Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-10-12

were told to report to headquarters.
I was put on detail, under Lieut..
Goodrich, to repair the road. We
looked UP picks, shovels, ETC., and
started out reminding me very
much of the street cleaning gang at
home as they used to file out Of the
station house. We first marched
down the road quarter of a mile
and there met regular officer who
ordered us back again. The road
was simple stream of mud with a
scattering of huge rocks. We
found our place and began picking
out the big stones and broadening
the road.
This is the main road from
Juragua and Santiago, but having
been used for mules and carrying
only, was not fit for wagons; so we
have to fix it up for the army wag,
ons continually passing. We are
improving the country to that ex-
tent anyway. Later we went up
the road and with a detail from end
Infantry, colored troops, built a
turn off for empty wagons con-
tinually passing. Had dinner later
and was just about tuckered out
with the work on the road in the
hot sun when orders came to report
at 1 o'clock at headquarters for
further orders. We found waiting
for us here job that had been at
tempted by Bill Larned and his
squad in the morning, and consisted
of building benches for the officers
mess.
At noon the officers were thor
oughly enjoying their meal, sitting
on their benches. R. H. Davis came
along with his plate and cup and
sat down with a comfortable relax
alton, when it suddenly crashed un-
der his weight. 1t became our duty
and 1 suppose privilege, to build
another stronger one in place OF
this broken one. 1t was threaten
ing rain when we came so brought
poncho with me, and, sure
enough, as we started work, it be-
gan to pour. We took shelter I'M
der officers headquarters, and waited
for rain to stop; then finished our
work. We thought this would GER
tainly end Our days work, but de-
cided differently when they ordered
us over to help unload the commits
sary's stuff. Hard tack, bacon,
tents, ETC., by the wagon-load. Bill
Larned and I got aboard one wagon
to load up some stuff to take down
to another regiment. 1t was quite
ride and we had a terrible shak-
ing up, but did not report back 1t
the squad, thus escaping. perhaps,
lot more of work. We had cer-
tainlv done Our legitimate share, As
Some days the fatigue duty is lett
out altogether. l felt pretty well
done up that night, and had TIE
first bad feelings, pain in my stom-
ach, which I think came from eat
ing so much green, and perhaps
from my wetting. l had felt great
the last few days, in fact, never
better in my life; but our food has
been bacon, hard tack and coffee.
Our bacon we fried, tken took the
green and fried hard tack, some
times having soaked it in water be-
fore frying. but generally without.
But such is army life, and one must
take it as it is I am satisfied.
Things today looked as though
we were going to stay here for
weeks to come. There was a ru-
NOR of an armistice, but not veri
fed. We are only few miles from
the city, which can be seen from the
top of the hills near by. They say
1t is strongly fortified and formid-
able antagonist. We hope we may
capture it as Fourth of July cele-
bration. 1 turned in early tonight.
end this here and mail it home.
THE LAST DAY.
Thursday, June goth. This
morning my surprise was complete
at the arrival of mail. A letter
from mother, Name, Grace, Judd,
telegram from father. Teddy had
a big batch. Sent by them to him.
About two o'clock. after we had
spent morning in fixing up our
camp, orders came to break camp;
so we packed up and got under way
about four O. clock. Marched about
two miles,and arrived by moonlight
on an eminence about two miles
and half from the city. We passed
several Cuban regiments. The