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"Louisville's Most Historic Inn" |
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INDIANAPOLIS STAR August 17, 1913 page 32, column 3
SEEKS SHAFT FOR NEGLECTED
GRAVE OF LAWTON, WAR IDOLBill Paying Belated Honor to Indiana Martyr in Luzon
Prepared by Senator Nelson.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW WASHINGTON, August 16.If a bill which Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota is about to introduce becomes a law, belated justice will be done to Indiana's greatest warrior and one of the most distinguished of modern fighting men. Senator Nelson is preparing, and will introduce at an early date a bill appropriating $3,000 to erect a suitable monument at the neglected grave of Gen. Henry W. Lawton in Arlington National cemetery.
The Minnesota senator is one of many thousand who have visited the national cemetery, where repose the bones of the nation's mighty military dead, from Phil Sheridan to Lawton, and who come away indelibly impressed with the belief that Congress is showing shabby treatment toward one of the greatest generals in permitting the grave of Gen. Lawton to remain unmarked, save for the simple headstone that the War Department erects at the grave of the humblest soldier.
Senator Nelson's interest in providing a monument for Gen. Lawton was roused quite accidentally. On last Memorial day the Minnesota statesman followed the throngs that led to Arlington. While he was walking leisurely through the cemetery he was attracted by a little group of people in an open space in the forest of monuments. He went over to where they were. It was a small party of Indianians who had assembled, according to an annual custom to strew the grave of Gen. Lawton with flowers. One of those present recognized Senator Nelson and he was invited to say a few words appropriate to the occasion.
SPEAKS AS INSPIRED.
The Minnesota Solon is not known as a popular orator. He never made a chatauqua speech in his life and when he addresses the Senate he simply "talks business straight from the shoulder and saves the painting of verbal rainbows to others.
Standing at the head of Lawton's grave, with the bones of one of the greatest soldiers that ever lived beneath the sod at his feet, he seemed inspired. For minutes a flood of eloquence fell from his lips and the pity of it is that no reporter was present to preserve that speech as a permanent contribution to literature.
Senator Nelson left Arlington that day (- ly) resolved that he would do his part to the end that tardy recognition might be extended by Congress to this Indiana hero. He has decided upon $3,000 as the amount that should be appropriated to erect a monument in keeping with the stately shafts that surround the Lawton grave and he has asked the Washington office of the Indianapolis Star to collect for him and arrange in attractive form the facts as to Gen. Lawton's picturesque and interesting career in order that he may present them to Congress.
In view of the strict limitations placed upon the business that shall be taken up at the present extra session it is probable that consideration of Senator Nelson's bill will go over until the regular session of Congress next winter, but he expects to obtain its passage at that time.
KILLED LEADING TROOPS.
Gen. Lawton was killed in battle at San Mateo near Manila, P.I., Dec. 19, 1899, while leading his command. His body was brought to Washington, resting in state en route at the Indiana Capitol, and was buried with full military honors and in the presence of an immense concourse of people at Arlington National Cemetery. During the fourteen years since he met his untimely fate the absence of a monument at his grave has often been the cause of agitation and disparaging comment. Foreigners from all parts of the world make Arlington an objective point while in the United States and are unfavorably impressed by the seeming neglect of a military idol whose deeds wrote a chapter in history.
On several occasions movements have been started looking toward the raising of funds to build a monument. At one time Gen. Clarence R. Edwards, who was Gen. Lawton's chief of staff in the Philippines, conceived the idea of raising a monument fund by appealing to the general's old comrades in arms. The pay of a soldier is so small, however, and the task of reaching so many widely scattered veterans was so great that this movement, like the others, ended in failure.
There is an interesting and true story as to why Mrs. Lawton, the widow of the great commander, never attended to this matter herself. After the general's death she took up her residence in Pewee Valley, near Louisville, Ky., where she still lives with her children.
REMEMBERS HUSBAND'S WISH.
She would long ago have built a monument from such means as she had if it were not that Gen. Lawton's wishes, reaching beyond the grave, govern her conduct.
Gen. Edwards relates of his own personal knowledge from a conversation between General and Mrs. Lawton, that the general admonished her, in the event of his death, that such funds as might come to her should be used for the care and education of their children and not a penny should be spent on a monument for him. Gen. Edwards says that undoubtedly Lawton had a strong pretentiment (?) amounting almost to a fired bullet, that he would be killed in battle.
en. Edwards has been a faithful friend of Mrs. Lawton and her children during the years since the husband and father was slain by a sharpshooter's bullet. His fidelity to Mrs. Lawton and his painstaking attention to the needs of her household are spoken of frequently in regular army circles in terms of the highest praise.
A few years ago Manley Lawton, the stalwart and only son of Gen. Lawton, signified a desire to be a soldier like his father, but every avenue leading to a cadetship at West Point seemed closed. Gen. Edwards interested himself in the young man's behalf and made several trips to see the President.
GAINS SPECIAL ORDER.
In a short time Manley's nomination to the cadetship was announced from the White House as a special appointment of the President. Such appointments usually are made upon recommendations of members of Congress, but the President has the right to name a limited few from among sons of distinguished army officers.
Gen. Edwards went through the Philippine campaign with Lawton as the general's chief of staff, and recently he gave the Washington correspondent of The Indianapolis Star a description of the thrilling incident of Gen. Lawton's death on the field of battle.
"San Mateo," said he, "is about twenty miles northeast of Manila and only a few miles north of the pumping station of the Manila waterworks. This town had been twice taken and abandoned. A small expeditionary force under command of Gen. Lawton left Manila at night to retake it. The force consisted of two squadrons of cavalry and three battalions of infantry.
"Before we had been under way an hour one of the most frightful storms ever witnessed in the Philippines broke loose and the rain fell in torrents. Gen. Otis ordered the return of the troops. Gen. Lawton was caught by a courier and he returned to the palace and walked into the dining room where Gen. Otis and several officers were in the midst of a repast before retiring.
INSISTED ON ADVANCE.
"Gen. Lawton stood before them, the picture of sternness, still wearing his tall white (co ) helmet strapped under his chin, while the water running off of his yellow slicker made a pool on the floor.
"He told Gen. Otis that nothing could stop the troops then, as they were well on the march and bent on surprising the enemy at daylight. Gen. Otis finally acquiesced and Gen. Lawton rode all night and put his men in positions to attack San Mateo from the front at daylight.
"There was but little opposition to the advance of our troops. About the end of the fight, when the victory was practically won, Lieut. Breckinridge, one of Gen. Lawton's staff officers, was shot through the left side and fell in an exposed position. Lawton rushed to him and directed the making of an improvised litter.
"Suddenly he threw up his head, shut his teeth tightly and pressed the palm of his left hand against his left breast. Capt. E. L. King, an aid de camp, who was close to him inquired:
'What's the matter, general? Are you hit?'
'Still with his teeth tightly set he replied:
"'Yes, through the lung.'DIES ALMOST INSTANTLY.
"For a few seconds he stood bracing himself, determined to choke the ( tion) in his breast. Then he opened his lips to speak and the blood gushed straight out from his mouth a distance of three or four feet. He fell into the arms of his aid de camp and died an instant later.
"The battle went on and the place was taken without further difficulty. I went back to Manila and broke the news to Mrs. Lawton. It was the most sorrowful task I ever had to perform. The body was packed in Banana leaves to preserve it so that it would be embalmed under the best conditions possible. It was the only body ever successfully embalmed in the Philippines after having been kept more than twenty-four hours."
By a coincidence, one of Senator Nelson's bearers, when he opens the debate in the Senate in support of his bill, will be Elihu Root who, as secretary of war, issued the general order announcing to the army and the world the death of Gen. Lawton and directing that evidences of mourning be displayed by the army. Mr. Root is now a senator from the state of New York and will lend his aid to the Nelson bill. His order, dated at the War Department, Dec. 21, 1899, which will be read to the Senate was as follows:
"With deep regret the secretary of war announces the death on the field of battle of Henry W. Lawton, major general of volunteer, and colonel and inspector general of the regular army.
ANSWERED LINCOLN'S CALL.
"On the 18th of April, 1861, three days after President Lincoln's first call for volunteers in the war for the Union, at the age of 16, he enlisted as a private in the Ninth Indiana Volunteers. He served with is regiment in the field in the Army of the Tennessee throughout that war and at its close was mustered out at the age of 22, as lieutenant colonel, after being brevetted colonel for gallant and meritorious service and awarded a medal of honor for distinguished gallantry.
"He was commissioned second lieutenant in the regular army on the 28th July, 1866 and served in the infantry until Dec. 1870, then in the cavalry until 1888 and thereafter as inspector general until the commencement of the war with Spain.
"He was repeatedly commended in general order for 'vigilance and zeal, rapidity and persistence of pursuit.' for great skill, perseverance and gallantry in service on the frontier against hostile Indians.
"Upon the declaration of war with Spain he was made brigadier general and on the 8th July following major general of volunteers. His nomination for brigadier general of the regular army was determined upon and was ready to be sent to the Senate upon the day of his death. He commanded the second division of the Fifth Army Corps in the Cuban campaign, rendering distinguished services in the battle before Santiago, and subsequently commanded the Department of Santiago and the Fourth Army Corps.
VICTORIES WON ISLANDS.
"On the 18th of March, 1899, he assumed command of the First Division of the Eighth Army Corps in the Philippine Islands and remained in command of this division in practically continuous and ment eventful service in the field until he fell on the 19th day of December, 1899, pierced by an insurgent bullet while leading his troops near San Mateo, on the Island of Luzon The swift and resistless movement of his column up the Rio Grande and across the northern boundary of the plain of central Luzon, which had just been completed, was the chief factor in the destruction of the insurgent power and was the crowning achievement of his arduous life.
"He fell in the fullness of his powers, in the joy of conduct, in the consciousness of assured victory. He leaves to his comrades and his country the memory and the example of dauntless courage, of unsparing devotion to duty, of manly character and of high qualities of command which inspired his troops with his own indomitable spirit.
"The flag will be placed at half staff and thirteen minute guns will be fired at every military post and station on the day after the receipt of this order, and the. usual badges of mourning will be worn for thirty days.
"ELIHU ROOT. Secretary of War"Although there is no monument at Gen. Lawton's grave, the spot where he was killed in the Philippines is marked by a crude memorial consisting of a concrete base about five feet in height, surrounded with on old cast iron muzzle loading Spanish canon and four shells, one shell at each corner of the concrete base. This monument which is a tribute of affection of the officers and men in the Philippines who served with Gen. Lawton, was dedicated Jan. 24, 1903 and about 2000 soldiers took part in the simple ceremonies.
With Thanks to Jean Lawton Reagan for finding and sharing this article
The General Lawton, Spanish-American War Photo Album
