The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-04
Copyright, 1901
ANOTHER BRAVE LAwToN.
Lieutenant Whose Heroism Was
warmly Commended by Major Lee.


AUBURN, N Y, Sept. 3.-Mrs. Louis B.
Lawton, of this city, wife of Lieutenant
Lawton, of the Ninth United States Infan-
try, now doing service in China. received
to-day letter from Major j. NJ. Lee, who
took temporary command of the Ninth on
the death of Colonel Lscum. in which he
gives graphic account of the battle of
Tien-Tsin and comments on the gallantry
of Lieutenant Lawton. who was wounded
four times during the battle while execut-
ing orders. Major Lee says that Lieuten-
ant Lawton has been recommended for
medal of honor and brevet. and describes
the lieutenant as 1.-THE most heoric, gallant
spirit that then went into battle
After referring to the loss sustained by
the Ninth Regiment. which the ma jor places
at % per cent. in killed and wounded. he
says:
Captain Noyes had been twice wounded.
Captain Bookmiller had fallen, Majo
Regain had fallen severely wounded within
a few feet of me. and soon after Colonel
Liscomb fell MORALLY wounded. This all
occurred before or about Q a. IN. on the 18th
We had pushed forward to the limit and
were separated from the enemy by a canal
or moat fifty yards wide and from six to
eight feet deep in water. The ground I'm
our rear where SO many had fallen was
literally swept by bullets and sharpncI
To advance was impossible, and with the
dead and wounded around us and all of us
in mud and water from our waists TO arm
pits we determined TO hold the place and
await reinforcements, ammunition and re-
lief for wounded.
The situation became more and more
desperate. About 10 a. m ] decided 10 send
Lieutenant Lawton with an orderly back
for help. IL was a perilous undertaking.
but / believed he would get through, and
he did so under heavy fire and cooIly rep
resented all our needs 10 General Dor
ward. Some reinforcements were sent,
about 100, but they never reached our front
line. Lieutenant Lawton stood up under
fire and urged them 10 move on. He then
received a scalp wound. He then started
alone to join me and report. We saw him
coming and word went along the line,
There comes Lieutenant Lawton.' and
every man opened on the enemy 10 protect
him. L saw him stop TO pick up something
and thought he was hit. but he had dropped
his note books and had coolly stopped 10
pick them up. On he came and when near
~ through he was hit I'm the arm and
breast. severely. but, thank God. not fatal
ly Captain Brewster and went TO him
and he calmly and clearly reported the re-
suit of mis- perilous mission. There he and
1. with the dead and wounded about US, re-
manned under fire until nightfall. He was
again hit in the sole OF the shoe.
"A gallant. heroic little soldier named
Nelson G. Price, private in Company +.
Ninth Infantry sattenued him and protected
him with little bank OF earth which was
nit many times. The superb heroism OF
this soldier no doubt saved your husband 5
life and mine as well. Two or three times
orders had been sent 10 TO retire at
night. but we never got them. Lieutenant
f.awton, Lieutenant Frazier and I matured
"A plan TO withdraw under cover of darkness
and carry off all our wounded and the body
of our colonel. This we accomplished, be-
ginning the move at $40 ~ M. though un-
der some OF the enemy's fire. One poor
fellow lost his life, shot seven times. For
nearly an hour we fioundered along, over
bikes and into bitches filled with mud and
water and assembled under a mud wall.
where we found a part OF the regiment I'M
der Colonel Coolidge
The Majors letter relating to the battle
stops here and the remainder Is devoted
TO words OF comfort 10 Mrs Lawton.
Edgar Evans, one of the proprietors OF
| the Hooser mills. SAYS that the item re-
-. II.