Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-03-07
11NTHE FACE OF DEATH
HOW BRITISH SOLDIERS HAVE WON.
THE VICTORIA CROSS; n

If every soldier who earns the Vic
toria Cross or its American medal
equivalent lived to wear it the decora-
tiou through its very commonness
would lose much. of its significance
and value. One man in ten wins it
and lives; the other nine die in the
striving. It has been said authorita-
lively that after the institution of the
Cross OF the Legion of Honor, the
Victoria Gross and the Congressional
Medal of Honor, individual deeds OF
daring increased nearly fouriold. It
perhaps is probable that the exist
en,e Of the decorations and theknown
fact that they were to be worn simply
called the attention of officers more
sharply to the duty of reporting all
acts OF valor which came under their
notice, and that this more than any
hope for reward accounted for the ap-
parent reinforcement of courage.
The intrinsic value of these badges of
bronze is about one cent, yet for the
privilege of wearing them the soldiers
of three countries seem alwayssready
to troad Gray's 'paths Of glory"
The French decoration was first.
granted under Napoleon in the ea,ly.
part of the present century; tile Vic
toria Cross was instituted during the
Crimean war, and the American medal.
was first struck off to reward acts Of
heroism performed during the war Of
secession. The French cross may be-
won by civilians; the English and
American crosses are pinned only up-.
on the breasts of soldiers and sailors;
In the armies OF all three nations
officer and private, peasant and prince,
have equal chances of wearing that
which nothing but attested bravery
may buy. q.
The first Victoria Cross granted for
bravery in the present South African
war was given two weeks ago to
Colonel Ian Hamilton of the Gordon.
for conspicuous gallan-
try at the battle of Elandslaagte. q
A perusal of the Gazette list, which
tells something of the deeds for which
the Victoria Cross has been awarded,
shows that fully one-half of the most
striking exhibitions of heroism have
been shown by men whose shoulders
bore no insignia of rank. One English
publication states that perhaps with
one exception tie bravest thing done
by British soldier was the act of a
drummer boy. That drummer boy,
if living, is now a man 80 years DID,,
and for 45 years of that time he'has
been wearing the Victoria Cross, and
has had the right which, by the way,
he has never exercised-of writing ".
c. after his name. The boy, in the
year 1857, amid a perfect shower Of
shot and shell fastened bags of gun
powder on the gates Of Delhi. He
carried death in his arms that day
and carried it in other forms all along
his way. Others helped him and
were killed; he lived and wore the
cross.
It was another British drummer
boy who, while acting as o field bu-
gler for Lord Napier of Magdala in
the Abyssinian war, left the generals
side and dashed first into the strong
hold of Theodore the Tyrant."
1t would seem that by common con-
sent the British authorities give the
palm for surprising bravery to o pri-
vate named Kavanagh, who succeeded
i'll reaching Colin Campbell's column
and by telling of the dire need OF
Lucknow spurred that officer to its
relief. Lucknow was besieged and
ths garrison was starving. The little
band of devoted men, with the women
and children who were cooped up at
the residency, expected soon to be at
the mercy of 60, QUO savages, for the
evidence grew that the place
could not much longer hold out. The
commandant called for o volunteer
who would disguise himself Us a
Sepoy, mingle with the enemy and
watching his chance, escape 10 carry
the news of the garrison's straits
to Lord Colin Campbell. The com
mandant said that the service almost
certainly meant death. Many men
volunteered. Kavanagh was chosen
because he knew the language of the
Sepoys. He stained his skin, changed
his costume and reached the enemy's
camp. Breaking away from the i'm
mediate besiegers, he made across
the country. On the way he fell in
with many bands of the enemy. He
slept with them, marched with them
and ate with them, escaping sus-
picion, as it were, by miracle
Finally, leaving the last of them be-
hind, he went, into the jungle and
dared starvation and the tigers lair
for days. He reached the English
outposts, and, being mistaken for On
enemy, was shot at and almost killed.
Kavanagh told his story to General
Campbell and the relief of Lucknow
followed. A year afterward Private
Knvanagh, at the forefront of battle
with the Sepoys, was killed by 4
bullet, which, in entering his breast,
touched the edge of the ribbon which
held in place the Victoria Cross giycn
him "For Valor."
Private Kavanagh's' deed has par.
allel in the American army. In the
year 1876, during the Sioux uprisin g,
General Terry, whose camp was on
the Big Horn, wished to communicate
with General Crook on the Powder
river. The country between the two
commands was infested with hostile
Sioux Indians. Trained plainsmen,
scouts who had been Indian fighters
nil their lives, abandoned the courier
task as hopeless. Then Private James
Bell, Co. E. Seventh infantry, came
forward and told General Terry that
he would carry the dispatches. Terry
gave Bell the papers and told him he
was riding to his death. The scouts
said Suicide" Bell said nothing, but
went. He rode principally at night,