Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-11

A@1A1As NlDtAs w A5nuun 0xSA AEu 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 a 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. Swapping 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, swam to the opposite bank and secured the canoes He rowed back for the rest of his command, and leaving few troops to guard the horses, went on up the stream. At the mouth of the Coosa he discovered the transport in bayou short distance ahead. Reaching 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 1t 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.
 ''I am the captain of the boat out there" was the reply.
 ''Then you are just the man want ed to see" said Weston. T command the advance of Wilson's cavalry, which will be along here in a 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 It was for the success and daring of this undertaking that Gen. Weston was awarded 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- ant of the Fifth infantry, so runs the official record, rescued with two com panies two white girls by g voluntary attack upon the Indians whose su- 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 Mo- 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 fed. Capt. Dodge was at that time highly commended in orders. but he had to wait IS years for his medal of honor.
 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,