The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-15

before was I ever in a. position where my
some some dying YIN! where the cries of my wound
ed comrades rang out above the roar or
Il cannot describe the feeling which
took possession of me as heard my brave
P adR glYe oad &1d ma man on eaTth
but those who have been in battle can re-
aIize what that command means to a man
who is about to enter his first battle.
care not how brave he may be, his face
will turn pale and his hands will tremble.
During the first few moments of my
first battle was the most scattered Irish
man that ever wore a pair of government
brogans. did not run, but l felt mighty
like it. 90
eral Young, landed at Altares in the Prov
ince of Santiago de Cuba at about 1880 a.
ed up like chickens on the transport for
seventeen long days, and went into camp
a few hundred yards from the beach.
Every man of us was weak from hunger,
for we had existed those seventeen days
upon bareback and canned roast beef (the
biggest fraud that was ever put on the
inside of a CAM, two tablespoons full of
of canned torna toes per day-in fact, every
thing was canned ourselves included The
was simply filthy, so much so that one
was compelled to hold his nose while he
drank 1t. whose fault 1t was DO not
know. 1 am certain, however, that it was
not the fault Of General Young or any of
compelled to drink the very same water
that the enlisted men drank. The only
water-and that explanation is enough.
After gorgtng ourselves with plenty of
good coffee, bareback and stewed toma-
toes, we were allowed few hours rest,
after which we took up the march toward
Santiago, then some twenty-five miles dis
tant. I will never forget that march till
my dying day. We were in a strange
country, infested by a treacherous enemy,
who would not hesitate to attack us in
the dark, had an opportunity presented it.
Mountain and foot6i through swamp and
underbrush, until at last we arrived at
and coffee made, I can conscientiously
state that this coffee was Of the best
cook on this occasion, the regular com
pany cook having fallen by the wayside
turned in for the rest of the night. 1t
was then about 11:3O p. m.
= had Just succeeded in finding favor
able place to rest my weary bones, when
asleep? No! but thoroughly soaked with
rain which, poured down in torrents, I
could not sleep. arose and, assisted by
a comrade, threw some logs upon the fire
There was pile Of railroad ties not far
from the camp ana II being necessary to
keep the fire up all night, I started to get
some more wood To get TO this pile of
sleeping comrades and shall never for
geL the Ieellngz WLIcn LOOK possession OF
me as 1 Sazed upon the pale races or
those sleeping soldiers, the rain beating
down upon them numerically. 1 was
making my way carefully among them
when suddenly stumbled upon something
Z struck match. and as the pickering
light flashed through the darkness 1 be-
heId my brave old captain lying amongst
his men, sound asleep. Here was an Of
hcer away past the prime of life and yet
! only a captain of cavalry, marching. Fl ght-
ing and standing the hardships Of this
campaign with his men In any other
army in the world gentleman of his
years would have been at least a general
/ on the retired list.
I returned to the fire, and the first OBJ
/ ject that met my gaze was First Lieuten-
/ ant ByraIn, crouching beside the fire,
/ holding his shirt up to the heat in an at
tempt to dry it
Il had Just seated myself at the fire.
/ when suddenly cavalry trumpet pealed
] forth the warning call of reveille at 3
| O'Clock sharp. Inside of thirty minutes
/ the regiment was up and on its way to
! Santiago. Daylight found US pIOdding
! along through mud and Swamps, stopping
| now and then to catch our breath for the
| atmosphere was suffocating among these
| hills On we marched until about 8 a.
m, when We halted. The Spaniards had