The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-27


as a part of the army of occupation, and
that he would have a contempt for him
self to conceal the Stars and Stripes
through fear. Spaniards or other enc
mics to the contrary, he proposed to
lead his regiment through Havana's
streets to the sound Of martial music
and under the folds of Old Glory; that
he would go through with the flag float
ing or 90 down wrapped in it. This en-
phatic expression from our intrepid lead
or closed the incident and the regiment
was quickly disembarEed.
READY FOR A FIGHT.
The regiment was hardly in motion be.
fore a violent shock was given it. Some
body had ignited and thrown a package
of cannon 1ire-crackers near our march
ing column. Each man carried twenty
rounds Of BAH cartridges, and when the
explosion occurred hundreds Of Our boys
instinctivcly and without command
brought their rifles to the. position of
load. The joke was on the boys. The
Spanish citizens either remained inside
their grated patios or moved along with
supreme Indifference, as if uumindful
Of our presence. However. the Cubans
rapidly gathered in the rear of the regi-
mcnt on its march, and after following
seven miles there were at least 1900.
They hailed the Americans as their lib
orators displayed for the first time i'm
Havana publicly their little flags: wept.
sang. hooted and shouted, altogether
making n remarkably noisy, and to us.
an embarrassing demonstration.
To reach our camp ground at Mara-
mao we had to march through the Span
iSh barracks. then occupied by 10000
soldiers. As the regiment approached
the Spanish lines, with the nondescript
rabble making hedlam. the commandment
and aids stepped briskly forward, at the
same time indicating TO Col. Armfieid
that he desired an interview. Armheld
brought his regiment 10 a halt, when Il
ripple of excitement went all the way
down the lines. Was the Spaniard go,
ing 10 forbid admission through the bar
racks street? Majs. Smith. Rutzler and
Butler. with Adjt. Alexander and Lieut..
Gel Cowles. held hurried conversation
with Armficld. and agreed that il such
a condition were imposed they would
n0f comply Barracks buildings occu-
pied the street for half a mile on both
sides. hut not a single Spanish soldier was
in sight We knew. though. that, like
Roderick Dhu, blast ON the willy com
mandant'S hugle horn was worth 49,
600 men. They were in quarters rest
ing on their MauSers. and awaiting
developments. The Odds if we fought,
were at the ratio Of 16 to ].
THROUGH THE SPANISH lines
AS the Spaniard was walking Col.
Armtield dismounted and gave his horse
l. nHN a
interpreter Il hundred yards to meet his
august adversary. The language used
by the Spaniard was courteouSiy . re-
quest but plainly Il demand. and %, us
spirit and text were approved ~ ID"
Colonel, il was readily agreed 81. Sad
the commandment: Colonel you c:a
pass with your regiment. | recognize
YOUR right under existing circumstances,
hut the Cuban rabble i'll your rear can't
mass" Armfield assured the cOmnaIs-
ant that he was III no wise responsible
for their presence. and that he would be
pleased 10 ride to the rear and deliver
The command. The Cubans retired, and
the regiment advanced along the desert
ed streets of SPANS stronghold III Ha-
vana province: and but for the tramp
tramp. tramp of the boys, the silence
prevailing would have been oppressive.
The regiment quickly arrived near
Mandanao and pitched it's tents on rn-
dulating ground, 100 feet above the sea
and in plain view. Next to us is the
Second Illinois, and next to it the 16lst
Indiana-North Carolina, Illinois. IN
diana! The bloody chasm is bridged for
ever. They were once our enemies-now
orr friends. A third of Il century has
passed and all the bitterness OF the
STRUGGLE is forgotten. They still cling
to he fond recollections formed on the
march. around their campiires, and in
he stress of battle. They have their
veterans living and their beloved dead.
They fought for principle, and are now
50 generous as to admit that we did
too. The glory of Southern and North
ern valor belongs not to "A section of our
country. hut TO The whole American
Union. The victories Of the civil war,