Lieutenant Colonel Emerson H. Liscum of the Tenty-fourth Infantry, who was wounded (battle ofSantiago, Cuba), began his military career in the ranks.  He was born in Vermont and in May 1861 entered the volunteer army as a Corporal inthe First Vermont Infantry. He took his discharge however within three months.  On February 1 of the following year he enlisted as a Private in the Regular Army and was assigned to the Twelfth Infantry.  He passed through the grades of Corporal, Sergeant and First Sergeant in his regiment within a year and on March 22, 1863 he received a commission as a Second Lieuenant in his regiment.  Two weeks later he was advanced to the rankof First Lieutenant. On September 21, 1866 he was transferred to the Twentieth Infantry and on July28 of the same year was appointed a Captain in the Twenty-fifth Infantry.  He was assigned to the Nineteenth Infantry in July 1870 and on May 4, 1892 was promoted to Major and transferred to the Twenty-second Infantry.  He was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel May 23, 1896 and transferred to the Twenty-fourth Infantry. On August 1, 1864, while a Lietuenant in the Twelfth Infantry, he wasbreveetted Captain for gallant services in the battle of Bethesda Church and during the campaign before Richmond.

The 9th Infantry was one of only two American units chosen to protect American interests in China. After landing at Taku Bar, the Regiment began the trek towards Tientsin under the direction of  the Regimental commander, Colonel Emerson H. Liscum.

The assault on Tientsin began on the morning of 13 July 1900, a day that is deeply engraved in the memory of the entire Regiment. At approximately 0900 hours on that day, the Regimental Color Sergeant, Sergeant Edward Gorman, who was standing beside Colonel Liscum, was severely wounded by the intense fire. Colonel Liscum had been struck in the shoulder but he gallantly seized the Colors from the fallen sergeant, stood fearlessly holding them erect and continued-to direct the assault on the city walls in the face of murderous fire. A few moments later, the Colonel fell mortally wounded and shortly after directing his men to "Keep Up The Fire Men," he died. The regiment remained pinned down by the fierce Boxer fire for the rest of the day, and at dusk was ordered to retreat by General Dorward, the British commander of the multi-national task force. The assault was resumed the next day and the Japanese Infantry broke through the city gate and the city fell.

The Regiment participated in another engagement at Yang-Tsun and then participated in the assault on Peking. The Fighting Ninth was the first unit to break into the forbidden city and, after the fall of Peking, a sentry of the Ninth remained on guard at the entrance to the forbidden city for almost one year until the Regiment was withdrawn in mid-1901.

As a result of their exemplary performance during this campaign,, the Regiment was awarded the honorary title of "Manchus," earned its foremost trophy, the Liscum Bowl, and its motto, "Keep Up The Fire."

ELMIRA, New York- December 25, 1933 - Mrs. Mary May Gibbons Liscum of this city and Washington died at her Summer home, Willowbrook, here early this morning. Widow of Colonel Emerson H. Liscum, U.S.A., who was killed in the BoxerRebellion, she was a member of one ofElmira's oldest families.

LISCUM, MAY D W/O EMERSON H
DATE OF DEATH: 12/25/1933
DATE OF INTERMENT: 12/28/1933
BURIED AT: SECTION EAST  SITE 843
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
 CWIFE OF EH LISCUM - COL 9TH US INF

Photos By M. R. Patteson, April 2004

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