Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-09-28
Sketches From Army Life.
BY ONE WHO WAS THERE.

passed through the scenes and Incl
dents herein narrated with strict fidei-
ity to the truth at all times, but it is
not to be taken that all of them are
he adventures of the author, though
the most of them are the personal ex-
periences of the writer and the rest
came under his notice at the time and
the truth of the statements are guar.
anteed by him.
have been soldier. l say "havr
been" because at this time our Uncle
Samuel has notified me that my ser
vices are no longer needed and that
my time is my own, until he shall
again lind use for those services which
| had offered so freely to the Countr,
love, and the best governme ent on
earth. AS to whether the offer was
made in good faith may be judged by
the following pages.
The scenes of enlistment, the fare
wells, the camp life at the Capital of
he state are all too fresh in the minds
OF all at this time to be repeated by
me, and ] will pass over that and &C
at once to the interesting part of my
sketch.
Washington, d. C. is very large
city and to the unsolisticated western
country boy, is complete labyrinth
Of streets which run in so many way S
that he soon gets them confounde
and cannot tell which way he wants
to go to find the place he is hunting
for. One fine day in July, 1 was
standing on one OF the many streets
of this city, when a regiment of Uncle
Samuel's cavalry passed by on its way
to NewP Port News, for the purpose of
taking transportation TO Porto Rico,
under the command of Gen. Wilson
The soldiers were looking gay in their
bright new uniforms, and TIE mettle
on their equipments shone 10 the sun
with dazzling brightn: ss that almost
blinded the eye. Suddenly, dashiDg
along the street beside the troops,
came dapple gray horse with trap
pings of a staff officer, aDd firmly
seated in the saddle, fine looki, g
young man that l had met on the
street few days previous. and with
whom l had formed very agreeable
acquaintance. With a glance at me
be made the military salute and pass
ed on. This set me to thinking.
Why should be cooped up in Wash
ington with no duty to perform but
to strut around and show myself to
the many admiring friends whom ]
believed [ had! Why should not
be called to the front where life was
something else than ceaseless round
of eat, dress and sleep? Suddenly 1
was aroused from my reverie by the
return of my friend, whom will call
Lien.. James, and stopping in front
of me, he leaned over and said:
do you want to 60 with us TO
Porto RicO?'
81 Only wish l COULD" was my
eager reply.
II will get you appointed as a
special Aide in place of Lieut.. Jones,
who was taken sick a short time ago,
and will not be able to 90. / will
report to Gen. Wilson at once and
you get ready as soon as you can and
report at Newport News tomorrow
noon"
With that his horse turned sudden.
ly away and was again left to my
thoughts and the passing troops.
Hurrying away, was soon making
the rounds of my friends, bidding
them good-b bye and preparing for my
sudden journey to the front, the
Mecca of the volunteer and the place
where the old soldier looks for pro-
motion or death, and which alas, too
often proves to be the latter. AT $50
p. m. found myself on board a r Rch-
mond Frederick 'sburg and Potomac
r r. train bound for Richm md, Va.
where l arrived in time for breakfast,
which enjoyed, and then took pas
sage on a Chesapeake and Ohio train
for Newport News which I reached
just on the stroke of noon, and at once
repaired to the wharf, where met my
friend, Lieut.. James.
With friendly shake, he greeted
me and said, You are just in time,
Get your things on board the Catania
as soon as you can. and be ready to
star: at moments notice"
It is needless to say ttat 1 quickly
complied and that night while the stars
we're shining ever Us in quietness, We
slipped our cable, raised our anchor
and were towed out of the harbor.
through Hampton Roads, past For
tress Monroe, whose frowning battle
ments bid defiance to the world, and
just at day break we cast off from our