Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-09-02
Peace Disappoints the Troops
that Were Ready for
Battle.
LETTER FROM JAS. IRWIN
Former Operator at Randall
Now Sergeant in U. S. Sig
nal Corps.

Jas. H. Irwin, formerly telegraph
operator at Randall, is now SER
geant in the United States Signal
Corps He is with General Brooke's
army corps in Porto Rico. The fol-
lowing letter from Sergeant Irwin
will be read with interest:
GUAYAMA, PoRro Rico, aug. 16, 1898.
EDITOR HERALD:
August Ii, 1893, will be long remem-
bered by Il good many people in the
United States and especially by anyone
who was at Guaynma on that date.
Fight was the order OF the day when
revei'e sounded and all was excitement
and hustle. Most OF the boys here had
never been in a battle and all expected
their hopes realized. The signal corps,
OF which | am a sergeant, were all
ordered out and the lieutenant who had
charge OF us Was fortunate enough to be
assigned to the skirmish line. There
were l3 OF us and all OF us remarked the
unlucky day and our own number A
finer day could not have been chosen.
The sky was clear and a brisk wind
blowing from the east. We were
marched up the hill to the north of
Guayama, three miles, until we came up
with General Brooke and his staff, who
were in advance OF the sklrmsh line.
General Brooke was talking to a scout
and watching the Spanish blockhouse
only q mile away. General Brooke
moved up and must have satisfied HIM
sell as he ordered the artillery and in
fantry forward. First came the skir-
mish line and then the advance guard,
composed OF the L. $. regulars. Then
came two divisions oi Pennsylvania
artillery OF four 3K-inch guns each. Each
had six horses and moved slowly, as the
tn" l';|l was very steep. The guns We're
stsipp" !'': action and all that remained
was to lace them. Then came the
Third Illinois infantry and two com
ponies OF regulars. Battery A Of Illinois
followed, and they had six guns, Four
dynamite guns came next, drawn by one
mule each. These were the ones that
were looked &c for doing the most work.
Then came the Fourth Penn. infantry
and the rear guard. The first two Sec
tons OF artillery We're limbered and
planted ready for the command to fire
when the disappointment that we will
all remember came. This was no less
than Il message that peace had been
signed by the TWO nations and our bat
Tie would not be fought. A sorier lot OF
.nCn would be hard to find than the line
that marched down that hill \ thing
that all OF us remarked was that we
We're within 100 yards OF the enemy
and all our preparations could be plainly
seen by them, but hey never fired a
shot. This was explained later when a
truce was sent to the Spaniards to in
form them that peace had been declared.
They coolv informed US that they had
been advised by their home government
the day before. Some commonplace re-
marks about the weather We're exchanged
and our men We're treated to cigars and
returned to camp.
Porto Rico has not as warm climate
as most people think. 1t has not been
over 80 above in the shade since wehave
been here We were camped in Chica-
mauga for a couple OF weeks and l saw
the 18th and 14th Minnesota, but did
not know any OF them. They were very
anxious to get out, but were still there
when we left, July oath.
Camp life is very dull and gets mo-
notonous. We are up every morning
and answer roll call at FIVE o'clock, and
then feed our horses and get our own
breakfast. At seven O'Clock we have to
drill with flags and heliograph until
$50, then water horses and Craze them
until II. Dinner is served at II O'Clock.
At o'clock comes drill, at four stables,
at recall from drill and stables and
supper at $50. Retreat at 6. Inspec-
tion every Tuesday, and all our guns
and equipment, including our tents, have
to be in frsr-class shape or we are called
up on the carpet. Some people think
signal service is the safest branch OF the
eeevice, but when they come to think
that some of US have. to be in advance OF
the line of battle and always have to
choose conspicuous place for our work,
they will change their minds. There is
"a guard with US, but that is more fer
protection against q sneaking attack.