The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-13

hypophosphites.
soc and g.. 90, all druggists.
SCOTT & BOVINE, Che mists, New ORA.
the highest measure of praise and of
glory is due them.
The movements of the Thirteenth on
the war checker board are sufficiently
varied, but, 10 doubt. well remembered
by those at home. Called out by eX-
Governor Hastings. or, as the muster
out rolls put it, "by the president" the
Thirteenth left Scranton on the even
Ing Of the 9th of last April. after hav-
ing been given farewell reception
which the boys will never be willing,
or able to forget. From there the trip
was made through Wilkes Barre, Sun
bury and Harrisburg to Mount Grctna,
where the entire state Guard was or
dcred to rendezvous at once. The Thir
teenth was one Of the first of the orig
inal fifteen regiments to arrive on the
grounds. That occasion will never he
forgotten, and the surrounding cirCum-
stances left an imprint on the minds OF
the men which effects of time will not
efface.
forts of home on a moments notice,
they were marched from the train to
the camp grounds while the thermum-
eter was dropping almost by inches.
Without tents. or fires TO warm them,
or anything to eat, the men stood there
for hours, their only canopy being the
threatening, inhospitable clouds, from
which the snow descended with blind
canvas finally arrived, the tents were
pitched, and the men swept the snow
from the floors of their new homes by
rolling it into balls. For days succeed
ing, the rains and the frosts alternated
till the sufferings of the soldiers put
them to the proof and tested not only
their patience and their physical en-
durance. but their courage and their
moral stamina. No one complained or
faltered: they had come out as soldiers,
and soldiers they would be in the high
est, truest sense Of the word, even
though the price might be death itself.
THE FIFTH OF MAY.
The boys of the Thirteenth, who were
old Guardsmen, and their friends and
parents. who have followed the course
of events, have not yet forgotten, and
will not soon lose sight of, the 5th day
of May when, with the examples of so
many others before them and with
every incentive to make their sacri-
fees on the altar of their country, We're
drawn up in line on those pleasant,
green plains of Mount Gretna, and un-
hesitatingly pronounced that honOred,
significant word, Yes" hen, one by
one, they were asked if they were will
ing to volunteer. These things took
place more than ten months ago, but
To those who lived through them, they
are still as vivid as ever.
The mustcring in of the regiment
however, was the most solemn. most
impressive object lesson Of all. 1t had
to be actually presented to one; one
had to be an actor in that great tragic
opening scene during the progress OF
which many have become permanent
physical wrecks and nineteen young
hopeful lives sacrificed, in order to fully
realize it's meaning and it's responsible
tiles. With the eagle gradually taking
the place of the Keystone, with the
superior power of the United States alb
sorbing and setting aside the authority
OF the state, with the birds singing
their sweetest carols and the famous
old Third brigade band in the back
ground playing the national hymn, who
Of the boys viii ever forget that morn
ing of the 18th of May, when, drawn
up in line and looking towards the
setting sun as it burst through the oak
and pine trees. they raised their right
hand to heaven and said: 81 do SOL
hot \
and allegiance to the United States of
America, and that ! will serve them
honestly and faithfully against all
their enemies whomsocver, and that
will obey the orders of the president
of the United States and the orders OF
the officers appointed over me. accord
ing to the rules and articles of war"
Such was the sweeping oath which
they gladly took, and such is the oath
that they have kept inviolate through
ten months of disappointmcnts and
hardships, which were enough to try
the strong soul, to stagger the most
loyal faith and TO dampen the ardor of
the most intense love of country.
DAYS AT CAMP ALGER.
The darkest days of the regiment were
undoubtedly those which they spent at
Camp Alger, including Falls Church
and Dunn Loring. Poorly fed, with un-
suitable clothing. cramped quarters, no
fresh water fit for drinking and only
heroic, almost superhuman, methods Of
keeping ones self clean. hard drilling
and an unusually high temperature for
weeks in succession; that modern Black
Hole Of Calcutta will never be forgot
ten. Then every move and change were
tentative, experiment was the order of
the day and. unfortunately, the sub
jects of experiment We're the members
of the Second army corps, of which
the Thirteenth was a conspicuous part
The;e the greater part of the subse-
quent misfortuncs OF the regiment be-
gun, The trouble was hatched in that
pest hole, and al a time when disease
and sickness should have been on the
decrease, the hitherto stalwart. Yigor.
Gus members Of rhe Thirteenth began
10 fall so rapidly that they could not
he counted, the victims Of the most
malignant fe"ers. The holocaust was
begun at that point, resulting in the
destruction of the health of only too
many Of those who left home in good
health and might have returned In the
same condition, and in the uEtimely