The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-07
NEW MEDALS OF HONOR.
WON BY DEEDS OF vALoR hi The
PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN.

The Best of Rewards For The American
soldier is the simple Badge Given FOR
Meritorlous Acts Under FIre-The
Heroes OF Cainnpit Bridge.
Brevity IS not the characteristic Of
most Of the regulations governing the
Army Of the United States. but para.
graph III is breYity itself, and its
purport none can misoonstfue. 1t
reads Medals of honor viii be
awarded by the President to officers
and enlisted men who most distin-
guish themselves ia action" Upon
those few words hangs tie best Of per-
sonal rewards fof the soldiers OF the
nation. While none may despise the
honor conferred by the granting Of q
breyet. yet SO often has breVet rank
been bestowed for administrative
duties faithfully discharged, or for
thoroughness aud devotion in other
matters Of routine, that the result has
been to cheaper the breyet and cause
the simple badge given for meritori-
Gus acts nnder Ere to take rank with
the Victoria Cross of England aud the
Iron Cross Of Germany.
The number Of recipients Of this
distinction for services in the Cuban
campaign was a small one, and the
Philippine fighting, though more ex-
tensiVe in time and opportunity, has
added but few, 60 iealously Is the
honor guarded Distinctive gallantry
aud fearlessilfss have. however, won
this glory for a small number, and
some Of the deeds that have brought
the recommendation for the medal
we're gallant enough to live in the
minds Of comrades and witnesses for
long years to come
On March 81, in the advance from
La Iona TO Maiolos. when the column
came near the Marilao River, the
Third Artillery being deployed in ad-
vance and the Kansas Regiment one
thousand yards in the rear in support,
the whole force moved forward Soon
the artillery regiment had crossed the
railroad bridge, and the Twentieth
Kansas came up to reinforce. As the
head of this regiment moved mp a
heavy fire from the left flank struck
the column. The first aud second
companies were Immediately thrown
into lire to the left aud, without pre-
liminary reconnaissance, ordered to
charge across the open field toward
the source Of the fire. The enemy
we're located in the edge Of a bamboo
s@icket several hundred yards away,
bat when the line came up to within
two hundred yards Of the thicket it
encountered a deep and swiftly flow
ing stream, about thirty-five yards in
width. Owing to the absence Of
abrupt banks this turn Of the stream
had not hitherto been seen. Almost
without commands the men threw
themselves fat, and with bayonets
and hands built mp each his little COW
ering Of earth, and, thus sheltered,
increased the intensity Of their fire
A half honr passed, and no change
in condition or situation occurred. II
was a choice Of retiring OF forcing the
crossing A large raft Of bamboo
poles lay at the opposite bank. A call
for volunteers to swim across aud
bring back this raft brought fifteen
men to the colonel's side. A hasty
selection was made, and Lieutenant
E. J. Hardy, Chief Trumpeter G. p.
Barshfeld Corporal Drysdale and
Privates Huntsman aud Wiley,
stripped completely aud without arms,
plunged into the stream. The two
companies rose to their feet. aud.
with yells OF encouragement to the
darling five, poured their hottest Gre
on the enemy. Shot after shot from
the insurgents line splashed around
the swimmers, but on they went.
Reaching their goal, they found the
raft too heavy for them to manage,
aud back the gallant Barshield swan
TO carry over rope that had been
brought up. This he tugged across
the stream. aud the rest is easily
guessed. The colonel Of the regiment
took tSenty-one men aud made the
first crossing, and this small force
turned the enemy's flank, who, flee
ing. left twenty-four killed aud twelve
severely wounded Prisoners to the
number Of twenty eight we're taken.
and thirty-six rifles we're captured.
Do not those five men come under
paragraph 1T, A. r.?
DION April 26, the command having
reached the Rio Grande at Calumpit.
the railroad bridge was found to be so
wrecked that it was practically impas-
sable. This bridge was about six
hundred feet in length. and, al the road
way and upper stringers having been
removed, aud at the far end strong
insurgent outpost covering the struo-
ture. only a desperate assault could
carry it and open the crossing. Night
came on, aud Colonel Funston. wish
ing 20 test the practicabiliiy Of send
ing q small detachment TO crawl
through on the lower diagonals and
chords and surprise the enemv's post.
easily found a volunteer to make The
trial trip in the person Of Corporal
Ferguson. Of Company E Of his reei.
ment Ferguson took Of his shoes.
and, armed With a revolver. let him.
sell down among the lower bars and
ribs. Fifty feet above the water. aud
straight into a strong detachment in