Following 
 the Flag 
 
 Diary of a Soldier's Wife 
 
 
 Alice Applegate Sargent 
 
University of California Berkeley 
 
 THE PETER AND ROSELL HARVEY 
 MEMORIAL FUND 
 
Following the Flag; 
 Diary of a Soldier's Wife. 
 
Alfr* Applrgat? Sargent 
 
 Washington, D C., 1909 
 
Follourinq trie Flag 
 
 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 BY 
 
 ALICE APPLEGATE SARGENT 
 
 E. B. BARNETT, PUBLISHER 
 
 204 Manhattan Building 
 KANSAS CITY, MO. 
 
QIo tlj* m*monj of mg 
 <ol. ^frh^rt ^ 
 tlifi Itttl? book fa b^btrat? a. 
 
"But in the last days * * 
 
 They shall beat their swords into plowshares, 
 
 And their spears into pruning hoo\s: 
 Ration shall not lift up sword against nation, 
 T^either shall they learn war any more." 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 Chapter 1 I become an Army Woman. 9 
 
 2 The Campaign of Santiago, 
 Cuba ...._ 17 
 
 3 My First Voyage to the Phil- 
 ippines 31 
 
 4 My Second Voyage to the Phil- 
 ippines .. 60 
 
 frJir m ***** * 
 
 5 Experiences during the World 
 War . .. 80 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 
 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 I was born in the Umpqua Valley, Douglas 
 County, Oregon. My father and mother came 
 to Oregon in the great covered wagon train of 
 1843. When I was a child I used often to say, 
 "I will never leave Oregon." How little we 
 know of the future. My feet have wandered 
 far since those days of my childhood. 
 
 On the llth of August, 1886, I was married 
 to Col. Herbert H. Sargent, then a young 2nd 
 Lieutenant of Cavalry, stationed at old Fort 
 Klamath in eastern Oregon. Shortly before our 
 marriage he was detailed as instructor in mili- 
 tary science at the University of Illinois and we 
 left immediately for his new station. 
 
 Up to this time I had never been out of Ore- 
 gon and the prairie land of Illinois looked 
 strange to me. We made our home in the city 
 of Champaign while the Colonel was on duty 
 at the University. 
 
 At the end of a year my husband rejoined 
 his regiment at Fort Bidwell, Northern Cali- 
 fornia, and here began my real army life. Dur- 
 
10 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 ing my thirty-two years with the Army I fol- 
 lowed the flag from the golden shores of the 
 Pacific to the bleak New England coast, from 
 the Green Mountains of Vermont to the pal- 
 metto groves of Florida, and from Cuba to the 
 far away Islands of the Philippines a life brim 
 full of thrilling and interesting experiences, but 
 in this little book I can touch only on the high 
 lights in these eventful years. 
 
 After more than a year at Fort Bidwell my 
 husband was ordered to march overland with 
 his troop of cavalry to Fort Walla Walla, Wash- 
 ington, a distance of nearly five hundred miles. 
 I decided to go with him, as I had a splendid 
 horse of my own, a horse I had bought at Bid- 
 well and of whom I was very fond and very 
 proud. This horse was called Patsy; he was a 
 beautiful dark mahogany bay with a white star 
 in his forehead. The first week or so of our 
 march was delightful, weather ideal and good 
 camping places. Cavalry on a march have a 
 certain rule as to gait; walk, trot and gallop, 
 walk, trot and gallop. This change of gait rests 
 both men and horses. In the afternoons the 
 trumpeter would blow "Dismount" and the 
 troopers would walk and lead their horses. Us- 
 ually this order to dismount would be given at 
 the top of some long, steep grade. I used to 
 slip out of my saddle and lead my horse, and 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 11 
 
 when the order came to mount I got into my 
 saddle, feeling quite rested and ready to ride 
 the remaining miles to camp. 
 
 We were three weeks making this march. We 
 could not make forced marches on account of 
 the mule teams with the heavy baggage wag- 
 ons. This was in November; the weather 
 changed to cold and storms. I could not keep 
 my hands and feet warm while on horseback 
 and reluctantly found refuge in a covered coach 
 called a "Dougherty" wagon, my horse being 
 led by one of the troopers. 
 
 While around the camp fires in the early 
 mornings we would each put up a bite of lunch, 
 a sandwich we could put in our pockets, for we 
 seldom halted at noon, but would march all day 
 and eat our lunch as we traveled along. 
 
 The weather finally became so cold our sand- 
 wiches would be frozen and not fit to eat. 
 We fell back on hardtack; two or three pieces 
 of hardtack would keep us up until we 
 went into camp and could get a good, hot sup- 
 per. We sampled all the different kinds of 
 weather eastern Oregon could produce rain, 
 hail, sleet, and finally snow, not to mention 
 miles and miles of mud, before we climbed the 
 Blue Mountains. On the summit we camped in 
 a foot and a half of snow, with everything a 
 glare of ice. Fortunately this was our last 
 
12 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 camp, for on the following day we rolled into 
 Fort Walla Walla. 
 
 Fort Walla Walla was at this time headquar- 
 ters for the Second Cavalry. It is always pleas- 
 ant to be stationed at Regimental Headquar- 
 ters, for the Regimental band is there and 
 there are many delightful concerts, at "Re- 
 treat" the stars and stripes float down to the 
 strains of the Star Spangled Banner, there are 
 full dress parades than which there is nothing 
 more inspiring and beautiful. 
 
 The horses of each troop of cavalry are uni- 
 form in color; there is the bay-horse troop, the 
 gray-horse troop, the black-horse troop, and so 
 on. The 2nd Cavalry Band of about twenty- 
 five pieces was mounted on white horses, a 
 beautiful sight. It was no easy task to train 
 these high strung horses to carry certain in- 
 struments, particularly the rider with the big 
 bass drum, but horses are almost human in in- 
 telligence and learn to do many things; they 
 learn to know the trumpet calls as well as their 
 riders and an old cavalry horse will keep his 
 place in the ranks and go through the drill 
 with an empty saddle. 
 
 We had been at Fort Walla Walla about eigh- 
 teen months when the 2d Cavalry received 
 orders to change stations with the 4th Cavalry 
 stationed at that time at various posts in Ari- 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 13 
 
 zona. We did not much relish the prospect of 
 going to Arizona, for many and lurid were the 
 tales that were told of the dreadful heat, the 
 sand storms, the Gila monsters, centipedes, tar- 
 antulas, etc., but when Uncle Sam said "March," 
 we marched. 
 
 We were in Arizona four years and I can 
 truthfully say that Fort Huachuca was, of all 
 our stations, the one my husband and myself 
 loved best. We met the sandstorms, to be sure ; 
 we also found the Gila monsters, centipedes, 
 tarantulas, and many other creeping and crawl- 
 ing things, but the extreme dryness of the at- 
 mosphere tempered the heat, we were six thous- 
 and feet above sea level, the winters were mild 
 and delightful, the ranchers were glad to let us 
 have cows to milk for their keep. True, the 
 renegade Apache, called "The Kid," terrorized 
 the ranchers and outlying settlements and de- 
 tachments had to be sent out frequently to 
 chase the "Kid" and his band of outlaws. Some- 
 times my husband, with a small command, 
 would be out for a couple of weeks ; neverthe- 
 less, we were young and life was sweet. 
 
 While we were at Fort Huachuca Col. Sargent 
 was ordered to the Apache Indian Reservation 
 on the Gila River for temporary duty. I joined 
 him later. The little post on the Gila was gar- 
 risoned by the 24th Infantry, colored. The heat 
 
14 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 was very great and sand storms were frequent, 
 but we found it rather interesting. Friday was 
 issue day and by daylight the Indians fairly 
 swarmed in to get the supplies given them by 
 the Government. Beef cattle were slaughtered 
 on the spot and each head of a household re- 
 ceived his or her share. The Indians were 
 formed into long lines, moving in single file; 
 each Indian in line carried a card, giving the 
 number of persons dependent on this particular 
 individual for support. As the tickets were pre- 
 sented at the door of the commissary store- 
 house so many pounds of flour, sugar, tea, rice 
 and beef were handed out, the amount of each 
 according to the number of dependents on the 
 ticket. 
 
 When my husband was off duty we used to 
 go over to the Indian camps looking for baskets. 
 Some of these were very artistic and beautiful. 
 The Colonel carried his revolver and I carried 
 a club. This weapon was used to protect us 
 from the Indian dogs which were quite numer- 
 ous and sometimes ferocious. 
 
 After a few months Col. Sargent was re- 
 lieved from duty on the Gila and ordered back 
 to Fort Huachuca. We made a seven days 
 march with the 24th Infantry from the Reser- 
 vation to the town of Wilcox, Arizona, where 
 at midnight we took the train for Huachuca, 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 15 
 
 This march was in sharp contrast to our march 
 from Bidwell to Walla Walla, for in this case 
 we traveled with Infantry, the heat was very 
 great and the sand storms and alkali dust made 
 us very uncomfortable. One evening, just after 
 we had made camp, a sand storm struck us ; our 
 tents were blown down and our beds filled with 
 sand. 
 
 After two years at Fort Huachuca we were 
 ordered to Fort Bowie, another station in the 
 mountains of Arizona, fourteen miles from the 
 railroad. We were at Fort Bowie two years. 
 
 From Arizona two troops of the 2nd Cavalry 
 one of them my husband's were ordered to 
 Fort Logan, Colorado, twelve miles from the 
 city of Denver. We were at Fort Logan only 
 seven months when Col. Sargent was made 
 Regimental Quartermaster and this took us to 
 Fort Wingate, New Mexico, headquarters of the 
 2nd Cavalry. 
 
 Situated in the mountains of New Mexico, 
 at an elevation of seven thousand feet, Fort 
 Wingate was in many ways not a pleasant sta- 
 tion ; we had heavy winds and the winters were 
 cold and disagreeable. We were three miles 
 from the railroad. Fort Wingate was our home 
 for three years. 
 
 In July, 1897, Fort Wingate suffered a dis- 
 astrous fire. Soldiers' barracks, chapel, big ad- 
 
16 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 ministration building and a number of sets of 
 officers' quarters were burned. The house we 
 occupied was one of the first to go and we lost 
 nearly all we had. All the troops at Fort Win- 
 gate, with the exception of two troops, were 
 sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, for station. The 
 troops remaining at Fort Wingate went into 
 tents and a new set of barracks were built; 
 these were not finished until December. The 
 men moved into the new barracks on Christmas 
 day. 
 
 Fort Wingate stands at the corner of the 
 Navajo Indian reservation and not far away 
 were the Zuni and Moqui tribes. The blankets 
 woven by the Navajo Indians are known far and 
 wide for their beauty and durability. The Zuni 
 Indians made very artistic pottery while the 
 Moqui tribe are famous for their gruesome 
 snake dances. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN 
 
 The destruction of the battleship Maine in 
 the harbor at Havana, Cuba, in 1898, was fol- 
 lowed by America's preparations for war and 
 the concentration of her fighting forces on the 
 old battlefield of Chickamauga, Georgia. 
 
 We were still with my husband's regiment, 
 the 2d U. S. Cavalry at old Fort Wingate, New 
 Mexico. One memorable evening an order came 
 requiring the troops at Fort Wingate to be 
 ready in five days to take the train for Chicka- 
 mauga. I resolved then and there to go with 
 the regiment to Cuba if possible; but I will let 
 my diary tell this part of the story. 
 
 Friday, April 22, 1898. 
 
 Left Fort Wingate this morning about 9 
 o'clock for Chickamauga, Georgia. Two troops 
 of the 2d U. S. Cavalry and the band. Fine 
 morning, clear and sun shining. The Pullman 
 in which the officers and their families are rid- 
 ing is called the Oregon. My native state is 
 Oregon, and I shall take this as a forerunner 
 of good luck. I am leaving Wingate without a 
 single regret. The barren hills of New Mexico 
 
18 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 have no charm for me. It is a land of desolate 
 distances and sand storms. 
 
 3 o'clock P. M. Have just passed through 
 Laguna, an Indian village of picturesque adobe 
 houses where the native inhabitants brought to 
 the train quantities of pottery some pieces 
 were very fine. Heard at Laguna Station that 
 the battleship Oregon had been attacked by 
 three Spanish vessels, but may be only a rumor. 
 
 Saturday, April 23, 1898. 
 
 This morning finds us running through a 
 prairie country with the snow capped Spanish 
 peaks in the distance. Have had a lunch and 
 will soon reach La Junta, Colorado, where the 
 horses are to be watered. 
 
 3 o'clock P. M. Have just pulled out of La 
 Junta where we spent three or four hours, get- 
 ting a good dinner and having the horses taken 
 off for water and exercise. Got new cars for 
 the horses, for which we all feel thankful. The 
 good people of the town turned out in crowds 
 to see Uncle Sam's boys. Our band played some 
 national airs. 
 
 We have passed old Fort Lyons, Colorado, 
 abandoned some fifteen or twenty years ago, 
 peopled now with ghosts of the past. No stars 
 and stripes float from the old flagstaff, which 
 still stands, and where all was once bustle and 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 19 
 
 busy life, dead silence broods. It brings to me 
 a sad and almost indescribable feeling of re- 
 gret to see these deserted places. 
 
 Sunday Morning, April 24, 1898. 
 
 We are just leaving Topeka, Kansas, where 
 we had a good breakfast and met some friends. 
 People very much excited and full of enthusi- 
 asm. We meet with a warm reception every- 
 where. 
 
 The first misfortune of our organization came 
 this morning in the death of one of our ambu- 
 lance mules; cut his foot so badly had to be 
 shot. Poor old fellow! 
 
 Sunday Evening, 1 P. M. 
 
 Have just had dinner in Jefferson City, Mis- 
 souri, where I met the Governor of the State, 
 Governor Stevens. Have had a most exciting 
 day, as we passed through many large towns 
 and the people turned out in great crowds. 
 Country beautiful; some rain in forenoon. 
 
 Have just had press dispatches telling of cap- 
 ture of Spanish vessels by some of our war- 
 ships. It has come at last, and the dogs of 
 war are loose. 
 
 Monday, April 25, 1898. 
 This has been an exciting day it has been 
 
20 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 like a triumphal march. We crossed the State 
 of Illinois and everywhere the people were wild 
 with excitement. At one town they gave us a 
 salute and we "Daughters of the Regiment" had 
 flowers given us. 
 
 We stopped for several hours at Cairo, Illi- 
 nois, where General Grant took command of 
 the Army at the time of the Civil War. The 
 hotel where we had dinner was the same hotel 
 where Grant stopped. It is beautiful and on 
 the banks of the Ohio river, where we could 
 watch the steamboats running up and down. 
 The country through this part of the state is 
 beautiful. Met at Cairo today a minister from 
 Portland, Oregon, by the name of Gee. Very 
 pleasant gentleman. 
 
 Reached St. Louis about one o'clock this 
 morning where my husband's father was wait- 
 ing to see us. I was asleep, but they woke me 
 and we had a short visit. 
 
 Our arrival at Chickamauga put a stop to my 
 entries in my diary. This I did not take up 
 again until some time after we established camp 
 on the hills of Santiago. 
 
 President McKinley called for ten additional 
 regiments of volunteers, these regiments to be 
 recruited in the South and called the Immunes. 
 
 My husband, then a young 1st Lieutenant of 
 Cavalry was ordered to Washington, D. C., to 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 21 
 
 take a position in the office of the Adjutant 
 General to help organize these volunteers. We 
 went on to Washington, and just a month later 
 my husband was commissioned Colonel of one 
 of the new regiments, the 5th U. S. Volunteer 
 Infantry or 5th Immunes. We left immediately 
 for Columbus, Mississippi, where Colonel Sar- 
 gent organized and equipped his regiment. As 
 soon as the men were ready for service the 
 order came to sail for Santiago. 
 
 IN CAMP NEAR SANTIAGO DE CUBA. 
 September 12, 1898. 
 
 On August eighth at three o'clock P. M. we 
 sailed from Savannah, Georgia, on board the 
 transport Rio Grande, Captain Staple, for San- 
 tiago de Cuba. On the vessel were six hundred 
 and fifty-five men and officers of the 5th U. S. 
 V. Infantry, part of Colonel Sargent's regiment 
 of Immunes, so called. The voyage across was 
 a very pleasant one, a smooth sea and very few 
 cases of sea sickness. 
 
 Besides myself were two ladies of the regi- 
 ment who chose to follow the fortunes of those 
 dear to them. On our first night out some of 
 the younger officers were singing on deck, and 
 as I lay in my berth listening the tears I shed 
 were not for myself, but for those left behind, 
 far away in the Oregon country who would 
 
22 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 grieve when they knew I had sailed for Cuba's 
 isle. We passed within five miles of the Island 
 of San Salvador, and on the morning of August 
 twelfth sighted Moro Castle, a grand sight. We 
 ran through the narrow passage, close to the 
 wreck of the Spanish warship Reina Mercedes, 
 and quite near the sunken Merrimac, whose 
 spars were sticking out of the water. Soon 
 after, we caught the first glimpse of the city of 
 Santiago. The landing of the troops was not 
 made until the next morning. 
 
 No transportation could be gotten for us 
 women except carriages from the city, these 
 having been used for carrying fever cases. We 
 decided to walk to camp. Carrying our small 
 bundles, we started out soon after the men and 
 reached camp all right, a little tired and warm, 
 but none the worse for our climb. 
 
 Coming up through the narrow streets we 
 were greeted with smiles and a morning salute 
 from the Cuban men, women and children along 
 the way. 
 
 The city of Santiago is picturesque in the ex- 
 treme. The buildings are painted chiefly in 
 light blues, pinks and yellows, and the roofs 
 are of red tiles. But distance certainly lends 
 enchantment in this case, for the city is filthy 
 beyond description. 
 
 Our camp on the hills overlooking the city 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 23 
 
 would be pleasant but for the drenching rains. 
 
 For some days food and water were scarce 
 and we were delighted to get a tin cup of cof- 
 fee and a bit of bread for our breakfast. 
 
 We can fully realize what our brave men 
 suffered during the terrible two days' fight in 
 the wet trenches all glory be to them! We 
 could not help them then, but we were proud 
 to be among the first to relieve them and many 
 regiments have sailed for our own shores since 
 our arrival. 
 
 This island is beautiful, mountainous and 
 green to the very summits. Villas nestle among 
 the trees and the white tents of Uncle Sam's 
 boys cluster on the hilltops. But the sun is in- 
 tensely hot and the air seems full of hot steam. 
 A scorpion on my skirts, and a small snake in 
 our Lieutenant Colonel's tent warned us to keep 
 our eyes open for creeping things. The mos- 
 quito toots his small horn, while tiny flies drive 
 our poor horses almost wild. 
 
 One day we were honored by a visit from 
 General Chaffee, "Chaffee the Magnificent," as 
 he has been called since the two days' fight. I 
 call him the Iron Duke. Our last meeting was 
 under the blue skies of Arizona. 
 
 When I pass along the streets of Santiago the 
 women crowd to the doors to see the "Senora 
 Americano," and wrinkled faced, gray haired 
 
24 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 old creatures smile and wave their hands to me. 
 I said to an officer of our army, one high in 
 rank and with every opportunity to know, "Tell 
 me about the Cuban soldiers." He said they 
 were of invaluable service to our army, and 
 while not what could be called brave soldiers, 
 they were willing and ready to do what they 
 could to help. I was glad to hear him say so. 
 Let us hope that the United States with the 
 glory of splendid victories fresh upon her, will 
 deal generously and kindly with these people. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 25 
 
 PART II. 
 
 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE. 
 
 Camp of 5th U. S. Volunteer Infantry 
 Santiago, Cuba, Fall of 1898. 
 
 Since my last record of events I have been 
 ill of yellow fever. This fever has broken out 
 in camp and two isolated hospital tents shelter 
 a number of our poor stricken soldiers. 
 
 Right across the peaceful bay, where I can 
 sit and look at them from the door of my tent, 
 are two long, low buildings on the water's edge 
 yellow fever hospitals they are, and back in 
 the hills we often see a dense cloud of smoke 
 rise to heaven there the bodies of the dead 
 are being burned patients from the city of 
 Santiago. It all makes one think of these lines 
 from "The Ancient Mariner" "Oh, Christ, that 
 such a thing should be." Blue water, blue skies, 
 green, green hills and groves of stately palms, 
 but air laden with disease and death. It took 
 courage to face the Spanish bullets and our 
 brave soldiers showed their valor. It takes 
 courage to face a situation such as this, to face 
 bravely another foe, a creeping, silent foe who 
 comes without the boom of guns to herald his 
 
26 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 approach. Is it any wonder some of us are a 
 little homesick? 
 
 October 9, 1898. 
 
 The rainy season has set in; as a "watering 
 place" our camp on the Cuban hills is a decided 
 success. It has been the rainy season in Cuba 
 ever since the month of July, or so we were led 
 to believe, but it has just set in, as we are now 
 informed. 
 
 We were all congratulating ourselves on get- 
 ting through September, having been told that 
 the month of September was the worst of all, 
 but this is terrible. Since the first day of this 
 month it has rained every day, some days all 
 day. The hurricane season is at hand to add its 
 horrors to the situation. Last night we were 
 awakened by the howling of the storm and 
 hastily dressed, expecting every moment to 
 have our tent torn from its fastenings, leaving 
 us exposed to the pouring rain, but fortune fa- 
 vored us and after a time the storm passed by, 
 leaving our tent standing. Others were not so 
 fortunate. To have only a thickness of canvas 
 over one's head when the rain is coming down in 
 torrents and the darkness is illuminated by the 
 quivering blue glare of lightning is anything 
 but pleasant. But we have to accept this situa- 
 tion along with many other disagreeable ones 
 while campaigning in Cuba. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 27 
 
 For our poor sick men it is doubly hard, al- 
 though everything that is possible is being done 
 for their comfort. Sick report ran up at one 
 time to two hundred and seventy-five men 
 out of a regiment of one thousand, but condi- 
 tions are somewhat better now, there being 
 no new cases of yellow fever. But there are 
 still a number of cases of measles, malarial and 
 typhoid fever. 
 
 Letters from home are anxiously looked for 
 and the arrival of a vessel from "The States" 
 causes great excitement in camp. Papers a 
 month old are greedily read and as to magazines 
 one is seldom seen here. 
 
 For nearly two months we have seen no birds 
 except the carrion vultures; these hover over- 
 head in great numbers, circling around and 
 around, throwing black shadows on the ground 
 until the air seems full of hundreds of these 
 repulsive birds. 
 
 But within the last ten days I have seen a 
 few little canaries and a black bird and have 
 heard some sweet notes from an invisible song- 
 ster, something similar to the notes of our robin 
 at home. These little things have made my 
 heart feel lighter. 
 
 Then came days so dark and dreary my diary 
 was laid aside and forgotten. My husband, who 
 
28 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 had kept up wonderfully through the long sum- 
 mer months, fell ill and lay for weeks at the 
 point of death. I had recovered from my illness 
 and had strength to nurse him. 
 
 That valiant regiment, the 5th Immunes 
 their loyalty and devotion to their Colonel and 
 to their Colonel's wife is something beautiful 
 to remember, for all through those anxious 
 weeks their helpful kindness and sympathy 
 never failed us. They would beg me to use my 
 influence to induce the Colonel to allow them to 
 put him on shipboard and take him back to the 
 States, for they feared he could never recover 
 if he remained at Santiago. But to all these 
 appeals he made the same reply, "I can't leave 
 my regiment." To our relief and joy he made 
 a splendid recovery. 
 
 Through the almost unbearable heat of that 
 summer, with the drenching tropical rains pour- 
 ing down until the mud in the company streets 
 was hub deep to the wagons, and our tents 
 turned black with mould, a hundred men 
 marched to the city every morning for guard 
 and fatigue duty, for Col. Sargent and his Im- 
 munes helped General Wood clean up Santiago. 
 
 Through all this trying time we had no 
 nurses. It was not until some time later that 
 three nurses were detailed for duty with the 
 5th. The men of the Hospital Corps, though 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 29 
 
 inexperienced, did their duty nobly and we had 
 two splendid surgeons. 
 
 Nevertheless, the regiment lost thirty-seven 
 men. With heavy hearts we laid them to rest 
 under the drooping palm trees on the hills of 
 Santiago. 
 
 I was the only woman in camp. Of the two 
 who sailed with us from Savannah, one, the 
 mother of one of our Lieutenants, could not 
 endure camp life and had to return to the 
 States. The other, the wife of one of our Cap- 
 tains, went with her husband to Moro Castle 
 where he, with his company, was assigned for 
 duty. 
 
 With the coming of the winter months prep- 
 arations were made to remove the bodies of 
 those who had died in Cuba. I used to sit in 
 the door of my tent and watch a transport 
 swinging slowly at the pier just below our camp. 
 They were cording up on the decks long boxes 
 of yellow pine, and day after day the work went 
 on until the decks were piled high with long 
 rows, box on box, in every one the body of a 
 soldier who had died that Cuba might be free. 
 Soon the transport would be sailing for the 
 home-land with this silent army the grand 
 army of the dead. 
 
 Now spring was at hand and still the fever 
 did its ghastly work, and when an order came 
 
30 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 for the regiment to move to Guantanamo, sixty 
 miles east of Santiago, the relief it brought was 
 good to see. Any change from the camp, where 
 all had suffered more or less, was gladly wel- 
 comed. 
 
 A Guantanamo the men had barracks built 
 of wood, an improvement on tent life in any 
 climate, but especially so in the tropics. Here 
 I had a house to live in. After eight months of 
 tent life it was a pleasure. This house had been 
 the home of a Spanish officer at the beginning 
 of the war, and in it we found five coal-black 
 cats which my Barbadoes maid declared were 
 the ghosts of Spaniards left to guard the place. 
 
 A few months at Guantanamo and then came 
 tidings that filled our hearts with joy. We 
 were going home back to our beloved Ameri- 
 ca; and when our joyful eyes beheld the shores 
 of the home-land, my only regret was for the 
 comrades we had buried under the drooping 
 palm trees on the hills of Santiago. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 31 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 I SAIL FOR MANILA. 
 
 We folded our tents in Cuba only to unfold 
 them on the other side of the world. President 
 McKinley called for volunteers in the summer 
 of 1899. On our return to the United States at 
 the close of the Santiago campaign, Colonel 
 Sargent, with his volunteer regiment, was or- 
 dered to Camp Meade, Pennsylvania, where the 
 regiment was mustered out, and soon after this 
 he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 
 29th Volunteers, Colonel Hardin's regiment. 
 This regiment was recruited at Fort McPherson, 
 Georgia, for service in the Philippine Islands. 
 A number of officers and men who had been in 
 Colonel Sargent's regiment at Santiago went 
 with the 29th Infantry to the Philippines. 
 
 When I realized that there remained no hope 
 of a peaceful home in a garrison in the United 
 States, I thought of these words 
 
 "The foxes have holes, and the 
 birds of the air have nests, but 
 the Son of Man has not where to 
 lay his head." 
 
 This seemed to me to apply forcibly to army 
 
32 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 people, especially to army wives, for we seemed 
 to have become homeless wanderers on the face 
 of the earth. 
 
 The 29th sailed for the Philippines in October, 
 1899. At this time an order was issued forbid- 
 ding army women passage on the transports, 
 and the outlook was certainly discouraging. 
 The Oriental Steamship Company came to the 
 relief of the dis-heartened women, however, 
 with an offer of rates to Hong-Kong. Needless 
 to say, these vessels were crowded, and I had to 
 wait two months after I applied for passage 
 before I could get a stateroom and start on my 
 long voyage into the (to me) comparatively un- 
 known world beyond the vast Pacific. 
 
 After a visit of two months with friends in 
 Oregon I returned to San Francisco to prepare 
 for my long voyage to Manila. Late in the af- 
 ternoon of my last day in the city (I was to 
 sail at one o'clock on the following day), a 
 cable dispatch was received telling of a fight at 
 San Mateo, Island of Luzon, in which General 
 Lawton had been killed. There were no details. 
 I knew my husband was with General Lawton, 
 and that night was an anxious one for me. 
 Early the next morning, when I opened my bed- 
 room door, I found the morning paper propped 
 against it. This paper gave a full account of 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 33 
 
 the fight and I knew my husband was alive and 
 well. 
 
 Part of the 29th Volunteer Infantry, under 
 command of Colonel Sargent, had been sent 
 with other troops to drive the insurgents out 
 of San Mateo. They marched all night through 
 a raging typhoon and went into the fight soon 
 after daylight. Here brave General Lawton 
 was killed, and after his death Colonel Sargent 
 was in command of the attacking forces. 
 
 During my stay in San Francisco I made my 
 home at the old Occidental Hotel, headquarters 
 for people of the army and navy when passing 
 through that city. The lessee, Major Hooper, 
 was a most generous and kindly man. He had 
 a warm place in his heart for us army women, 
 and realized the anxieties we often had to en- 
 dure. How he had a knowledge of all our in- 
 comings and outgoings I could never under- 
 stand, but I doubt if any army women ever left 
 the Occidental without receiving the gift of a 
 dainty basket of lunch and a bouquet of beauti- 
 ful flowers. It was this thoughtful kindness 
 that had prompted the placing of the morning 
 paper at my door after my anxious night. The 
 Occidental Hotel was destroyed in the great 
 earthquake and fire in San Francisco. 
 
 On December 21st I sailed away on a big 
 white ship, the America-Maru, for Hong-Kong. 
 
34 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 Seven days out from San Francisco we ran into 
 the harbor of Honolulu, only to learn that the 
 bubonic plague was raging to such an extent 
 that all passengers bound for ports farther on 
 were forbidden to go ashore. All that I saw of 
 beautiful Honolulu and the Hawaiian Islands 
 I saw from the deck of the ship. 
 
 It was a long voyage from there to Yoko- 
 hama, with nothing as far as the eye could see 
 on every hand but the vast expanse of sea and 
 sky, with never a sail in sight, and only an oc- 
 casional flying fish to relieve the monotony of 
 the scene. Christmas and New Year's we spent 
 on the ocean. 
 
 We dropped anchor in the harbor of Yoko- 
 hama in the night, and when I went on deck in 
 the morning the first sight to greet my eyes 
 was wonderful Fujuama, the Japanese sacred 
 mountain, piercing the blue sky, an almost per- 
 fect cone, the top gleaming white with snow. 
 It is the belief of the Japanese that one night, 
 centuries ago, this mountain arose from the 
 bottom of the sea. Every summer hundreds of 
 pilgrims toil to the summit to make offerings 
 to the gods. 
 
 It was now January, and the air was piercing 
 and cold, although it seemed a summer land- 
 scape. We were to remain here until noon on 
 the following day, and all the passengers went 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 35 
 
 ashore to see the city. To take a ride in a jin- 
 rikisha through the streets of Yokohoma re- 
 pays one for the long voyage. Everything is 
 interesting the little people, the tiny houses 
 and shops of bamboo and paper, the shops filled 
 with beautiful hand-carved cabinets of native 
 woods, embroidered and lacquered screens, ex- 
 quisite pieces in cloisonne, satsuma and bronze, 
 and embroideries in silk and linen, which could 
 be purchased for a song, compared to the prices 
 we have to pay on this side. Japanese children 
 fairly swarmed on the streets, nearly every 
 child having upon its back, in a sort of a shawl, 
 another child almost as large. I have seen these 
 quaint little folks, playing at their games, each 
 seemingly oblivious of the child hanging on be- 
 hind. "v: 7 j 
 After leaving Yokohama we stopped at Kobe, 
 Nagasaki and Shanghai, passing through the 
 beautiful Inland Sea of Japan. Mere words 
 cannot picture the marvelous beauties of this 
 Inland Sea; all day long the big ship threaded 
 her way in and out among the emerald green 
 islands. It requires most skillful engineering 
 to guide a ship safely through this sea, and our 
 captain never left the bridge, his meals being 
 served to him there. At Nagasaki the ship took 
 on a supply of coal, the work being done almost 
 entirely by native women, some working all day 
 
36 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 long with their almond-eyed babies hanging on 
 their backs. 
 
 We reached Hong-Kong on January 18th, 
 twenty-nine days from San Francisco. Here I 
 had to wait three days for a ship to Manila, but 
 found the time short, for there was much to see. 
 The air was mild and balmy, with flowers and 
 foliage everywhere ; it was "shirt waist" weath- 
 er in Hong-Kong. Here were the same tempta- 
 tions in the shops filled with wonderfully beau- 
 tiful things. All along the sidewalk on a certain 
 street was the flower market, where masses of 
 flowers in bunches and baskets were displayed ; 
 here one could get a huge bunch of beautiful 
 roses or long-stemmed feathery chrysanthe- 
 mums for the small sum of twenty cents. 
 
 In the harbor were two big British battle- 
 ships, and in the evening one could hear the 
 bands playing on deck and the notes of the 
 bugles floating across the water. 
 
 The British soldiers stationed in the city were 
 another attraction, and I crossed the bay to 
 see them drill. This drill I found very similar 
 to our own, but the uniforms were very dif- 
 ferent, consisting of very dark blue trousers, 
 scarlet tight fitting jackets and white helmets. 
 The Sikhs, or Indian policemen, were to me one 
 of the most picturesque sights in Hong-Kong. 
 They were splendid big fellows in dark uni- 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 37 
 
 forms with immense turbans of scarlet cloth. 
 
 I went in a jinrikisha to the cemetery or 
 "Happy Valley," as it is called, two miles from 
 the city. It was like a park, with trees and 
 masses of flowers and splashing fountains ev- 
 erywhere, while under the trees were comfort- 
 able seats where one could sit and enjoy the 
 beauties of the place. 
 
 The City of Hong-Kong is built along the 
 foot and on the side of a huge hill, commonly 
 called the "Queen's Hill." The view from an 
 observatory on the extreme summit is very 
 beautiful. Cars run part way up the hill like 
 a fly crawling up a wall. To reach the summit, 
 however, one must be carried by coolies in a 
 sedan chair. 
 
 The fine weather, with which we had been 
 blessed all the long way over from San Fran- 
 cisco, continued during the three days' run to 
 Manila, and early on the morning of January 
 24th, thirty-four days from San Francisco, I 
 went ashore, and "with malice toward none, 
 with charity for all," I took up the burden of 
 my life among the Filipinos. 
 
 Here was a strange world, a strange people, 
 strange customs. For more than three hundred 
 years the old city had kept her watch by the 
 sea. Divided into two parts by the Pasig River, 
 the more ancient part lies on the south bank 
 
38 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 and within the walls of old Fort Santiago. This, 
 with its huge gateways, its moat and draw- 
 bridges, was a most fascinating place. My home 
 was for several months with a Spanish family 
 within the wall. Here can still be seen ruins 
 of great stone buildings, wrecked by the terri- 
 ble earthquake of 1880. For months I never 
 tired of driving on the streets of Manila. To 
 drive on the Escolta, the principal business 
 street, was oftentimes a hazardous undertaking, 
 for it was literally a jam of carriages, caraboa 
 carts, and many other queer vehicles; and as 
 these people have no regard for the rights of 
 others, one was in constant danger of having a 
 wheel taken off or of being driven into by a 
 Filipino cochero. 
 
 In the evening it seemed as if all Manila 
 turned out to drive or walk on the Luneta, the 
 popular driveway along the beach, to listen to 
 the bands and to see the beautiful sunsets. The 
 breezes that blew across the bay were cool and 
 refreshing, and the sunsets beautiful beyond 
 description. 
 
 In Manila were representatives from many 
 parts of the world. Here I had an opportunity 
 for observing the Spanish soldiers even more 
 closely than at Santiago, living, as I did, just 
 across a narrow street from the barracks where 
 they were quartered awaiting transportation 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 39 
 
 back to their beloved Spain. I found them still 
 the same quiet, sober, well-behaved soldiers. 
 There was never any loud or boisterous talking, 
 drunkenness or rude behavior. 
 
 The Tagalos are small and brown ; the women 
 are, as a rule, much better looking than the 
 men, having more regular features and more 
 pleasing countenances. They have very pretty 
 hair, long, black and glossy, which they wash 
 almost daily. Men and women alike seem de- 
 voted to their little ones, and are very demon- 
 strative, kissing and caressing them ; yet I have 
 seen but one native woman who wept on the 
 death of her child. A funeral seemed usually 
 more an occasion for rejoicing, where they could 
 wear their best clothes and smoke their biggest 
 cigars. Men, women, and even little children, 
 smoke, and I have seen wee girls not more than 
 three years old smoking cigarettes with as 
 much gusto as a grown man. 
 
 Infantry, artillery and cavalry were stationed 
 throughout the city. The now familiar khaki 
 uniform was everywhere to be seen, and the 
 tramp, tramp, of the sentinel could be heard 
 at all hours of the night, bringing that sense of 
 security which nothing else could give, for all 
 was not sunshine in these sunny islands. The 
 war, insurrection, rebellion, or whatever one 
 might choose to call it, was not over. 
 
40 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 Summer brought with it fresh anxieties and 
 responsibilities, and regiments then on duty in 
 the islands were ordered to join the allied forces 
 in China. Here were men who had fought un- 
 der the scorching sun and in the drenching rain 
 at Santiago; in the dark and tangled jungles of 
 Luzon, and who were yet to fight and die before 
 the walls of Tien Tsin and Peking. There were 
 heavy hearts in old Manila when they sailed 
 away heavy hearts for many weary days and 
 weeks for the mothers, wives, sisters and sweet- 
 hearts who had been left behind. There are 
 some of us who will never forget the night 
 when the message came across the water, tell- 
 ing of the fearful fight before the walls of 
 Tien Tsin, with its gruesome list of killed and 
 wounded. 
 
 Watching detachments leaving Manila for an 
 expedition into the wilderness after insurgents, 
 I was always impressed with the firm and man- 
 ly way the the men had of looking straight 
 ahead. There was never any careless lounging 
 or looking from side to side. I used to feel that 
 in each man's mind was the same thought that 
 was in my own some one would never come 
 back ; who in that little band would be the mark 
 for an insurgent's bullet? 
 
 Eighteen months spent among the Filipinos 
 brought many changes in my estimate of their 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 41 
 
 character and less of charity in my feelings. 
 
 While in Manila in 1900 I was, for a short 
 time, correspondent for an Illinois newspaper, 
 The Carlinville Democrat. In looking through 
 an old scrapbook I have found the following 
 letter which gives an insight into conditions 
 around Manila at that time: 
 
 "Manila, P. L, Aug. 20, 1900. 
 Dear Editor Democrat: 
 
 Many things have happened since I wrote you 
 last. Many who were with us then will be with 
 us no more forever. The white man's burden 
 has grown heavier as time has passed on. Now 
 it is war with China, and the little handful of 
 Americans who fought with the allied forces at 
 Tien Tsin have been weighed in the balance and 
 not found wanting. I saw them march away in 
 their bright new uniforms with swinging step, 
 proud to be the first called to join the allied 
 forces; glad to leave behind them the tiresome 
 work in the Philippines. But, alas, that this 
 should be ! A regiment depleted and worn with 
 sickness after more than a year's service in 
 this tropical country, they were thrown into 
 the breach before Taku gate where ror twelve 
 long hours they fought for their lives. How 
 bravely, all know. Here brave Col. Liscomb 
 died with the colors in his hand, and many more 
 gallant souls who marched so proudly away will 
 never come back again. For them 
 
 The muffled drum's sad roll has beat 
 The soldier's last tattoo.' 
 
42 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 And the mothers, wives and sisters of these 
 men, what of them? Tears and heart-ache for 
 the son who has answered his last roll call un- 
 til the final trumpet shall sound. Tears and 
 heartache for the husband buried under foreign 
 skies in a far-away land. Tears and heartache 
 for the brother who will never come marching 
 home again. Anxiety and sleepless nights and 
 prayers for those still marching on. And this 
 is war! Ghastly and grim indeed, pushing on- 
 ward and leaving its dead behind. 
 
 But what of the Philippines, you ask. Is the 
 war over? Look to the north and what do we 
 find? Under tangled masses of green vines and 
 brilliant flowers lies a rigid, bullet-riddled fig- 
 ure, a signal sergeant ambushed and killed 
 while at his work. From the south comes the 
 rumor of almost daily encounters with the en- 
 emy. From the east comes the story of a young 
 army surgeon with an escort of eleven men at- 
 tacked and killed by insurgents. The west has 
 its sad tale of a bright young officer, scarcely 
 more than a boy, and two brave men, captured 
 or killed by insurgents. Many plots to burn and 
 loot the city have been unearthed. 
 
 These are the things that are happening all 
 around us. Our 'little brown brothers' are busy, 
 and the war in the Philippines is not over. We 
 can but ask, when will the end come and what 
 will the harvest be. Have we been sowing to 
 the wind, and must we reap the whirlwind? 
 
 The rainy season, the most disagreeable part 
 of the year in the islands, is upon us. It was 
 ushered in by a typhoon, one of the terrific 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 43 
 
 storms prevalent in these waters. The storm 
 lasted five days, and the very flood gates of 
 heaven were turned open, so terrible was the 
 downpour, while the howling- wind and the boom 
 of the great waves on the beach made it a thing 
 long to be remembered. And as I write, an- 
 other storm, almost as severe as the first, is 
 raging outside. The bay is a boiling, seething 
 cauldron, and when the U. S. transport Grant 
 from the states dropped anchor in the harbor 
 some days ago it was impossible to reach her to 
 bring in the passengers and mail. 
 
 Alice A. Sargent." 
 
 When conditions in the Islands improved the 
 29th Volunteer Infantry was ordered to the 
 United States to be mustered out of the service, 
 but Colonel Sargent remained on duty in Man- 
 ila as Judge Advocate of the Department of 
 Southern Luzon. 
 
 We sailed for the United States in 1901 on 
 the army transport Meade, named for Major 
 General George G. Meade, who commanded the 
 Union forces at the battle of Gettysburg. The 
 Meade was at that time the longest ship that 
 had ever sailed into the harbor at San Fran- 
 cisco. Long and narrow, the Meade was a roller 
 in time of a storm. 
 
 When we steamed out of Manila Bay, leav- 
 ing behind us the troubled islands, it was hard 
 to realize that we were really going home. Who, 
 
44 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 having once felt the charm of these Oriental 
 countries, can forget or deny their subtle but in- 
 describable fascination? Yet, after all, the 
 "Land where our fathers died" is the land for 
 all true Americans. 
 
 Besides quite a number of soldiers and offi- 
 cers with their families the Meade carried four 
 hundred sick and thirty-six insane. Conditions 
 in the Islands in those days were bad. Sur- 
 geons declared much of the insanity among the 
 men was due to homesickness, generally among 
 soldiers stationed in small outlying camps where 
 there were no mail facilities and the loneliness 
 and monotony of their lives were more than 
 they could endure. Medical officers were of the 
 opinion that many of these unfortunate men 
 would recover. Soldiers on the march or 
 "hike," as they called it, endured conditions 
 fairly well. 
 
 When our long voyage was almost over we 
 encountered a terrific storm which continued 
 through a day and two nights. A heavy cable 
 had been stretched from end to end of the upper 
 deck, and before the storm reached its height 
 one could go out on the deck, and holding onto 
 the cable, watch the storm. I was so filled with 
 awe I forgot to be afraid. It seemed to me I 
 could go out and walk on the waves, so thick 
 and oily did the water appear, The waves ran 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 45 
 
 "mountains high" and the good ship would roll 
 until the railing along the deck would almost 
 touch the water and it seemed the ship could 
 never right itself, but over it would roll just as 
 far the other way. After a time the storm in- 
 creased in fury and the decks were battened 
 down and I did not dare go out to watch the 
 storm. Strange to say, I was not at all sea 
 sick and not frightened until about 3 o'clock 
 the last night of the storm. The Colonel was in 
 his berth very sick ; I was lying on the couch in 
 our stateroom, when all at once the ship struck 
 with terrible force against something I thought 
 must be a rock. I sprang to my feet with a 
 loud cry, the big ship quivered and trembled 
 and shook. I waited for the end, but after a 
 time the vessel ceased to quiver and settled back 
 into the rolling and plunging motion it had kept 
 up for many hours. 
 
 Some of the ship's officers told us the next 
 day that they too, thought for a time that the 
 ship had struck a rock. Later they decided that 
 the shock was caused by the ship having been 
 driven into where two huge waves had come 
 together with terrific force; the strain on the 
 ship was almost as great as if it had actually 
 been driven onto a rock. 
 
 This storm was very hard on our sick men. 
 It was almost impossible to keep some of them 
 
46 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 from being thrown from their beds, so weak 
 and helpless were they. 
 
 By morning the storm was over, the sun 
 shone on a fairly smooth expanse of water. The 
 Meade had made a gallant fight against wind 
 and wave and had come through victorious. 
 The Bible tells us that one of the most wonder- 
 ful things in the world is "the way of a ship at 
 sea." The truth of this was brought home to 
 us when the big transport came safely through 
 that terrible storm. 
 
 While we were still about a day out from the 
 San Francisco harbor, one of the sailors said to 
 me "we have a pilot on board." I thought it 
 strange a pilot boat would meet us so far out, 
 but the sailor hastened to explain to me that 
 the "pilot" was a bird. These birds would come 
 out to meet the ships and accompany them into 
 port, and their coming to meet the transport 
 was looked upon by the sailors as a good omea 
 We sailed into port without further mishap. 
 
 Happy were we when we stood once more on 
 the shores of the land we loved. We had faced 
 perils and hardships in those far-off Islands of 
 the Philippines. We had been down into the 
 depths of the ocean, imprisoned in a plunging 
 ship; there had been sickness, sorrow, despair, 
 and death, but an all-merciful Providence had 
 brought us safely through. We dare not look 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 47 
 
 backward, but always forward, otherwise we 
 could not hope to do the work lying farther on. 
 
 The Colonel was granted a leave of absence 
 and we went to Oregon for a short visit with 
 relatives, then on to Illinois to visit the Colonel's 
 people in his old home town of Carlinville, then 
 down to Florida to sail again for Cuba, for the 
 Colonel was to rejoin his regular regiment, the 
 2nd U. S. Cavalry. This regiment was stationed 
 near Matanzas in the Havana province. We 
 went on board ship about six in the evening, 
 and morning found us in the harbor at Havana. 
 
 How good it seemed to be back once more 
 with the old regiment what a joy to meet the 
 friends we had not seen for three years. What 
 a pleasure to hear again the golden notes of the 
 trumpets, and to see the prancing horses. My 
 beautiful Patsy was not with them. We had 
 taken him with us when we went to Santiago. 
 He had contracted a disease of the eyes com- 
 mon to horses in the tropics, and had lost the 
 sight of one eye. We brought him back to the 
 United States and sent him to the Colonel's 
 father, where he could live a life of ease in the 
 green meadows on the old home farm. He fi- 
 nally became totally blind. While we were in 
 Manila we received a letter from the Colonel's 
 father telling us Patsy was no more. Many 
 were the tears I shed, for we had been devoted 
 
48 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 comrades for many years. 
 
 Down through the ages the horse has left 
 his hoofprints on the pages of history. What 
 American does not glow with pride when read- 
 ing of the valiant deeds of our cavalry at the 
 battle of Molino del Rey, during the Mexican 
 war. Two hundred and fifty of our cavalry 
 put to flight two thousand Mexican cavalry. 
 When our trumpeters sounded the thrilling and 
 soul-inspiring notes of the "charge," our gallant 
 two hundred and fifty went in under a wither- 
 ing fire from the Mexican Infantry. They lost 
 a hundred horses and many men, but forty 
 grand old cavalry horses, their saddles empty, 
 kept their places in the ranks and drove ahead 
 of them two thousand Mexican cavalry. 
 
 Read Redington's beautiful story of "Bugler 
 Brooks." 
 
 When the troopers of the 1st U. S. Cavalry 
 charged the Nez Perce Indians in a fight at 
 Camas Meadows, Idaho, Bugler Brooks was 
 shot and fell from his saddle, fatally wounded. 
 His faithful horse dashed on for a time, but 
 realizing that his young master was not in the 
 saddle, he dashed back to where the boy lay, 
 standing over him, he whinnied for the young 
 soldier to mount. Brooks caught hold of the 
 stirrup strap and pulled himself to his knees, 
 then fell back dead. The faithful horse circled 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 49 
 
 around the lifeless body, champing and whinny- 
 ing, then stood over him until Brooks' captain 
 dashed back and gathered into his arms the life- 
 less body all this under a withering fire from 
 the Indian warriors. 
 
 Who has not read of the midnight ride of 
 Paul Revere, and reading realized that without 
 his gallant steed the message that saved a na- 
 tion could not have been delivered. 
 
 "A hurry of hoofs in a village street, 
 
 A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark, 
 
 And beneath from the pebbles, in passing, a 
 
 spark 
 Struck out by a steed that flies fearless and 
 
 fleet: 
 That was all ! And yet, through the gloom and 
 
 the light, 
 
 The fate of a nation was riding that night; 
 And the spark struck out by that steed, in his 
 
 flight, 
 Kindled the land into flame with its heat. 
 
 "For, borne on the night-wind of the Past, 
 
 Through all our history, to the last, 
 
 In the hour of darkness, and peril, and need, 
 
 The people will waken to listen and hear 
 
 The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed, 
 
 And the midnight message of Paul Revere." 
 
 One could go on indefinitely citing interest- 
 ing and thrilling deeds done by our faithful 
 friend, the horse, but I will close my eulogy 
 
50 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 with a quotation from the book of Job, Chapter 
 39, verses 21, 22 and 25. 
 
 "He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his 
 
 strength ; 
 He goeth on to meet the armed men 
 
 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; 
 Neither turneth he back from the sword. 
 
 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, Ha; 
 
 And he smelleth the battle afar off, 
 
 The thunder of the captains, and the shouting." 
 
 We were at our station near Matanzas for 
 about seven months and enjoyed it very much. 
 The winter climate in the province of Havana 
 was ideal, just enough snap in the air to make 
 it bracing, and weeks of sunshine. I remember 
 our having ripe tomatoes all winter. 
 
 In the early spring our regiment was ordered 
 to the United States. We "rejoiced with ex- 
 ceeding great joy" when this order was re- 
 ceived. The regiment was to take station at 
 Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. All American 
 troops in Cuba were withdrawn at that time. 
 
 Fort Ethan Allen was an attractive station. 
 All the buildings were of brick. We were on 
 a street car line and only five miles from the 
 city of Burlington. 
 
 There was an immense riding hall, built of 
 brick, for in the winter the snow fell quite deep 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 51 
 
 and the mercury dropped to 22 degrees below 
 zero, when the drills and hurdle jumping took 
 place in the big riding hall. Saturday was set 
 aside as the day for the officers and their wives, 
 and while the soldiers occupied the gallery as 
 spectators, as we did the hurdle jumping. I 
 missed my beautiful Patsy, for he could soar 
 over the hurdles like a bird. I rode a troop 
 horse called "Brigadier." "Brigadier" could 
 jump, but sometimes objected to the breast 
 high hurdle. I could always make him take it, 
 but he would retaliate by kicking his heels high 
 in the air as soon as he landed on the other 
 side of the hurdle. 
 
 Summer at Fort Ethan Allen was very pleas- 
 ant, but when winter came it was trying, for 
 we had all been for quite a time in tropical 
 countries. The following spring I became so ill 
 we found it necessary to go south. 
 
 The Colonel was given a detail at the Agri- 
 cultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Our 
 life at the old A. and M. College was most inter- 
 esting and enjoyable. The A. and M. College is 
 a military school and the Colonel was Com- 
 mandant of Cadets. 
 
 David F. Houston, afterwards President 
 Wilson's Secretary of Agriculture, was at that 
 time President of the A. and M. College. We 
 were there two years with Dr. and Mrs. Hous- 
 
52 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 ton. They were delightful people to meet and 
 we enjoyed being with them. Doctor Houston 
 and the Colonel, at that time a captain, became 
 warm friends. When their day's work was done 
 they would repair to the tennis court for what 
 they called a "rattling" game of tennis. The 
 cadets were a fine and manly lot of young men, 
 and we made many warm friends among them, 
 as well as among the professors and their fam- 
 ilies. 
 
 Five miles from the college was the little city 
 of Bryan. The people of Bryan were a splendid 
 class of people and we enjoyed them. I must 
 not forget Doctor and Mrs. Houston's little son 
 Franklin, then about four years of age. I re- 
 member that he was an attendant at Sunday 
 School. Franklin had become much interested 
 in search-lights. This was the year of the 
 Exposition at St. Louis, and Franklin wanted 
 very much to go to the exposition to see a 
 search-light. He asked Doctor Houston to tell 
 him all about search-lights ; this his father did. 
 When he finished Franklin said, "Now, papa, 
 tell me about Israelites." 
 
 The detail at the college was for three years, 
 but at the end of that time the authorities at 
 the college asked that the Colonel be allowed to 
 remain a year longer. The War Department 
 granted this request. In the meantime the 2nd 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG S3 
 
 Cavalry was ordered to leave Fort Ethan Allen 
 for station in the Philippine Islands. They sailed 
 from New York. On the voyage over some 
 of the regiment left the transport and visited 
 the Pyramids. It was hard to have them 
 go without us, but before the end of the 
 Colonel's detail at the college they were back 
 in the United States with station at Fort Des 
 Moines, Iowa, and here we joined them later. 
 At the end of the four years at the A. and M. 
 College I found myself well and strong and fit 
 for the strenuous Army life. 
 
 We bade farewell to our many warm friends 
 at the college and Bryan, and after a short leave, 
 joined the old regiment at Des Moines. This 
 was a regimental post, splendid buildings of 
 brick, and a beautiful parade ground. We were 
 in the suburbs of the city ; street cars ran out 
 to the gate of the garrison and the country was 
 very attractive. Running into the city on the 
 street cars we ran through cherry orchards, 
 the branches of the trees almost touching the 
 cars. In the summer the parade ground was 
 white with clover blossoms. But in contrast 
 to all this beauty, we experienced some fearful 
 thunder storms. We had been through some 
 hair-raising storms in Cuba and Arizona, but 
 nothing quite so bad as these storms at Fort 
 Des Moines. 
 
54 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 In the winter of 1907-1908 the Ute Indians 
 made trouble and settlers asked for troops. This 
 was at Thunder Butte, South Dakota. The en- 
 tire 2d Cavalry was ordered to South Dakota, 
 leaving only enough soldiers at Fort Des Moines 
 for guard and garrison duty. 
 
 Some time after the departure of the regi- 
 ment for South Dakota I received the follow- 
 ing letter from Lieut. McCoy, aide to President 
 Roosevelt. This I forwarded immediately to 
 Colonel Sargent. 
 
 WHITE HOUSE, 
 
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 1907 
 Dear Major: 
 
 The President has just finished your re- 
 cent book on "Santiago" and is most in- 
 terested in it, as are all the rest of us who 
 were on the spot. 
 
 It is the first cool and critical work on 
 the subject. 
 
 You will be ordered to Washington soon 
 for temporary duty. Will you inform me 
 at once when it would be most agreeable 
 or convenient for you to come. 
 With compliments 
 
 Very truly 
 
 FRANK R. McCoy 
 MAJOR HERBT SARGENT 
 2d U. S. Cav'y. 
 
 After forwarding the Washington letter to 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 55 
 
 my husband I wrote to Lieutenant McCoy, ex- 
 plaining the situation. 
 
 As soon as the Colonel received Lieutenant 
 McCoy's letter he put his little trunk on the 
 back of a mule, and rode 80 miles before he 
 could get transportation back to Fort Des 
 Moines. We were greatly puzzled over this 
 order requiring Colonel Sargent to go to Wash- 
 ington, naturally we could form no idea as to 
 the nature of this "temporary duty" at the na- 
 tion's capitol. 
 
 As soon as the Colonel reached home we 
 packed our trunks, and leaving our quarters in 
 the care of our faithful colored man, we took 
 the train for Washington. Arrived in the city, 
 the Colonel reported for duty. 
 
 President Roosevelt had read and enjoyed the 
 Colonel's "Campaign of Santiago de Cuba," and 
 was interested in meeting and talking with the 
 author of the book. He gave the Colonel a 
 dinner at the White House, when they enjoyed 
 "fighting their battles over again." There was 
 a luncheon later on and the President told the 
 Colonel he need be in no hurry to return to 
 Fort Des Moines, that he could remain in 
 Washington for two weeks longer if he cared 
 to do so. We were anxious to return to our 
 station, and were in Washington only a few 
 days longer. 
 
56 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 Some time later all the regiment was ordered 
 back to Fort Des Moines with the exception 
 of one troop. This troop spent the winter in a 
 cantonment or dugout in South Dakota. 
 
 In the spring or summer of 1908 Colonel 
 Sargent was ordered to Washington to take 
 the fourteen months course in the Army War 
 College. Every year officers of the army who 
 had distinguished themselves in some way were 
 given this fourteen months course at this 
 college. 
 
 Packing our household goods and bidding our 
 friends goodbye, we went on to Washington. 
 
 This detail was interesting and enjoyable. 
 Washington is our most beautiful city. The 
 broad streets and the magnificent old trees add 
 to the charm. There were many interesting and 
 historic places to visit. We met many distin- 
 guished people, and attended the reception giv- 
 en by President Roosevelt to the people of the 
 Army and Navy in the capitol. 
 
 During the summer all the officers at the 
 Army War College visited the battlefields of 
 the Civil War. They went down through the 
 valley of the Shenandoah; were at Antietam 
 and closed their very interesting trip at Gettys- 
 burg. I met them at Gettysburg and spent two 
 most interesting days. The officers had been 
 two months making this study of the battles 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 57 
 
 and each officer was required to give an account 
 of some certain battle, so this trip was instruc- 
 tive as well as interesting. I have always 
 looked back on my visit to Gettysburg with 
 pleasure and later wrote the following sketch. 
 
 GETTYSBURG 
 
 It was my good fortune some years ago, to 
 visit the battlefield of Gettysburg and to stand 
 on that historic spot where Abraham Lincoln 
 stood when he delivered his immortal address. 
 
 We can all recall his words, "The world will 
 little note we long remember what we say 
 here," and yet we realize that these words of 
 Abraham Lincoln's will be remembered as long 
 as our nation shall endure. 
 
 The battle line at Gettysburg was twenty- 
 five miles long. Along the crest of a hill, in 
 the edge of the woods, the old Confederate 
 cannons are all in place from this point one 
 can look down over the grassy slope where 
 General Pickett sacrificed the very flower of 
 the Southern Army in that last desperate 
 charge. Bronze tablets mark the positions of 
 the different divisions, and splendid monuments 
 stand in memory of the men of the brigades 
 who fought so gallantly and died so gloriously 
 that our nation might live. 
 There are perhaps one hundred and eighty 
 
58 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 beautiful monuments on the battlefield. 
 
 From the monument on Little Round Top I 
 looked down over the valley of death. But 
 looking through the summer haze, with the air 
 sweet with the perfume of the wild honey- 
 suckle, it was impossible to vision the scene of 
 carnage that had taken place in the valley be- 
 iow me on those memorable days in July, 1863. 
 
 The town of Gettysburg is a quaint old 
 place. Many of the buildings are battle scarred, 
 for the old town received its baptism of fire. 
 On the outskirts stands a little gray cottage. 
 This cottage was once the home of Jennie Wade, 
 the only woman killed in the battle of Gettys- 
 burg. On that second dreadful day, when the 
 troops fought through the town, this cottage 
 stood between the lines. In the panel of the 
 old front door is a round hole made by the bullet 
 which killed nineteen year old Jennie Wade. A 
 small room in the little gray cottage is used as 
 a museum. There are many interesting relics 
 from the battlefield, but most interesting 
 among the articles in the little room is a pic- 
 ture of Jennie Wade, an old time daguerreotype. 
 Pretty Jennie's soldier sweetheart was killed in 
 battle two days before her death. In the ceme- 
 tery of the old town her body lies, and above 
 her grave stands a pillar of white marble 
 surmounted by the figure of a young girl. This 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 59 
 
 monument was placed there by the women of 
 Ohio, a tribute to the memory of sweet faced 
 Jennie Wade. 
 
 Long years have passed since those trying 
 days, and with their passing the wounds of 
 our nation have been healed. 
 
 In the cool of the summer evenings, when 
 the setting sun shines in long rays of light 
 across the battlefield, the good people of the 
 old town bring their chairs out onto the nar- 
 row brick sidewalks, and sit in friendly con- 
 versation until night falls over Gettysburg. 
 
 "For the sweet winds of peace down the high- 
 ways are blowing, 
 
 And songbirds are singing where bullets once 
 sped. 
 
 The wheat and the corn in the old fields are 
 growing, 
 
 In soil once hallowed by blood of the dead." 
 
 In the spring of 1909 the Colonel had fin- 
 ished his detail at the Army War College, and 
 we again packed our household goods and joined 
 the 2nd Cavalry at San Francisco. 
 
60 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 MY SECOND VOYAGE. 
 
 On the 6th day of December, 1909, I sailed 
 on the big army transport Logan for the 
 Philippine Islands. This was my second voyage, 
 but in this case, instead of starting on the long 
 voyage alone, as far as any friends or ac- 
 quaintances were concerned, I went with my 
 husband and his regiment, the grand old 2nd 
 Cavalry, Colonel Frank West commanding. The 
 entire regiment, headquarters and band, were 
 on the Logan. Our destination was the Island 
 of Mindanao, one of the southern islands, and 
 the second largest in the Philippine group. 
 
 We carried a Christmas tree from San Fran- 
 cisco, for on the Logan were twenty-five chil- 
 dren. 
 
 The wireless was in operation in 1909, and as 
 we entered the straits of Mindanao, a favorite 
 resort of pirates in days gone by, we began to 
 get orders from army headquarters in Manila 
 designating the stations of the different squad- 
 rons, for our regiment was to garrison a num- 
 ber of different stations in Mindanao. 
 
 Into the blue vault of heaven the message 
 was cast in Manila, and out of the blue vault of 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 61 
 
 heaven the message was received by our wire- 
 less operator in his little cabin on the upper 
 deck of the big transport. 
 My diary follows. 
 
 DIARY OF MRS. H. H. SARGENT 
 
 ARMY TRANSPORT LOGAN, 
 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 December 6th 1909. 
 
 Sailed at 12 o'clock noon for Philippine 
 Islands, 2nd U. S. Cavalry, bound for southern 
 station. Rough and looking like a storm. About 
 three in afternoon ran into a very rough sea. 
 Had a bad storm which lasted through the 
 night. All, or nearly all passengers were 
 sick. Decks running with water. Surely the 
 Lord looks after those who "go down to the 
 sea in ships." 
 
 Tuesday, December 7, 1909. 
 
 Sea a bit smoother this morning. Everybody 
 feeling better. Sun shining as I write. I was a 
 bit sick last night for a short time and spoiled 
 my previous good record by succumbing to the 
 complaint and parting very reluctantly with my 
 dinner. 
 
 Wednesday, December 8, 1909. 
 
 Waves are running high this morning and 
 
62 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 some of our passengers are still confined to 
 their staterooms. I was awakened last night 
 by the howling of the wind and roaring of the 
 waves. The ship rolled and rocked and tossed 
 like a cork on the heaving ocean. Had a light 
 breakfast this A. M. and feel fine. 
 
 Thursday, December 9, 1909. 
 
 Sea a little smoother this morning, cloudy but 
 pleasant temperature. Have had breakfast, 
 two oranges, a cup of coffee and a slice of toast. 
 Feeling well. All passengers hoping for better 
 weather. A number still quite sick. Soldiers 
 in bad shape as sea was very rough yesterday 
 afternoon. Guard hardly able to do duty a 
 pretty rough voyage so far. 
 
 Friday, December 10, 1909. 
 
 Gale blowing this A. M. White caps form- 
 ing. Not pleasant out on deck. Everybody 
 much better in health and men drilling on deck 
 below us. 
 
 Had grapefruit for breakfast and feel more 
 cheerful. We are away behind on account of 
 heavy seas. Will not reach Honolulu for several 
 days. Hope to stop there long enough to go 
 ashore and see the city. 
 
 Saturday, December 11, 1909. 
 Sea comparatively smooth this morning. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 63 
 
 Passengers all looking brighter. Yesterday 
 afternoon we passed the transport Thomas. A 
 number of the passengers received wireless 
 messages from the Thomas. The sun came up 
 in splendor, but the rain poured down soon af- 
 ter and it is quite cloudy now. We hope to 
 reach Honolulu Tuesday morning and expect to 
 remain there over night. Saturday morning 
 inspection is now going on. Vaccinated yes- 
 terday afternoon. 
 
 Sunday, December 12, 1909. 
 
 Sunny and bright this A. M. Sea is rather 
 rough, but every one feeling much better. We 
 are to have services this morning in the din- 
 ing salon. Sea was rough last night, causing 
 a very peculiar motion of the ship and making 
 my bed in the upper berth a very uncomfort- 
 able place. This reminded me of Mark Twain's 
 advice to those who feel a desire to travel 
 "Pack a suit case, put some stale cake and 
 sandwiches into a shoe box and go to bed on 
 the top shelf in the pantry." I sleep or try 
 to sleep on the "top shelf" in our state room. 
 
 Monday, December 13, 1909. 
 
 A beautiful morning and sea smoother than 
 at any time since we sailed. Passengers all in 
 good spirits. Following along in our wake is 
 
64 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 the liner "Asia." It seems good to see an- 
 other ship on this vast expanse of water. Had 
 some music in the dining salon last night. 
 Every one busy writing letters today as we 
 hope to reach Honolulu early tomorrow where 
 they can be mailed to our friends at home. 
 
 Tuesday, December 14, 1909. 
 
 Reached Honolulu early this morning and are 
 coaling the transport for the long voyage to 
 the Philippines. This morning we went ashore 
 and spent the forenoon looking through the 
 shops. Found many beautiful and curious 
 things. This afternoon we expect to take an 
 auto ride through the city and country. There 
 is to be a dance in a hotel in town for the 
 transport's passengers. Weather beautiful. Air 
 mild and balmy. 
 
 Wednesday, December 15, 1909. 
 
 Beautiful today and we are still in port, but 
 are to sail this afternoon at four. The Ha- 
 waiian Band has just come on deck to give us 
 a farewell concert. We went to the dance at 
 the Young Hotel last night, but did not stay 
 long. The music was good and the floor fine. 
 This forenoon we did some shopping and came 
 on board laden with packages, flowers and 
 plants. I have a big bunch of red carnations 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 65 
 
 in my stateroom. Everybody in good spirits 
 and feeling fine. This is a beautiful place. 
 
 Before our transport left the harbor of Ha- 
 waii the native band came on board and gave 
 a concert which we all enjoyed. A Hawaiian 
 woman sang two native melodies; the last one 
 Alohoa was most beautiful. We all wore 
 around our necks long chains or wreaths of 
 flowers, "lai" the natives call them. Our stop 
 at Honolulu will long be remembered with 
 pleasure. This evening I could lie on the 
 couch in my stateroom and watch the sun sink 
 into the ocean. We are all tired after two 
 strenuous days on shore. 
 
 Thursday, December 16, 1909. 
 
 White caps this morning, but glorious sun- 
 shine and summer air. We have before us a 
 long voyage as our next stop will be the Island 
 of Guam. 
 
 Nine days until Christmas. I am looking 
 forward to opening my Christmas box with as 
 much pleasure as a child. This will be the 
 second Christmas I have spent on the Pacific 
 ocean. Passengers seem in good spirits and 
 are almost all out on deck, enjoying the sun- 
 shine. Growing warm, but not uncomfortably 
 so, 
 
66 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 Friday, December 17, 1909. 
 
 A bright and beautiful morning sea a bit 
 rough, but "deeply, darkly, beautifully blue." 
 Down on the lower deck the men are at 
 drill, going through the setting-up exercises. 
 Our voyage is half over, for which I feel truly 
 thankful. Even with good weather and excel- 
 lent company the voyage is becoming a bit 
 monotonous. 
 
 Saturday, December 18, 1909. 
 
 Cloudy this morning. Sea fairly smooth. 
 Have had breakfast, hot cakes and coffee. 
 
 There are rumors of a dance on the lower 
 deck tonight. Last evening the band gave a 
 very enjoyable concert. Many of the pas- 
 sengers complain of the heat, but so far I have 
 not found it unpleasant. I am wondering how 
 we will find living among the Moros, as com- 
 pared with life among the Cubans and Filip- 
 pinos. It will be an entirely new experience 
 for me. 
 
 Sunday, December 19, 1909. 
 
 A beautiful morning. We are to 'have ser- 
 vices in the dining salon at 10 o'clock. There 
 was a dance last night in which the majority 
 of the passengers participated. We danced on 
 the deck and enjoyed it very much, The 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 67 
 
 night was an ideal one, the moon made a path 
 of silver across the ocean, and the stars 
 gleamed brightly. We looked for the Southern 
 Cross, but failed to find it. Went to bed at 
 eleven and slept sweetly "rocked in the cradle 
 of the deep." 
 
 Tuesday, December 21, 1909. 
 
 Clear and bright with a smooth sea and a 
 fresh breeze. Last night we crossed the 180th 
 degree of longitude, hence losing a day, Mon- 
 day the 20th. 
 
 Only four days until Christmas. Last night 
 the moon shone brightly, the sky was clear of 
 clouds and altogether it was a perfect night. 
 We are now almost half way to Guam. 
 
 These long voyages are certainly a trial of 
 patience, but "sufficient unto the day is the 
 evil thereof." To take each day as it comes 
 and make the best of it, is the true philosophy 
 of life and the only way to endure these long 
 voyages. 
 
 Wednesday, December 22, 1909. 
 
 Clear and much warmer this morning. We 
 had quite a shower last night. 
 
 Great preparations are going on for the 
 children's Christmas tree. Some of the little 
 folks are wondering how Santa Claus can get 
 
68 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 on the ship, how the reindeers can cross all 
 this water. We are all hoping for clear weath- 
 er; the moon will soon be full and moonlight 
 nights on the ocean are wonderfully beautiful. 
 The farther one gets out to sea the deeper the 
 blue of the ocan. In the morning the water is 
 blue, in the evening it is grey, and at night 
 gleams like silver. 
 
 Today I shall make candy bags for the chil- 
 dren of the enlisted men they must have 
 their Christmas too. 
 
 Thursday, December 23, 1909. 
 
 A bit cloudy this morning and very warm. 
 I have just finished some work in my state- 
 room and as soon as this little record is writ- 
 ten I must get to work on those candy bags I 
 am making for the Christmas tree. 
 
 It hardly seems possible that we are nearing 
 Christmas, with the heat almost unbearable. 
 The band gave a concert last night. We passed 
 Wake Island last night about midnight, I be- 
 lieve. This has been a long voyage. 
 
 Friday, December 24, 1909. 
 Sea smoother this morning than at any time 
 since we sailed. Warm with but little breeze. 
 It required some effort on my part to get 
 ready for breakfast, so great was my lack of 
 energy. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 69 
 
 Tomorrow will be Christmas. This tropical 
 heat and a blazing sun makes it hard to real- 
 ize. I have just been down to the commissary 
 to get apples and candy for the Christmas 
 bags. Anything to vary the monotony of this 
 long voyage is welcome. 
 
 The men are taking the setting-up exercises. 
 The band gave us a concert last night. 
 
 Saturday, December 25, 1909. 
 
 Clear and warm and Christmas Day. Sea 
 quite rough and some of the passengers quite 
 sick because of it. 
 
 At nine o'clock the Christmas tree was all 
 ready on the lower deck, and Santa Claus ar- 
 rived soon after the reading of a telegram 
 from him by our Chaplain. The little folks 
 were overjoyed and the grown-ups had a good 
 time. 
 
 We are running southwest and the heat is 
 great. I have enjoyed opening my Christmas 
 boxes from home, beautiful gifts from all for 
 the Major and myself. I made seven bags of 
 antiseptic gauze and filled them with candy 
 and an apple each for the seven little children 
 of the enlisted men. Every one seems jolly 
 and all seemed to enjoy the Christmas tree. 
 There is to be a dance tonight. Our Christ- 
 mas dinner is yet to come. 
 
70 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 Sunday, December 26, 1909. 
 "Pulled through." 
 
 Monday, December 27, 1909. 
 
 Sea smooth, but temperature decidedly 
 warm. Last night was about the warmest I 
 have ever experienced at sea. I could not 
 sleep until near morning. We hope to reach 
 Guam early tomorrow morning. 
 
 I have begun my letters home as they must 
 go back on the Logan. Twenty-two days since 
 we sailed from San Francisco we have about 
 a week still ahead. 
 
 Tuesday, December 28, 1909. 
 
 This morning finds us in the harbor at Guam. 
 The island is small but very beautiful, covered 
 with groves of palm trees and tropical foliage. 
 The transport cannot run in near shore, so 
 launches have been sent in to carry any of 
 our passengers who care to see the town. 
 
 Boats are busy carrying freight from the 
 transport to the shore as the United States 
 has a station on the Island of Guam. Quite a 
 number of our people have gone ashore and 
 more are going later, but I shall content myself 
 with looking at the Island from the deck of 
 the transport. We are to sail this afternoon 
 at 6 o'clock. Still four days to Malabang. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 71 
 
 Wednesday, December 29, 1909. 
 
 Raining and sea quite rough this morning 
 and hot, oh, so hot. We left Guam this morn- 
 ing about 6 o'clock. 
 
 The harbor at Guam is beautiful, a half 
 circle, and the bluffs are grand with the spray 
 breaking high against the rocks and the long 
 line of green water and foam along the coral 
 reefs. We are now on the last lap of our 
 long voyage, and hope to arrive at our first 
 station, Malabang, where one squadron will 
 be sent ashore. 
 
 No orders have been issued by our Colonel 
 and all the people of the regiment are on the 
 anxious seat. 
 
 These voyages are certainly a trial of pa- 
 tience a drenching tropical rain has just driv- 
 en us into our staterooms. 
 
 Thursday, December 30, 1909. 
 
 Sea very rough with clear skies and a burn- 
 ing sun. 
 
 Orders designating the stations of the three 
 squadrons were published this morning. Every 
 one seems pleased. 
 
 The band gave us a concert last night, which 
 we all enjoyed very much. So warm this 
 morning I have found it quite a task to do 
 
72 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 anything, and in consequence have left undone 
 many things I should have done. 
 
 Friday, December 31, 1909. 
 
 Sea a bit rough, very warm. Have just fin- 
 ished breakfast and am ready for the day. I 
 hope it will not prove to be a very long one. 
 This being the last day of the month, the men 
 are out for muster and inspection. 
 
 Yesterday the transport made a good run, 
 302 miles. We are all looking forward to the 
 happy day when we can leave the ship for 
 our stations. Tomorrow will be New Year's 
 and we will be near land. Last night the 
 breeze was on our side of the ship and we 
 passed a very comfortable night. I must try 
 to finish some of my letters today, for as soon 
 as our squadrons begin to land I am afraid I 
 will be too interested to write. 
 
 OPEN AIR CONCERT 
 
 THIS EVENING AT 7:45 O'CLOCK 
 
 SECOND CAVALRY BAND 
 
 Louis Witt, Conductor 
 
 PROGRAM. 
 
 1. March, "Dixie Land I Love You" Ayer 
 
 2. Serenade, "Departed Days" Louis 
 
 3. Mazurka, "Zulma" .Roth 
 
 4. Solo for two cornets "Panorama" 
 
 Greenwood 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 73 
 
 5. Characteristic, "Noisy Bill" Laescy 
 
 6. Young Werner Parting Song Bettger 
 
 U. S. A. T. Logan, at Sea. 
 
 December 31, 1909. 
 
 Saturday, January 1st, 1910. 
 
 New Year's day on the Pacific Ocean. Sea 
 fairly smooth, sun very hot. Breakfast over 
 and the duties of the day begun. I did not sit 
 up to see the old year out, but many of our 
 passengers did. We hope to sight land tonight 
 or tomorrow. How glad we will be when this 
 long voyage is over. The heat is becoming 
 greater every day. 
 
 Sunday, January 2, 1910. 
 
 Land in sight. I feel like Columbus must 
 have felt when he discovered the New World. 
 How good it looks to us weary mariners. Last 
 night we had a dance, but it was really too 
 warm for dancing, the night was hot, but 
 there is a fine land breeze this morning which 
 is very refreshing. Many of the ladies are 
 writing letters home. We have just had ser- 
 vices in the dining salon this will be our last 
 services on the transport. 
 
 The first squadron, with headquarters, will 
 leave the transport at Jolo and here we will 
 say goodbye to our many dear friends, includ- 
 ing our good Chaplain Flemming. 
 
74 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 The 2d squadron will leave the ship at Mala 
 bang. The Major and myself will be the last 
 to leave the ship. 
 
 Monday, January 3, 1910. 
 
 Anchored in the harbor at Malabang, 2nd 
 squadron unloading freight as this is their 
 station. 
 
 The long range of mountains is heavily tim- 
 bered and very beautiful to see. We, the 
 Major and myself, expect to get off at Jolo 
 (Holo) for station. This is the third time the 
 order designating our station has been 
 changed. Last night was very, very warm and 
 I could not sleep. 
 
 Tuesday, January 4, 1910. 
 
 The Island of Jolo is in sight and we hope 
 to land at our station there in a few hours. 
 The sea is glassy and the heat great. We are 
 sailing through the straights and many islands 
 are in sight. 
 
 We discovered yesterday that our freight is 
 not on this transport, it has been almost the 
 last straw with me. I have looked forward all 
 this long voyage to unpacking our household 
 goods and beginning life in our own home now 
 we will have to camp in an empty house for 
 goodness knows how long. I have everything 
 ready for going ashore. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 75 
 
 Here we will bid goodbye to some of our 
 dearest friends as the 3rd squadron will go on 
 to Camp Overton. 
 
 Wednesday, January 5, 1910. 
 
 Clear and warm, sea smooth. We reached 
 Jolo yesterday and there sent ashore the 1st 
 squadron, going ashore ourselves with the ex- 
 pectation of remaining. Late in the afternoon 
 orders were issued changing the Major's sta- 
 tion to Camp Overton. When the soldiers of 
 the 3rd squadron learned that Major Sargent 
 was to go with them to Camp Overton as their 
 commanding officer they broke into loud 
 cheers. The Major is always much liked by 
 his men. 
 
 All of our baggage, consisting of heavy 
 trunks and suitcases, had to be carried back 
 to the transport. We hope to reach Overton 
 early tomorrow morning. Altogether our sta- 
 tion has been changed four times, I am al- 
 most a wreck. The heat has been very great 
 and sleep has been almost impossible. 
 
 It is now almost noon. Have just passed a 
 lighthouse on a small island. We can see 
 islands on all sides of us. It breaks the mon- 
 otony of the long voyage to be able to see the 
 land. 
 
 At Jolo the natives came flocking around the 
 
76 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 ship in canoes, diving for pennies. They look 
 more like tadpoles than human beings and 
 were repulsive to me. I wonder if they will 
 surround us at Overton I hope not. 
 
 Jolo is a beautiful place, and the houses in 
 the walled city are very attractive. The of- 
 ficers stationed there were very kind to us 
 and found places for all our officers and their 
 families. 
 
 Thirty days today since we sailed from the 
 United States. 
 
 Thursday, January 6, 1910. 
 
 Camp Overton, Mindanao. Reached here this 
 A. M. Came ashore about 12 after having 
 lunch on the Logan. I am writing this in my 
 own house. All is confusion, freight being 
 hauled up from the dock. Officers have chos- 
 en quarters and moved their families in. Too 
 tired to write more today. 
 
 Thus endeth my diary. 
 
 Our long voyage was over, by this time we 
 could fully realize that we were on the other 
 side of the world. 
 
 Here were we, a little colony of Americans, 
 thousands of miles from home, down in the 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 77 
 
 depths of the tropical forests, surrounded by a 
 treacherous tribe, but above our little camps 
 floated the Stars and Stripes, the symbol of 
 Liberty we were pledged to follow wherever it 
 might lead. No one can ever know how strong 
 in their hearts is the love for the old Flag 
 until they see it floating in the breeze on a 
 foreign shore. 
 
 Our quarters at Camp Overton were quite 
 primitive. The soldiers' barracks were built of 
 rough lumber, but were comfortable. The set 
 of quarters we occupied was the only set built 
 of lumber, rough planks, the other quarters 
 for officers were nipa shacks, frames made of 
 bamboo poles covered with palm leaves. But 
 they were rain proof and quite picturesque 
 when ready for occupancy. Our porches were 
 made beautiful with hanging air plants, and 
 many different varieties of orchids. Our lights 
 were kerosene lamps and candles. Once a 
 month a transport came to our isolated camp 
 bringing mail from the United States via 
 Manila. 
 
 General Pershing was in command of the 
 Department of Mindanao, with headquarters 
 at Zamboango, beautiful Zamboango, the 
 quarters in a bower of trees, vines and flowers. 
 Stately and handsome Mrs. Pershing was the 
 "First lady of the land" at Mindanao. All the 
 
78 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 world knows the fate of Mrs. Pershing and her 
 three little girls, but all the world does not 
 know that there are those who can go bravely 
 on, doing the work given them to do though 
 their hearts are broken. 
 
 We were now down among the treacherous 
 Moros, Mohammedans, with great contempt for 
 us "Christian dogs." The "Datoes" or rulers 
 had offered eight hundred pesos (dollars) for 
 every American rifle the men of the tribe 
 could get by waylaying and killing our sol- 
 diers. An order was issued forbidding any 
 man to leave the garrison alone, but notwith- 
 standing all precautions, a number of our men 
 and one young officer were killed with knives 
 and spears. 
 
 Moros, monkeys, big snakes and wild hogs 
 abounded. Speaking of snakes one was killed 
 only a short distance from our quarters which 
 measured 18 and one-half feet in length, and 
 as large around as a man's thigh, beautifully 
 marked and colored, much like our garter 
 snakes at home. These snakes belong to the 
 boa species of reptile and crush their prey. 
 
 After two or three months at Camp Overton, 
 Major Sargent was sent to Malabang for duty. 
 In just one year to a day we were on our way 
 back to Camp Overton. In a very short time 
 we bade farewell to our dear friends at Over- 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 79 
 
 ton and sailed for Manila. This had been our 
 station for almost two years during the insur- 
 rection twelve years before. 
 
 Some two months later we sailed for the 
 United States on our fourth and last voyage 
 across the Pacific ocean. 
 
 Our life in the sunny islands had been most 
 interesting and unusual. There had been trials 
 of course, and many hardships, but how glad- 
 ly would we live again "those dear dead days 
 beyond recall." 
 
80 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE WORLD WAR. 
 
 Before leaving Manila my husband went be- 
 fore a retiring board, and was retired from ac- 
 tive service on account of disability; he had 
 become quite deaf. It was hard for him to re- 
 concile himself to giving up the army life, for 
 he was a born soldier, but with his usual phil- 
 osophic outlook on life, he cheerfully accepted 
 whatever came, and made the best of the situ- 
 ation. We both loved the army life and the old 
 regiment. The people of the regiment were 
 "home folks" to us. The regiment has made 
 a splendid record and we were very proud of 
 it. Organized in 1836 the regiment was known 
 as the Second Dragoons. On the third of 
 August, 1861, the regiment became known as 
 the Second Cavalry. I have never understood 
 why the name of the regiment was changed, 
 for the original name has always appealed to 
 me. Since its organization the regiment had 
 taken part in 162 battles. The beautiful old 
 battle flag of yellow silk carries many names 
 of battles, for it was carried through the Mex- 
 ican War, the War of the Rebellion, the Span- 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 81 
 
 ish-American War, and through many Indian 
 wars. 
 
 Finally the regiment did some fighting in 
 the Philippine Islands and in France. During 
 our war with Spain part of the Second Caval- 
 ry served in Cuba and Porto Rico and were 
 the only mounted cavalry in that war. 
 
 Troops "A", "C", "D" and "F" made up the 
 squadron in Cuba. Troop "B" in Porto Rico, 
 served as a bodyguard for General Miles. There 
 were not enough horse transports to carry all 
 the cavalry horses, and they were left behind 
 at Tampa, with one squadron from each regi- 
 ment to care for them. I have always felt 
 sympathy for the men of the squadrons left 
 behind. I think I know how great must have 
 been their disappointment. 
 
 The motto of the Second Cavalry is "Tou- 
 jours Pret" Always Ready. 
 
 Our homeward voyage was without incident. 
 It is a long voyage, but this was to be our last, 
 so we felt quite cheerful over it. 
 
 Arrived safely in port, we were for the first 
 time in many years, foot-loose and free to go 
 when and where we pleased. We decided to go 
 to Oregon, the land of my birth, and here we 
 finally made our home. 
 
 We bought a nice place in the little city of 
 Medford, in the Rogue River valley. Here we 
 
82 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 lived for four years, adjusting ourselves to civil 
 life and trying" not to look backward to our life 
 in the army, for this made us very lonely. We 
 missed our army friends for the bond between 
 army people is very strong. They are never 
 strangers; they all belong to one big family, 
 whose aims and interests are the same. We 
 missed the trumpet calls and the boom of the 
 sunset gun. 
 
 At the end of four years we were fortunate 
 in finding an ideal old place in the historic town 
 of Jacksonville. This we purchased, and leav- 
 ing our Medford place to be sold, we moved into 
 the old mansion in November. In the following 
 April my husband received a telegram from the 
 War Department asking him if he would be 
 willing to return to active service as Assistant 
 to the Chief Quartermaster of the Western De- 
 partment. His answer to this was "Yes." 
 
 At the time of his retirement my husband 
 made it understood that if his country ever 
 needed his help he would be ready to serve. 
 
 Conditions in Mexico were very bad; the air 
 seemed full of rumors of war. I realized it was 
 his duty to go, but I had some tears to shed, 
 for it was hard to leave our home and begin 
 again to "follow the flag." Of course I was not 
 required to go with him, but it was the logical 
 thing for me to do. I had always gone with 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 83 
 
 him, and I could not reconcile myself to being 
 left behind. We were very fortunate in find- 
 ing an excellent family who were anxious to 
 take charge of our home, and as soon as the 
 order came, we were ready to leave for San 
 Francisco, headquarters of the Western De- 
 partment. 
 
 When America entered the war against Ger- 
 many, I realized that we were in for the con- 
 flict, however long it might prove to be. I 
 had been through the Spanish-American war, 
 the Philippine insurrection, and there was 
 nothing for me to do but "gird on my armor" 
 and face with courage whatever came. My 
 husband's heart was set on getting to France, 
 and I resolved to follow him if possible. I 
 immediately trained for France by taking both 
 courses in first aid. I received my certifi- 
 cates and was registered in Washington as a 
 "cadet" or nurse's helper, only to learn later 
 that the age limit for cadets was 35 years, 
 and I was too old to serve. 
 
 Although recommended for command of a 
 brigade by ex-President Roosevelt and twenty- 
 four general officers of the United States 
 Army, my husband failed to obtain the ap- 
 pointment. This was the bitterest disappoint- 
 ment of his life. 
 
 From San Francisco we went to Princeton 
 
84 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 University where he organized the students 
 into an officers' training corps. Here we met 
 again ex-President and Mrs. Roosevelt. He 
 was invited to deliver an address before some 
 club at Princeton. Needless to say, the hall 
 where he spoke was crowded, and I have never 
 heard a public speaker receive so much ap- 
 plause. 
 
 On the day of his arrival the students were 
 reviewed by Roosevelt. I went down to the 
 drill ground in the afternoon. The review was 
 over and I went through the crowd of specta- 
 tors to speak to him. He came to meet me, 
 saying in his emphatic way, "I am glad to 
 meet you, Mrs. Sargent, truly glad; your 
 husband has written the finest history of the 
 Spanish-American war that has ever been 
 written." Just then a visitor came elbowing 
 her way through the crowd, saying "I want 
 to shake hands with the hero of San Juan 
 Hill." "Madam," said Roosevelt in a loud 
 voice, "I am not the hero of San Juan Hill, 
 General Hawkins was the hero of San Juan 
 Hill." I thought it fine of him. 
 
 In March, 1918, my husband was ordered 
 to Washington, D. C. He was detailed in the 
 War Plans Division of the General Staff in 
 the War College. This pleased us very much. 
 I had 'been very homesick that winter; we had 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 85 
 
 lived in Washington in 1909, and it was the 
 next best thing to going home. 
 
 We found the city greatly changed, from 
 being one of the most quiet and cleanest cities 
 in the United States, it was noisy and dirty. 
 There were all sorts of vehicles running to 
 and fro, and we often found it impossible to 
 get even standing room on the street cars. 
 It was hard to find vacant rooms; every avail- 
 able place was crowded with war workers, 
 but we finally found a room at the old Ulster 
 Inn, near Dupont Circle. We felt the war was 
 very near, and when the hospitals began to 
 fill with the wounded, we realized the horror 
 of it all. 
 
 While in San Francisco I helped to make 
 compresses, bandages and many garments for 
 the sick and wounded in the hospitals. At 
 Princeton the work went on, but when we 
 reached Washington I decided to try an en- 
 tirely different line of work in an army can- 
 teen. I found the work intensely interesting, 
 but very hard, and much to my regret I had 
 to give it up. 
 
 I count as my most interesting experience 
 while in Washington during the war, my meet- 
 ing with Madam Maria Bochkareva, com- 
 mander of the Russian women's "Battalion of 
 Death." When I learned that she was in 
 
86 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 Washington I was very anxious to meet her 
 for I had been thrilled with the accounts of 
 her courage and wonderful exploits. I had 
 gone down to the Army dispensary for treat- 
 ment, and while sitting in the crowded wait- 
 ing room, who should walk in but the very 
 person I longed to meet! I seemed to know 
 intuitively who she was. With her was a 
 slender dark man who proved to be her in- 
 terpreter, for she could not speak a word of 
 English. I immediately crossed the room, 
 and telling her interpreter who I was, asked 
 him to introduce me to the Madam. Just as 
 we were shaking hands her name was called 
 and I never met her again. 
 
 She was about my height, five feet eight, 
 but with broad shoulders and large frame. Her 
 complexion was very fair and colorless, eyes 
 gray, and hair dark brown. She wore her hair 
 "shingled" but not short. Her mouth and 
 chin were beautiful. I noticed the smallness 
 of her hands. She was dressed in an olive 
 drab uniform and across her breast were many 
 medals. She came to plead for help for her 
 country. When she finally obtained an inter- 
 view with President Wilson she dropped to 
 her knees to make her appeal. She failed in 
 her mission, and I have never heard of her 
 since. She was the daughter of a Russian 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 87 
 
 peasant, but a woman with a wonderful mind. 
 
 The Battalion of Death was made up of 
 girls from all ranks in life, college girls, daugh- 
 ters of the rich and peasant girls. They fought 
 heroically on the Galacian front and were 
 nearly all killed or wounded. Their brave com- 
 mander was herself seriously wounded, and 
 lay in a hospital for several months, paralyzed 
 from the waist down. As soon as she could 
 travel she came to America to plead for help. 
 
 Every war has its great poem. Out of the 
 World War came "In Flanders Fields," one of 
 the most widely known and most popular of 
 all the poems written during that conflict. It 
 has been claimed that this beautiful poem did 
 more to encourage enlistment than any one 
 thing done during the war. This poem was 
 written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of 
 the Canadian Medical Corps. He was working 
 in a base hospital when this poem was writ- 
 ten, and died soon after. He was stricken 
 with pneumonia, meningitis developed, and on 
 the fifth day he died. The poem follows. 
 
88 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 IN FLANDERS FIELDS 
 By John McCrae. 
 
 In Flanders fields the poppies grow 
 Between the crosses, row on row, 
 That mark our place, and in the sky, 
 The larks, still bravely singing, fly, 
 Scarce heard amid the guns below. 
 
 We are the dead; short days ago 
 We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 
 Loved and were loved, and now we lie 
 In Flanders fields. 
 
 Take up our quarrel with the foe! 
 To you from failing hands we throw 
 The torch; be yours to hold it high! 
 If ye break faith with us who die, 
 We shall not sleep, though poppies grow 
 In Flanders fields. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 89 
 
 Many answers have been written to this 
 poem. I was deeply affected when I read it, 
 and resolved to put my feelings into an answer. 
 My verses may not be called poetry by the 
 critics, but in no other way could I express 
 my emotion. 
 
 MY ANSWER. 
 
 Sleep well, beloved dead who lie in Flanders 
 Fields, 
 
 The soft winds bend the poppies' heads, 
 They shed slow tears of dew above your beds. 
 Sleep well, we have kept faith with you, 
 And still fight on. 
 
 The great guns boom, the deadly missiles fly; 
 The torch you gave we still lift high, 
 To light brave men to victory. 
 
 Sleep well, oh valiant dead, where larks sing 
 low! 
 
 And all the brilliant poppies bloom and glow 
 In Flanders Fields. 
 
 Washington, D. C., Oct. 29, 1918. 
 
90 DIARY OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE 
 
 My years with the Army convinced me of the 
 necessity of preparedness, preparedness as ad- 
 vocated by George Washington, by Theodore 
 Roosevelt, and by all the leading officers of 
 our army and navy. To be so well prepared 
 that no other nation shall dare molest or make 
 us afraid. 
 
 Nobody wants war, least of all those who 
 have had it to face; we want peace, but in 
 order to have peace we must be prepared to 
 fight, 
 
 "For our country and our fires, 
 For the green graves of our sires, 
 God and our native land." 
 
 At two o'clock one morning I heard the 
 newsboys in Dupont Circle crying "Extra, 
 Extra." They carried the message that 
 brought joy to the world, the signing of the 
 armistice. 
 
 Soon after the close of the war my husband 
 was relieved from active service; for over two 
 years he had been on duty. We left Wash- 
 ington on Thanksgiving Day and I cannot 
 express the joy I felt when our train pulled 
 out for the west, and the rails seemed to 
 click this refrain: "The war is over; the war 
 is over; we are going home; we are going 
 home!" 
 
 This ends my little narrative. I am proud 
 
FOLLOWING THE FLAG 91 
 
 and thankful to have been for so many years 
 of my life with the Army of the United States, 
 the army that has never known defeat. 
 
1.1 
 
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