New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-28
"DON'T COMPLAINT
THE WATCHWORD OF THE AMERICAN
ARMY-A PITIFUL STORY OF THE
SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN
Eas;hampton. L. I. Aug. %.

50 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: | must write this soldiers story. because /
could not speak Of 1t without tears. Those letters
home-I think Of them now with sorrow. Ihey
meant so much to then. but said so Iftile OF the
hardships and suffering OF the soldier: do no'
worry about me-: 1.-THE boys having fun down
here: my health Is good" and. later Il have
been wounded In the head but do not worry am
getting along very well.
We did not know then that the watchword OF the
Army was Don't complain" Huddled Ike catte
on the transports where they remained fifteen
days: landing at Cuba, camping on the shore, the
long march under a tropical sun. then tho ram
and after that sleeping in wet clothes. with no
protection but their blankets.
But the battle must be fought. Up the Hill goes
our soldier. brave,y as the rest. under the nan
# bullets and exploding shells his comrades falling
wounded and dead around him. the enemy almost
completely hidden by the ard tall grass The
hill is taken, He is fighting his way TO The DOCK
house The blockhouse Is taken, The Spaniards
are rushing out In great numbers. conceaNnf 'leH-
selves behind trees and In thickets. stu keelne up
the rain Of bullets our soldier is hghting stu
unwounded There are five bullet-holes In his nay
one bullet struck his belt and exploded five car
tridges without doing him any injury. Our so!dIer
boy has fallen, He is wounded in tho head H.
tries to SIT up TO drag himself along the grass bu'
he finds he cannot use his legs.
The men carry him and lay him on coil OF wire
Then man comes up TO hir-a man with the
red cross on his arm. doctor or aid-who swears
d, hin. calls him a takir and pushes him on The
coil Of wire. telling him It is only scalp wound
He falls on his face cutting his lip. and the hiood
gushes from the wound In his head
our boy always quick tempered lie sees d
rifle few yards away drags himself over the
ground and gets possession OF Il. but the rife Is
not loaded II II had been there would have been
another added 10 the death list at the battle o.
San Juan Hill
adcs nick nd
on an Army blanket (no one can fully appreciate
the Army blanket except n soldier. There ne he
for another while and doctor comes up and 'N-
ainnes his wound. he exercises humanity az well
AZ skill he dresses the wound and does all he can
for the soldier under the circumstances. The Span
ish bullets are stu flying thick and fast. killing
those that already wounded. Somebody puts
something dark his head. so that The white
bandage Will not be target foT another bullet
wounded comrade IS put beside him. How the
time passes then cannot say. for they remain IN
this position for days. In the rain and sun
Somehow they managed 20 help one another
There is canteen beside them. There Is little
water in Il and that is all. Never a moan or cry.
Wounded almost TO deatn and in great pain. ms
companion with Il severe wound IN the leg but
their lips Are sealed. Their waichword Is Dom
At last kindly hands carry him and place him in
as he can that he Will not live 10 reach the hospital
at Slboney Then tho soldier shows MS grit. Il
will fool you. doctor ! Will live"
over the rough roads he is carried. al last the
hospital tent il reached and he Is placed on cot
lie receives attention from the doctors and nurse
Of the Red Cross. but what can they 90 among >"
tables exhausted and then there others TO take
their places. The nurses hathe The mon give ihen
clean nigh,shirts. a drink OF water ana Niile
beef juice, They work unit, rnin they can work no
The Army supplies for the wounded and sick are
water. hardteck and sal Ior,k: yft nose poor
Our soldier is operated on Grephned} but. TIE
comrades walks from the camp. II takes him
three days TO DO 4. He brings with him glass of
price. Another writes homo for him. aud tries IN
every way to get The letter sent (None OF those
In this way len days go BY. when his name
comes up among the fortunate ones ordered nom"
He is the last man to be put board Beside him
In the tent is poor fellow wounded severely and
his onlw chance for life is 20 get home and
boy forgets that his own wound is perhaps even
Who is TO 60 next he points 20 the suffering man
beside him and they take him on board the Relief
left portso he postpone his chance OF NE
But a more merciful Providence inierVenes. and
the next day he is put on board the Soace, whero
things are a lltile better but not much. He docs
not Say much about h!s Treatment ne or o'ar
At last among others he is landed at Fort Mon
hospital liz speaks OF the great Kindness Of many
inmates ~ the hospital hut as TOT the resi 80
Xew,-York under the care Of n physician. once
outside OF the hospital everything changes as Il
e by we're rtmovedS Everybody on board The
boat captain sfewardess. dcckhands and passen-
GERS vie with each other IN doing oil they can for
Tho wounded soldier.
Home and New York and the best % treatment
will save his life Kind and sknfu hands are doing
evrrvfting possible for him, and We rejoice TO say
that tho ch ances are in his favor
There are some things in life that arc never for
got,en hui the memory Of his sunerings will not
Iaet any longer than his gratitude 10 those who
have. each in his way, done all IN their power 10
Neip him.
The sufer!ngs OF his comrades are always on ms
mind To use his own words when getting over
Tho effects o. ether (after a critical opcraton).
"Bring those poor fellows home and take care OF
them here. They are dying doW1 th'I' LOT Inc
want os care"
Then somebody nj his bedside said They are
bringing them all home
His reply 10 this was: THE Government is slow
too slow !.
Who does not agree with him that the neglect or
the soldiers caused more deaths among them than
the bullets OF the Spaniards?
on the stone that marks the resting place Of
every dead soldier would simply engrave. Il have
not comula!ned." NJ