Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-09-23

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continuous residence upon and cultivation of
Ole Olson, john Lind, Gins. Hanson, John
L. a. IAmB. Register.
From Santiago.
Jack Lyons is in receipt of an interest
ing letter from Harry Armstrong who is
with the troops in Santiago, the follow
ing being extracts: &4 :
Santiago, Cuba, Aug. %. *0f*S* I
must say this is one of the most pictur-
esque places I have everseen. There is a
splendid bay here and a good harbor.
Forty or more steamers are now here
large steamers to take the Spanish prison
ers away in. They have taken about
1000 and 5000 more are to go. They
made a poor fight here for the positions
they held. .They>had great advantage Of
ground for their artillery and and small
arms. They had all tho hills and passes
well trcnched. They ought to have held
the enemy at bay, at the odds of ten to
one, as it is one Of the best natural forti-
tications I have ever seen. but they. did
not stand their ground. When our SOL
diers got within from 100 to 200 yards
they would run sway after they had
fired u couple cf so)ieys. I dare say il
our troops had had tie same position
and the, enemy the a:;glessors there
would have been n,ne nft 8, tell the
tale of that notable ch;usc, as it re-
semblea q lot Of mon tryi},:s TO climb
roof Oh a housc alta steep angle and when
up near the top the men would shoot
you down. Eut that lid not deter, our
trooIH; for when SONG fell others
always rushed i'll to take their places. I
want TO say, that our colored soldiers
fought most gallantly that day and they
are the pride Of all tho other soldiers.
They were the first TO lead the charge
and in one company the night after
the battle there were but sixteen soldiers
left yet they sang merrily and kept their
spirits up. AZ ,3
Therell be q hot time i'm Santiago to-
morrow night as the intention is to be
in there tomorrow. There are many re-
ports and l believe they are true of the.
Spaniards shooting down our hospital
corps regardless of rules of civilized
warfare. One officer on a litter was
shot and killed and two OF. the soldiers
with him were also shot. The Spaniards
would get up in the cocoanut trees and
tie leaves all around themselves-on
their heads, on their legs and around
their body, SO they could not be seen.
They used smokeless powder SC it was
difficult to find them. When our boys
did find them they made short work Of
them. They also adopted the plan Of
terrifying churches and other lage build
ings, and they would hoist the Red Cross
flag SO our troops would not fire on them.
They used many such tricks but they
got their medicine just the same.
l believe from my observations of this
place that, the navy could have taken, the
town easier and with less loss Of life as
the Moro castle was not what it was
represented to be. I was in it the first
day we landed here, as our boat went
aground right under it almost, as the
main channel is blocked by the Merri-
mac. / went on board Of her and broke
q piece Of her mast off and brought it on
board with me. I also had the pleasure
of going on board of the sunken Reina
Mercedes. Five of us went aboard Of
her and ate our dinner. Alsowent ashore
and visited the lower part of Moro
castle. While we were eating dinner the
newspaper boat, Rena, owned by one Of
the large papers Of New York, came
along and they took q snap shot Of. us.
i will send you a picture later. I am
cooking for Captain Golf and his clerks
and men who work in the clothing de-
partment. There are many Of our SOL
diera sick. They, are going to ship some
sick back home. 7 tell you they look
pretty bad and are glad togo back home.
We were in Gautanamo and Sibony with
our vessel beforeIwe came here. Ijhaye
q pieces:of q sholl weighing about thirty
pounds that dropped Just below, where
we are campped 4 also have q couple
OF signal flags from the Reina Mercedes
and 9 few pieces Of her broken plates.
Please send me aHhome paper. Give
regards tosthe boys in the TRIBUNE
Office. Office. I have notlhad q sick day yet,
but this climate takes them quick when
they get sick. Hope Tully will return
safely. Yours truly, n
HARRY ARMSTRONG.