The record-union., 1899-01-26
READY TO DO BATTLE AGAIN.
THE GALLANT TWENTIETH TO
THE FRONT.
Regulars Who Fought and Bled at
Santiago Now En- Route
to Manila.


The First Battalion of the Twentieth
United States Infantry, from Fort
Leavenworth, bound for Manila, passed
through the city early yesterday morn
ing on the way to San Francisco. The
Second Battalion reached here at $50
In the evening, and the Third Battalion
arrived later, with Colonel Wheaton
and the other commissioned officers.
There was quite a large crowd Of people
at the depot to greet the soldiers, es-
pecially those reaching here at $3.50
O'Clock
The men We're all young, intelligent
appearing and hardy. Their uniforms
We're bright and fresh, their faces
clean shaver, their shoes polished, and
altogether they were fine sample OF
the kind of men who compose the reg
uiar army.
And every one of them conducted
himself like a gentleman while the train
remained in the depot. They were free
to go about wherever they pleased, but
not a loud word nor an oath was ut
tered, and in all respects their de-
meanor was that of the trained, obedi-
ent soldier and gentleman.
A Record Union" reporter talked
with several of the privates and Off
GERS and found them affable, courteous
and well-informed. An officer was
asked if they could trust all the men to
go at liberty in strange place at night.
"Oh, yes he replied, these men are
all right You just take notice now,
through this whole crowd, and I'll war
rant you won't hear profane word
uttered, nor witness an ungentlemanly
or unsoldierly act while our men re-
main here You see, they are carefully
selected young men in the first place,
and then they understand it is their
duty to obey orders.
Before the regiment left it's barracks
at Fort Leavenworth Colonel Wheaton
gave strict orders for the men to be on
their good conduct and not bring harsh
criticism on the Twentieth, as in the
case of some of the volunteer regiments
that crossed the continent last summer.
The boys are behaved, anyhow, SO
not an unpleasant incident has occurred
on the trip
A young Corporal was interviewed at
some length and he gave some very in
teresting recitals of the incidents before
Santiago.
The Twentieth Regiment, you know.
was in the thickest of the fighting at
Ell Caney," he said ct lost heavily
there, and after the fighting was over
many of the boys died of fever. 1t was
a wonder every one of us didn't die. l
was down seven weeks with typhoid,
but pulled through all right.
There has been a great deal of blame
laid on the Government for the bad
condition of things down in Cuba, but
tell you our Government is all right.
We have great country, and the peo-
pie are willing the soldiers should have
the best there is going. There will be
times when an army in hostile coun-
try will be short of grub, or other
things, but that can't be helped.
LAS soldier, I say that Uncle Sam
treats his men we'll But the condition
of the country down about Santiago is
such that white men can't stand it..
Why. we had to stand in trenches and
fight an unseen enemy when the very
soil We had thrown up about US was
rotten and full of disease. And we had
to stand or lie in those trenches
drenched to the skin by rain, and
dressed in warm clothing while the air
was blistering hot. This could not be
helped, however, and no good soldier
will complain of hardships that are un-
avoidable.
But the regulars didn't suffer as did
the volunteers Our volunteers were
brave men, and all that, but they didn t
have the discipline of the regulars, and
their officers did not look out for their
comfort as did the regular officers Tor
their men. They didn't know how to
do it, for one thing, and if they did
the men were not so easy to control.
They were reckless in battle and took
chances they should not have risked-
And tell you that thousands of
men owe their lives to that regiment OF
black regulars. Why, the volunteers.
at one stage of the battle at San Juan
Hill. were made to lie fiat on the ground
while those brave black fellows walked
right over them and charged the SPAN
iards These colored soldiers are as
good as any when they know they have
the support of white men.
THAT Uncle Sam provides well for
his soldiers, need only to call atten-
ton to our barracks at Leavenworth.
There we have the best of plain, sub
stantial food, the kind that is best for
soldiers. The barracks are provided
with a long row of fine bathtubs, sup
piled with hot and cold water the. year
round, and every man is required to
battle just so often. And any man
caught wearing a soiied under garment
is called down in short order.
ION our present trip We have had the
best of coffee, bread, meat. canned
fruit, canned vegetables-in fact, the
best of food, and there isn't man on
the train who has the slightest COM
plant to make"
This was the vein in which they all
talked, and happier more contented
lot of men never wore the uniform OF
Uncle Sans army.