Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-26
CAPTAIN OF TROOP X SENDS LAST
MESSAGE TO GENERAL PER-
sHING BY COURIER.
ORDERS COMPANIONS TO
LEAVE HIM in DESERT
Mexicans Open Fire as American Forces
Advance Toward Town = Americans
Forced to Retreat - Mrs. Morey Re-
ceives Word That Husband Is Still
Alive at Some Point Unknown.

San Antonio, Tex, June % -Be:iev-
ing himself dying Capt. Lewis SidEey
Morey, commander Of Troop x Of the
Tenth cavalry in the battle ot Car
] rial. wrote a letter to General Per-
shing, detailing the battle and sent 1t
by three of the surviving members OK
his command to the general. The men.
worn and dazed by wounds and in
credible hardships, arrived here Sun
day night.
Tho his men described Morey as
MORALLY wounded and at the point of
death when they left him, General
Funston Sunday night received a mes :
sage from Mrs. Morey saying she had
heard from her husband somewhere in
Mexico" and that he was safe.
Sent His Men On.
Morey and another badly wounded
man and three members of his troop.
who had ESCAPED from the battlefield,
hid in hole 1000 yards from Car
rial until the Carranza troops had
given up the stearch. Morey's men
carried him two miles farther. There
they gave out and Morey, believing
hims elf dying, gave them the letter.
telling OF the battle. The men aban-
doned him at his own orders, they said.
They declared he pleaded with them to
leave him. saying it was most urgent
that the letter telling of the fight ar
rived.
. The captain had no water to drink
and was left in the midst of the desert.
He was bleeding badly from his
wounds. his men said. They believed
him near death. The other badly
wounded man stayed with him while
the three less seriously hurt pushed OF.
They were picked up by detachment
under Lieut. Henry A. Meyers, Jr., OF
the Tenth cavalry and the letter for
warded to General Pershing by courier.
Can Not Guess His Escape.
How the captain finally escaped with
his life, officers here are unable to
guess. The only surmise they could
make was that party of rescuins
American scouts might have come
upon him.
His letter to Pershing confirms the
report that the Mexicans first openei
fire and. by their hostile actions, forced
the fight.
evidently to his haste and pain. 1t fol-
lows:
+ To Commanding Officer, Ojo Fred
erico: Ny troop reached Ojo Santa
Domingo at $50 p. m, June 30. Met
Troop c under Captain Boyd. / came
under Captain Boyd's command and
marched my troops in rear for Carrizai
a 4:15 a. m. Reached open field to
southeast of town at $50 a. m.
Captain Boyd sent in note re-
questing permission to pass thru the
town. This was refused MeXicans
stated we could go to the north but not
east. Captain Boyd said he was going
to Ahumda at this time.
Feared an Ambush.
HE was talking to a Carranza COM
mander General Gomez sent written
message that Captain was bringing q
force in town and have conference.
Captain Boyd feared an ambush. He
was under the impression that the
Mexicans would run as soon as we
fred
I'VE formed for attack, his intention
being to move up to the line of about
40 McNicars on the edge of the town.
We formed, Troop c on the left line Of
skirmishers, one platoon of Troop K
ON the right of line and another Troop
! K platoon on extreme right, little to
the rear.
When we were within 800 yards the
Mexicans opened fire and a strong one
before we fired shot; then we opened
up. They did not run. To make long
, account short, after about an hours
fire in which both troops had advanced.
Troop c to position Of Mexican ma
chino gun and Troop K closing in
slightly to the left. group of Mexicans
left town, went around our rear and led
off our horses at a gallop.
Americans Forced to Retreat.
AT about o'clock one platoon OF
Troop x, which was on our right, fell
back. Sergeant said he could not stay
there. Both platoons fell back 1000
yards to the west and then together