The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-09

sought after by those troops who have
been stationed in burning deserts
through all their military existence.
This has been the fate of the Twenty
third. Before going TO the war they
were in Texas, having garrisOned Fort
Clark, Eagle Pass. Fort Mcintosh. Fort
RIngold and Fort Brown. None of the
officers have been in Utah before, and
they APPLY term it the garden spot of
the west
Colonel Eskridge is man of medium
stature with a short cropped beard
piercing brown eyes. high forehead and
an intelligent cheerful expression. He
is courteous and free and easy, the lack
of stiffness usually found in an army
officer being one of his admirable traits.
His record is a long and enviable one
but he IS the one officer of the regi-
ment who has not seen the Philippines.
There was a reason for his staying in
America, the story thereof showing to
advantage his aggressive character and
love OF duty
Col. Eskridge's Wounded Arm.
Colonel Eskridge vas still suffering
from a wound that came near ending
his life. received in the attack on San
tlago when. last October. he made ap-
plication to the war department TO be
sent 10 the Philippines TO join his reg
lm6nt. The request was granted. Col
onel Eskridge went to San Francisco
and got ready to sail on the Sherman,
loading his effects on board. Then the
colonel got aboard. The transport was
TO start in two hours, when General
Shafter received a dispatch from the
adJutant general at Washington COM
handing him to ascertain Colonel Esk-
ridges physical condition. and if it was
not such as 10 warrant his leaving
America, to hold him there
General Shefter went aboard the
Sherman with his order and a doctor.
He found Colonel Eskridge actually
limping around with the aid of cane,
and issued an order on the instant for
him to remain. The colonel protested
gently. He thought that the Philippine
climate would do him greater good than
anything, but General Shafter thought
differently
You've done enough, Eskridge, for
a while" he said. you are too anxious.
I'll have to turn you over to the doc
tors
And so the coloners things were
hauled off the ship and he walked down
the gangway in detected spirit.
In Command at Preside.
soon aIter that he was placed in COM
mand Of the Preside at San Francisco.
where he remained until his regiment
reached there. being assigned to come
on to Fort Douglas with the battalion.
Colonel Eskridge seated himself on
a camp stool at his new quarters yes
terday, and at a reporters request told
Of the part he played in the battle be-
fore Santiago. and how he was
wounded
1T was the night of July L. said the
colonel, pointing out with the cane he
carries spots on the front porch, rep
resenting San Juan hill san Juan
creek. the city of Santiago, etc. and
/ was in command of the firing line of
the First brigade, under General Pear
SON. After the assault on San Juan
hill we made the advance across San
Juan creek to Green Ridge. which Kent
spoke Of in his report as one of the
finest movements he ever saw, and we
literally wiped the earth with those
fellows, until We were thanked by a reg
iment- We opened on the latter with
Krag-JorgenSens and drove them out of
their shelter under a whitening fire.
They had to cross our front in the re-
treat, ! remember. and one little Incl
dent l recall will show that not all SFan-
iards are cowardlv.