taylor, Capt LAYTON and Capt Cunningham
with their officers and men, have my grateful
thanks for their willing obedience to orders their
bravo and efficient execution Of every duty upon
the battlefield and durng the campaign"
Owing to the able management Of the brigade
and division commanders in this great battle
the losses o! the troops were comparatively light
considering the important military results OBJ
tanned The brigade 10 which Lawton's regi'
ment belonged captured on tho two days Of bat
tic seven Of the thirteen guns secured by the entire
division, and 6Il. or more than half Of the prison.
ers. The Thirtieth lndlana was very much
reduced in strength about this period, and Capt
LAYTON carried into action in the seven companies
composing 1t probably not 10 exceed 30 men,
and perhaps even less than that number.
But no better or more clcnr exhibition II Law
tons military character and ooriness In a crisis
can hc found than in his own concise and soldlerly
report Of tho operations Of the Thirtieth Indiana
In tho battle Of Frank lin, two weeks before that
q Nashville. Ii will lie rememtered that Gen
Schuficlds little army was In desperate straits
while reireating from the Tennessee uTSn Nash
vile before Hoods superior forces pursuing rap
idly, By a hard nights march Schofeld's two
corps arrived et franklin ahead Of Hood, but
SO close were the Confed.ratcs that he was COM
RELIED TO face ahou, and fight a defensive battle
TO cover the withdrawal Of his trains and artillery
across the ilarpeth River.
After being put IN position 10 NEE, the enemy,
II appears tha, Lnwton, whose regiment was
made up Of new recruits, unconcerncdly set about
drilling them while waiting for tho battle 10 he
Joined upon the arrival Il the Confcdcrntes, Under
such extraordinary circumstances this may he
safely assumed to Rave been The only occurrence
Of the kind during tho whole war As L.awton's
report is short. and wildly brings out some Of the
events Of the battle besides giving ~ an insight
10 his ~persunal charact~ eristics in the field. 1t IS
inserted in fun