The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-03-28

nave Oeen second IN the line o
the reserve, hence the Aids mis-
take.
AT 1880, the regiment was
marched to the support of the
Utah Light Artillery which was
stationed at the old convent, or
the extreme left wing of the as
saulting army.
The old church contained
thousands of those keen Mauser
bullets, which now would never
find their billets among our
countrymen. Just beyond, about
a thousand yards, we could see
the Spanish trenchee-those
long, cruel bitches, where, op-
posite to us, but a few moments
before, the enemy had lain. They
had been to us for weeks past in
VISIBLE lines of steeled opposi-
ton, which belched forth fire
and lead, and, in that way only,
indicated their presence. But
now they were untenanted. Birds
alighted and lizards crawled
where the Spaniards had lain.
The tension was over.
At 2:30 o'clock, Colonel Jones
received orders to send one bat
TALON of the regiment into the
city with the Utah battery.
The End battalion, Major Nc
Conville commanding, at once
started, with Utah's guns and
ammunition and marched up the
beach about a mile into the city
and halted near the cable office
to await further orders.
About dark orders came to adj
vance and they marched up to
Malate barracks, which had Just
been vacated by the Span;ards.
Here Colonel Jones and his staff
spent their first night in Manila,
banqueted on canned "horse''
and three hard tack, and slept on
the downy side of a board.
The LIST battalion remained at
the old monastery until about s
o'clock that night. After late
and meagre meal, they shoulder
ed their war togs and began
weary march back to Camp
Dewey.
Oh, what disconsolate, crest
fallen crowd of muskateers !!
Wet, weary, disappointed, hung
ry, retreating along the same
road over which they had march
ed so eagerly to the front in the
morning; so full of expectation
and anticipation of the glories
they were to achieve in battle |!
Now Manila was taken. The
purpose for which they come
1000 miles was accomplished
and they were going back-not
covered with glory but with mud,
lncrowned with laurel, fatigued,
frayed out, famished, unfought.
unhonored and unsung.
The poet, Poe, has said that
there is not a thought conceiv-
able in the human brain but what
can be expressed in language.
But if the thoughts of those
soldiers could have been express
sed it would have taken language
stronger than is permissible in
print. They said not a word, but
heir silence was ominous.
The tide was out and we
marched back along the beach.
Outside the sea was roaring in
glorious liberty and the rain
descended with undated fury. |
)ut on the bay, toward Manila,
he search-lights of Dewey's war
ships were ''in fine frenzy roll
n.y." Their piercing shafts of
ervid fire swept the bay rest
essly and necessarily, illuminat-
ng the black night with the bril-
fancy of noon day. A long,
'lazing tentacle shot out at us as
We passed.
We marched slowly and labor
ously back to camp. We arriv-
d there about 10 o'clock and
oiled our limp and tagged car
asses into our blankets. They
yere saturated and our tents
we're shedding the rain like a
ieve, but we went to sleep as
Don as we toppled over.
Nectar and ambrose How de-
cious it is to rest after a weary
,arch. The mind wanders in
reams to the homes far away.
here the dead ones are. "Che
ara sara" Sleep is heavenly.
Heigh no ! What was that /?
hat blessed bugler-assembly
s live 7 We pile out of bed
alf asleep and incredulous. But
here's no installing these clear, {
lnging notes that burst upon
ur unwilling ears and send sleep
nd the echoes flying.
We hurry on our heavy, wet
l. n