Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-01
ANECDOTES OF GEN. LAWTON.
New Version of the Charge by Which
Eel Caney Was Captured.

New Version of the Charge by Which
Eel Caney Was Captured.
From the New York Sun.
Some National Guard officers who served
In the Spanish American, war were discuss
ing Gen. Lawton's death and his services in
Cuba. One of them told the following
stories concerning his conduct at Ell Caney,
where he wore the white helmet which was
the cause of his death:
"On the morning of July 1 Gen. Lawton
was sent with a force of about 5000 men
to take FL Caney, while the balance of the
troops were to be engaged at San Juan.
AS dusk fell after the first days fighting
We viewed with alarm the thin blue line
which surrounded San Juan. Many Of us,
tired out with the long. hot days work.
having broken camp that morning at 3
O'clock fell asleep ON the damp hillside of
San Juan trying to gain a few moments
rest before the struggle which We knew
was inevitable the next day. Grave doubts
were expressed if we could hold our posi-
ton against the Spaniards. and it will be
remembered that there was a consultation
OF officers at which it was suggested that
our troops should be withdrawn, a plan
which was violently opposed by Gen.
Wheeler and others. About midnight We
were awakened with the pleasing intelli-
geuce that Gen. Lawtop mad captured Ell
ciney with "a very smali loss. l think five,
and that he was rapidly moving to join our
right, which would be done by daybreak
This he accomplished. and ii is doubtful
if. save for this our troops could have
held their position. Our. JOY was some
what tempered by the fact that Gen Law
tons loss at, FL Caney was much heavier
than at first reported,
"A day or two after the battle one of
the officers of Gen Lawton's staff told me
of the generals famous white helmet,
which seems to have been. the cause of his
death near Manila He said that during
the battle of FL Caney the tall form of
Gen. Lawton with his white helmet was a
most conspicuous object while directing the
movements. OF the tEoops. Then, as was
afterward thsasase iat ths, Philippines, he
was thus a target fol the enenly's bullets
but undisturbed and unprotected he stood
while the bullets pat teredG Iike hail about
him. otie 1oI two snf his staff officers beg
sed HIM duAe aewn, as be cgas dra wing the
Occur to him tat r. W5Sid be s hit and I'd
he misunderstanding ittndrked to these Of
fcers that ii any of them cared about ~
ing down they could do SO. and many of
them did so. while Lawton remained erect
And there the,staff had; to remain exposed
to a calling fire as the, enemy's sharp
shooters c6utinued to select Gen. Lawton'S
white helmet as mark
Il have seen some mention since the
death of Gen. Lawton of the order sent to
him by Cen Shafter to withdraw his troops
nave been disastrous to our forces, but l
have never seen the statement given to me
by the same staff officer. He told me that
as Gen. Lawton stood directing the troops
an aid from the staff of Gen. Shafter rode
Tip and said:
Gen. Lawton Gen. -Shafter directs you
to withdraw your troops
AT first Gen. LaWton was nonpluSsed;
then, turning to the aid. he said: This Is
too serious an order to be received verbally
and L shall require 1t IN writing from Gen.
Shafter.' He well knew that Gen. Shafter
Wae eight miles In the rear and that a
written order from him could not be re-
ceived before the charge was ordered. This
much is Il matter of history but l do not
believe that the whole story has been told.
Gen. Lawton, knowing that the all
would soon reduce the order TO writing,
Immediately sent orders to his officers to
charge. The aid returned in about twenty
minutes with the written order, having
only retired Il short distance to write, and
he delivered it to Gen Iawton just the
whole American force 'stormed across the
field in that last desperate. successful at
tempt to take Ell Caney. When he handed
the written order to the general. Lawton
pointed to the charging troops and said:
AS Nu see, the troops have already com
mr'- t" charge. Tell Gen. Shafter that
Thus the capture of Ell Caney was due
TO Gen. iawtons perseverance under diff
culties."
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 18th Army Corps:
After the surrender of Santiago the general
vas standing in the main ST rect of the city
looking into the windows. of a shop, his
tall, massive form making him even more
conspicuous than usual He wore blue
shirt and campaign hat. and was without
any indications of. his rank A young sec
ond lieutenant just from West Point. and
50 belonging to the class known in the
army as Johnny come-latelss.' was walk
ing down the street, and having high
sense of his own Importance. tapped the
general on the shoulder. taking him for a
non-comfnlssioned officer As the gHneral
turned around he. wasI addressed thus by
the young officer.
Sergeant. are You 1aE6 f3dfer?
p Yes. sir rep, tedztAtf .sneral. 80 ----
Then why don't yypli salute officer
when you see HING II agfais '-'
The general safuted s4ut to with abrupt
and hippant an arr MAT Sone anger of the
lieutenant was afouIat dstIid he further
asked. ~ 5ns saH
Sergeant. what's fdut~liame?''
Well" replied .the1Meherat assuming
slight drawl that Wt9x.xpfhetimes charac-
teristtc. my name i= Manu-General Henry
w. Lawton. What xsrnugI1s.me?" leaving
the lieutenant crestfn6kn ssnd stammering
out some lame apology. rvs: -: :
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Not TooAEfI&h.
From the Chicago News. ior'