The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-12-14

of tons of iron ore are shipped every
week.
When the President called for vol
unteers for the war with Spain. Mai.
Whitthorne, though past the meridian
J of life. enlisted and served through
out the war without the loss of day.
A swriter in the Confederate Veteran
for June, 1901, thus speaks of his
: services as a member of the First
Tennessee Regiment, which won by
its gallant actions IN the Philippines
the applause of the whole country.
Leaving. a lovely wife and six chill
dren, he took his place with his com
bany, without applying for position
of ease or profit, and faced death and
disease in the discharge of his duty.
How well the Confederate on foot
(as the friends affectionately termed
HIM did that duty is matter now of
history. Devoted to the welfare of the
enlisted men on land and on sea- he
was made their champion. When sick
or in trouble they sent for him, and
under fire never hesitated to follow
him. At Cavite he won commentator
from Col Smith and Admiral Dewey
by his expeditions into the enemy's
lines during the few weeks preced-
ing actual hostilities, accompanied
solely by his friend and interpreter,
Sergt Tom Vaughan. When Col.
Smith fell dead in the first days bat
tie at Manila at the head of the Second
Battalion, gallant little Frank Cheat
ham assumed command, and ordered
Capt. Whitthorne to take the battalion
across San Juan bridge. The battalion
was lying down under terrific fire
from the enemy's Notifications on the
other side OF the San Juan River This
old Confederate walked down the line,
and when he reached the center OF
Tic Ill Ills ul0ilnSL,
magnetic voice, said: BOYS, I'm go
ing to lead you across that bridge, and
when ! give the command | wish you
would give an old-time rebel yell.
They did it, and in ten minutes that
charge and Southern cheer had para
lived the insurgents. relieved the Ne
braskans saved the Utah battery, and
made the reputation of the Tonnes
scans as fighters with regulars and
volunteers in the Philippines. In the
capture of the waterworks next day, |
then at Iloilo, Mindano, and Jaro,
Capt. Whitthorne led his company,
winning a recommendation.
Appointed Major twice, and placed |
in command at Molo, two miles in |,
front of Iloilo, his treatment of the |
natives and his sleepless care of the /
outposts prevented any attack upon
that port of our lines. Almost daily .
he would venture in front of our lines /
of pickets He suggested disembark- /
ment after going on board homeward /
bound to Lieut. Col Haner, Governor
of Cebu, that the First Tennessee
would regret to leave their fellow-citi-
zens in so dangerous position, and
that he believed they would volunteer
to drive the enemy ont of their forti-
f1cations. How promptly Col Child
ers and his brave men volunteered to
do this upon the arrival of the Ind
lana, and how well they did it have
the hearts of the men to glow
with pride whenever Cebu is men
toned.
Maj. Whitthorne not only per-
every company and battalion
duty. but was, in fact, on double duty,
except about ten days from his ar
rival in Manila until he landed In San
to be mustered out. Sum-
mary Court and Judge of the Inferior
Provost Guard at Cavite, Judge Of the
Superior Provost Court of Panay, in
charge of the issuance and prepare
ton of rations for the regiment for
fifty-two days on the voyage home he
did more work than any :
other man or officer during his term
Of service. AS a Judge he gave uni
Versal satisfaction to natives and for ,
eigners and his suprior officers. Res ,
buttons of regret were passed by the
aoilo Merchants Exchange upon his
departure. ,
1T is sincerely believed that no {
nan who served under the stars and :
bars, no man who fought under the {
stars and stripes, deserves more credit 7
han the Confederate on foot who |
vas the real hero of Cebu." g
Maj. Whitthorne Is one of the most
LIBERAL of men He never counts the
lost when his friends are concerned.
The writer has known hin, 70 onaud