The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-10-26

Z Al =
,---=:=:== 49, =:=:.z - ~ case is all the
more striking
from the fact
that after most
brilliant victory
..ss----------- - the army was
corapelled to retreat in the face of an
enemy more terrible than Spanish bull
I iets. The physical wrecks Of this army
which had been spared by the Mausers
at Santiago reached Camp Wikof, Long
Island, between the 10th of August and
the end of that month, and consider 1t
/ the happiest episode of my career as
writer that was commissioned to go
TO Montauk and spare neither time nor
expense nor labor in covering the camp
from end to end in order to CLEAN from
the lips Of partici pants of all ranks the
trne story Of Skaters campaign at San
tiagc.
The moment stepped from the cars
into throng and jam of war worn fig
ures clad in stained and Degrimed uni
forms around the landing at Montauk,
the 33 years that have elapsed since
marched with the eonquerors of Peters
burg, back from Appomattox over the
blood stained course to the army land
ing on the James, were wholly oblIter-
ated. It seemed that I was a soldier
again, touching elbows with heroes,
thinking their thoughts and sharing
with them the after emotions Of events
seldom finding parallel in the life OF
ene uan. From that time on until the
camp was practically abandoned I lived
among the soldiers, sharing the tents
and the fareof o6cers and men. Around
their campfres on the chilly nights and
under the welcome shade Of canvas IN
the heat Of the August days they told
me ct the battle, made sketches Of the
position and explained the movements
Of the regiments, brigades, divisions
and the vantage ground Of batteries.
There came together to take part in
these recitals officers who had not COM
pared notes since the fight Of July l.
Whenever there was doubt or contro-
Eersy upon any point, absent officers or
soldiers who could testify in the mat
ter were summoned. Moreover, soldiers
Of every rank finding the strain Of seks
lifted at last were in the mood TO recall
stirring incidents which, when pass
ing. had left no impress except as they
hurt or startled In point of fact, I
fornd the army emerging from horri-
Bile nightmare and for the first time
feeling that it was all over and time to
take an account of what had happened.
Iwas conscious from the first moment
Of my entrance to Camp Wikof that
was in the midst Of a superior body Of
soldiers. The type could recognize as
having existed in lS64-5, but the army
has kept pace with the march Of i'm
provement, and the ideal soldier Of 1865
is the real and universal soldier Of
Skaters regular regiments today.
There was 10 posing in the camp, no
standing hat in hand to be gazed at
and spplauded as hero, but bustling,
dead earnest, soldierly activity, which,
with cool self control, was broken off
long enough to sit down and discuss the
details of the campaign. There was no
difference whether the soldier inter
viewed was the leader Of battalion or
a regiment or commander of a brigade
or division; no, not excepting the chiefs
Of the corps, two Of whom were in COM
mand during my stay in camp-that is
to ssy, General Shafter and General
Wheeler
AS this is to be story of the fight
ing as the soldiers in line Of battle re-
member it, it is not necessary to discuss
moot questions, but could not better
preface the stories Of the marvellous
deeds of Skaters army than by .ag
that it had a leader who in the opinion
of host of the best soldiers in the serv-
ice was in every way worthy of 1t.
Whatever he may be or may not be,
whatever he may have or lack, he has
qualifications for a high command,
William r. Shafter is no accident.
was so fortunate as to pass whole
forenoon in General Skaters headquar-
ters tent the second day after he took
command of the camp at Wikof. where
could witness his method Of admins
teriug affairs calling for prompt and en-
ergetic action The business of the ad-
miuistration being over. he devoted
more than an hour to general and off,
hand calculation OF the difficulties of
the Santiago campaign.
AS to Skaters army in the Santiago
campaign. i could not help saying to
myself again and again at Camp Wikof
that the equal Of his corps as / saw it,
barring the fever wrecks lvinR on the