Evening journal., 1899-06-17

ling Old Glory we fired the national sa-
lutte OF twenty-One guns.
"We arrived at League Island, Penn !
sylvania, July z, after an absence OF
two years. and were glad once more
to see the shores OF the best country in
the world i applied for and received
a furlough OF ten days, which I spent
with my fogl1s in Philadelphia, after
which | reported for duty at Washing
ton Navy Yard where j remained until
April. 1897, when / was ordered to
BROOKLYN TO Join the battalion then
lforming there under Colonel Hunting
ton for service in Cuba. After getting
Everything in readiness we went On
board the transport Panther, formerly
| the Morgan Lime steamer Yorktown.
lon our way down to the isle we stop
Iped at Old Point Comfort, Va, and
from thence we were conveyed by the
lU. S. S. Montgomery to Florida, step
ping At Key West. riere we disem-
barked and went into camp for two
weeks. Again going on beard the Pam
lther we started for Cuba, and on June
10. i9S, we landed at Guantanamo. The
Spaniards had left in such a hurry that
they forgot they had any earthly pos
sessions. so they left everything be-
hind. We found watches, money.
clothing, camp utensils, guns, ammuni-
ton, etc. AS soon as we were on shore
we set fire to an the h-uses dn the vi
cinity, burning them Ito the ground We
then proceeded to land our tents and
camp equipaSe and pitched our camp
on a hill overlooking the bay. which
had formerly been occupied by a Spain
ish blockhouse. The shells from our
ships had almost demolished the build
ling, and had pl,wed great burrows in
the side of the hill toward the bay
After landing we saw no Spaniards
and we all felt safe. yet as an extra pre-
caution double ouposts were stationed
around the camp. About 4 o'clock p. m
we heard some shots fired, and two COM
panies were sent out 10 find out what
was the trouble. We found two Of our
outposts killed, but saw none OF the
enemy. We had scarcely got back to
camp when they attacked us in force
killing one of our surgeons DR.. Gibbs
They kept us busy ali night after that
but no one was hurt on our side AS soon
as daylight came they ceased firing and
withdrew TO the bushes out Of sight
Everything was quiet during the day
until just before dark when they COM
menoed TO plug" away az us again and
kept the music playing nearly all night.
, sergeant-Major Good was struck and
only lived a few minutes after he fell.
at daylight firing ceased again. We
were pretty well tired out by this time,
having no sleep. in nearly forty-eight
hours, and being kept almost constantly
on the alert. on Monday morning the
I spanlards came near foollng us When
breakfast time came the captain Of our
' company proposed that ne leave our
I rifles 10 the trenches as we were all tired.
I and would not need them az breakfast.
] So we went 10 our meal without arms.
). While we were eating the Spaniards COM
b msnced TO pop away al us, and we were
a an hugging mother earth and wishhS' we
D had our guns with uE. When the compan-
les in the treaches saw our predcameni
: they fired a few volleys into the enemy
. which caused them 10 look for safer
. places. and we got back TO our trenches
, with whole skins
y ION June a we gave them lesson
they did not forget, aEd they bothered
! as no more after that. our camp life was
i, not so hard after that, and we had as
good food as we could expect under the
conditions. and the best beds the earth
n affords-that ls, the ground. We lefl
4 Guantanamo In August and went Oh
p board the transport steamer Resolute
> with the intention OF landing again at q
r little town farther up the coast. but W,
l. received word that the spaniards wer,
a, suing for peace so we went back &,
% Guantanamo and from there we went tG
IS Portsmouth, n. H.. where we went int,
camp for two weeks. We almost owned
'e the town. and when we arrived the peo
10 pie OF Portsmouth gave ms a clambak'
ie at Fort Constitution, where we had &
4 glorious time. From there we were sen
y 20 the stations we left. / think many o.
y the boys Of the First Marine Battalion
7, look at their visit to Portsmouth as on
a Of the brightest pictures on memory
~ wall"
: Corporal Sloan was bern IN Laurel
~ Del. and from the above account It car
,s be seen that ne has had many and var
,e led experiences while IN the United State
,e service. He Is now stationed at the Ma
rs rine Corps recruiting station in this city
L..
b. Go on Epworth Excursion, Tues. JuRe q