Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1898-08-20
A Soldiers Adventures.

~. miller, ~ years OLD, native OF
Frostburg, whose boyhood is wildly
remembered by numerous contem-
poraries.
He enlisted in the Third Artillery,
U. S. A., January 3, 1898, under Col.
Livingstone, and was honorably dis
charged after three years. service.
August 6, 1896, he re-enlisted in the
Sixth Infantry, and was stationed at
Fort Thomas, KY, near Cincinnati,
until April II, last, when, as part of
the First Brigade, of the First Division,
commanded by Gen. Kemp, it was
ordered to Tampa, Fla. June 10 the
regiment moved to Cuba, landing at
Juraugua Ii days later, Miller being
fantry to step on Cuban soil. Mon
day, June y, the Sixth was ordered to
the front, and about miles from its
camp at Siboney it did outpost duty
for two days, when the brigade was
sent to the left flank of the line of fire.
Next morning (Monday, July y at 4
O'Clock the regiment was ordered for
ward, the light batteries being then
engaged. 1t was not until p. M,
however, that the charge was made
across a 20-foot stream of various
depths at the bottom of the hill of
San Juan. called by the Americans
''Bloody River This was a plunge
and dash through ducking to reach
barbed wire fence distractions. These
they overcame, however, with almost
allure which vibrated between los and
ITO degrees. Besides the exposure to
heat and occasional bullets, the men
worked in the water and mud Of the
trenches all night. Rations were
scarce also.
AT daybreak Saturday morning the
Spanish opened fire, which was
promptly responded to by the Amer
leans, the latter steadily moving for
ward. In their progress they en-
countered a wounded Spanish officer.
First Lieut.. Ord considerably remind
ed his men that the man was wounded,
a kindness which the Spaniard resented
by using his pistol and shooting Lieut..
Ord in the chin, the bullet passing
through his head, killing him. Miller,
the hero of this sketch, promptly
raised his gun and killed the Spaniard.
Near s o'clock Miller was struck in
the right thigh by a Mauser bullet.
He cut his trousers open at once and
applied his anti-septlc bandage, and
several hours later fell unconscious,
remaining 50 until Tuesday, when he
found himself in the hospital at ST.
honey. Here the surgeons proposed
to amputate his leg, but he protested
at length with tears, and saved the in
jured limb. Besides the flesh wound
the bullet fractured the thigh bone and
incised the femora artery.
Boarding the transport City of
Washington, he was five days on the
July ID. Here he remained nearly
four weeks, when ne was given fur
Tough home, reaching here on the 10th
inst.
He is now comfortably fixed. With
the injured limb suspended, he half re-
clines on his coucn and talks unre-
servedly, cheerily and intelligently of
his adventures. His regiment went
into action 400 strong and lost between
l3o and $50 killed and wounded-over
80 per cent.-a large proportion. He
regards himself as most fortunate,
therefore, in having been able to work
himself home. In this he was ma
terially aided by the members of
Kecoughtan Lodge, No. 20, knights of
Pythias, at Hampton, Va. Miller
joined Harmony Lodge, No. A, at St.
Augustine, Fla, about four years ago.
This body, hearing of his mishap and
landing at Fort Monroe, notified the
Hampton Lodge to look after him,
which the latter did in the most fra
ternal and substantial manner.
His regiment is q great favorite in
Kentucky, the latest evidence of which
is furnished in a song entitled 1.-The
Gallant Sixtn,' by DR.. j. O. jenkins,
set to music by c. Getz and published
by Thomas Hogan, Newport, KY.
The lines follow:
Twas in the early summer that the gallant
Sixth went forth,
Marching bravely forward gainst our foes
Of Spansh birth,
And every man stepped proudly as he march
ed along that day,
Each glad to serve his country, and ready
for the fray.
CHORUS:
Hurrah, hurrah for the gallant boys in blue
Hurrah, hurrah for the glorious deeds they
do;
We never can forget them, nor the hardships
they have borne,
To defend us, their country and their home.
And when they were in Cuba at Santiago bay,
Where the enemy's encampment glittered
grandly far away,
Each soldier boy resolved that if there was
to be a fight,
The Sixth would help to win it, and do 1t
up just right.
CHORUS.
Though bursting shot and shell like hail
around them flew,
Dropping comrades from among them not
a few
The valiant Sixth dashed onward, ever in the
fight,
Till the doughty Spaniards gave way in rapid
flight.
CHORUS
Then seated at the campfire, when gathered
for the night,
The guard reported absent to many
name that night
And many home was saddened, as the news
was sent abroad
But the boys had won victory, a victory,
hurrah
CHORUS.