Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-23
WESTERN VOLUNTEER
HIS CHARACTER, HIS COURAGE,
AND HIS KINDNESS.
The Raising of a Grea Army and What
1t Has Wrought.
BY w. l.. Hill, Capt. of First Montana
Infantry.

Inc WnOle civilized world is ~aStOnlShed
at what the United States has accom-
plished in the last year and a half. Never
before did a nation when so unprepared
commence war by mobilizing upwards of
a quarter of a million men within three
months. No other nation under the sun
could duplicate the order. The mere or
ganization of such an army was a mar
vel, and rather than complain of the mis-
takes that were made, we should wonder
that the task could be completed with so
few errors. There may have been en-
balmed beef and mOldy bareback, but
the fact remains that the army was put
into the field and whipped everything it
went up against. The more we consider
the details, the more wonderful it seems.
and perhaps the most interesting subject
of all is the man behind the gun.
Colonel Roosevelt in his very interest
ing history Of the Rough Riders leaves
one with the impression that the regulars
are the boys who do the work; that with
the notable exception of the Rough Rid
ers. the volunteer army left a great deal
to be desired, and that the superiority of
| his consisted not in better drill
or finer discipline, but in the personal
characteristics Of his men. 1t is interest
ing to note that most Of the western VOL
uIINCCIS pOSScSScu just luOSc CndIdcteT-
istlcs for which Col. Roosevelt COM
mends his own men, and whatever may
have been the conditions in Cuba, or in.
the Philippine islands, the volunteers
it can be said without any invidious com-
parisons-did just as good work as any
regulars could possibly do.
The Rough Riders regiment was the
most popular in the army and probably
it was so because of the romance that
attache to the idea of a pioneer or from
tiersman. They We're supposed to be
gathered from the very jumping-off place
Of civilization-even from the 'undesir-
able states" Since Fenimore Cooper''s
days the pioneer has been worshipped
in America and those who know the old
western hunters and prospectors Know
that they still retain much of the pic
turesque innocence and kindly philoso-
ply of THE Leather Stocking" The
western volunteers are not only inspired
by the recollection of the citizen soldiers
who fought at Bunker Hill and Lexing-
ton, but are also the sons of men who af-
ter their share in the civil war fought
Indians on the plains and in the noun
tains. From their childhood they have
heard stirring, true tales of adventure by
food and field. Their recreation has been
hunting, fishing and camping out, and
there could be no better training for a
soldier. They have learned to look after
themselves"-this is perhaps the secret
of the American soldiers success, his
self confidence, the everlas sting nerve that
would lead him to
Greet the embarrassed Gods
Or match with Destiny for beers"
One never ceases to wonder at the way
in which men from every walk in life,
learned to adapt themseles to circum-
stances. Educated gentlemen used to all
the refinements of life, without a MUIR
muir. stood in line to get their tin plate
full of "mulligan" or SUM Rough
fellows unaccustomed to regard the COM
fort of others would share their already
short rations with a comrade who had
none. and all would step out into a storm
of lead with no more fear than il it had
been a spring snow shower in Montana.
They We're sick and sore, tired out, Of
ten hungry and thirsty. but they went on
wading swamps. swimming rivers. crawl
ing through jungles, from a simple sense
of duty. Complaints are made that there
is no progress; if not a foot of ground
was gained. still it was worth while, for
the sake of poor human nature. AS
Longfellow says:
when ere is spoken noble thought
When ere a noble deed is wrought
Our hearts in glad surprise
To higher levels rise"
It is shameful that such men as these
should be belied as "rakes and drunk I
ards" They had their faults. no doubt, |
but any one who served with them can !
ti%uthfully and fifty say: "Thank God /,
come after, ! have lived and
toiled with men,"