The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-11

sdiuS dUcHU WAS tnt key 10 tHe SiluatluH.
The two captains discovered II at The same
time, the enemy attempted TO mako The
necessary movement. but his men were
not as well drilled as the fierce Houston-
ians who obeyed the signals promptly ard
gained the ditch from which n deadly fire
was poured into the now rotroating enc.
my, We rallied by squads beyond the
ditch and received Major Seurry's approval.
The other captain marched his men across
the field and from the gestures Of his
sword some language more forciblo than
elegant perhaps was being presented TO
his men, They got the ditch next time,
and VIC fired, living down. at 200 yards,
and withdrew, 30 they wouldn't got mad
and net want to play any more" niscip-
line and craftsmanship are the requisites
for success.
A shrill bugle call directed our atten-
ton to our left flank We were having
company drill on the parade grounds an
open grass covered field some 500 or SO
yards wide by about 1000 long, bordered
and shut in OH all sides by the forest OF
pines. Following the direction of the
sound. saw battalion of infantry
emerging from the timber. They were Ia
regular formation, in column of COM
panies, with their rolls wrapped In shcittr
tents on their backs. over the right sboui-
der, and under the left; looking, IN the
distance, like white band running dag
onally across the blue uniform. the sol
ders in the picture books.
movement Of our company lost them
to my sight for few minutes and when
we again faced in their direction, not
soldier Was In sight but little city OF
white tents on the field where the bat
TALON stood moment ago. Lines reg
ular, guns stacked along the regular little
streets tents all pitched. magic word
had been said and mushroom CITY had
sprung from the plain. The soldiers, wi h
their white diagonal bands had as sud
denly been swallowed tip.
This was shelter tent drill by The reg
ulars q portion of the Twentieth infantry
Being curious to learn how this trans
formation came about In the short space
Of three minutes. I epught one OF the
army officers and learned as follows. At
the first word Of command the men stack
arms. The long narrow rolls are unslung
and thrown 30 the ground Out Of the roll
Genes blanket change OF undernlothing.
etc, guy ropes. tent poles and Plus; the
shelter tent furnlshlng the covering for
tbs roll, half a tent to each mans roll
Blankets are then spread on the ground
In the proper place and the shelter tents
rapidly pitched and stretched, The sides
ann backs are tnstenCd 10 small STAKES,
aud the two halves buttoned together at
the top. about where the tent Is stretched
over the center guy rope, The poles sus-
pending the ends Of tho tents arc made in
two sections. Ike fishing rod, and, on
the march form part of the pack. The
tent stretched Is about three feet high ard
an army blanket IS Just large enough to
comfortably cover the floor. Two men Or
cupy tent. There was row OF these
shelter tents, marked by a signboard ''fIp-
Ren's Alley Flats" In the caInp OF the
Twentieth infantry. The spectacle re.
minded me Of n prairie dog village in West
Texas They looked smaller, perhaps.
than they really were. being next u
"1ewey avenue" and at right ana'es 70
Samrson street. AVENUES between lines OF
10yf2 wall tents
TIE shelter, tent Grin was pretty sight.
The impression will never fade from my
nnemorv. for the brave boys who dived ipto
iheir little hofea arr nav o. tie b'u>
waters Of ihe ruff ard when this IL rad
-i'' M doubt be camncN IN 'hei- 1'tt'e
white ierfg m Cuban eo'l As fhov SET
sajl this morning under sealed orders we
~ished them God-speed md bopcd 10 Join
tfPm soon. Guy McT.auRhlfn