Evening star., 1898-09-13
Soldiers Enjoy "reminiscences Of the
Cuban Campaign.
COMPLIMENT TO COLONEL HARRIES
Gen. lawton Knew the Regiment
Would Stay Where Placed.
ODD EXPERIENCES GALORE


they should indulge in "reminiscences of
their campaign in Cuba. The stories they
told were generally of the hardships
through which they had passed, but they
were frightened by many humorous Incl
dent
On that memorable occasion when the
band of the 1st District of Columbia Resi-
ment gained the distinction of being the
first organization to play on the firing line
in front of Santiago there was enacted a
been equaled on the stage, and has never
been surpassed in the history of the coun-
try. The regiment from the District of CO.
lumba was stationed there in the most
trying position that could be selected. 1t
nearer the trenches of the Spaniaris
than any other regiment between the 10th
and the 18th of July which was the dect-
sive period during which Santiago was given
a demonstration which satisfied the Span
ish government that there was nothing to
do but surrender to the American forces.
1t was well known that If the Spaniards
should attempt to go out of Santiago, it
was the District of Columbia regiment that
would be found in their pathway, for the
road from the city through which they
would have made their escape ran through
the lines of this regiment. 1t was Gen.
Lawton who ordered the District regiment
to this point, and when he did so he re-
marked TO his subordinate officer who was
to carry his Instructions:
The. Would Stay There.
Il know they will stay there"
DO you know the regiment, general?"
the officer inquired.
NO" replied Gen. Lawton, "but 1 know
their colonel"
Col. Harries had served under Gen Law
ton in the west.
Not only was the band of the 1st District
of Columbia Regiment the first musical
organization to play on the firing line, but
in the regiment itself We're started the lines
of the Star Spangled Banner the sing
ing Of which spread along the trenches,
and was finally joined in by the thousands
of soldiers who were standing there, ready
to capture the city if its generals should
decide to resist the force of American
arms. 1t was Col Harries, so men who
We're present say, who started the singing
of the Star Spangled Banner the tune
being taken up by the men about him, and
spreading SO rapidly that within q few
minutes the melody of that grand old pa
triotc song encircled the city of Santiago.
1t was quite natural for Col. Harries to
lead this magnificent choir, and especially
the members of Hamline NJ. E. Church of
Washington will not be surprised at the
success of that leadership. 1t was in that
congregation that ten years ago Col. Har-
rles led the choir, which he continued to do
for long time.
Corporal Petty's Luck.
A good story is told about Corp j. NJ
Petty who during the days in the trenches,
when one or two hardtack was about all
each soldier had to eat in three days. was
seen approaching one Of his comrades en-
gaged in what on that occasion was ar ex-
tremely strange sight. 1t was seen that he
was chewing something, and it was hard
for anybody to conceive what any one
could get down there to chew on. Even
the short ration of hardtack had disap-
peared.
Il have a prize" said Corp. Petty as he
approached Maj. UreIl. Every one was
anxious to see what Petty had secured,
and when he Joined them they found he
had thin strip of rind from a piece of
bacon. Petty cheWed that rind with all
the relish that Delmonico dinner could
inspire, and be was the envy of the regi-
ment.
1t Yves during this period Of hunger that
Corporal Petty had dream which he will
never forget. He had been hungry for
days. In fact, the starvation period for
the whole of the American forces was at
Its height.
Dream Not Realized.
Il had short nap said Corporal Petty,
in telling of this dream, ''and 1 saw before
me gleat banqueting table loaded with
everything to eat 1 had ever seen or heard
OF. There was scarcely kind of meat,
vegetable or fruit that was not there In
the center of this display was an enor-
NOUS basket filed with the choicest fruit
l have ever seen. Pears, peaches, plums,
enormous grapes, were piled UP several
feet high. In my dream / saw a place at
the table at which 1 was invited to sit
l was about to sit down when l awoke.
There was not even a piece of hard tack
in my pocket. There didn't seem to be any
prospect that / should ever get q mouthful
of food again"
Dreams of splendid food within their
reach were quite common among the SOL
Giers who were starved in front of San
tiago.
A private in Company had the very
being separated from his regiment and
wandering all night In the wilderness about
Santiago. Private Ernst Korte on the night
OF July II when ordered out to dig trenches
with Company D. under command of Cap
tain Hodges, stumbled and fell He was
slow II; getting up and joining the body of
the company, the result being that he was
lost and was not found until on the fol-
lowing morning the company was return
ing over the same road 1t had Travelled
during the previous night. Korte had had
very bad night of it, having groped about
in the darkness for many hours. Shortly
after this occurred Private Korte was
taken sick. 1t was supposed that the Sc
we're strain under which he labored during
that awful night had much to do with the
breakdown of his health. The night of his
WanderinGs was one of the darkest i'm
aginatle, so that, when it was discovered
he was missing from his company, it was
impossible to locate him. He is now at his
home.
Asleep While Standing.
During the terrible strain on all soldiers
in Cuba it was not uncommon for a man
to go to sleep while standing up. One of
the numerous incidents of this kind oc-