Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-20
THE COMMON SOLDIER.
stephen Crane Sketches the Faithful
Fighter in the Ranks.
Especial TO the Philadelphia Press)

fIShter IN the RANKS.
Especial to the Philadelphia Press)
SIBONEY, July 1S-Of course, people all
over the United States are dying to
hear the names of the men who are
conspicuous for bravery in Skaters
army But, as matter of fact. no.
body with the army is particularly con-
Spicuous for bravery. The bravery OF
an individual here is not a quality which
causes him to be pointed out by his ad-
miring fellows; he is. rather, submerged
in the general mass. Now cowardice-
that would make a man conspicuous.
He would then be pointed out often
enough, but-mere bravery-that is no dis
tnction in the Fifth Corps of the United
States army.
The main fact that has developed In
this Santiago campaign Is that the
soldier of the regular army is the best
man standing on two feet on Gods green
earth. This fact is put forth with no
pretence whatever of interesting the
American public in it. The public does
not seem TO care very much for the
regular soldier.
The public wants TO learn of the GAL
lantry of Reginald Marmaduke Montmo-
renc Sturtevant. and for goodness sake
how the poor old chappie endures that
dreadful hard tack and bacon. Whereas,
the name of the regular soldier is proba
bly, Michael Nolan and his life-sized por-
trait was not in the papers in celebration
of his enlistment
PRIVATE OF NO CONSEQUENCE.
Just plain Private Nolan. blast him,
He is of no consequence. He will get
his name in the paper-oh. yes. when he
is killed" or when he Is wounded"
or when he is missing" II some good
Spaniard shoots him. though, he Will
achieve a temporary notoriety, figuring
in the lists for one brief moment. in
which he will appear TO the casual read
er mainly as a part of total. a unit in
the interesting sum OF men slain.
In fact the disposition to leave out
entirely all lists of killed and wounded
regulars is quite a rational one. since
nobody cares to read them anyhow, and
their omission would allow room for oil
paintings Of various really important
persons. limned as they were in the
very act Of being at the front-proud
young men riding upon horses. the horses
being still in Tampa and the proud young
men being at Saratoga-but still proud
young men riding upon horses.
The ungodly Nolan, the sweating.
swearing. overloaded. hungry, thirsty.
sleepiess Nolan, tearing his breeches on
the barbed-wire entanglements. wallow-
ing through the muddy fords, pursuing
his way through the stiletto-pointed
thickets. climbing the fire-crowned hlll-
Nolan gets shot. One Nolan of this
regiment or that regiment, a private,
great chums in the time OF peace with
man by the name Of Hennessy hun
that had fight with Snyder. Nearest
relative is a sister. chambermaid in a
hotel in Omaha. Hennessy, old fool. is
going around looking glum, buried in
taciturn silence-a silence that lasts
two hours and eight Misunderstanding
tribute 10. Nolan.
There Is half-bred fox-terrier in
barracks at Reno. Who the deuce gets
the dog now? Must by right go to Hen
messy Brief argument. during which Cor
poral jenkins interpolates the thought
ful remark that they haven't had any
thing TO eat that day. End of Nolan.
ILLIMITABLE PATIENCE.
The three shining points about the
American regular are his illimitable pa
thence under anything which he may be
called upon TO endure. his superlative !
Workmanship, and his ability in action
TO so ahead and win without any ex-
ample Of leading or jawing or trumpet
Ing whatsoever. He knows his business /
he does
He goes into battle as II he had been I
ngntng every day for three hundred /
years. IL there is heavy firing ahead, he ,
Goes not even ask question about n. ,
he doesn't even ask whether the Ameri- |
cans are winning or losing. He asitates 1
himself over no extrsneous points. He
attends exclusively to himself I'm the
TURK or the Ccssack this is a comnina-
uon Of fataism and We odenheadedness. II
need not be said that these qualities are
lacking In the regular.
After the battle. at leisure-if he gets
regulars talk is likely 10 DE a
complete essay on practical field opera
IONS. He will be full OF Views about the
management of such and such brigade.
the practice OF this or that battery. and
De admsring or scornful in regard 10 the