The Washington herald., 1908-06-08
sudsburger Had Good Record.

Editor The Washington Herald;
II may not be generally known that
Joseph Sudsburger. late foreman OF the
Bureau Of Engraving and Printing sta
bles. who was murdered by the negro,
Walter Johnson. on Wednesday night
May q. while sitting peacefully with his
children at his home, was an old SOL
der, with forty-four years service 10
his credit. lie was born in Geisen,
Germany in 1874 and came TO this coun-
try when quite young He entered the
volunteer service July p, 1868, as a ser
geant. in Company II, Ninth Maryland
Infantry, and was discharged February
3. 1864 He again entered the service
August l6, 1864 as a private in Company
c. Sixty-sxth Ohio Infantry, and was
discharged June q, 1860
He enlisted in the regular army No
vember s. 1866. and his entire service. ex-
cept three years, was in one troop, 3,
OF the Fourth United States Cavalry
in Texas, Indian Territory, Kansas.
Wyoming. Nebraska. Colorado. Arizona
and other States and Territories. He
participated in the campaign which re-
suited in the capture OF the notorious
Chiricahua Apache chief, Geronimo, the
worst and most blood-thirsty Indian in
Arizona
Sudsburger came TO Fort Myer, Va,
in May, 1851 as first sergeant Troop B.
then commanded by Capt. Henry w. Law
ton, afterward major general OF volun-
teers. who was killed December 10, 1899
fond of his ola sergeant. Sudsburger
served as private. corporal, sergeant
quartermaster sergeant, and first ser
geant. His discharges were always "ex-
ceIlent," thoroughly excellent" most
trustworthy" &C. He was appointed
ordnance sergeant May /, 1881, and re-
tired about 1895. after serving faithfully
for more than thirty years.
The writer joined the Fourth Cavalry
in 1870. and found this gallant old SOL
der serving with the regiment. Several
times ! had occasion to command the
troop in the field while Sudsubrger was a
non-commissioned officer He was al
ways q ready. cheerful. and most eff
cient, dutiful. and brave soldier. He was
awarded a certificate Of merit August
7, 1900, for bravery In action with hos
tile Indians (Cheyennes) at Punished Cor
Famished) Womans Fork Kans.. Sep
tember e. 1873. while serving as a pri-
vate in Troop 3. Fourth Cavalry" He
should have been awarded a medal OF
honor. as he killed a Cheyenne Indian
in single combat under circumstances
which entitled him 10 that distinction. In
action with Cheyenne Indians on Willow
Creek, tributary OF Crazy Woman's
Fork Of the Powder River, Wyoming
November %. 1876.
He was a most ardent admirer of the
horse. and one of the best judges Of ami
mails in the cavalry service.
He was frequently selected for duty
on boards for the purchase OF horses for
the regiment. his judgment being almost
unerring. He was on many scouts and
Indian exeditions. and on May Is 1873.
was on the campaign and attack upon
the confederate bands Of Lipan, Kick
apoo, and Mescalero Apache Indians at
Rey Molina, Mexico. This was a ride Of
l59 miles IN thirty-two marching hours,
encUmbered on the return with prison.
ers, women and children. a pack train,
captured ponies. and several wounded
men transported on travois This was
one of the greatest long distance rides
ever made by a cavalry column under
similar circumstances, and the leglsla-
ture Of Texas jassed n joint resolution
Of grateful thanks for prompt ac-
tion and gallant conduct to the officers
and enlisted men Of the Fourth Cavalry
for its services on this great raid.
He was skillful packer. and on In
dian campaigns was frequently placed in
charge Of the packing and conduct OF the
mule pack trains. He was a soldier from
choice, and because he always loved the
work and excitement OF trailing Indi-
ans, hunting buffalo, and the countless