Evening star., 1900-08-17
Praise From General Dorward.

Col. Meade includes a copy of a letter
received by him from Gen. Dorward, the
general commanding British forces in
China, saying:
1 desire to express the high appreciation
of the British troops of the honor done
them in serving alongside their comrades
of the American army during the long and
hard fighting of the 18th instant, and the
|, subsequent capture Of Tien Tsin city. and
of my own appreciation of the high honor
accorded to me by having them under my
command.
The American troops formed part of the
front line of the British attack, and so had
more than their share of the fighting that
took place. The ready and willing spirit
of the officers and men will always make
their command easy and pleasant, and
when one adds to that the steady gal
lantry and power of holding on TO exposed
positions which they displayed on the 18th
instant, the result is soldiers of the highest
class.
We all deeply sympatfnze with you in the
heavy losses you have suffered, especially
with the 9th Regiment in the loss of their
gallant colonel E. H. Liscum, while at the
head of his men, and with the 1st Regi-
ment of Marines in the death of Captain
Davis who met soldiers death in the
very front of the fight.
l blame myself for the mistake made in
the taking up of their position by the 9tn
regiment, not remembering that troops
wholly fresh to the scene of action and
hurried forward in the excitement of ar
tack We're likely to lose their way. Still.
the position they took up and gallantly
| stuck to all day undoubtedly prevented a
large body of the enemy from turning the
right of the attacking line and infiicting
serious loss on the French and Japanese
Among many instances of personal
bravery in the action propose specially to
bring to notice In dispatches the conduct
Of First Lieut.. Smedley D. Butler United
states Marine Corps, in bringing a wound
ed man from the front under heavy and ac-
curate fire; Lieut.. Butler was wounded
while so doing, but I am glad to learn not
seriously. The regimental adjutant, First
Lieut.. Henry Leonard, as Lieut. Butler was
suffering severely. volunteered to carry
him out of the firing line. This gallant
feat he successfully accomplished, but
regret to say was very dangerously wound
ed in so doing.
The 9th Regiment were fighting some
what outside my sphere of action, so am
to bring forward only one instance of per-
sonal galantry In that regiment, although
circumstanced as they were, fighting for
about twelve hours almost alone and un-
supported and never giving back foot of
ground until directed to retire under cover
of night and fire of the naval guns. such
instances must have been very numerous.
The one I would refer to is the bringing
back to me by the acting reginental adju-
tant. Capt. Lawton, of the account of the
position Of the regiment across a wide and
flre-swept space, and returning with rein
forcements to guide them to his regiment
when he was severely wounded.
The withdrawal of the regiment was q
delicate military operation finely carried
Coolidge and the officers and men under his
command. 1 have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant.
(Signe0 A. r. F. DORWARD, Brig. Gen