Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-01
CHAPTER l.

Something unusual was gong on az
division headquarters and the men IN
the nearest regimental camps, reg ular
and volunteer. were lined up" along
the sentry posts and silently eagerly
watching ara waiting. For week
rumor had been rife that orders Tor a
move were coming, and the brlgades
hailed Il with delight. For month
shivering at night in dripping, drench-
inc foes drifting in from the Pacific, or
drilling for hours each day on the bleak
slopes of the Preside heights, they had
been PRAYING for something to break
the monotony Of the routine. they
we're enyious Of the comrades who had
been shipped to Manila, emulous OF
those who had stormed Santiago, and
would have welcomed with unreason-
ING enthusiasm any mandate that bore
promise of change. of scene-or duty.
The afternoon was raw and chilly; the
vct wind blew salt and strong from the
westward sea, and the mist rolled in,
thick and fcccy, hiding from view the
familiar landmarks Of the neighborhood
and forcing a display of lamplights in
the row of gaudy saloons across the
street that bounded the camp ground
toward the setting sun, though that in
visible luminary was still an hour high
and afternoon drill only just over.
Company after company in their cam
paign hats and flannel shirts, in worn
blue trousers and brown canvas leg
gingS, the men had come swinging in
from the broad driyeways Of the beau
tifu park to the south and, as they
passed the tents Of the commanding
general, even though they kept their
heads erect and noses to the front, their
wary eyes glanced quickly at the I'M
usual array of saddled horses, Of car
riagc sand Concord wagons halted along
lhe curbstone, and noted the number
Of officers grouped about the gate.
t'onchos and oyercoat capes were much
in evidence Oh every side as the men
broke ranks, scattered to their tents
d stow away their dripping arms and
i@lts, and then came streaming out to
stare. lu.rehuked. NJ headouarters. II
Was sim carly IN The war DAYS. and.
among lie volunteers and. indeed.
among regiments of the regulars whose
ranks were sprinkled with college men
who had rubbed shoulders bur a few
months earlier with certain subalterns,
The military line Of demarcaton was a
dead letter when the boys" were out
Of sight and hearing of their seniors,
and so il happened that when young
lilicer came hurrying down the path
way that led from the tents Of the gen
2ral to those Of tie field officers Of the
Tenth California, he was hailed by more
than one group of regulars along whose
ues he passed, and, as a rule. the query
look the terse, soldierlv form Of 'What's
10, Bl.ly?"
The lieutenant nodded atrably a. sev
sraI of his fellows N the football GeId
but Ills hand crept Oft from underneath
the shroudinp cane. palm down sin-
naiing caution. "Orders-some kind"
he answered in tones inst loud enouoh
to he heard by those nearest him. seen
The Old man anvwbere9 Tho conarol
wants him" and never baItira IA. M
NV. the vounuster hurried "a
ito WIS brinb+ ohoon, hna
lad of On who eiv montbs oan1ion ,,.a ~
tbroua1 10 soionaae 49,
orcot uni,or.ity -, IN t,a;al,, ,,.,.a 'l'
IN olorions III. ,aro. ,5,aa,,;,, ' NV
h,ttlo tbon ,hat !, ,ah;aL7 III
M cIoyon orannIcd I'M, ~ ltm;,l ~
tcam Of ! rivai coIloro an ~ M
dom 20 tho amaze of tho eldors of tI9o
orcot renubIio tho torots ond +rodi-
lions Of the MAST woro thrown ~ tbo
winds ami no "Irermit Nationo loonod
wv scas ami fcw u ia STRONGHOLD II
M Snonisb colorios yoln,,toor.
lgc@n' congress accorded a meager