The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-08-04

In Camp two miles from Santiago, |
July 17.-(Thermometer lis in Shade
The boys of the Eighth are now get
ting a sample of actual warfare. It Is
very different from Camp Alger so differ
ent In fact that great many of them
are willing to be back In the comparative
luxury of that camp. We have tasted of
the hardship and privations of life in the
enemy's country. When we landed at
Siboney, fifteen miles from Santiago, we
were marched straight to the front. Be-
fore we left Siboney we had the good for
tune Of seeing SIMPSONS feet lombard
Santiago. The amount of lead and steel
they poured into the town must have
been awful. Leaving Siboney at 1s a.
m. we went through the haroest march
we have had since we have been out.
The trail through swamps and jungles,
up steep rocky mountain paths and
through streams which we had to foot
waist deep. We had to be on the lookout
for Spanish sharpshooters, which In
spite of the raid Of the regulars, still In.
tested the paths. All along the trail we
could see the graves of the Rough Riders
and the regulars, simple piece Of pine
wood marking their last resting place.
The first FIVE miles of the march the
sun beat down numerically, big beads of
perspiration flowing on the boys who
were not accustomed to this damp, musty
heat. Then came the afternoon rain
which falls daily during this season of
the year. 1t came down in torrents, and
by the time we reached camp everybody
was thor oughly drenched The orders
were for US to march straight to the front
and go into the trenches to relieve one of
the regiments which had given out, but
when we arrived at Shaftpr's hesdquar-
ters we were ordered into camp. The
boys were very glad to pitch their little
dog tents and get shelter from the on
coming storm. They proved little pro-
lection, however, as we were In hollow
which soon formed into a miniature lake,
some of us lay in three or four inches
of water. That night we had for supper
a very light luncheon consisting of two
pieces of hardtaok, AMI the worst of it
was that this diminutive menu kept up
for two days Provisions could not reach
| us, the wagon trains being unable to get
through the roads. The few wagons that
did get through were pushed on to the
front where men we're in worse oondi-
tion than we were. Everybody expected
to be at the front and in the line of battle
on the morrow. In spite Of the hunger
and dampness the boys all kept In good
spirits. The peculiar abandon that
comes over crowd of men before going
into acticn came on and took possession
of US. Sitting in water half foot deep
and more coming down, the men laughed
at each others condition and made bets as
to which one was the dampest and which
one the hupgriest. The condition OF
some of the boys was really lsughable.
1t does not seem right to laud ones own
regiment but the boys of the Eighth can
stand as much as any there. A healthier,
jollier crowd of men 1t would be hard to
find. The next morning, which seemed
ages In coming, we were informed that we
would have to stay where we were and to
kesp ourselves In readiness, We were to
be held In reserve and not to be used un.
less absolutely necessary. This was on
account Of the Springfield rifles witt