The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-01
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
WILMINGTON. N. C.
FRIDAY, JULY /, 1898.
THE HARD BATTLE AND BRIL-
LIANT VICTORY

The war in Cuba takes on new life,
and ends precious life. In the battle
of La Quasina there were some very
notable results. In the first place the
Americans were caught in a trap,
were ambuscaded. Then again our
troops had to fight against heavy odds
and against Spaniards entrenched and
concealed. The fighting of our troops
was marked by splendid gallantry and
the most stubborn determination.
They achieved a victory under great
est difficulties and with SURPRISING
dash and g%allantry. Sixteen Americans
were killed, others will die, and sixty
or more were wounded. 1t is believed
that the enemy's losses were greater.
Every man appears to have behaved
in a most sOldierly way, illustrating
that the men composing our little ar
my of invasion are brave, reliable,
game to the end, and full of elan and
the spirit of victory. Where all be-
haved SO conspicuously well it is hard
ly necessary to select any for special
comment. The ~gallantry of Lieutenant
Colonel Roosevelt was Of splendid
quality, leading his men literally and
under a terrific fire from a concealed
foe. Captain Capron's fate was most
lamentable. A very accomplished Of
fcer, he fell desperately wounded.
Read again this thrilling passage in
The Messengers Geographic report of
Monday:
Sergeant Bell stood by the side of
Captain Capron when the latter was
MORALLY hit. He had seen that he was
fighting against terrible odds, but he
never flinched. Give me your gun a
minute he said to the sergeant, and
kneeling down, he deliberately aimed
and fired two shots in quick success
sion. AT each a S~paniard was seen to
fall. Bell, in the meantime, had seiz-
ed a dead comrades gun and knelt be-
side his captain and fired steadily.
when Captain CaprOn fell he gave
the sergeant a parting message to his
wife and father and babe the sergeant
good bye in a cheerful voice and was
then borne away dying
Where all were heroes it is seen
what a resolute, daring soldier was
Capron. That reads like a record
torn from some old chronicle of the
far away, and has over it more than
the interest of chivalry when genius
writes the story and throws over it
the glamour and pathos of romance.
and courageous, should die! Surgeon
Church displayed a s~teadlneSs OF
courage and q devotion to duty that
were sublime. And that soldier who
gave up his tree to a wounded COM
panion was q repetition of the lofty
generosity and chivalrOus sympathy
and magnificent self-denial of the
peerless knight of whom we wrote on
Sunday-Sir Philip Sidney. The stir
ring, heart-moving report says:
"One of the American troop-E.,
desperately wounded, was lying
souarely between the lines of fires.
Surgeon Church hurried to his side
and, with bullets pelting all around
him, calmly dressed the mans wound
ibandaged it and walked uncOncerned
back. soon returning with W men
and a litter. The wounded man was
placed on the litter and brought into
our lines. Another soldier OF troop l..
c%oncealing himself as best he coul
behind a tree, gave up his place to g
wounded companion and a moment OF
two later was himself wounded
Let the name of that trooper be OBJ,
Yained, and let his memory be for
ever cherished by all who admire
such lofty self-sacrifice. Three Span
ish generals participated in the battle
so it is reported by General Wheeler
Colonel Wood and General Youni
bore themselves with the gallantr
worthy of their country and cause.
The lesson of this battle is easy t
read:-that the enemy is resourcefU
and artful, and determined to make
SAt1CulCly Wal" LoI thS
Americans. There are sure to be
great deal Of hard fighting and seriou
losses. We must hope that no defeat
will come to the American arms. Th
pity of it is that Havana was nc
lon ago bombarded, and that whe
invasion was resolved upon it Wa
not resolved upon that the America
force should be not less than 5000
well armed and well disciplined so
Hiers, with a strong reserve of not les
than 100, 90. 1t Is now given out fro
Washington that it is better to hay
1000 too many soldiers than 1000 to
few" This is the opinion of Secretar
AIger. 1t is strangely belated. TIL
a~;@san Low ~o %OD1