Evening star., 1898-09-09

We're working in the trenches, some slept
standing up and some lay in inc hes of wa
ter on the ground Occasional firing from
the lines Kept alive the possibility of
surprise, and constant vigilance was kept
up through the trying darkness During the
night there was scarcely anything to eat
for the men. and in the morning. there
were no rationS to distribute. Real proyi-
dent men in the regiment were the happy
possessors of one hardtack, but that was
the outside limit of opulenee. and the di-
vision of a single hardtack between four
or five men was common. Many vain re-
grets were felt for the many pieces of
hardtack presented to the people as SOU
Venirs.
Probably the sun did not rise on tough
er. more forlorn-looking outfit than the
District regiment on July II Drenched to
the skin. worn out for sleep, nothing TO
eat, the men were expert encing the harder
side Of war. All day long, with scarcely
anything to eat. the men worked improving
their intrenchments. and finally went sup
PEERLESS to bed, discussing the comparative
excellence of boot tops and belt straps as
diet During The night Col Harries made
inspection close up to the Spanish lines
and heard the emmy at work extending
their lines
The following day, July 13. there was
great cheering all along the line at the ap
pearance of Gen Miles and Lieut. Hobson,
who rod through. The District men were
extending their lines right along, were
the Spanish and on this day Spanish Of
quire why lines were being extended
In usual Yankee fashion the reply was Il
question as to why the Spanish were doing
the same thing An agreement was reached
TO suspend such operations pending further
hostilities
The 18th orders were received putting
the District regiment in the division under
Gen Bates, the command being in the %
Brigade. Provisional Division afterward
made Sd Division, 9TH Army Corps In the
Provisional Division were the Sd and 10Th
Infantry. LIST Illinois and 1st District of
Columbia. The District regiment was af
terWard brigaded with the 9th MaSSachu-
setts and the Sth Ohio, known as the Presi-
dents Own.
The same night Col. Harries went out in
some force to see what was going on. The
Spanish withdrew their pickets. The Dis
triCt line was then up to within lT5 yards
Of the Spanish line. During the day the
was stin an exceedingly scarce and valu-
able commodity.
News of Surrender.
The morning of the 14th the men spent in
still further improving their works, and
then at noon came the news that Santiago
with all it's troops would be surrendered
Cheering was forbidden and the men were
therefore compelled to rejoice In quiet at
the victory for American arms, although
the rejoicing was mixed with dissappoInt-
ment that the regiment had not obtained d
soon the news of Santiago's fall came
the regiment at once turned it's eyes on
Porto Rico, and an immediate effort was
made TO be sent on the expedition to that
island.
BY the close of the 14th rations were
coming in to the regiment in good guam
titles and the men were relieved of their
long fast. The regiment had also been
sending in for its tentage and was getting
in more comfortable condition. Pack
trains were made out of the officers horses
and much-needg3 baggage was brought to
the front The regiment changed its lines
somewhat so as to prevent the ingress or
esress of any one, and was put to the work
of a strong and hard guard duty Some
welcome mail and copies of The Star came
TO the men about this time. The arrival of
mail and papers constituted a day of re-
joicing for all hands during this and all
other periods of the regiments absence
from home The 18th of July was spent in
guard work and on the following day this
labor was greatly added to by the duty of
keeping the reconcentrados out of the lines
The men were getting food in sufficient
quantities and had fully recovered their
vigor. Splendid health marked the regi-
Eaent, the sick reports not exceeding FIVE
men, On the 18th notification was received
that the surrender was complete. and the
regiment moved back out of the trenches to
the ridge. where there was more room
White hags were up all along the line
Memorable Scene.
On Sunday. July II. Capt. Capron came
into camp in the morning to set bis watch
by Col Harries' timepieee in preparation
for firing the salute at IL o'clock. the sa-
lutte which was to mark the fall of the
Spanish flag over Santiago.
Every man in the Distrist Regiment real
ICED the tremendous Importance of the
days events. knew that IL practically
meant the end of the war: knew that the
Spanish emblem was to disappear from this
side Of the world The regiment assembled
or the lines at o'clock in the morning.
~ which time the proceedings outside of
the city were completed Promptly at
neon the first gun from Capron's Battery