A Motto & Silver Bowl Link Regiment and Commander Forever - Emerson Hamilton Liscum (July 13, 1900)

Emerson Hamilton Liscum’s life ran parallel to nearly forty years of U.S. Army history. Born in Vermont in 1842, on the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the regular 12th U.S. Infantry Regiment as a private and saw considerable action before being commissioned a 2nd Lt. in mid February 1863. By that time, he had already been wounded and cited for courage at Cedar Mountain (August 1862).Wounded a second time at Gettysburg, he was brevetted Captain for gallantry at the Battle of Bethesda Church and during the campaign in front of Richmond.
 

Like Henry Lawton and many other promising officers, he spent a post-war year as a civilian before rejoining the army as a captain. For three decades, he served mostly on the western frontier fighting Indians, and in garrison. He commanded the African-American “Buffalo Soldiers” of the 24th Infantry Regiment under Teddy Roosevelt at San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, where he was wounded a third time seriously enough to be evacuated. For his heroism and service, he was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers days after the battle and following further convalescence, he was sent to the Philippines in April 1899 where he took command of the 9th Infantry Regiment in continuing operations against the insurgents.
 

 



In early July 1900 the 9th Infantry, already ear-marked as a “quick reaction force” for trouble spots in the Pacific – the first in our history - shipped out to China to join the multinational force gathering to free Peking from the Boxers. Before that could be done, the city of Tien Tsin had to be taken. The assault began early in the morning of 13 July 1900. The 9th was on the extreme right of the allied line drawn up along the Pei-ho River. At 9:00 AM, the regiment was hit by a murderous crossfire from the walls of the city and from junks on the river. Regimental Color Sergeant Edward Gorman was cut down. Colonel Liscum was hit in the shoulder, but he took the colors from the fallen bearer, courageously holding the flag in view of his men as a rallying point, while continuing to direct the assault on the city walls. Directing those near him to "Keep up the fire men," moments later the colonel was hit again, this time, mortally wounded. His last words instantly became the motto of the regiment. Under fire all day, the 9th was ordered to retreat by British General Dorward, the allied commander. The next day the Japanese broke through the gates and the city fell to the multinational force.

From that point forward the fame of the Regiment and its fallen commander have remained linked by tradition and a precious relic of battle. A few days after Liscum’s death the regiment discovered a storehouse of silver bars which were put under guard and quickly returned to the Chinese.  Later, during the relief of Peking, the 9^th Regiment was the first unit to break into the “forbidden city” and a sentry from the regiment remained on guard at the entrance until withdrawal. As a token of their appreciation, the restored government gave the 9^th Regiment a portion of the silver, which was used to fabricate the “Liscum Bowl” named in honor of their fallen commander. As a result of their performance during the Boxer Rebellion, the unit was awarded the honorary title of "Manchus.” The Title, the Motto and the Bowl keep the story of the man alive, and heap honor on the men and women of the Regiment.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ehliscum.htm