Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-18

grew toward night it began to be APP
prehensive of being left in an advanc
ed position in a fight where no prison.
ers were taken on either side with only
the bayonet to fight with.
| ION the firing line the action was es-
pecially hot and the enemy's fire es-
pecially rapid and accurate. and al
about $50 A. NJ. the enemy appeared in
large numbers upon our left AMI
among the grave mounds of the field
| in which we We're with the evident in
| tention of thanking us. / made turn
ing movement to the left and rear and
we drove them away. About 3 p. NJ.
they again made a thanking effort but
at this time the infantry support of
the artillery company was on the mud
wall of the city and aided us by a cross
| fire. The company was commanded by
Capt. c. G.. Long. The effort of the
enemy proved a failure and we drove
them in.
| We remained in the trenches until
about 8 F. NJ, when we received an
| order from the brigadier general com
handing us to withdraw. which was
| probably the most difficult action OF
the day, since the enemy had so we'll
covered our position that their shots
struck the crests of the trenches and
threw dirt in our faces many being hit.
| Gen. Dorward ordered that the
troops should sleep upon their arms
| that night and on the following morn
| ing to enter the city. The south gate
had to be blown in by gun cotton.
| The troops had had nothing what
| ever to eat on the 18th save the small
| luncheon Gf it may be so called which
each man carried in his haversack.
| General Dorward. knowing the situa
| ton. kindly sent to the reservation for
food and other necessaries. and the
| bivouac proved a success and the men,
although very fatigued, We're ready for
duty.
'On the 18th inst. the south gate
! having been blown in, we moved into
the walled city at about 6 O'Clock A.
NJ
we found the city filled with dead
| Cinnamon and animals. No resistance
was made to our occupation in the
city itself, but an infantry fire was
kept up by the japanese infantry upon
the enemy. who responded from the
suburbs. Since then We have had un-
disputed possession Of all Tien Tsin."
Col. Meade enclosed the following
letter from Gen. Dorward, the com
marder of the English forces:
From the general officer commanding
British forces in China. to the Officer
| commanding the United States forces:
.'Tien Tsin. China. July 10
| "Sir-I desire to express the high appre-
| citation 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 in
| 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 ana
50 had more than their share uf the
| lighting 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 gallantry and power OF holding on
TO exposed positions which they displayed
of the highest class.
We all deeply Sympathize with You in
especially with the 9Th Regiment in the
loss of their gallant colonel. +. IL. Lis
cum. ana with the lst Regiment Of Ma
| rines in the death Of capt. Davis. who
fight.
II blame myself for the mistake made
in the taking up their position by the 9Th
Regiment. not remembering that troops
wholly fresh to the scene of action We're
likely 10 lose their way. still the position
| they CALAMITY stuck to all day undoubt
eddy prevented large body OF the enemy
from turning the right of the attacking
line and infiictiug serious loss on the
French and Japanese.
| Il propose specially to bring to notice
in dispatches the conduct Of First Lieut..
Smedley d. Butler. L. 5. Marine Corps.
in bringing 4 wounded man from the
front under heavy tire. Lieut.. Butter was
wounded, but | am glad to learn not ser-
ously. Inc regimental adjutant. First
Lieut.. Henry Leonard. as Lieut.. Butler
was suffering severely. volunteered TO
carry him out OF the firing line This gal
liant feat he successfully accomplished.
but ! regret to say, was very danger
Ousv wounded.
The 9Th Regiment was fighting some
what outside my sphere of action. so /
am able to bring forward only one in
stance Of personal gallantry in that reg
ment although. fighting for about Il
hours almost alone and unsupported and
never giving back a foot Of ground until
| directed TO retire under cover Of night
ana fire Of the naval guns. such nstanc IS
must have been very numerous. The
one | would refer to Is the bringing back
to me by the acting reSimental aijutant,
Capt. LAYTON OF the account OF the Isl
ton of the regiment across wide and
fiic-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
out on which | congratulate Lieut.. col.
Coolidge and the officers ana men under
his command.
II have the honor To be. Sit. your obedi-
cnt servant
tSignedD "A r. F. DORWARD.
''BriSadier General
"Oficial copy.
Robert l.. Meade, colonel, L. S. NJ. c.,
commanding L. 5. forces in Tien Tsin,
China
Col. Meade gives a list of the cas-
ualties and details the circumstances
of the death of Col. Liscum and Cap
. tain Davis.
/ Major Walters report is Of especia
interest as he had command of the
marines in the fight before Tien Tsir
! was reached The report is dated
: Tien Tsin. June 2S and says in part:
al in the morning of June 20. the
Russian colonel informed me that ht
. would push on with his 400 men and at
D tempt to get into Tien Tsin and aid il
1 the defense of the city. | objected bu
was overruled in council. My reason
' told me that there was a slim chance
4 for passing the Chinese force with only
i $50 men and no guns. The 3-inch rifle
:. proving defective, | disabled it ant