The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-21


where he was to lick a body OF raw
recruits into hghting material. when
Harold Knox received a commission
as captain OF volunteers. and was
dispatched to distant camp to driH
the company he was to command.
Gen. Hamilton's troops we're among
the first to land after the arrival OF
the expedition in Cuban waters. and
very soon after Col Roosevelt's rough
riders had fought their brief but san
culinary engagement at Las Guasimas.
he marched them up into the wooded
hills in the rear Of Santiago. When
later, the regiment to which Cant
Knox's company was attached Was
dlsembarked, his troops were detath-
ed. and located at an intermediate
point on a road leading up into the
hills, over which army wagons and
pack mules passed, carrying provi-
asions and munitions of war to the
front, There he remained until the
! fight at El Caney occurred. when he
received orders to move forward and
If'NJOih hlo iCBlultHls ..
At about the same time. Gen. Ham
ilton's brigade was ordered out to-
ward the scene of the conflict. The
way led through dense woods. with
an underground of bushes and vines
that seemed almost impenetrable. The
troops were promptly set in motion
but, as they necessarily moved slow
ly over the rough and narrow road.
the general and his staff, with few
enlisted men remained at the Camp
until his column should have cleared
the woods. and reached the open
about a mile distant. when thew
mounted their horses and followed
them. They had not ridden half a
mile when they were ambuscaded by
a full battalion of Spanish infantry
that had lain Hidden in the under
growth, and doubtless had witnessed
the passing Of the brigade. Confront
ed with one=hslf. of the battalion. the
/. general attempted to fail back, bit
there In his rear stood the other hair,
prepared for action. Finding himself
trapped, his fighting blood was arous-.
ed. and he decided to cut his way out
and follow his troops with his small
force he made gallant charge up
on the enemy who, outnumbering him
20 to one, repulsed him with loss OF
one officer and two enlisted men kill
ed, and several wounded
The Spaniards might easily have
killed the general but the major IN
command was evidently determined
TO capture him. That, he swore
should never happen, and with his
little band, who placed their backs to
the thicket, he prepared to fight 10
the death, and was holding the enc.
my at the point 6f his sword. when
the steady tramp of a body of men
moving rapidly was heard. and the
next instant as they swung into view
came the command in ringing tones
Charge" "Give them the cold steel
boys" and a company of United
States infantry feil upon the Span
iards with the bayonet, and literally
swept down and ran over the first
half OF the battalion. in its eagerness
to engage the second half, which Il
utterly routed with fearful loss, after
few minutes OF desperate fighting
So fierce was the onslaught and so
brief was the engagement, that Gen.
Hamilton was for the moment dazed
by II; nor did he, fully realize what
had happened until, Capt. Knox stood
by his side, with his red sword in his
right hand. and his own blood drop
ping from the fingers of his left. A
mauser bullet had passed through his
shoulder just below the clavicle, and |
pierced the apex of the lung.
Notwithstanding the astounding
revelation that had so suddenly been
unfolded before the dazed vision, and
the bewildered' senses of the general.
and which had resulted in saving his
life. and also the lives Of the officers
on his stan, there was NO time to be
lost in explanations!, for, Harold .was
bleeding frOm a serious wound. that
no sligature loould manage. Besides,
the brave old general eould not have
controlled his voice if he hadb tried :,
and 30, In silence heuplaced shis arms
around the young officer.
and with tears of pride and repent
ance' falling from his bronzed face.
INTO his grizzled beard. he kissed him
on either cheek.
Then he mounted him upon a horse
and riding close by his side, attend
ID him to the field hospital, which lay
iirecty in their line of march. When
Harold dismounted. he tainted from
oss of blood and was carried within
he hospital tent.
Turning to the surgeon-in- chief the
general said; 'If you love God, and
lave a soldiers worship for a brave
nan, save that young officers life. II
here is one man braver than all the
'ther gallant men in this army it is
le."
"He will not die" replied Surgeon
Tenn, men of his stamp have the
ourage TO defy death, and live"
And yet. once called him-a-
ere the generals voice failed him
nd he rode away after his troops to-