The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-14
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY, Publishers, New York

lows; Private John ottmsn. Killed; Prtvates Stephen
Van Camp, Julln. Buns. James simmons, ADAM
n snnb u yer rs ana men io .bnSs p, m%rt'' enc, C pl i'm Inst.
were all new so'd.ers. and we're NOS yer assigned 10
The coniuo, Of both osacer, and men vas good
without exception. and they have my sarnep
thanks for the pIomptness with which they do
their part Very rttpeytiEi!y
Captain. Comd'g Th!rtioth Ind Vols
Although then under %, this report and the
very evident grasp he had Of the requirements
Of the situation in face 4 an ndvanuing enemy
show that LAYTON was already a man OF mature
Judgment and calm equip'ise Further search
q the records dlsclo'es that Capt LAwtun was
Brigade, tirSi Division, Fourth Army Corps.
during. Sherman's Atlanta campaign This
ment and is further evidence that, young as he
was, Lawton had already developed military
talent loved the profession Of arms and was
thoroughly aprre,ia'ed by his superiors
The Army Register and other official data Of
the kind uniformly recite that LAYTON was pro-
noted TO be LlcutcnantCol onel on Nov. 10, 1854
This cannot, on the lace OF IT. be reconc led with
the official records quoted above. II Is clear that
he did not exercise thattank Until some time aiteS
that date. " hen promoted Il liz probable his com.
mission was dated back 20 Nov. 10, or possibly
that 1t was delayed in its delivery. At any rate.
as indicated above, throughout the Franklin.
Nashville campaign in November and december.
1864. Lawton was in command Of his res inent
with the rank Of Captain. His supcriors, as will
be observed, speak OF him during this period az
Capt LAYTON, commanding" &c His official
rep RI OF Dec. 3, herein quoted, Ia signed H. ",
Lawton, Captain comman ing Thirieih Indiana
and a subsequ ent report OF his operations at ash
vile is dated Jan; 2, 1865, nearly a month later.
and this also is signed II. W. Lawton. Captain
commanding Thrift III Indiana Infantry" He does
not appear in the records as a Lieutenant-Colone
until Feb 2S. 1865, hut he had been mustered
as ~ that rank several weeks previously. OF
course, all this is ri no very great cont equcnce,
nevertheless II is interesting because IL is trust
worthy and relates 10 so Distinguish ed q man.
IL NAV be said, however, that LAYTON was en-
titled { rank as q Lieutersnt.Co Colonel long before
his actual promotion as tie senior officer in the
command The cvnlanNtiou Of the del" v IN COM
miSsioning him 70 that rank is as follows: On
Sept ~. 1854. all the officers and men OF the Thir-
tieth Indiana we're mustered out Of the "rvioe, ex:
ccpt those who had re-c"liefed as vetersns, and
such recruits as had Joined from time TO time.
r = Colonel. Licutenent-Colonel. FIVE Captains.
eight Lieutcnant@, Surgeon. Assistant Surgeon
and Chaplain were thus mustered out on the ex.
pirstiou 81 their n rec years tern ofseryICe. This
lie Lawton the senior Captain In the regiment.
Among others, he had remained in the eervice 10
see il out" But there were not a sufficient num-.
Der Of these veterans and hold-over recruits 10
entitle the regiment, under the War "partnent
restrictions, to a field Officer, an or a'eW months
1awton continued 10 mmHn II a. a simple
Captain Subsequently more recru Is and drafted
men we're sent on, and in due course Lewton So.
cured his muCh-cOvetcd promotion II the rcgi.
ment had been thus recruited up to Its maximum
Iawton would have been made a full Colonel.
II was his mi fortune, and that ~ many Other
brave officers during the lasttwo years o. the war,
20 he deprived ot tCher rank which they had
earned b tlrncCcsSitics ~ q 2 Government which,
compelled II tOthus economic,