Evening star., 1898-08-11
DISTRICT SOLDIERS DIARY
Narrative of Incidents in Which First Regi-
ment is Conspicuous
From Transport to Beach, Thence to
the Trenches in Front
of Santiago.

trict of Columbia Regiment of Volunteers,
wrote a lengthy letter to his friends in
Washington under the several dates given,
detailing the incidents of the campaign in
Cuba in which the regiment was factor.
After narrating the experiences aboard
ship, during the passage from Key West,
Mr.. Saers says:
1T is now O'Clock a. m. July I. We are
off the coast of Matanzas province, Cuba
about fifty miles out. Last night L saw a
very queer and pretty sight-the flashes of
lightning rejecting on the water. l was
standing in the bow of the beat, on the top
deck. 1t was about 8 o'clock pm, when |
became spell-bound, as it were. 1t made
me think of how naval battle might look
at night-with the flashing of firearms and
the bursting of shells. 1 talked with the
captain of the boat about it. and he admit
ted ii was a pretty sight, but said he had
become used to it long ago. But it was
new thing TO me.
This is the fourth day 1 have been on
board this ship, Catania, and the captain
has just informed me that we will be three
days more. If you will consult the map,
and see where we will have to go around
the Island of Cuba to reach Santiago, you
Will then understand why it requires SO
much time.
We'll. 1 have just finished my dinner
of hard tack, black coffee and corned meat.
But let me tell you it went good. About 2
L
awakened by firing, but it proved all right,
as our little Wasp and the blockading fleet
were saluting each other. Our Wasp is
daisy.
Il enjoy my swinging hammock very
much indeed. They would be just the thing
for camp. They were issued to US while al
Tampa. and we carried them aboard this
boat. l expect my rubber blanket to be of
great service to me also. We had some
Iough weather last night, but | didn't feel
1t, thanks 10 my dear old hammock.
Vessel Brought to a Halt
July S. o'clock amour Wasp has
jusr stopped another steamer, but she
proved to be the revenue cutter Blake of
cur blockading squadron. We are now
about five miles off the coast of Cuba 1t
reminds me a little of old Harper's Ferry
| can see great deal of smoke all through
the mountains. 1t looks as If there might
De extensive fires there. Off in the distance
can see light house, but l don't know
what light it is. Everything aboard ship is
sick, including officers, horses and all the
mascots. The parrot of Company has
had his bill changed from yellow 10 blue
July 9-The Island of Cuba is now in
plain view, the land not being over half
mile from cur ship. One can see nothing
hut mountains, which look to be covered
with a dense growth of underbrush, about
as tail as man. There is q steamer off
in the distance flying distress flags The
wasp has just gone over to her. l can see
our Wasp is now towing her off head first
A little more and she would have grounded
now We are again joined by our little
asp, and proceed on our journey. We
are near Guantanamo. / can now see ves-
sells and transports. You remember this
is the place where the marines made such
gallant stand. We are waiting outside
the harbor. Our Wasp went up to find out
all particulars, and the commander says
Santiago has not been taken nor surren-
dered, so I guess tomorrow will find us
busy under fire for the first time. We are
now on our way to Santiago, we are told;
then for the finish. Hurrah we will be at
the fall of Santiago after all. We will
show the folks at home what we can do.
In front of Santiago, Cuba, July 10-After
three miles when we stopped and into
camp on the same ground where the Rough
Riders fought so hard. Next morning
CMonday, July III We were called at
O'Clock and marched Immediately to the
front. But we haven't fired shot yet.
We have been digging trenches, though.
There are about fourteen miles of trenches
around the city of Santiago, and our block
aiding fleet is in the bay. There has been
flag of truce up for twenty-four hours.
think the Spaniards will surrender within
a few hours now.
Very Fierce, Indeed.
July 16, in the trenches before Santiago
de Cuba-I am now seeing soldier life in all
its glories. One day all I could get to eat
was one cup of coffee that had boiled over
three times. But now we are faring a
little better. 1 have just finished eating
my dinner of four potatoes, which 1 fried
in grease that got out of some fatback or
sowbelly, which the government calls
bacon. There hasn't been any salt is
sued to us as yet, SO we have to get along
without. Our regiment hasn't fired a shot,
but Frenchman. who was sharpshooter
for the Spaniards and whom we took pris-
oner. told us the Spaniards are very much
afraid of us. They claim that we came
from the capital of the United States and
are, therefore, very fierce indeed. So we
receive some credit, think, after all.
I'VE had a very exciting time the other
night, or rather exciting experience with
the odds against us. Our company Cd was
detailed to dig trenches in the night We
see a hand before you. When we found
ourselves we were within $50 yards of the
Spanish lines, and they heard us and be-
gan firing into us-at least they thought
they were shooting into us. Where their
bullets did go 1 can't imagine. You can
bet your life that every man of us fell
on the ground fiat. / must not say ground;
there is no terra ffrma here. We fell in
mud mud six inches thick, too; almost thin
enough to swim in.
"Ch, maybe 1t don't rain here When 1t
rains it rains SO that everything gets wet,
and when it don't rain the sun is awfully
These people down here are actually
starving to death, but the government is
doing it's best When 1 come home / am
going to bring some nice souvenirs. 1 am
feeling fine.
Unconditional Surrender.
July 11-Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah. San
tiago surrendered in earnest and uncondi-
tionally at noon today, sure enough. What
a fire sight it was to see the greasers
march out and give up the city to the
American pigs-not only the city, but all of
the ammunition and firearms and artillery
fell to the American pigs. Every soldier in
camp was out on the hills to see the thing
out, and how the boys did cheer, and how
the bands played, and how the cannon
roared, when our flag tOld Glory was sean
on the main buildings in the town. After
the band played Star Spangie1 Banner
Yankee Doodle and Dixie everybody
Joined in end sang America 1t was
sight l wouldn't have missed for anything.
Il don't know how long we are doomed
for this. 1 certainly hope not long. There
is some talk of sending back to the
states.
"The first man to fall in battle on our
side was Washington boy, who belonged
to. the 9th Cavalry, and who used TO be-
long to W. L. 1. C. 1 am glad, indeed that
none of you are here to see the terrible
suffering of the natives / saw q Cuban
give * in gold tSpanish money! for q two