Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-26

this district Lieut.. Morrison, with his
troop, had been with me on numerous
scouts and expeditions, and he had
been at my side in three very sharp
engagements with the guerilla bands
that infest this province.
In all these affairs he bore himself
splendidly without any apparent
thought of personal safety, and hand
led his troop perfectly. l was always
struck by his perfect willingness to do
his full uuty and more under circum-
stances however adverse. 1t was new
err too muddy nor the night too dark
for him to go after an enemy and he
never HAD any hesitancy about what
to do when he struck him. His
death was gallant one. While scout
ing with detachment of fifteen men
he encountered a band of nearly a
hundred of the enemy and promptly
charged them, mounted, and, altho
greatly outnumbered, drove them in
disorder He attempted to ride down
one of enemy, who was armed with a
Krag rifle, and the two died within a
few feet of each other. 1t cannot be
much of a comport to his stricken
wife, but think the officers of the
Fourth cavalry will take melancholy
pride in the fact that poor Morrison
died on horseback, revolver in. hand.
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) Frederick Funston,
Brig. Gen., U. S. V.
A true copy.
John A. Kress,
1t. Col. Ord. Dept, u. S. A.
Copy of General Orders No. 2.
Headquarters Fourth Cavalry,
Pasay Cavalry Barracks,
Manila, P. l., Jan. 10, 1901.
The death of First Lieutenant John
Morrison, Jr., squadron adjutant.
Fourth cavalry, killed in action at
Santa Cruz, near Panaranda. Nueva
Ecija, Luzon, P. l., is announced to the
regiment.
Entering the military academy from
his native state, Iowa, he was gradual
ed in the class of 1896 and appointed
second lieutenant in the Third caval-
ry. He served with that regiment in
Cuba in 1898. participating in the bat
tie of San Juan hill, where he was con-
spicuous for GOODNESS and bravery
Arriving in the Philippines in Sep
TENDER, 1899 he took part in General
Young's northern expedition in Luzon.
At Pao, near Monog Paugasinan, on
November IA, 1899, General Young rec
commended him for brevet for gal
lantry in charging and depressing a
superior force of the enemy" After
much hard service in December, 1899,
his promotion to first lieutenant
| transferred him to the Fourth cavalry,
but he was retained on duty with his
| old regiment until the following June.
Soon after joining this regiment Lieut..
| Morrison was appointed squadron adj
| jutant. In September, 1900, he was as
! signed to the command Of Troop "a,
which command he held at the time
| of his death. On January IS, 1901
with fifteen men he had been scouting
| the foothills east of Rio Granda and
was returning to Penaranda.
The party suddenly came upon a
large force of insurgents, and Morrison
at the head of his mounted men charg
ed upon them across the rice fields. In
the ensuing melee he was shot thru
1 the heart after mortally wounding his
! assailant.
In both the Third and Fourth Cav
airy, Lieut.. Morrison endeared himseli
II W tNG yOuuSCI oIlS0io ny uio SCllltii
/ equable disposition and won the re
spect of his superiors by his. conscien
ton and efficient performance Of duty
Possessed of unusual discernment ant
Judgment i'll handling men, his pros
4 poets for military advancement were
of the brightest. To even those who
we'll knew and appreciated his fear
/ lessness, his death comes as the Sc
Iverest shock.
4 The regiment extends to his sorrow
ing family the most heartfelt sympath.
and the solace that his death in battl'
is the legacy of a glorious termination
of a spotless career
AS a mark of respect to his memory
officers of the regiment will wear TIL,
usual badge of mourning for thirt.
days.
BY order of Col Carr.
(Signed0
Geo. H. Cameron,
| Cant and Adj dth Cav