The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-02

| WnlZZluE through the air or shells burst
ing. There We're no cries Of the wounded.
no gnSh Of blood. But there was the
crash Of battle. the charge If armed
men. the roar of muSketry. The shouts
of the ~combatants. the wild ride IF cour-
ierS. the capture Of prisoners. the hur-
ried council OF war-all these were there.
The scene charmed and fascinated
me. There was an iudeScribablc yriil in
the lir. The roar Of m~uske1ry was in
Your ears. the smell OF powder filled you-
n~oStrilS. Rapid heart-beatS ~conge>ted
the veins until your temples ached and
4 wild desire for carnage and victory
seized Won. II i this feeling that make
men fight like Wild beasts AMI prefer
death 10 surrender.
.AS the rifles cracked and the smoke
lifted above the long lines Of blue |
thought | could understand something
| Of the conditions under which heroes and
towards were born. Far a~ one could see
there were uniformed men->oldierS ot
the South-tighting with the desperation
and earne~tneSS Of real hattlp. Through
the veil Of smoke | could see the drawn.
sweating. northumberland faces of The
men crouchin- behind a friendly trench.
The noise grew louder. the mon crouch
ed still lower. Their heads almost touch
ed their knees. The enemy. half running,
half crawling. were coming: like part
ridges they ran from cover 10 cover.
This would never do. They must hc
stopped ~ MI hazards. y wild charge,
/ few captured. a Sullcn falling back
il was all very real.
Two hours after the battle began the
signal to cease firing was sounded. ana
soon the line of march back to camp WIS
taken up. friend ana foe mingling in gen
erouS rivalry and happy good humor.
Since no bullets could be used the wage
Of battle must be decided somehow. 50
three umnircs were chosen: Lieutenant
Colonel CowleS. Of the First North Car
DINA. chief: Major Stewart. Of the Sec
ond Illinois. and Major En@lc. 0f the Sec
ond New Jersey. Concluding his rcpcrt
on tho battle. Colonel CowIcS says: The
firing discipline on both sides appeared
to be excellent. Both sides deserve equal
credit
General Burt and mis- staff wcrc pres
ent during the battle. but they took no
part. being there simply in the capacity
of spectators.
When the killed and wounded and cal
tllrcd came to be counted up if vas FOUND
that one North C%1rolinian had his arm
skinned up. crossing Il swamp: ono Ter.
soy man was Frustrated by heat. ana
IN Illinois soldier han an epiloptic fit on
liz WIZ 'Ii = '"It'tN' '1' =
Of 4 New Jersey company. an Illinois
sharnshootor and Il North Carolina Of
ficcr-Colonel Eugene Harrell.
There has been nothing since the sol
dierS have been here that they more
thoroughly enjoyed. They are anXiouSly
looking forward to another contest Of tho
same kind and are more ca ger than ever
TO get to the front where the fighting
IS rcal and the God Of Battles is the
umpire.
But all hope of that for the present is
about given up. SO often have the men
heard rumors of orders to move and
been disappointed. they now refuse to
place faith in anything other than that
they are to be kept III camp until fail
and then go to Havana as the army Of
occupation to aid General Lee in restor-
ing order in Cuba.
When it comes to this. though. they
look for no easy job. Trouble is 10 be
expected. not only from the SDaniardS.
but from the CubanS. in whose behalf
this war began. Already they are show
ing bad spirit. and the prospects are
that we will have to drive the SpaniardS
out and then subiugate the Cubans. The
first military governor must be Genera
Lee. IN Amerlcan-a man who can be
trusted to carry out the American policy.
ana not :: representative ol 'uDsil lic-
tons. The CubanS are not the earnest.
intelligent and diSintcrcsted parties that
were looked for by many persons AMI
they are hardly yet qualified for self
government. In establishing 4 provie-
ional government. it is understood to be
the intention of the President to leave
the local machinery. as far rs possible.
in the hands of those now exercising
power: but the claim of the Cuban in
surccnts to Immediate appointment to
these position as spells belonging to
them will not be recognized.
Under such a policy it is not altogether
surprising to learn that some Of the
more prominent Cuban leaders are II
ritatcd and cha@rined that they are not
allowed to take charge of affairs at once.
loot cities and wreak vengeance IN their
former rulers. conduct negotiations with
Spain for peace and otherwise use for
selfish ends the victory won by Amefi-
cans. As the war progresses this feeling
of irritation Will grow until in the end
opcn hOstilities Will exist between the
Americans and Cuhans. Certainly this is
what is to be expected. and IS the reason
why the authorities at WASHINGTON have
never recognized the Cuban insurgents
government.
As the press dispatches bring news
daily of this increased irritation on tn"
part Of Gomez and his men. the Seventh
Army corps finds its chances for a scrap
Frightening and the soldiers composing
it experience 4 corresponding decrease in
discomfort and i'll humor nj being c0opcd
up here in q frog pond until fall.
OF course there will never be Il great
battle between the Americans ana Cu-
bans. but the chances are, if they ever
| como to blows tb1t thprp will for a fpEV
months be q sort Of Indian warfare
such rs has been going on between Spain
and Cuba for the last two years. There
are many, though. who entertain diff
fcrent views. The Cuhans here. and the
refugees from that island. say that Just
50 soon rs the leaders realize that they
will not be allowed to WELD power for
their own ambitions ends. they will ne
come tractable and do all they can 10