Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1899 — NO COWARD. [ARTICLE]

NO COWARD.

Anecdote of a Brave Soldier in the Santiago Campaign. War anecdotes of men “not mentioned In the reports” are now coming in, a* returned soldiers recall the incidents of battle, and many of these are full of genuine pathos. The Courier-Journal gives this story, told by a regular army officer: In the two days of real fighting before Santiago men of the different regiments became mixed, and for a time were lost to their comrades. This condition gave rise to the report that a certain few men had shown the “white feather.” One of the officers of Gen. Lawton’s division observed among his men a colored trooper of the Tenth cavalry. On being questioned, the man explained

that he had lost his command, and asked to be allowed to,remain where he was. ' He stayed and did fine service that day. None of his white comrades were able to outdo him In deeds of bravery. He twice risked his life in assisting wounded men to places of safety, but each time escaped uninjured. That night be asked the officer whom he had met earlier in the day to give him a note to his own commander, ac-' counting for his absence, and certifying to his good conduct. This was willing-! ly done, and with the precious paper clasped tightly in iris band, under cover of darkness he started in search of his own command. The next morning at dawn, Lieut. L. started on a search for wounded men of his division, and happened to stumble over a prostrate body. He immediately recognized the brave cavalryman of the day before, who was fast losing consciousness. After struggling a moment for strength to speak, the prostrate man held up his little slip of paper, and said, “Give It to Captain A. of L troop, if you can find him, and tell him Williams wasn’t a coward.” Then, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes, his hand dropped to his and he was dead.