Newspaper Page Text
Mr. Miller's Diary. I The Weekly has been allowed to pick passages from Mr. Miller's own diary of his very eventful month. It was put together pure ly for a personal record and most hurriedly composed. Mr. Miller himself had no opportunity to see it after it was sent from camp. The suggestion is hazared that Yale men will not regret that it so pure ly informal and spontaneous in ex pression. Below are the extracts: On Thursday, May 26th, Richard came to New York and asked Bill Judd, Bill Darragh and me to breakfast at the Holland House with him. This was the day after the second call for troops; and as I had decided to wait only that long, which gave me time to complete my year at Law School, I needed only this call to make me go. Richard suggested, at breakfast, my joining the Rough Riders, so we telegraphed to Dade Goodrich. That night I went to New Haven for "Slap Day," and on my return, Friday morning, found message from Dade saying that there was a place for me at once. I lunched with Richard, Mina and Grace at Normandie, and then hustled about telegraphing, writing, purchasing tickets, packing, etc. Finished at about nine o'clock p. m., and men with Charlie Hemenway, who ac companied me as far as Jersey City, went to Orange. Rode horseback before and after breakfast at Mina's and left about eleven for New York to ta*e New York Central for San Antonio. Richard and Grace saw me off; and I met some man on train who said that Bob Wrenn was to leave for New Orleans directly that morning. I telegraphed Dade from Poughkeepsie, and went on to San Antonia. Father and Ed. met me in Cleveland and joined me on my trip. At St. Louis the Koeniug boys with their father, were down to meet us; and we took supper and I made my will there. Left St. Louis after an hour, and took the Iron Mountain Route for San Antonio, but rumors and papers led us to think that the Regiment had left San Antonio; so we telegraphed at Houston, and received word at Marshall, Texas, that the Regiment had passed through Houston en route for Tampa. I had forty minutes to wait, so bid farewell to father, who went to Dai'as, Texas. I exchanged my ticket for San An- 1 tonio for one to New Orleans, with 85 cents to boot; and after a shave, shampoo and general refreshing, took the train for the southern metropolis. My anxiety was at its height all night, and it was a chase for a prize I greatly coveted. Arrived at New Orleans at about nine o'clock, crossed the ferry and hurried by a cab to a place where I had learned the Rough Riders had arrived. I almost yelled for joy when I saw the yellow canvas suits and the soldierly appearance of many men getting on and off cars, for I felt sure I had caught the Rough Riders; for they can't beat the locomotive, if they can ride a horse. I pushed about, feeling greatly out of place, and appearing much more so, on account of my civilian garb, looking for Dade. Ran across Jerry Edward, whom I scarcely recognized, and he showed me how to find Goodrich. Soon ran across him, hurrying about on a very important mission, I sup posed; but he seemed glad to see me, and looked up officers and in troduced me to Captain O'Neill and Lieutenant Frances. He finally got permission to have me exam ined, and, if satisfactory to join the regiment en route, to await formal enlistment at Tampa. I was ex amined by Chief Surgeon La Motte in the stroking department of the officers' sleeper; and, after a very easy examination, my physical ccn dition and requirements were found satisfactory, and I went with Dade to the baggage car, the only place which could be found for me. He introduced me to Holt and Wills; and I soon became acquainted with Burgess, Love and Sergeant Hun ter. The place assigned me proved to be the Hospital car, and I was exceedingly lucky to get there, tor the other cars were ordinary day coaches, and the men slept curled up on two seats, with two men in each seat. This car of mine was also the Commissary department for Troop D, so we managed to get all we wanted to eat as far as quantity, at least, went. MEETING COLLEGE FRIENDS. We left New Orleans shortly af ter noon; and I found traveling in a baggage car in civilian's clothes, with a dress suit case and a derby hat, not so very comfortable; but upon Inr iier acquaintance with the men, and after throwing off un necessary clothes, I got along nice lv. The large door in the car fur nished a splendid window for view and ventilation; as we felt quite for tuna'e as compared with tne men in day coaches. I soon discovered an olu ir it iid in Troop A, end of Car ? Hollister, of Harvard ? and we soon struck up quite a "joll." Be fore we left New Orleans, Teddy Burke, Bob Wrenn and Bill learned appeared on the scene, and we were all on the anxious seat until assigned. Teddy Burke knew me before, so we met in good shape; and he introduced me to Wrenn Larned. Companions by necessity, we soon became acquainted, and finally found that Bob Wrenn was to come into my car, and Teddy Burke and Larned went into D Troop car. Our first stop was Mobile, where a great crowd greeted us; and most everybody got off the train and bought about everything in sight. We telegraphed a combination mes sage, Teddy and I, to Orange, and I sent one to father. Saw Garrison there for first time, and hardly rec ognized him with his shaven head. This was late in the afternoon, and after leaving, we soon began to fix for bed. Some of the men, Guy Murphy and Hollister, were on guard, so Bob Wren and I sat up until eleven, with our feet hanging out of the door. Singing and talk ing helped along the time, and we felt "out of sight" to have at last become even connected with the regiment. Soon we turned in, and I found a bunk on the top of a lot of saddles, close to the top of the car, which place, comfortable enough at first, became more and more rocky and bumpy as the night advanced and the novelty wore off. We stopped at Pensacola that night, but could see nothing of the city. Our next long stop was at Tallahassee, where they watered their horses; we stopped from noon until about five o'clock. Our troop cooked dinner under a tree, and two of men caught a chicken, and later, a man named Stewart caught a rooster. They picked them, and all I saw of the result was some chicken broth tor the hospital pa tients in our car. Troop A caught a small pig and another troop had a goose. Holt and I purchased some very good milk, and that, with the army rations of hard tack, toma toes and a potato apiece, made a very good meal. We had our first good wash in the brook near the track, aud it did certainly feel good. The coons were thick and we made them sing and dance for us at the station. We later raided a bottling shop and had some fine ginger ale with Colonel Wood and another officer. The mayor of the town was very anxious to have the regiment stop off there for camp and offered many inducements; but after the horses were watered and fed, and all was ready we pushed on. PLANS FOR ENLISTING. We decided this day (after the arrival at Tampa) to enlist as fol lows: Teddy and I in Troop D and Bob Wrenn and Bill Larntd in Troop A. Friends had a good deal to do with the decision. We looked on D for the horses, too, as they had several extra. D has splendid officers. Teddy and I wanted to be "bunkers," and we knew that by enlisting at the same time, we would be likely to be so. We re turned to camp to find things more or less arranged; some tents up and the picket line out and the horses attached. We had a supper not quite so luxurious as our din ner, but we managed to make a meal out of it. That night I slept out in the open between C's horses and our line of fence, on some bor rowed blankets. Wright helped me out. Teddy had a cold and headache, so returned to town. The next pages tell of the enlist ment and the few first days and nights in camp. On our return to camp after the last trip to town, I found that or dersjhad just been issued to break up camp, preparatory to marching any minute. I did nothing but wait in expectation all the after noon- Packing occupied all our next day, and Dade hustled around to get Teddy and me equipped, but reported at four o'clock very little show; but I got everything together possible and was about equipped. Therre were to be only seventy men from our troop, and this cut out Teddy and me, for we were not equipped and others had 10 stay with us to keep horses in read iness to follow. The order had been issued that the men were to go dismounted. When we learned that we were to be left behind, we were badly disappointed ? Teddy not so much as I. We talked it over and decided that if only one could go, that I should take the place. At five the men were lined up to see just what men were equipped. Il was found that 69 answered, so the Captain said to us at the side; "If any man can finu a gun, he may go." I happened to notice where one had been placed by a man told to stay with the horses ( the saddler), so hustled right over to get it, and presetted myself to the captain. I previously had equipped myself with the ex cepiion of a gun. But as I camt: up claimed the gun and I gave it to him; but Captain said I could go. I did not know the reason, and told to understand that I was not taking his place by any pull; for he was dead anxious to go. He reported to Captain and Captain said he could go. He jumped in the air and yelled for joy at the news, while I almost broke down with disappointment, and did c/y. I thought my goose was cooked, but kept at it and hoped for some thing to turn up. Everybody was excited, and we heard the cheers from the different troops as they received orders. CHOSEN AT THF, LAST MINUTE. Next morning, as I was standing about talking, and bemoaning my fate, the Captain came up and handed me a Run and cartridge belt. I asked no questions, but simply leaped inwardly at my good for tune. I learned afterwards, that a man named Vandersleve had been found asleep on guard the night be fore, and that they had taken his gun and given it to me. Now we had to fix up Teddy, and we hustled about to get him equipped, in hope something would turn up for him. After dinner, as we were lying about under the trees, Holt, Simpson, Teddy, et. al., Lieut. Carr came along with a pa per asking for subscriptions from the men to send a man named Crosby home, on account of the ex pected death of his wife. This mis fortune proved the great fortune of Teddy, for it gave him a place. So finally we were all fixed, Wrenn and Lamed had worked into Troop A, by pull or otherwise. Roosevelt gave Bob Wrenn his own gun?] such was the scarcity in that es-| sential part ot the equipment. Troop C was left behind; also H. L. and M. This was very hard luck for Garrie and Jerry Edmund and Lieut. Lares from Harvard, all of whom were in Troop C. At about twelve o'clock the or der came to march. We lined up. and by the light of the moon, which had been a beauty dv.rlng our whole stay, advanced to the railroad. Af ter many "fake" alarms and wak ings from sleep around a bonfire, we were marched to another rail road. There seemed to have been some mistake about trains. I never spent such a night in my life. We sponged some breakfast from an other ? Regiment nearby and Bill Lamed and I foraged the neighboring private houses, waking up everybody, in search of food. At about fiv9 o'clock a coal train pulled up, and we were ordered aboard. The cars were of the roughest type ? dump cars, and we sat on the edges and stood in the bottom, just being able to peer over the top, but were so delighted at leaving that we put up with anything. Arrived at Port Tampa about ten o'clock and marched about a half mile to our steamer the Yucatan. There was a terrible delay in put ting up the gangway, and we had to stand out in the burning sun. I went aboard but was scon detailed to carry stuff. Almost died under weight ot a bag of coffee. Never worked so hard in my life. We were assigned deck quarters, and our squad, under Sergeant Hill, fixed themselves about ten times before settling down. We have a splendid squad? Sergeant Hill, Teddy, Rhodes, McClure, New comb, Beal, Russell, Smutts, Wolf, McMillan. Knox. Certainly a peach crowd. The ship was ter ribly crowded. We returned to dock the next day and put on more provisions and supplies, and speut the night moored in the dock chan nel, and the next morning passed out again into the harbor, where we lay until Monday afternoon. The ace mmodations on the boat, while the extra men were there, were something frightful. I have olten wondered how steerage pas sengers live. I found out by ex periencing a much worse life. THE STRUGGLE FOR FOOD. Our food grew worse and worse every day, and we wouid surely have starved had it not been for our friends in the kitchen. I got our squad to join another and have a beef hasU, which relieved the mo notony some. We had to pay enor mous prices for everything in the kitchen, and the cooks imposed upon the men terribly. It is said the baker made $200 the first day for tips, and selling bread and ordi nary stuff. He charged 50 cents tor pies, and men paid anything be tween that and $1 for pies. The New York men simply poured money into the kitchen, and at first were allowed to board in the dining room after the officers, but later were forbidden this very great lux ury. One can hardly realize how we begged for food, and even <tole a cracker or piece of bread from passing waiters. Saturday, the 12th, I had my hair cut, in fact shingled, and indulged in a most excellent shave also. We sighted laud Friday, and trotn all indications it was Cuban soil. We later passed a sailing boat that car. ried mail from Cuban points to Nassau. Saturday passed with land in sight most of the day. At night I saw an incident which but indi cates our point of desperation in search of food. A K man of New York sat upon the side of the cook's dining room door, and when he thought he wasnot looking, reached in stealthily, grabbed a plate that had some gravy left lrom a meal, and drank it from the dish. Men offered any price for lood, or even a scrap of bread from the kitchen to satisfy their awful craving for the food which was denied them. The officers had no trouble in that way. I had ielt "bum" all day and could eat nothing. The coffee was "rotten," and I took just a sip in the morning with two bites of hard tack, for breakfast; a sardine for dinner, which Bill Larned gave me and had nothing for supper, hop ing to work a pull I had arranged in the kitchen; but the fool cook went back on me. I had spoken to Bob Wrenn, Bill Larned, Teddy, Holt and Hill, so we were all dis appointed. Holt, Bob and I went in search of anything we could get from the kitchen, and Teddy went with Doc. I never so craved even a crust of bread. The steward had ordered no one to sell anything, so the cooks did it on the sly only, and charged enormously and made tremendous money. They soon became terribly independent and domineering. We waited from seven until nearly ten down in a dark old alley, driven about by the guard and cooks like cattle. Holt thought be had a pull on some food, but it, too, failed. Finally Tedd and Doc bought a loaf of fresh bread for a quarter. They called me and I "did not do a thing" to that bread. I never had bread taste so good. We saved some for the others, so I did not get halt enough. We used all means of persuasion, and had a plot to break into the cook's mess, but could not accom plish it. Bob Wrenn, unbeknown to us, had succeeded in buying from one of the crew, his supper of dry bread, bacon and a little bolog na. We were leaving and had the most dejected spirits, when, sud denly, Bob produced this plate of stuff. I almost fell on his neck. This certainly braced me up, for I felt much better the next day. * * ANSWERING THE BANCROFT. Today (Sunday 19th) we were or dered by the Flagship to drop back and accompany the City of Wash ington, the transport that was near the Maine wnen she was blown up. The City of Washington is towing an araunition supply schooner, so goes more slowly than the rest. We made a large circle and rounded up alongside. While doing so, the Bancroft fired a shot signal for us to stop, and immediately ran along side, and inquired why we had dropped back. There was some difficulty in understanding at the distance, as we had no megaphone aboard. The commander of the Brancroft, after getting the desired information, and calling down our captain for not reporting change of orders, asked what troops were aboard, and upon reply from the captain that thty were the Rough Riders with Roosevelt and Wood, there went up a great shout from the marines aboard the Brancroft, answered by a cheer for the Navy Irom our boat. It was tremendous ly inspiring. Later the Bancroft steamed alongside, and asked how Cols. Wood and Roosevelt were, and our men replied, almost in one voice, "He's all right." I was posted down in the hold, and went on at seven. During my second guard, Lieut. Goodrich came down and we had a little talk. This post I had was to guard dyna mite, and I had to keep very strict watch about lights, etc. We had service in the morning, and I sang in the choir next to Col. Roosevelt. Very good sermon on "Respect" We had a very good Chaplain. Wednesday, 22. This morning reveille sounded at halt past three, and we packed everything ready for landing. About seven o'clock came the bombardment of the shore in front of our column. The New York and the New Orleans, with several gunboatsand small yachts, carried on a fierce fire, and cleared the woods at the Spanish American Iron company's pier. Dupree Hall planted the American flagon top of the hill first of all, thus giving the honor to our regiment. The Cuban forces met our men at the pier. Our company did not disembark until about 6 o'clock p. m. and learned from Cubans that 1,000 Spaniards had been driven back. "teddy" gives out. Thursday. Had a lot of cocoa nuts and rested at this place. Packed up about three o'clock un der marching orders. Were among advance and started off on a terri ble march. Teddy gave out at end of a mile and almost fainted. I took haversack, and after our first rest we started on again. There was a great deal of climbing and the starting and stopping was ter ribly tiresome. Started on in fours but soon changed to twos, and fi nally single file, through deep thicket. Teddy was pretty weak and stopped by the wayside twice, and by orders I had to leave him; but he pluckily caught up again after a rest. His case was not ex ceptional, for the road was simply lined with regulars and Rough Rid< rs. Our packs were terribly heavy and a man without a haver sack had to carry a shovel or axe or pick. I carried both quite a distance. We arrived at the place the left column had landed, where was quite a settlement. A railroad had been ruined by Spaniards, but was repaired by our forces and kept in working order. We arrived about eight o'clock, after outstripping all regiments, and became advance guard of our forces. Hundreds of men dropped out and kept coming into camp for some time. It started to rain soon after Teddy arrived and I fixed him up with his rubber blanket and cooked something for him. He was i badly done up After the shower he got up, while I was away in search ot water and port wine, which had been thrown about by barrel fuls before we arrived. On my re turn Bill Larnedwas with him, and they were drying their clothes be fore the fire. I cooked some coffee then and got my bed arranged, but did not get to sleep until nearly twelve, after drying clothes thor oughly, a precaution I always take. The march had been the feat of the day ? about eleven miles through terrible *ands and mud and thickets and we made it in shorter time than the regulars. Most of it was made on double quick and the catching up after helping on Teddy was very trying. We slept well that night but in the morning at half past four Teddy awoke delir ious. Friday, 24th. Teddy wanted to go terribly, but was out of his head and talked incessantly about Polo match, which he thought he was playing, and in which he had been hurt. I reported him and let Bill Lamed and Bob know about him. I saw Surgeon Lamont and offered fifty of Teddy's money to take care of him; no surgeon was to stay, so those left behind bad to take care of themselves and each other. I helped Teddy to a house and fixed up his roll and money matters, and did ail I could to make him com fortable and said goodbye. He asked if I thought we would fight and I said I thought so and he broke down ar.d cried. He was rational before I left. . AT LAS GUASIMAS. We started our march about 6 o'clock a. m., and went straight up over the mountains with a terrible climb. We advanced in single file most of the way; and made a march of three miles by a side path, to avoid the main road. Suddenly I heard a few stray shots; then vol ley after volley. We halted, and, at order, dropped behind a ridge. Then came order to advance and load guns and magazines. Then we pushed on hearing stray bullets in the trees. Soon Capt. Houston started out to the left and climbed through a fence. We all followed as regularly as possible, hearing this firing constantly. We advanc ed a few paces and then dropped, prepared to fire, and fired some shots; but seeing nothing of the Spaniards, and recognizing our men, tried to get all to stop firing. This was the hardest thing to do. To keep men from firing was al most impossible in the excitement; but it was amazing to see how cool our raw volunteers were. Simpson and I seemed to turn up together everywhere. We tried to keep with our company but lost it, and in advancing down hill met other men. Beal and Newcomb were fighting on my left next to me, and on orders to return to my company I saw poor Beal twisting on the ground. He asked to be helped. I stopped to tell him to bind his leg above the wound, which showed plainly above the knee. Right here was the greatest fire, and, coming from the rear, we thought it might be from another of our own companies. But it was the Spaniards, as we learned. Or ders strictly forbade us to stop to help in action, so I had to leave Beal. We collected our company under Lieut. Carr and waited. Advance was ordered and Simpson and I hurried down the hill ahead, but early became separated from the rest of the troops, and fell in with F troop awhile, under Capt. Lima, the Mexican; but soon Capt, Hous ton turned up alone, and Simpson and I stuck to him. We found a man of F shot in the arm. We helped him back under a tree, and an emergency bag man was there. Cols. Wood and Roosevelt shortly turned up, and we had a sort of ren dezvous there under the trees. We advanced a short distance and found Stewart and Rae. We looked across the valley and saw soldiers lined up I ' * behind entrenchments. Before fir ing on them, I had asked- Capt. Houston it they were Cubans or Spaniards. He called Col. Wood, and it was decided that they were Cubans; but I still had my doubts. Stewart decided for himself and op ened fire. We soon fell in with our troop, and made a wide forward swing to the left, going through a large patch of Cuban palmetto plants, and on through a wrecked plantation house, through thickets, to a ravine, and further about 200 yards where I decided to drop my roll, or a portion of it, which I did not actually need. From this point we heard the recall from a bugle, and retreated to a ravine, where our troop re organized under Capt. Houston, Lieuts. Carr and Good rich. While lying in the ravine, a regular officer came up and in formed us that Major Brodie had been shot and that Capt. Houston was to take charge of left wing. We lined up and advance was ordered; and I with MacMillan, Wolf, Hill, and others advanced through the mill and down a dense thicket, cut ting our way through with knives. Finding nothing, we returned to our fomer station, where Col. Roosevelt, Wood and the staff offi cers were, who had been there be fore. We had quite a rest here and a plan of guard was planned. Roose velt went to the left. We advanced with Hill's squad to hold the mill, and E advanced to the right. We stayed in the mill for two hours under Sergeant Hill. Lieutenant Goodrich was there early in the guard. Lieutenant Carr came in several times and Captain Houston inspected the post. We left this post about five o'clock, and meet ing our troop, lined up in front of sugar factory or distillery, used as hospital by us, while other troops advanced by us. Soon we came to our camp, crossing the main road from Juragua to Quasimas,the scene of the battle. ABOUT THE BATTLE. The battle itself lasted about two hours and a half, from about eight thirty to eleven. The shots seemed to come from all sides. It was a complete ambush, but we foolod Continued un 3rd |?R|re. Monarch over pain. Burns, cuts, sprains, stings. Instant relief. Dr. Thomas' Eclectric oil. At any drug store. rTTiiq ? pn BAZAAR! Tinware. Enameled ware Bird Cages I Chinaware Flower Pots Decorated Lamps. i E. S, Harvey 420 Wells Street