Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-04-06
OUR
BORDER FIGHTERS.

General Leonard Wood, chief of
staff of the United States army, thinks
the soldiers who have gone after Villa
will have most strenuous work to
perform. When old Geronimo" and
Matches" the two murderous savages
were run out of Arizona and took to
the almost inaccessible cliffs and can
yons of the Sierra Madre range in
Sonora, Mexico. Captain Qater Gen
eraD Henry Lawton, who was killed in
battle in the Philippines, was then
commander of the Fourth cavalry and
was ordered TO enter Mexico and run
the savages down. That was thirty
years ago this coming May. At that
time Lawton, with his little command,
was stationed at Fort Huachuca in the
territory of Arizona on border duty.
General Wood was then assistant sur.
geon attached to Lhe regiment. The
adjutant was James Parker, now a
brigadier general, commanding a bri,
gade of cavalry on the Rio Grande.
For years the raids of the Apache
chiefs Geronimo. Matches and Vittorio
had been devastating that region.
In 1884 a detachment of cavalry
chased Vittorio into the Businesses of
those Sonora mountains and captured
him. Captain Emmett Crawford led
that expedition and was killed by
Mexicans when returning with his
prisoners.
In 1886 the situation was such on
the border, because of the deviltries
Of Geronimo and Matches, that an
order was sent from Washington re-
lieving Captain Lawton from duty at
Fort Huachuca and directing him 10
take command of an expedition into
Mexico against hostile Apaches. The
order read: Captain Lawton will
take the field with the least practic
able delay. His command will consist
of thirty-five men of Troop d, Fourll
cavalry, twenty Indian scouts. twenty
men of company b, Eighth cavalry ant
TWO pack lTdlllS.
In less than twenty-four hours tn,
Lawton expedition was OIL the way
the officers being Captain Lawton
First Lieut.. Wood, Second Lieut.
Henry Johnson of the Eighth infantry
Second Lieut.. Leighton Finley of TIT
Tenth cavalry and ii. G. Benson of tn,
rtI A F.,,. l,t.
Lieut. X. u. Walsh, now lieutenant
colonel of the Fourth cavalry ant
Lieutenant A. |. Smith. Fourth cavalry
now department quartcrmaster, joine,
the command. Wood and Lawton wcr
the only two officers who wen
through the entire campaign. II start
ed May 31st, 1886. and the chase wa
continued almost without rest an
with almost unparalleled hardship
until September 4th, when Geronim
came into camp entirely worn out an
subdued and agreed to do anythin
General Miles ordered him 10 do.
The little command marched an
secuted 3041 miles.
For his services In that campaig
and at the earnest recommendation {
Captain Lawton, General Wood wa
awarded the Medal of Honor, the higl
est tribute that the government ca
pay to an officer of the government.
The then Lieutenant Wood is not
chief of staff of the army, and con
handing the eastern department. Th
then Captain Lawton after wonderful
work In Cuba, was made a general an
died at the head of his command f
the Philippines the paths of glor
lead but TO the graye"--the Genera
Pershihg who is leading the presen
expedition against bandit villa is tn
man who brought the wild Moro tribe
OF the Philippines to terms and Ger
sral Funston, who is In chief comman
ony tho border, IN the soldier VIII
tracked Aguinaido to his lair in III