Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-13


Tien Tsin. July 10. are given in the report
of Capt. c. r. Moves. which follows:
Ninth L. S. Infantry Hospital.
Ten Tsin Hotel,
TEN TSIN, China July Is. 1900.
Major Jesse NJ Lee, 9th Infantry
Sir: | have the honor to submit a brief re-
port of the orders and operations OF the
regiment up to the time l was disabled by
my second wound, reference being made to
. the operations on July Ii of the attack on
walled city of Ten Tsin.
on the morning Of the 18th Colonel Lis
cum Informed by Colonel Meade,
United States marine corps. that the 9TH
Infantry would be called upon to furnish
detachment to protect the second bridge
and to prevent a crossing being made there.
he was advised to call upon the British
general and obtain exact instructions; Col
one Liscum did IN the afternoon He
was directed to send 2U men there, at
dusk but II was intimated that more
important movement might take place, II
the plans We're completed. He was to be
called 10 meeting OF the generals and the
movement fully explained; he was so called
at about o clock and attended the meeting
alone.
In the meantime a detachment for the
bridge was started out and was met by the
colonel as he was returning. lie reduced
the detachment to 100 men; the detachment
consisted Of Company A, strengthened by
a number of men from ID, First Lieutenant
Weeks, 18th Infantry, was in command and
Second Lieutenant F. r. Brown, 9th 1nfan-
try, attached.
had been ordered to conduct this detach-
ment TO its proper place. l did so and re-
turned to the barracks, having been gone
about three-Quarters of hour. Colonel
Llscum had personally made the necessary
arrangements for the movement the follow
ing day, and he did not find occasion to
ask my advice. he did not when | returned,
explain to me any details of the movement,
except to say that We would move out at
3:lJ a m, and to show me paper contain
ing list of the organizations that would
compose our column, the order in which
they would march and certain other infor-
nation. which | do not exactly recall, but
i think il pertained 10 the way in which we
would join the column and TO meeting of
the generals at a des grated point, soon at
ter the movement began.
Company f was detailed to remain at the
barracks, except twelve men, who were
attached to Company d. The command
formed at 3:15 a. m. and was composed of
Companies b. and ID Of the 1st Battalion
under command of Major Lee, and F. G and
II Of the % Battalion, under command of
Major Regain the total strength being fiji
teen officers and 40 men. We Joined the
column according TO orders and marched
to the fields the west arsenal outside
of the mud wall; the 9th Infantry was the
last organization in the column
Forming for Attack.
Column OF attack was formed opposite the
gateway, through the mud wall. to the
arsenal. The 9th Infantry formed in line
Of skirmIshers. with intervals of one pace,
being in rear Of the English naval brigade.
We rested at this point for some time while
leading organizations were getting up TO
the wall There was very slight defense
made from the wall apparently. but in our
position We were catching a severe indirect
FIRE and number of casualties occurred.
After waiting three-quar;ers of an hour
In III position a staff officer rode 10 the
mmanding officer of the English naval
brigade and from HIM to Colonel Liscum.
His words TO Colonel L!scum, nearly as
L them, General T.
ward sends his compliments and says that
II you are having casualties here you
advance your regiment to the mud wall.
where you will be perfectly protected. You
VIII have to cross the canal by the cause
way and bridge. in front Of the gate, and
then you will move your command to the
made some inquiries and the officer made
some explanation to the same effect.
TIE line was advanced. and the left of II
being opposite the causeway crossed first
and conducted by myself to the left.
In a few moments l returned to Colonel
Lscum who was at the gate, and seeing
that a portion OF the regiment was still not
across but lying along the canal, L remarked
to Colonel Liscum: The stan officer said
that the regiment should be placed on the
left of the Japanese"
An officer standing by whom | had not
observed, sad. What staff officer?" and 1
replied. The one that gave the message"
General Dorward broke in himself and
said: 1T makes no difference which to the
right or left. long as they get under
cover"
In few minutes an advance was made
by the Japanese through the gateway to
occupy the arsenal. and the 9th Infantry
was brought up to cross the mud wall III
column of files. 1t did so and formed by
companies under the protection of some
buildings. The Japanese troops were as
sembled in the same manner near that
place Soon they moved across a bridge to
the right and advanced toward the walled
city, which was in view, az about / 600 Yards
The 9th Infantry followed, and getting into
q rather contracted position extended along