Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-03-04


that at Las Guasimas when Captain
Allyn Capron, Sr.. stood over the dead
rough rider bearing his name and with
out a twinge of emotion exclaimed.
.Well done, boy' But there have
been scores and scores to say those very
words over the gallantry of son who
took down the rusty sabre de mon
pere" and polished its keen blade for
the fray of 1898.
One of the first acts of Secretary Alger
on arriving at Camp Wikoff, after a
courteous call at the headquarters of
General Wheeler, was to visit the quar-
tiers of the Thirteenth infantry. The
command was paraded, or at least SO
much of it as could stand up, and after
the ceremony General Alger said, 'Colo-
mel Smith, summon that young lieuten-
ant Of yours who rushed San Juan hill
SO calamity with handful of men and,
get the flag ON the blockhouse. +" Lieu
tenant Anderson, you mean, Mr.. Secre-
tary, and he is fat on his cot with the
fever. I"
"Take me there then, at once. /
came to this camp almost purposely to
thank him.
The secretary. who has been there
himself, Colonel Smith and your ubiqui-
tous correspondent went down the row
of officers tents and in one of them the
gray haired leader Of hundred fights
sat down upon an upturned cracker
box, subdued and saddened, before the
pale and immobile face and outstretch-
ed form of the little hero Of San Juan
hill He took the wan and womanish
| hand in his, held it for moment, and
when the boy realized that he had Wis
itor. said: Don't talk, my boy you re
too weak. have heard all about it and
there is a furlough for you in your colo
nel's tent. Go to your home on the
lakeside and when you get well come
and see me in Washington. I'll present
you to the president. !"
The flag hero rallied after Alger's
visit, and the colonel permitted me to
interview him before he left camp. He
told the story of the fight and said: s'My
men were brave. The losses of the day
spurred them on" The colonel had
warned me that the boy was modest and
would need urging to tell his story. /
asked him how he came to be first on
the hill. "Well," said he, "when we
were near the crest called to the men
near me to Advance rapidly After
going few PAGES I had 10 or IA with
me, and we rushed the fort ahead OF the
rest. That was all. .
/ saw before me soldier just out of
his teens, wearing the straps of Sec
ond lieutenant ssTell me your his
tory. said /.
"As for that 1 enlisted in 1894 and
served as private. corporal and sergeant
in the Fourth cavalry. In 1897, after
passing two examinations, / was COM
missioned and assigned to the Thir-
teenth infantry.
"And your manner"
Thomas M. Anderson.
"Why. there's veteran general by
that namei'
Eyes; he's my father, and is now at
Manila. In saying this last the boy
frightened as he had not done during
any of these interviews, and / could see
that he placed more stress upon the fact
that he had proved himself worthy
son of heroic father than upon any
daring feature of his own exploit
In the camp Of the Thirteenth /
traced another heroic son. Up to a few
years ago there was veteran officer in
that regiment named Pardee. He met
with misfortune and left the service.
When the war broke out, his 17-year-
old boy Austin, whom many of the Off
GERS remembered as child in the post
quarters on the plains, begged to be al
lowed to go. His mother protested, and
to every argument the lad said. 'sBut,
mother. it's my duty. since father can t
go. AT last he enlisted in the Seventy
! first. and with it brought mp in the
| trail in front of San Juan hill. He was
not in Rafferty's company or this story
would belong to that gallant band.
Young Pardee's instinct told him that
his battalion. stationary when the
Thirteenth marched past. would remain
so all day. lie saluted the captain of
us ldtilSI tiu toHipctly dlu cehSu :
'.Let me march with you. sir, please /
am the son of Captain Pardee." There
was no time for parley or sentiment.
The captain told the boy to fall in, "
adding, ''You'r re the kind Of 'volun-
teer' Uncle Sam is looking for just
now.
The boy was worthy his lineage. and
Al. 49, ~
ty-frst. The officers of the Thirteenth
who saw him in action told his story at
headquarters. and he was offered a
transfer to his fathers old company.
mot now, said he. mot till I'm 81,
for promised mother that if she'd let
me 20 with the Seventy first I'd stay