The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-30
SORROW AMONG THE MEN
DEATH OF LAwTON SPREAD GLOOM
THROUGHOUT THE ARMY.
An Indiana Soldiers Appreciation of
the Great Comma nder-Incidents
of His Last Campaign.
of the indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal
BIG BEND, p. l., Dec. q, IS99.-The death
of Major General Lawton on the north
line, on the morning of the 18th, was one
of the greatest losses the United States
has sustained in the Philippines. He was
by long odds the most successful and per-
sstent officer in the army. His name had
grown TO be mighty among the insurgents
big Chief Who Fights in the Night
vas what they called him and no column
of troops led forth by him ever returned
without new laurels His name became a
synonym for lively fight. When we on
the south line heard that he was soon to
reach our province 1t needed no order to
inform every man of the half dozen sregi--
ments that n move along the south line
was projected. 1t was only question of
who would be fortunate enough to go with
him. His reputation was such that every
man who had served under him honored
and revered him, considered 1t a privilege
to serve under him. Each command had
been on the anxious seat for several days.
when the shocking news of General Law
tons death was received along the line
So many have been the narrow escapes this
wonderful soldier has had from bullets
that the official bulletin was necessary in
order to bring the old officers of his COM
mand to a realization of the fact of his
DEATH
With a couple of battalions of infantry
and two squadrons of cavalry, General
Lawton moved out from Manila on the 18th
of December with a view of cleaning OUT
the enemy reported in the vicinity of Sar
Ta4o ~
wind and water. daylight of the next day
found the column well deployed about the
town OF San Mateo ready for attack. The
Infantry line opened up the fight with
General Lawton personally directing AS
was his practice. he was on the firing line
giving his orders in the matter of fact
way always displayed by him under fire
his tall figure. clad in a yellow slicker
and white helmet. made him a most con-
spicuous mark as he moved along the line
The fire of every sharpshooter In the vicin-
fty was at once focused upon that point
Lieutenant Breckenridge, one of his aids
had just been wounded In the arm and
members of General Lawton's staff begged
him to seek better shelter. With some
laughing reply he turned to inquire as TO
Lieut.. Breckinridges wound. when sudden
ly both hands clutched his breast and the
tall inquire or the stern old soldier was
seen to stagger Several officers sprang TO
his side and he was gently lowered TO the
ground. To an inquiry as to whether he
was badly hit, he responded briefly through
his clenched teeth. yes" In less than three
minutes he was dead.
The hero or the civil war. relentless
Indian fighter, veteran of the Spanish
American war found soldiers death fight
Ing for mis- flag after almost forty years of
service. He fell with his face to the enemy
where he had always been found i'm the
countless actions he had led in Luzon
island. Many brave men We're injured be-
fore the town was taken that day, but IL
was not pain which brought the binding
tears TO the eyes of these men. 1t was the
news OF the loss of their fearless leader
1t was a sad victory. and although there
were plenty of dead insurrectos 10 mark
the track Of the fleeing enemy. when the
action came to an end the soldiers found
little consolation in the fact.
An Indiana man has cause to feel pride
IN the career of so distinguished a man as
ne whose life was here brought TO a sud
den close The warm praise of all who
served under him at various times forms
grander eulogy than may be delivered
over his bier. Words fail 10 convey the
spirit in which these men mourn their dead
commander to-day. An instance OF his usual
daring Is found in his conduct during the
engagement about Big Bend on the 18th of
October. The Fourth and Fourteenth In
fantry had been engaged for some hours
along the main road between Bocoor and
linus In an endeavor TO dislodge the enemy.
who were intrenched on the opposite side
OF the river which skirts the road There
were open spaces along the road which
were not safe for man TO show his head
and officers and men fall back of the road
when IL became necessary TO pass these
points. Up the road came General Lawton
with his mounted staff. Through a hail of
bullets his party passed up the road TO
linus and. wonderful as IL may seem, not
officer was touched. 1t was no uno ,nn-
mon thing To hear a soldier swear mat
General Lawton bore a charmed life This
Is only one OF the many stories which could
be told OF his life in the island.
The Twenty-eighth is still lying along the
line between Bocoor and linus, with strong
prospects OF a move In the near future. a
move planned this week was DELAYED by
the death OF Gei eral Lawton. and we will
probably spend Christmas on the Bent. My
company now holds a peninsula at this
point alone. IL was formerly garrisoned by
two companies. We are associated with
the Fourth Infantry here. and the regiment
contains about a dozen One-hundred- and
ffty-ninth Indiana men. Among them is
Charles A. Thompson. formerly OF Com
pany B. Have not had any men injured
yet. but one has disappeared and there are
suspicious that he was led into the mig