The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
THEGALLANTFOURTEENTH
SOMETHING OF THE HISTORY of A
FAMOUS REGIMENT.
It's Participation in the China Cam
the Ranks-NOtabie Instances.
st. Paul Pioneer Press.

st. Paul Pioneer Press.
In August, 1900, the civilized world, wait
ing breathessly for the allied army to reach
Picking and it's beleaguered Americans and
Europeans, hoping against hope, was cleo
trifed by the news Of the stCrming and
capture of the imperial city. In America
the depressing note of the Boxer outrages
was modified by the reports of the magnifi-
cent gallantry of the little handful of Amer
lean troops in the van of the relieving
army.
None of the troops drawn from the pride
of Europe's armies won half the glory
taken by the grimy Americans in dirty
khaki, who had set the killing pace on the
ten days march, who had fought and
marched on half rations and without sleep
without a murmur, and who led the troops
to enter Picking. To Colonel Quinton and
the Fourteenth Infantry, now at Fort SHELL
ing, fall the lions share of the exhibition
of fOrtitude and signal bravery that won
the instantaneous and unqualified respect
of the nations\for American arms.
The official reports returned by Col. Al
S. Daggett, in command of the regiment.
with characteristic military terseness set
forth that the conduct of officers and men
perfect, and commented with the same
terseness upon instances of unusual daring
-''- behaved admirably under severe
fire for an hour and a half" Not a day
from Aug. 4. when the allied army left
Tien-Tsin, until after Picking was taken
passed without officers and men OF the
Fourteenth distinguishing themselves. Most
of the individual heroic achievements of
the Fourteenth were lost in the hurry OF
campaign unique in the annals of war. As
one officer put il, THE conduct OF the men
was so uniformly admirable that heroism
became commonplace"
Musician Titus, who first scaled the outer
wall OF the city, will be kept ever In the
minds of young America. The colors of
the Fourteenth, the first hoisted to the
top of the wall and kept there by Captain
Learnard and his handful of men, will
become a national heirloom. All the sol
diers at Fort Smelling who served with
their regiment in China share in the glory
of the command. Scores of them have
forgotten deeds to their credit that would
have made them hit subjects for hero wor-
ship in less strenuous campaign.
The officers at Fort Smelling glory in their
commander, Lieut.. Col. William Quinton;
the men idolize him. He is one of the
finest types of the American soldier and is
doubly endeared TO the men because he
came from the ranks. He is well up to the
head Of the list of lieutenant colonies and
he will retire next year a colonel. Colonel
QuinlOH vas DOIn IN llLHols III 1ooo. ne
entered the volunteer army in 1861 as a
first sergeant in the Nineteenth Illinois In
fantry. Within a year he was successfully
promoted 10 second and nrst lieutenant
He was mustered out in 1864 and appointed
second lieutenant in the volunteer signal
corps
In 1870 he commenced his regular army
career as first lieutenant of infantry. He
commissioned captain in 1884 and
transferred 10 the Fourteenth as major
in September, 1855.
In the Chinese campaign he was the only
field officer with Colonel Daggett, and
unon him He was Ill throughout tho ten