River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-10-06
Letter From puerto Rico.


quire of A. W. Kaler.
Letter From puerto Rico.
GUYANA, Puerto Rico, Aug. 20, '98.
Editor Of Rirer Falls J0ulndI:
Dear Sir.-Many times since l left
home | have thought to write some of
my army experience for the JOURNAL,
but have had so much to do that, fort
unately for the JOURNAL and its
many readers, l have found no favor
able opportunity.
There have come TO us in our army
life many pleasant experiences from
association and environment as was
natural, while. on the other hand, we
have found much of hardship and not
little of deprivation and suffering.
If some of US had an idea that cam
paign life was an every day picnic the
actual test Of personal experience has
wrought wonderful disillusion, the
sea trip here on the Massachusetts
adding to and intensifying many disa-
r ANNttCAS ACtbLulS9s IiiC NAOhhCO uttl-
tiers, inadequate commissary provis-
ion, seasickness and possibly a color
ing Of homeSickness, made the voyage
an unpleasant memory.
About three weeks have elapsed
since the first troops of the invading
army landed at Guanica, and in that
time, with scarcely a show of resist
ance from the Spanish army of occu-
patton, more than half the island is in
possession of the United States mill
tary forces. In the towns the streets
are lined with teams and the side
walks are crowded at all hours with
an army Of pedestrians. From
10 o'clock in the morning until in
the afternoon the heat is intense, but
the evenings and nights are delight
| full. Nothing but sentiment favora-
bic to American occupation is heard
from any quarter. On the streets, in
| the cafes, everywhere, Difference is
unrestrainedly given to the soldiers Of
the United States. The American
flag is flying from hundreds of house
| tops; red, white and blue ribbons flut-
| ter on the costumes of the women and
children, and every where and at all
times may be heard the welcoming
cry of the Puerto Rican, as a soldier
passes along, long live the Ameri-
cans" Away from the heat and dust
Of the town, out beyond the limits Of
the main camps and along both sides
! of the military road, lies a country
rich and beautiful. Hills and valleys
are covered with a living green. and
| here and there are refreshing streams
| of water along whose banks are groves
of shade trees. Hundreds of acres Of
cane are in view all the time, and
from every plan tation rises the tall
! brick chimney of the sugar mill. Of
fruits nearly all varieties are found on
the Island. This certainly is a land
which the American farmer can turn
into a veritable garden Of the Lord. :"
1t is not surprising that Spain desires
to retain such valuable a possession
neither can we blame Uncle Sam for
his determination to appropriate to
his own use so valuable a piece Of
property as this which has fallen to
him by the fortunes Of war. While
we mourn the loss of the brave boys
who have persisted in the campaign
the sacrifice is the inevitable cOnse-
quence of war, and we rejoiced when
news of the order for the cessation of
hOstilitieS reached us 1t was an oppor-
tune moment on that 18th Of August
when the orderly of General Brooke
rode TO the front on his fiery bay with
the announcement that peace had
been declared. The information at
that time probably saved to us many
lives. The Spaniards were we'll forth
fled at the top of the mount tain, in
blockhouses and behind formidable |
earthworks, The Americans as they |
advanced on them from the plain be- |
low would be confined within the mar
row limits Of a mountain road and eX-
posed to the cocentrated fire of the
whole Spanish army. A few minutes
later the American soldiers would |
have been moved down like grass.
A day or two after the cessation of |
hostilities our officers went up to visit
the enemy's camp, and, on returning
all agreed that it was providential the
news came when it did.
The Spanish soldiers have not very
good reputation for bravery, and sell
dom make move unless they have
decided advantage in mum bers or po-
sition. Our victories had been COM
ing so easy as to render our soldiers
Overcontident. have seen a mum Der
Of battles and skirmishes heard the
shells and bullets whiz over my head
but never been hit by bullet or ever
seen Spaniard. In reference to the
hospitals | could write from observa-
ton and things that might be Of in
.erest but the newspapers are publish
ng the facts and what | might say
would only be a repetition Of the same
things. There is a great deal Of sick
less here much Of which would seem |
% be avoidable, and suffering which
night be avoided or lessened with
proper care. About three deaths 10 a
lay occur in this hospital. | am sta
Toned with the Illinois and Ohio reg
ments, the sick among which num-
,er m ore than the well.
Sincerely yours,
f. A. CHAPMAN
During October all goods will be :
old for asI On, In