CHAPTER IX
HISTORIC BATTLEFIELDS
"Speaking of that report against our horse beater," remarked Henry a fewdays later, "reminds me, Dick, that I never thought to inquire if youever heard from the report you wrote out in Washington against thoseplotters."
"No," answered Dick, looking up from the signal card he was studying, "Iwrote it the following Monday and sent it to Dad, but never heardanything from it."
"We heard from your last report," said Henry. "That Spig was a wisehombre, right enough. The revenue officer found out all about him, but'Mexican Pete' was too quick. He left for parts unknown that same day,and all the authorities in Porto Rico are on the lookout for him. He'sa famous smuggler down in these regions and a regular bad man in thebargain. It's said he has served jail sentences in nearly every townfrom here to Vera Cruz. He's a Mexican by birth, a bad man by natureand a wanderer most of the time by necessity."
"That is all true, Hank, but it is not getting down this Morse code,"replied Dick. "We've learned the semaphore, wigwag and Ardois, and Ithink we can give the signal boys on the bridge a run for their money;but I can't seem to get these sound signals. Guess my ear isn't attunedproperly!"
"I don't see why you want to bother with it, anyway. You don't have tolearn it."
"Never can tell when such knowledge will come in handy; besides, Hank,it helps pass the time when we've nothing else to do. It proved prettyuseful last week when we were having that scouting drill ashore and byknocking two rocks together I was able to tell you to go to the left ofthat clump of bamboo. If you'd gone the other way the enemy would havecaptured you and your message, which would have meant the capture of ourwhole detachment."
"Yes, I'd forgotten that, Dick, and seeing that we both hope to be madeprivates some day the extra pay we will pull down as first classsignalmen is not to be sneezed at. Well, here goes; see if you can getthis!"
Thereupon Henry began a quick tap-tap with a pencil against the rim ofthe brass bugle he held on his knees.
For an hour the two boys practised at their self-appointed task, neverusing a spoken word in the meantime, but often smiling at each otherover the messages they sent back and forth.
Richard Comstock was not wasting his time in the service. He hadenlisted with one stated purpose in view, and all his work was to him ameans to an end. Every new bit of knowledge acquired connected with hisprofession was just one more step in the ladder he meant to climb, untilhis hopes and ambitions were realized.
The friendship existing between Henry Cabell and himself was of greathelp to both boys. They often had their differences of opinion, butpetty quarrels and bickerings never entered in their discussions. Bothlads were high spirited, quick to take offense but as quick toacknowledge their errors in the light of reasoning. Day by day, Henrywas losing his attitude of snobbishness. His association with Richard,who tried to find something worthy in every person with whom he came incontact and to see the bright side to every cloud, was the best thingwhich could have happened for the hot-headed Southerner.
Their duties on board ship were not particularly arduous. They stoodfour-hour watches as messengers for the Officer of the Deck, dividingthis duty with the ship's sailor-buglers; assisted in the work ofkeeping their part of the ship clean, accompanied the marines on theirdrills ashore and participated in the routine drills of shipboard life.Sometimes the musics on the larger vessels are members of the secondarybattery gun's crews or have other battle stations at "generalquarters,"[#] but not so on the _Denver_, which was only a third-classcruiser of a little over three thousand tons. Also on shipboard themarine drummer has but little use for his drum and sticks, which aregenerally put away in the storeroom and a bugle issued in lieu thereof,as all calls are given by means of the trumpet or the piping of theboatswain's whistles. Therefore, in so far as their duties wereconcerned, the boys did identically the same work on the _Denver_, andexcept when their watches interfered they were generally to be foundtogether.
[#] When the ship is ready to go into action. The drill for thispreparation is called General Quarters.
One day they were conversing about the former achievements of themarines, and Dick, who by now had read Collum's history from beginningto end, said:
"I wonder if when they put those new dreadnaughts in commission theywill reverse the time-honored custom and move the marine detachments upforward!"
"I don't reckon I know what you mean, Dick; why shouldn't they put themarines wherever they want to on the ships?"
"These days there is no real reason why they shouldn't," said Dick."But you know what the relation of the marines was originally as regardsthe ship's crew, don't you?"
"Y-e-e-s; at least I think I do. They were the policemen on the ship,weren't they?"
"Oh, Hank, you simply must read the history of this organization beforeyou go any further. It will be the best thing to make you get the rightkind of ginger into your work. It will make you proud of your job andproud to be a U.S. Marine; it is one of the chief things youneed:--_esprit de corps_--it's what has kept this outfit up to snuff,and without it no organized body of men could make a name for themselvesany more than you can 'make a silk purse of a sow's ear.'"
"All right, if you say it takes _esprit_ to make that purse, Dick, I'lltake your word for it, but don't get started preaching. Now tell me whyshould or should not the marines be moved, and if not, why not, orwhatever it was you began on when you lost yourself on Pulpit Street.Go ahead, I'm listening!"
"To begin with, the sailors in the early days were a mighty tough lot ofcustomers, picked up from nearly every nation under the sun. They wereemployed to work the ship; whereas the marines were organized to do thefighting and were picked men. Because of the mixed and unruly element inthe crew the sailors often became mutinous. In those days all weapons,and firearms particularly, were stored in the after part of the shipwhere the officers had their quarters and having this advantage, theywere able to keep the crews under subjection. But there were only a fewofficers as compared to the crew, consequently the trustworthy marineswere given that part of the ship to berth in between the officers andthe sailors, who generally were berthed in the forecastle. I don't knowjust when this was made the fashion, but I do know that it has beenhanded down to the present day and you will always find marines in acompartment next the ward-room. Now do you see what I mean?"
"I understand what you have said, Dick, but what has it to do with thenew battleships?"
"Why, I was wondering if another old Navy custom is going out of vogue,that's all. For in these new ships the officers are going to changeplaces with the crew--their living space is going to be the forecastleinstead of the stern. Question: What will they do with the marines?"
"When did you say that custom started, Dick?"
"Oh, I don't know, Hank; way back in the days of bi-remes and tri-remes,I guess."
"Then all I have to say is that it's high time a change was made; allowthe officers a chance to take care of themselves--we marines have nursedthem altogether too long," said Henry, and they were yet laughing at theremark when Police Sergeant Bruckner came along the deck seeking them.
"The 'Top'[#] says you boys should go with me to the storeroom and drawrifles, so come right along and get 'em."
[#] "Top"--Top sergeant--first sergeant, or also applied to the highestranking sergeant at a post.
"Get rifles?" questioned Dick. "What are we going to do with rifles,I'd like to know?"
"Ask the Top; don't bother me with your questions;" and Bruckner led theway below.
"They're brand new shooting irons, and you will have some job gettingoff the cosmoline, so I adwise you to get busy before you report to theFirst Sergeant," cautioned Bruckner, whose German origin accounted forthe manner in which he pronounced his letter "V" on occasions. He hadcome to the United States as a lad of fifteen years and after ten yearsspoke, with this exception, almost like a native-born citizen
. Six ofthese ten years he had spent in the Marines.
After noting the number of each rifle in order to enter them on thepublic property card of the musics, they all repaired to the upper deckand the work of cleaning the new rifles was soon under way.
"You musics will fall in for aiming and sighting drill each morning,"called out Sergeant Douglass, who saw them at their labors. "Althoughyou aren't required to handle a gun you are required to know how toshoot straight. Come to my office when you get through with that work,and I'll give you each a score book which one of our Marine Officers gotup and it will give you all the best dope on rifle shooting."
It was not long before the boys were applying for the promised books.
"When shall we have a chance to fire on the range?" asked Dick.
"From the 'galley yarns'[#] flying about the ship, it would not surpriseme if we were on our way to Guantanamo in a day or two, and when we getthere I'm going to try my best to have the guard put through the regularMarine Corps practice as well as the Navy course, and I want to keep ourhigh showing up to standard."
[#] In some mysterious way stories get started on shipboard, generallyfounded on guess or rumor and turn out to be true; all are supposed tostart in the "galley," hence the name.
"Do we get a medal or anything like that out of it?" asked Henry.
"Yes, you have an opportunity to get a number of things out of it. Themarines shoot the same course for qualification as that prescribed forthe army. There are three grades which pay you well for trying to doyour best. The highest is that of expert rifleman. If you qualify, youget five dollars more pay per month from the date of qualification tothe end of your enlistment and also a silver badge,--crossed rifles witha wreath around them. Sharpshooter pays you three dollars per month tillyou next shoot for record the following year and a badge consisting of asilver Maltese cross, while a marksman's qualification pays two dollarsand you get only a silver bar with 'Marksman' on it. But you will findout all about it in those books. Run along now and don't bother me anymore with your questions. By the way, Cabell, to-morrow morning youwill report to Ensign Gardiner as orderly for the summary court-martialat ten-o'clock, in the ward-room. Mr. Gardiner is the recorder of thecourt."
"What is the recorder of a court?" asked Henry, who was as full ofquestions at times as a hive is of bees.
"He is to a summary court what the judge advocate is to a general court,and the prosecuting attorney to a civil court," answered the FirstSergeant patiently, "and I hope your acquaintance with all of thesegentlemen may be that of an orderly or a witness only. And, Comstock,speaking of witnesses, reminds me you had better stand by for a call, asboth Williams and Choiniski are to be tried to-morrow for smugglingliquor on board ship."
Promptly at ten o'clock the next morning the "musics" were in attendanceat the meeting of the court-martial, but no testimony was required, asthe accused sailors both pleaded "guilty" to the specifications[#]preferred against them, and merely put in a plea for clemency.
[#] The written statement of specific acts for which the accused personis being tried.
Richard was standing outside the ward-room door when ChiefMaster-at-Arms Fitch brought the two prisoners aft for their trial.
"I'll get you for this, you fresh Leatherneck, and I give you fairwarning to keep out of my way when I get out of the brig," mutteredChoiniski, glaring malignantly at the drummer.
"Shut up and don't talk so much or I'll see that you get hung," snappedFitch on hearing the remark. "After you two birds get out of your cageyou'd better be looking round for friends, not enemies, I'm thinking."
And two days after the trial with the entire crew of the _Denver_mustered aft on the quarter-deck, the sentences were published to thetwo offenders.
"Whew! You'll never catch me smuggling any liquor on a man-o'-war,"said Dick to his friend, Corporal Dorlan, as they sat talking in themarines' compartment soon after the crew had been dismissed.
"No, it's bad business no matter how ye bring it on board, inside oroutside," said Mike, dolefully, "and it's meself who should know, bad'cess to the stuff."
"Have those two men got to stay in those hot little cells up forwardwith nothing but bread and water to eat for thirty days, and lose threemonths' pay, and in addition, do three months' extra police duties withno liberty meanwhile?"
"Not quite that bad, me lad; they'll be after gittin' a full ration onevery fifth day, so as to show them what they're missin' in the way ofgood chow,[#] and accordin' to my way of thinkin' it will do them both aworld of good. Until they came to this packet 'twas the happy ship; butthe likes of them are always makin' trouble."
[#] A Chinese term generally used by men in the service for food.
"Did you hear that we are going to Guantanamo Bay before the fleetarrives here, Mike?" questioned Richard.
"Well, it won't be the first time Michael Dorlan has been in that place,and well I remember the time we showed the Spaniards they couldn't foolwith Uncle Sam's Marines and git away with it."
"Were you in a fight there during the Spanish War, Corporal?"
* * * * * * * * *
The Sampson Medal]
THE SAMPSON MEDAL
The medal commemorating the U.S. Naval Campaign in the West Indies,during the war of 1898. The ribbon has a blue center with red on eitherside. Commonly called The Sampson Medal after theCommander-in-Chief--William Sampson, U.S.N.
A similar medal for Admiral Dewey's victory in Manila Bay was awarded,suspended from a ribbon with broader band of blue in center and yellowon either side.
* * * * * * * * *
"Right ye are, me lad, and 'twas no slouch of a scrimmage, at all, atall. The Navy wanted a good sheltered harbor as a base for their shipsclose to Santiago, where that foine old Spanish Admiral, Cervera, wasbottled up. So Guantanamo Bay, being the foinest kind of a place, theydecided to go in there, dhrive away the enemy and hold it. Well, theships shelled the beach before we landed and then us marines was sentashore under Colonel Harrington; and a hot reception we got, I'd like yeto know."
"How many marines were there in the fight?"
"About four hundred altogether, and out in the bosky[#] there were overthree thousand Spaniards pouring the lead into us at every opportunity.We took the beach with a rush and charged up the hill back of ourlandin' place, and then havin' got a toe-hold we dug in and we stayeddug in, with the Dagoes a-takin' pot shots at us every time we showed ahat."
[#] Really the word "Bosque"--Spanish word meaning wood, andpronounced--boskay.
Henry, having joined the little group surrounding Dorlan and Richard, asusual asked a question at this point in the recital:
"Did the army come to help you, Corporal?"
"Army nothin'. They was busy gettin' ready to take Santiago, and didn'tbother about us. We marines was the first to land and the first tofight, but unless we drove those Dagoes out of the woods it wasn't goin'to be a very healthy place to stay put."
"And did you drive them away?" inquired Dick. He had read all about thefight, but to get first hand news from one who had participated in theactual fighting was much better than reading it from a book.
"Of course we did. You see, the Colonel learned from friendly Cubansthat the Spaniards in that region depended for all their water on a wella few miles away over the hills--Cusco Well, it was called. So if wetook that well then they'd have to git out of the country. It was up tous to destroy the well. We made all the arrangements, and one of theships was told to shell the locality where the well was located.Finally we started off dhriving the Dagoes ahead of us, when suddenlythe shells from the ship began droppin' all about us instead of into theranks of the enemy. Every minute they kept comin' hotter and faster andthere was little chanct of us bein' successful as things were goin'.Then I saw one of the nerviest jobs pulled off that mornin'--one of thethings ye often read about and believe i
s fiction. Right behind us inplain view was a high bare hill and on the top of that there hill, hisback to the Spaniards and facin' the flashin' guns of the ship, was amarine sendin' wigwag messages to the ship and tellin' them where toshoot. Begorra, the bullets was a-flyin' around him like hail. Kickin'up little spats of dust at his feet, cuttin' down the cactus on eitherside of him, singin' through the little flag he was a-wavin', but did hestop? Not onct--and before long the shell fire lifted and began fallin'among them Dagoes and off they went with us marines after them, chargin'and yellin', sweatin' and swearin'. Yes, we found the well anddestroyed it and went back to our own lines carryin' our dead andwounded with us. And onct again the good old Corps had scored, forSergeant Major John Quick, the feller what did the signalin', won thefirst medal of honor in the War of 1898."
"Tell us some more, Dorlan," one of the bystanders pleaded.
"Ah, g'wan with ye. Sure I'm so dhry now from so much blabbin' I candrink the scuttle-butt[#] dhry, and that without half tryin'."
[#] A tank holding drinking water.
"Let us see the campaign medal the government gave you, will you, Mike?"asked Dick. One of his chief ambitions was to be able some day to wearsome of those little bronze medals suspended from the bright coloredsilk ribbons on his own coat. Their intrinsic value was small but whatan honor it would be to have the right to wear them.
Mike Dorlan opened his ditty-box, upon which he was sitting, andfumbling around in its interior brought forth two bronze medals; oneconsiderably larger than the other.
"This one," said he, holding up the larger medal, "is the Sampson Medal,given for bein' on board of a ship of the U.S. Navy in some of theactions against the coastwise towns or with the Spanish Fleet. You allknow that Admiral Sampson was in command of our naval forces thatbottled up Cervera in the harbor of Santiago. That feller Cervera was abrave man indeed, and he fought like the gentleman he was, with no morechance of escapin' than I have o' bein' made the Commandant of theCorps, and you know how likely that is, bedad. This other little pieceof bronze is the regular medal everyone got who was in Cuban waters oron Cuban soil durin' the war. It's the Spanish or West Indian CampaignMedal."
"Why don't you ever wear your ribbons and medal, Mike?" asked Dick."Believe me, if I had 'em I'd be so proud I'd want to show 'em toeverybody I met. I would like to see you with them all on some day atinspection."
"I'll tell ye why, me lad, and ye can belave it or not, as you please;there's one medal I want mor'n all of these combined and until I canwear that one, I'll not be wearin' of any."
* * * * * * * * *
Medal for Campaign in the West Indies and for SpanishWar]
MEDAL FOR CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST INDIES AND FOR SPANISH WAR
Issued to those of the Army, Navy and Marines who served on the highseas en route to or in immediate vicinity of Cuba, Porto Rico orPhilippines between certain dates. In case if the army or navy servicewas not in the West Indies the inscription read "Spanish Campaign."
* * * * * * * * *
"Which one is that, Dorlan?"
"It's one of them good-conduct medals the Top Sergeant was showin' of yethat first day ye come on this ship, and I'll git one yet! In threedays more me present enlistment expires. I'm going to ship over rightoff, and I'll be makin' a bargain with ye right now!"
"What's the bargain?" asked Dick.
"Well, if I don't git one of them little bronzes at the end of my nextenlistment, I'll be givin' all the rest o' me medals to ye, and ye canmelt 'em up into copper pennies; but if I do git it, I'll string thehull lot of them across me chest at the first inspection what comesalong."
And midst much laughter from the group surrounding them, Dorlan andRichard shook hands on the "bargain."
Ten days later the "galley yarns" came true, as they sometimes do, andthe _Denver_ steamed through the narrow entrance and into the wonderful,green bordered, blue waters of Guantanamo Bay, where she anchored for anindefinite stay.
Upon the first opportunity, Sergeant Douglass took the entire guardashore for a view of the historic battlefields. Landing at Fisherman'sPoint, they climbed the steep slopes of McCalla Hill, where stands themonument erected in memory of the heroes who lost their lives in thememorable engagement. But it was Corporal Michael Dorlan who explainedto the interested men every phase of the landing and the attack; whoshowed them the hill from which the intrepid Quick had signalled socalmly oblivious of personal danger, and finally he took them throughthe dusty cactus and chaparral to the old well, the destruction of whichforced the Spanish troops to evacuate and leave the field to the sturdysoldiers of the sea.
At a later date, the boys in company with Dorlan and others made aweek-end "liberty" to Santiago, where the winning battles of the warwere fought on land and water. They saw the exact spot where Hobson andhis brave crew blew up the _Merrimac_ in the harbor entrance; theyscaled the walls of Morro Castle, which withstood with hardly a scar thefierce bombardment of our fleet; and they rode out to San Juan Hill,where the gallant soldiers of Shafter's army fought so valiantly andsuccessfully.
These little trips to old battlefields resulted in a great demand forbooks dealing with the wars of that period, and the crew's library ofthe _Denver_ was more popular than it had been for months.