New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
ASLEEP ON. PICKET.
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR IN CUBA.

n
Juan, and Private George Morton. OF the Reg
ulsrs, was doing picket duty on the heights
NDt much to make story out Of; for after
thc exciting events Of that day. ever to be mem
ofaDe an our history. anything else that can
be- told must simple ard commonplace
But 20 Private Morton there at his post by the
deserted trenches 1t was destined to be even
more eyentful than the scenes ne had just
been through
Ever since the landing Of mis- regiment. two
DAYS before. the moments had been filled with
excitement and rough work that left little time
Tor thought. But Private Morton, a general
rule. was not much given to thought. pri-
vate in the Regular Army must be made
INTO part of one splendid fighting machine
80 PRIVATE Morton was content to do his duty
and let the officers do the thinking.
Though apparently not over thirty years of
age, ne was now serving his second term of en-
fstment, and had seen enough OF active service
Iii the Indian campaigns in Arizona and the
Bad Lands 10 make for him no novelty.
He was counted good soldier. and he knew by
heart all the rules of war by which the sharp
discipline of the Regular Army is enforced.
But tonight it seemed to the soldier that the
burdens Of the service were more than ordinari-
ly oppressive. For nearly forty-eight hours he
had been on constant duty. without rest or
respite, marching through the tropical rain,
wacing streams. plOdding in the mud. fighting,
fam'shing: for in all that mad rush of the pre-
ceding days there had been no time for rest
and hardly thought for food and drink for
even the Regulars had caught the infection
and We're nearly as reckless and imprOvident
as the less-disciDlined and more thOughtess
volunteers. The one thing to do was to possess
that spanish line before il could be reinforced
and before the dreaded fever should thin their
own ranks. IL was death in front. but just as
certain death was stalking in the rear. And so
during those last two days there had been no
rest from duty, no moment in which to catch a
little sleep or relieve the muscles mind from
the terrible strain. The line had been won. and
now must be guarded from surprise and re-
capture.
IN detailing the guarJ for that important ser
vice there were no fresh men from which to Sc
lect, the fatigue % tWO days constant march
ing and fighting could be no excuse. else there
could be no guard. For all were equally worn
and exhausted. When Private Morton heard
the orderly sergeant call his name as one of the
detail for guard duty he bad just t-ng himself
down on the rain and blood soaked ground be-
side u dead Spanish soldier. There had been nc
time to select a resting-place: the tired limbs
had refused duty the moment discipline was re-
1aXed and he had fallen almost a dead ma n
ythere among the really dead with all his ac-
cOutrements still strapped about him and firmly
ETasDing his heavy Army ride But with the
calling Of his name the habit Of discipline re-
turned. and he was promptly on his feet to form
one Of the little squad that marched away into
the growing darkness toward the front for SEN
tinel duty
closely growing trees just beyond the now de-
serted trenches lately so stubbornly defended
by SPANS braveSt soldiers with orders not TO
expose himself IN the ODen. but to note the
least movement OF sound from the direction in
which the enemy had retreated. for it was
deemed very likely that night attack might
be attempted for the recovery of the hill
For short time after his companions left him
Private Morton did not give much attention to
himself He followed. first with his eyes. then
by the ear the movements OF the little band. as
guard after guard was placed. and tried to keep
in mind the location OF the different men. II
new work for him 10 be guard, and
there was no special novelty to him in the
situation. War war. whether In Cuba or
Arizona
canyon. concealed by the darkness and the thick
growth of timber. was the Spanish line, and that
any moment a flight Of Mauser bullets M sht
come in his direction from out those dim shad
lows. or even line OF yelling cursng Span
-iards spring from the jungle down there little
oway below him and come charging up to bear
vhim and his comrades back from the hard
earned field. But he had been in equally bad
places before, and did not know what it was
to fear anything in the shape of foe. He knew
the Importance of his task the perils it involved.
and the consequences Of failure
But now the new-fOund strength that came
TO him when called 10 this new task began
gradually 10 fade away. and he could realize
how tired and faint ne was He could easily
count up his rations for the last two days-just
five bareback. soaked in muddy water in all
that time. and as for sleep when he came to
think of il ne did not believe that he had had
any unless. perhaps. ne had slept awhile be-
tween the fghting and the detail for guard duty.
How tired he was now. and how he would like
to Sleep, II 10 he only two hours of duty
then the relief would come. If he could only
pace his beat II would be some relief: but his
orders were strct-not TO move from his tree
He must keep awake-that was certain If the
Dons over there would only shoot little so as
to break the fearful mOnOtOny. WHY not take
a shot himself and wake them up? But no
that had been prohibited and besides it would
starte the whole army. and surely they needed
all the rest they could get. He would count the
stars but that made him dizzy and light headed
Oh. how his limbs ached, and his eyes seemed so
heavy His gun. too. growing almost too
heavy 10 carry. and his belt OF cartridges must
weigh hundred pounds. though it was almost
empty. If he only dared 10 throw away some