The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-09-04
YOUNG OFFICERS
GREAT GALLANTRY.
Lieutenant Lawton. Four Times
Wounded. Carrying Or
ders at Tien-Tsin.
SENT FOR RE-ENF0RCEMENTS.
C0ollv Passed Twice Over Il Field
Swept by the Enemy's Bullets
and Shrapnel and Made
His Report.

Auburn. y Y. Sept. s.-Mrs. Louis B.
I.awton OF this city. wife of Lieutenant
I.awton of the Ninth United States lnfan-
try. now doing service in China, received
to-day a letter from Major ]. II. Lee. who
took temporary command OF the Ninth up
on the death of Colonel Liscum. In which
he gives a graphic account of the battle
of Tien-Tsin and comments upon the gal
Iantry OF Lieutenant Iawton. who was
wounded four times during the battle While
executing orders
Major Lee says that Lieutenant Lawton
has been recommended for a medal of hon
or and a brevet and describes the Lieu
tenant az "the most heroic. gallant spirit
that then went into battle
After referring to the loss sustained by
the Ninth Regiment. which the Major
places at - per cent in killed and wounded,
ne SAYS:
Captain Nores had been twice wounded.
Captain Bookmilter had fallen, Major Re
gan had fallen severely wounded within
few feet of me. and soon after Colonel Lis
cum fell mortally wounded. This all oc-
CURED before about a. m on the 18TH
Passed Through storm of Lend.
I'VE had pushed forward TO the limit and
were separated from the enemy by a canal
moat fifty yards wide and from six TO
eigh: feet deep in water The ground In
our rear, where SO many had fallen. was
literally swept by bullets and shrapnel. To
advance was impossible and with the dead
and wounded around US and ali of us in
mud and water from our waists to armpits.
we determined TO hold the place and await
re-enforcements. ammunition and relief for
our wounded
The situation became more and more
desperate. About 10 a. m. decided to send
Lieutenant Lawton with an orderly back
Tor help II was a perflous undertaking.
but j believed he would get through and
ne did so. under a heavy fire. and coolly
represented our needs 10 General Dorward
Some re-enforcements were cent, about l0o
but they never reached our front line
lieutenant I.avtoa stood UP under fire
and urged them to move on. He then re-
ceived a ScalT, wound. He then started alon..
to JOIN me and report. We saw him coming
ana the word went along the line: There
comes Lieutenant Lawtob.' and every man
opened on the enemy to protect him. I saw
him stop 10 pick up something and thought
ne was hit bu; he had dropped hts note
books and had coolly STOPPED to pick them
Up on he came, and when nearly through
he was hit on the arm and breast severely
but, thank God. not fatally.
bravery of One Private.
captain Brewster and went to him and
he calmly and clearly reported the result
with the dead and wounded about US, re-
mained under fire until nigbtfall. He was
again hit. In the sole of the shoe
The gallant, heroic little soldier named
Nelson Z. Price. private tn Company L,
Ninth Infantry, attended him and protected
him with little bank OF earth. which was
hit many times sThe superb herosm of this
young soidier. no doubt saved your hus-
bands life, and mine well.
Two or three times orders had been
sent 10 us to retire at night. but We never
go them. Lieutenant Lawton. Lieutenant
tranzier and | matured a plan 20 with
draw under cover Of darkness and carry off
all our wounded and the body Of our Cello
mel This We accomplished, beginning the
move at $40 y. M. though under some of
the enernys fire. One poor fellow lost his
life, shot seven times For nearly an ho,Ir
We fioundered along over dikes and into
bitches flled with mud and water and as
sembled under mud wall. where we found
idge"
The Majors letter relating to the battle
stops here and the remainder IS devoted TO
words of comfort to Mrs I.awton