The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-26
IN THE TRENCHES


l2--Our troops have passed through their
ordeal. and are now in possession OF
themselves, as well as TO the next TO the
last ditch of the enemy. and it is felt
that the apprehensions of a few days ago.
when every one was a bit hysterical with
lack of nourishment, and touches Of fever
and malaria, were luckily unrsalied. Il
is still difficult to get them 70 say that x
was anything except luck I'll saved them
from the disaster they thought impended;
but luck. they believe, is a stauncn ally,
and after the destruction Of Cervera' 5
squadron, at the cost OF only one life TO
our side, following many other Instances
of the favor OF high fortune they are
serene in q confidence that II is not neceS-
sary to be too pusnacious. and that pa
tient waiting viii win OUT with less cost
in pain and blood than i'll prepared rush"
attacks and advances. There were hours
when, if the enemy had guessed the plight
OF our soldiers. these trenches could
scarcely have been held These passed,
and our men are today living with faith
in an armor of holiness. and no force
which can be gathered in Santiago can
drive them from behind their sandband
shelters or prevent their advance when
the suitable moment arrives.
Those in the firing line fare admirable
soldiers-all regulars. save the regiment
of Rough Riders. Volunteers are inclined
to fancy that they are bent on an excur-
sion that viii yield delights. and they are
always conscious of the civilian notion
of the soldier-a man daring beyond other
men,. taking hardship as something more
81 h@fI al hat
he has al the instant command of his
country-and thinking OF themselves in
that lightbecome secretly self-glorying.
One of their vanities is blasphemy. When
l hear a soldier swearing an execrating l
know without looking that he is volun-
teer. Even the Rough Riders whom the
regulars declare as first-class lighting
men, had TO be chided by Colonel Wood
in their memorable skirmish at La Qua
sina for swearing instead of shooting.
Regulars are quiet. Under tension they
chew tobacco a little harder. and in an
emergency they screw their eyes for
keener, sharper outlook. and speak. IL
they speak at all, in low tones. When
one is hit, he usually slaps his hand on
the spot, and exclaims (and TO the spec
tatOr very tragic il Isl, Il got il that
time" and rolls out of action. When
volunteer is hurt, every Christian saint
and pagan god is hailed with loud cries.
but as an English correspondent reminds
me, it is the second Person Of the Trinity
whose name the native American calls
most often.
DR.. Parker assistant 70 Major Garde
in the hospital corps. says he has been
much impressed by the sentiment for re-
ligon which prevails among both regu-
lars and volunteers. AT Tampa, and on
the Olivette, where the first wounded
Chose of La Quasina) were attended, I
found in the pocket or under the shirt
of many a man, a prayerbook or tesla
ment, or a scapular, and sometimes a
little cross" This bore out an observa-
ton already made in the Daily Eagles
correspondence, that last Sunday morning.
when the two armies lay behind their
guns and intrenchments, ready to spring
at each other. the bells of the cathedral
in Santiago rang out over the beautiful
valley, and walking along our trenches
one saw soldiers, one hand upon a rifle,
and the other holding open bible, or
prayerbook. In the cathedral the old Arch
UISIlOP WdS ASKING lfldL the DIeSSlNS OF
peace should come again TO Cuba, and in
the trenches-one does not know, but one
would be willing TO wager that victory
over the enemy in front was not besought
in many prayers, and that 1.-The folks at
home" were thought of more often than
what, in New England and Western meet
one remembers is termed
Eternity.
On this side Of the line at least men fight
first and pray afterwards-as they do in
the navy. And it is a great lighting they
do, whether regulars or volunteers, white |
or black. 1t takes time to get the colored |
troops started, but when they catch the !
spirit they go at it with then same fervor |
that carries them away at a MethOdistic |
revival. They have been so efficient and |
effective in this march to Santiago, that |
some Southern volunteers officers have |
wondered If it was a good thing to equip |
these negroes, train them, and give them |
a realization of their capacity for war. |
What is the feeling of the race toward |
the United States government? One |
hears them say little of loyalty or of pat |
riotism, though that is mo sign as the |
children say; for think of the Jingoes. |
Among the troops generally, however. |
here is no more respect for the coon SOL
7ier' than there was at Tampa and Key
West and in the new great army which
We are preparing for permanent service,
IS specially If we have to put a standing
'orce in Cuba, negro recruits can be made
IF immense value. The most distasteful
habit they have in the field and in battle
5 that of pilfering from the enemys dead
This may be part Of the rightful practice
II war but it is not pleasant TO near them
)oastng of their personal spells, as / did
his morning, when one was telling OF hav
ng picked a dead Spaniard's pocket OF
100 F. c.