Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-08-11


crest OF the ridge. Gen. Merriam, at
Fort Blakely, Ala, was colonel of
regiment of colored troops. With his
men he was awaiting impatiently an
order to charge. Finally he asked per-
mission to charge ahead of orders, and
was told to go IF he wanted to bad
enough" He led his negroes in one of
the most heroic charges ever made,
and won promotion and Medal of
Honor. Gen. Wheaton earned his
medal at the same time and place. He
was leading the right wing of his regi-
ment across the open toward the fort
in the face of terrific fire of artillery
and musketry. Reaching the place, he
sprang through an embrasure from
which bullets were raining, and was
the first man to enter the fort.
But no veteran of the civil war won
his medal more fairly than did Gen.
John F. Weston, now commissary gen.
eral of subsistence. In the summer of
1864 Weston was major of cavalry
attached to Wilson's division. He and
his men were in Alabama, some 40
miles from Montgomery. Word
reached Weston that there was con-
federate transport laden with supplies
somewhere near the junction of the
Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers. Weston
was ordered to locate and capture 1t.
While marching along the shore of the
Tallapoosa he saw on the further side
of the river two or three canoes which
he thought might be useful to him in
hunting the transport. Strapping his
revolver on the top of his head, and or
dering his men to do likewise, the
major, with six followers, plunged into
the river, swan to the opposite bank,
and secured the canoes. He rowed
back for the rest of his command, and,
leaving a few troops to guard the
horses went on up the stream. At the
mouth of the Coosa he discovered the
transport in a bayou short distance
ahead. Bleaching his canoes he began
to make signals to attract the atten-
| tion of those on board the transport,
and presently saw gig push off and
pull toward shore. When the gig ran
upon the beach the first man to step
out of it was the captain of the trans
port.
What do you want with me?"
asked the captain.
who may you be?" asked Weston,
answering one question with another.
II am the captain of the boat out
there" was the reply.
Then you are just the man want
ed to see," said Weston. Il command
the advance of Wilson's cavalry, which
will be along here in few minutes,
and must ask you to surrender your
self and your transport"
The captain, after a moments
thought, agreed to an unconditional
surrender, whereupon Weston with a
portion of his command boarded the
| gig and, rowing to the transport, told
the officer in charge that the captain
had surrendered, and that he had come
to take possession of the boat. The
transport was promptly turned over.
taken to Montgomery and destroyed.
1t was for the success and daring of
this undertaking that Gen. Weston
was awarded a medal of honor.
Behind each of the medals won in
campaigns against the Indian stands
! story of intrepid bravery. Gen.
Francis d. Baldwin while first lieuten-
! official record rescued with two COM
panies two white girls by voluntary
attack upon the Indians, whose SUI
perior numbers and strong position
would have warranted delay for rein
forcements, but which delay would
have permitted the Indians to escape
and kill their captives." This occurred
at McClennan's creek, Tex, in No
vember, 1874. On October 1, 1879,
Maj Francis Dodge, then captain of
troop D. Ninth United States cavalry,
was scouting near Grand river, and
there beard of the defeat two days
before of three troops of cavalry un-
der Maj. Thornburg, near White River
agency, Colorado. An overwhelming
force of hostile Indians was besieging
Maj. Thornburg and threatening the
entire destruction of the command.
Capt. Dodge instantly set forth, rode
all night, arrived at the scene of con-
fiict at daylight, attacked at once, and
held out for three days, when rein
forcements arrived and the Indians
fled. Capt. Dodge was at that time
highly commended in orders, but he
bad to wait 10 years for his medal Of
tonor.
Less than a score of medals were
granted for bravery in the war with
Spain. One of these went to Capt.
John w. Heard, of the Third cavalry,
and another to Lieut.. Ira c. Welborn,
of the Ninth Infantry.
One of the few who earned the
medal of honor in the Philippines is
Gen. ]. Franklin Bell, and the story
of how he did it is of the sort to stir
the slowest pulse. On September 8.
1899, Gen, Bell, then colonel of the
Thirty-siXth volunteer infantry, en-
camped with his regiment near Porac,
in the Island of Luzon. About two