The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-01-20
The Old Soldier is Getting Recognition by Governor Stanley
A VETERANS VIEWS.
Some Comments and Comparisons ReIa-
tive to the Spanish-American
and Civil Wars.

Ever since the beginning Of the
Spanish-Americdn war we have read
and tried to consider from reason
able standpoint. We thought we
would neither grumble nor criticize,
but as patience has ceased TO be vr-
tue we propose to criticize.
First of all, we censure those who
tried to discourage our soldiers by re-
porting through the newspapers that
the government was not only tyran-
nical but did not try to furnish food
and general supplies, not only in the
field, but in the hospitals as well.
Now, according to investigation we
find upon competent authority that
everything was done by the govern
ment that could be done under the
circumstances and in so short a time.
The approaching sic<ly season caused
the egravest necessity to push the
forces TO their utmost, which caused
delays which prevented the officials
from having the supplies on hand
delays that could not be avoided
We have come to believe that this
is the same class of people that were
in our rear during the rebellion, dis
couraging enlistments and doing
everything in their power against us
except fighting us, and that they were
afraid to do.
We have heard so many complaints
about the Chickamauga camp that l
want to right here emphasize that
many of us were at Chickamauga
when it was far more unhealthful
and we had less to eat than during
the war of 1898. And what did we do
but back up in Chattanooga and
starve two months, thea jump on old
Bragg at Missionary Ridge and whip
tho stuffing out of him! Did we cen
sure the government for not furnish
ing supplies? No, we did not. We
knew Uncle Sam would furnish us ra-
tions whenever it was possible.
OF course we had some petty officers
who did not do their duty, but Uncle
Sam could not help that at all times,
and we Gid not grum BILE not even
in '64 when $4,000 pounds of turkey
were sent by the citizens to the Army
OF the Potomac, and $4,000 to the
Army of the Shenandoah. This was
sent for Christmas by the citizens,
and at the same time the Army of the
Cumberland was starving at Chatta-
nooga, and yet we did not grumble,
but started to and did fight it out on
the line to Atlanta for lightweight
days, during which time there was
never day but what there was a bat
tie or firing on some part of the line.
Talk about hardships!-in the bitches
working day and night, lying in the
trenches during all kinds of weather
month after month, charging the
enemy out of works they called i'm
pregnable; of this we-are proud. Yet
there is a class that do not thank or
give us any credit.
Now there is another cla's that call
our late soldiers 'tin soldiers" This
is not only an insult to the old vete-
rams who have many sons in the SER
vice, but it is an insult to the SOL
diers themselves and enough, if these
soldiers would listen to it, to prevent
them from ever enlistlng under any
circumstances. But we hope they are
above the criticisms of such people.
Now who are these soldiers? They
are sons of Americans, and many Of
them of old veterans who were weigh
ed in the balance and found not want
ing. Those boys who fought under
Dewey and who fought under Shafter
charged unequal numbers and them
fortified, captured almost double their
own number. If these were tin sol
diers, how would you critics like to
have been in their places?
We who know by experience glory
in the courage and soldierly patriotism
of our boys, knowing them to be true
Americans and patriots, who are ready
to protect their flag and their coun-
try at any time and under any cir
cumstances, whether Uncle Sam fur
nishes soft bread and postage stamps
or not. S, G. POPPING.
Chanute, Kansas.