The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-03-28

"reminiscences OF the First Ida
hos first campaign will be thai
eveutful day of the 18th of Aug
nst, 1893. Not so much because
a whole cycle of events were
rounded out and rolled into his
tory on that day but because OF
the trying experiences they un.
derwent.
On the evening of August 18th
an order was promulgated for
the regiment that, on the morn.
ing of the 18th, at $50, tho com
mand would take its place in the
advance on Manila, and that $50
rounds of cartridges and @ day
rations would be issued.
The morning of the 18th dawn
ed dark and lowering as if the
gods of war were astir. Long
before the time set for moving,
the regiment was ready. We
swallowed our early breakfast
hastily like children going to a
circus. A guard was then de-
tailed to guard the camp. This
was a difficult task, as every man
chosen submitted as meekly as a
cat being dragged up hill by the
tail. Man after man went to his
company commander and begged
to be allowed to go with the com
pany, and those that were forced
TO stay whimpered like school
boys at being left behind. Sold
iers who had been sick in quar-
ters for weeks were out in line
begging to be allowed to go.
Soon after dawn it began to
rain and kept it up without pause
throughout the day and all that
night. 1t had rained steadily for
days. and a second deluge seem
ed threatening. Fields resemb-
led miniature seas, the ground
so soaked and soft that il would
hardly bear the pressure of
fallen leaf. The sky was kept
ablaze by an incessant flare of
lightning the grandest electrical
display l had ever seen. The
air was torn by the travail of
thunder, so that it Jared the air
like the conclusion of great guns.
A lieutenant actually ran down
to the beach to see if the bonn
bardment had not already begun.
In this storm the Idahos set
out to go to the front. Before
they had gone twenty rods they
were wet through and steaming;
ponchos availed nothing in q
storm like this. The road cover
which we marched was a young
canal of mud and water sieved
full of seemingly bottomless
holes, into which, at intervals,
some luckless fellow would
plunge, leg deep. Thus, along
this treacherous way, we foun-
dered and plunged, lurched, veer-
ed and creened like ship at sea,
wet to the skin, but happy in the |
thought that at last we were ad-
vancing upon the enemy.
About seven o'clock, the regi- |
ment arrived at the place where |
the reserve was to be stationed |
until the strength and position
of the enemy should develop. |
Colonel Jones was the first on
the ground and took up his posi- |
ton. The End battalion had the
lead that day and was the first
in the reserve forces. Next came
the LIST battalion, and immediate
ly in our rear was the list Cali.
fornia. and the other commands
further back,
Volley firing was then heard
in our front. An Abide. Camp
came galloping up to Colonel
Jones and said: REPORT with
your command to Gen. Green at
once" Where is the Generals
headquarters?" inquired the Col
onel. What Don't you be-
long to the End Brigade?' said
the Aid. SIS not this the list
California;" mo, sir; the list
Idaho" 1.-The LIST California is
ordered to the 'front.'" Numbered
The Aid; "open your ranks and
let them through"
Our ranks were opened and
the CALIFORNIA; marched through
and to the front. This was
great disappointment to the Ida
hos, and. later, gave rise to re-
ports that reflected on the Colo
mel. But the only fault that
could be found with Colonel Il
Jones was that about 500 yards
in advance of the place allotted
to him, and, really, we should !,