|
TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
|
|
|
|
BORN:
1850 at Alexandria, VA
Entered Service in the US
Army from Carlisle, PA
Earned
The Medal of Honor During the Indian Campaigns For heroism on
September 12, 1874 at Washita River, TX
DIED: September
12, 1899 at the age of 49
|
|
On September
12, 1874, the third day of a siege in which a force of more than
100 Indians surrounded and attacked the Lyman Supply Train at
the Upper Washita River in Texas, General Nelson Miles sent a
detachment of three soldiers and two civilian scouts under
Sergeant Zachariah Woodall to deliver a dispatch to Camp Supply.
En route the six men were attacked along the Washita River by
125 Indians. Sergeant Woodall was one of four men immediately
wounded, one of them mortally. Throughout the day the four
soldiers and two civilian scouts, after taking shelter in a
ravine, continued a valiant resistance while defending their
wounded and dying comrades. A band of twenty-five Indians
succeeded in scattering the detachment's horses, and the men
fell back to a small knoll where throughout the day they were
attacked from all directions. Without water, the men resisted
and were down to 200 rounds of ammunition when night fell. They
were recovered by a relief force the following morning. Along
with Sergeant Woodall, Medals of Honor were awarded to Private
John Harrington, Private Peter Roth, Private George Smith (KIA),
and Civilian Scouts William Dixon and Amos Chapman.
|
|
