Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-02-10
ANECDOTES OF GEN. LAwTON.
New Version of the Charge by which,
III Cancy Was Captured.

~ Cancy 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 III Caney, where he
wore the white helmet which was the
cause Of his death:
ION the morning OF July I Gen. Law.
ton was sent with a force Of about
5000 men to take III Caney. while the
rest OF the troops were to be engaged
mt San Juan.
II have seen some mention since the
death Of Gen. Lawton Of the order sent
to him by Gen. Shafter to withdraw
his troops from III Caney, a proceeding
which would have been disastrous to
our forces, but have never seen the
statement given to me by the same
stan officer. He told me that as Gen.
Lawton stood directing the troops an
aid from the stan of Gen. shafter rode
up and said:
"'Gen. Lawton. Gen. shnfter directs
you to withdraw your troops
at first Gen. Lawt0n was non.
plussed: then. turning to the aid. he
said: This Is too serious an order to
be received verbally, and ! shall re-
quire 1t in writing from Gen. Shafter.'
He well knew that Gen. Shafter was
eight miles In the rear, and that writ.
ten order from him could not be receiv.
cd before the charge was ordered. This
much Is matter Of history, but l do
not believe that the whole story has
been told.
"Gen. Lnwton. 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 tho written order.
having only retired short distance to
write, and he delivered It to Gen. Law.
ton Just Us the whole American force
stormed across the field In that last
desperate. successful attempt to take
FL Caney. When no handed the writ.
ten order to the General. Lawton point
oil 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 FL Cancy was
due to Gen. Lawt0n's perseverance un'
der difficulties"
The following story of Gen. Lawton
was told by sergeant In the regular
army, who served under Lawton In
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 a shop, bis
tall, massive form making him even
more conspicuous than usual. lie wore
a blue shirt and campaign hat, and
was without any indications OF his
rank. A young second lieutenant jus'
from West Point, and SO belonging tG
the class known in the army as John
ny.come- lately" was walking down thu
street, and having high sense OF his
own importance, tapped the Genera
Oh the shoulder, taking him for non
commissioned officer. AS the Genera
turned around he was addressed thus
by the young officer:
Sergeant, are you a soldier!'
"Yes. sir" replied the General.
"Then why don't you salute an ON
Ger when you see himT'
The General saluted, but with so alb
rupt and hippant an air that the angel
of the lieutenant was aroused, and III
further asked:
Sergeant. what's your nameT
"Well," replied the General. assum
Ing a slight drawl that was sometimes
characteristic. "my name Is Maj. Gen
Henry W. LawtOn. What's you
name" leaving the lieutenant crest
fallen and stammerlng out some LAM
apology.