Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-09-29

1t was the night after the terrible
day nj San Juan, and Private George
Morton of the regulars was doing pick
ct duty on the heights. Not much to
make story out Of, for after the ex-
citing events of that day, ever to be
memorable in our history, anything
else that can be told must seem simple
and commonplace. But to Private
Morton there at his post by the de-
serted trenches 1t was destined to be
even more eventful than the scenSs he
had just been through.
Ever since the landing of his reGi-
ment, two days before, the moments
had been filled with excitement and
rough work that left little time for
thought. But Private Morton, as a
general rule was not much given to
thought A private in the regular
army must be made into part OF one
splendid lighting machine. SO Private
Morton was content to do his duty and
let the otncers do the thinking.
Though apparently not over 80 years
Of age he was now serving his second
term of enlistment and had seen
enough of active service in the Indian
campaigns in Arizona and the Bad
Lands to make war for him no novelty.
He was counted a 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 II seemed to the soldier
that the burdens OF the service were
more than ordinarily oppressive. Fol
nearly 4S hours he had been on con
stant duty, without rest or respite
marching through the tropical rain,
wading streams. plodding In the mud
fighting, famishing. for in all that mac
rush of the preceding days there had
been no time for rest and hardly q
thought for food and drink. Even the
regulars had caught the infection and
were nearly as reckless and improvi
dent as the less disciplined and more
thoughtless volunteers. The one thing
to do was to possess that Spanish line
before it could be REINFORCED and be
fore the dreaded fever should thin
their own ranks. 1t was death IN
front, but Just as certain death was
stalking in the rear. And so during
these last two days there had been NC
rest from duty, no moment In which
to catch a little sleep or relieve the
muscles or mind from the terrible
strain. The line had been won and
now must be guarded from surprise
and recapture.
In detailing the guard for that impor
tant service there were no fresh me1
from which to select. The fatigue oi
two days constant marching and fight
ing could be no excuse, else there c0ult
be no guard, for all were equally worr
and exhausted. When Private Morton
heard the orderly sergeant call hi!
name as one of the detail for guart
duty, lie had just flung himself dow
on the rain and blood soaked grount
beside n dead Spanish soldier. There
had been no time to select a resting
place. The tired limbs had refused
duty the moment discipline was relax
ed. and he had fallen almost as deaC
man there among the really dead, witt
all his accoutcrments still strapped
about him and firmly grasping hi:
heavy army rifle. But with the calling
of his name the habit of discipline re
turned, and he was promptly on hi:
feet to form one of the little squat
that marched away into the GROWN:
darkness toward the front for sentine
! duty.
He was stationed in the shadow Of {
few closely growing trees just beyonC
the now deserted trenches lately 81
stubbornly defended by SPANS bray
est soldiers, with orders not to expose
himself In the open, but to note th,
least movement or sound from the oil
rection in which the enemy had re
treated. for it was deemed very likel!
that II night attack might be attempted
| for the recovery Of the hill.
For n short time after his compan
ions left him Private Morton did no
| give much attention to himself. III
followed. first with his eyes, then b!
the ear. the movements of the littl
lnnd as guard after guard was PLACED
and tried to keep in mind the Location
Of the different men. 1t was no new
work for him TO be on guard. and thcr
was no SPECIAL novelty TO him in tn
situation. War was war. whether II
! Cuba or Arizona. He knew that acroS
that dark canyon, concealed by tn
darkness and the thick growth of tim
Der, was the Spanish line and that an.
moment flight of Mauser bullet
might come IN his direction from OIL