human
Now, father, you are going to take us to Santiago next, are you not?
gpt
Yes, he replied,
human
I am satisfied that you all take a particular interest in that place, feeling that you would like to see the scene of the naval battle and perhaps to look from a distance upon some of the places where there was fighting on land.
gpt
It will be interesting, said little Elsie,
human
As I am, said her father;
gpt
That was a big battle, said Ned.
human
I'm glad I'm going to see the place of the fight; though I'd rather see Manila and its bay, because Brother Max had a share in that fight. Uncle Harold, you came pretty near having a share in the Santiago one, didn't you?
gpt
I was near enough to be in sight of some of it, said Harold;
human
That must have been a very exciting time for you and your fellows,
gpt
It was, indeed; there was slaughter enough on land, said Harold;
human
The sea fight?
gpt
Yes; that on the land was harder on our fellows, particularly because our unreasonable Congressmen had failed to furnish for them the smokeless powder and Mauser bullets that gave so great an advantage to the Spaniards.
human
Yes, indeed, said the Captain,
gpt
It was very sad that that gallant young soldier, Captain Capron, was killed by that first volley,
human
Yes, said her mother,
gpt
I remember reading the account of his death, and that he came of a family of soldiers; that his father, engaged with his battery before the Spanish lines, left it for a brief time and came over to where the body of his son lay on the rank grass, and, looking for a moment on the still features, stooped and kissed the dead face, saying, 'Well done, boy, well done.' That was all, and he went back to the battle.
human
Yes, mother, said Harold, in moved tones,
gpt
The Americans are, as a rule, kind-hearted folk, remarked Mr. Lilburn,
human
No, said the Captain,
gpt
Papa, that Captain Capron wasn't instantly killed by that Mauser bullet, was he?
human
No; he was struck down early in the action and knew that his wound was mortal, but he called to a man near him to give him the rifle that lay by the side of a dead soldier; then, propped up against a tree, he fired at the enemy with it until his strength failed, when he fell forward to die.
gpt
What a brave fellow! It is dreadful to have such men killed,
human
Another man, Private Heffener, also fought leaning against a tree until he bled to death, said Harold.
gpt
Then there was Trooper Rowland, a cowboy from New Mexico, who was shot through the lungs early in that fight. He said nothing about it, but kept his place on the firing-line till Roosevelt noticed the blood on his shirt and sent him to the hospital. He was soon back again and seeing him Colonel Roosevelt said, 'I thought I sent you to the hospital.' 'Yes, sir; you did,' replied Rowland, 'but I didn't see that they could do much for me there, so I came back.' He stayed there until the fight ended. Then he went again to the hospital. Upon examining him the doctors decided that he must be sent back to the States, with which decision he was greatly disgusted. That night he got possession of his rifle and pack, slipped out of the hospital, made his way back to his command and stayed there.
human
Perhaps, said Grandma Elsie,