The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-08-13
Campaigning at Santiago.
Robert Baird Describes the Hor-
PoPs of Battle.

The following letter was written from
the battlefield at Santiago by Robert
Baird, an old White Pine boy. to his
mother at Eureka, Utah. The letter
was forwarded to us and we publish
portions of it which we believe our
readers will find particularly interest
ing. not only because the writer is well
known here, but also on account of the
graphic manner in which he describes
his experiences In actual battle and the
condition of affairs in the American
army:
SANTIAGO, CUBA, July l4th 1898.
81 now take the time and pleasure Of
writing you the good news: Santiago
surrendered to-day at l2:40 p. MI, :
600 Spanish troops in the City and s.
900 on the outside. 1t was expected
that the City would be bombarded If it
did not surrender at noon. 1t was the
best news ever heard in all my life
when it came. | was tired, hungry and
wet. but l felt like new man after
wards.
my rations yesterday consisted of a
tablespoon full. of coffee, the same of
sugar, one small potato, part of small
onion and a tablespoon full of beans;
the day before had two potatoes, cof-
fee and sugar, so you see We are not
living very high, but we will be better
provided for as soon as we enter the
City.
Il don't think you would be very
proud of your boy ifyou could see me
now. | havn't been shaved for nearly
a month, my clothes are dirty and torn
and my hair is long, and wouldn't be
an ornament to society. My health is
very good and intend to take good
care of myself as there is great deal
OF sickness in the army. The sun is
hotter than HI when it shines and
when it is not shining, the rain pours
down. | have been ON this island since
clothes dry but three time during that
time. | prespire very freely and l
haven't changed by underclothes since
we landed, so you may know they are
not very clean. haven't had an over
shirt since l Joined the army.
81 have seen all the war want, and
while ! do not regret having joined the
army, when get out there isn't man
in the United States could run fast
enough or offer me enough money to
enlist again in time of war. | tell you
there isn't much glory In the regular
army, the volunteers get all the credit,
the same as the rough riders did. II it
hadn't been for the regular troops that
day, there would not have been much
left of the rough rides. Our company
came pretty near being in that scrap,
as we were only about half-mile back
and were going forward ON douLls time
On July LIST we were under fire from
O'Clock in the morning until in the
afternoon. Bullets were whistling like
hail, dirt was flying around my feet but
was not hit. When we were lying on
the firing line, man was killed lying
by my side and thought my time had
come, but beyond some holes in my
clothes and losing the seat of my pants
going over fence, came out all right.
That night went on guard, and new
er was so tired In my life, but | stood
it. 1t was terrible to hear the cries OF
the wounded. They are not half taken
care of, and have seen men discharged
out of the hospitals as cured, when
their wounds are not healed, and sick
man does not get any care. You apply
for medicine and get pill no matter
what Is the matter with you.
81 don't care for the Red Cross and
will never give cent to help out any
Red Cross society II ever get out of
here.
II hope you are all well, and hope
none OF the boys have to work as hard
AS do digging trenches, burying the
dead and the like"
ROBERT A. BAIRD,
Company l, Seventh United States
Infantry, Santiago de Cuba.