adventures and letters-第48章
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t of the time； and they ought to be excellentwhat happened was that you were thrown up off the deck just as you are when an elevator starts with a sharp jerk and there was an awful noise like the worst clap of thunder you ever heard close to your ears； then the smoke covered everything and you could hear the shot going through the air like a giant rocket The shots they fired at us did not cut any ice except a shrapnel that broke just over the main mast and which reminded me of Greece The other shots fell short The best thing was to see the Captains of the Puritan and Cincinnati frantically signalling to be allowed to fire too A little fort had opened on us from the left so they plugged at that； it was a wonderful sight； the Monitor was swept with waves and the guns seemed to come out of the water。 The Cincinnati did the best of all。 Her guns were as fast as the reports of a revolver； a self…cocking revolver； when one holds the trigger for the whole six。 We got some copies of The Lucha on the Panama and their accounts of what was going on in Havana were the best reading I ever saw They probably reported the Matanzas bombardment as a Spanish victory The firing yesterday was very tame。 We all sat about on deck and the band played all the time We didn't even send the men to quarters I do not believe the army intends to move for two weeks yet； so I shall stay here。 They seem to want me to do so； and I certainly want to But that army is too slow for words； and we love the 〃Notes from the Front〃 in The Tribune； telling about the troops at Chickamauga I believe what will happen is that a chance shot will kill some of our men； and the Admiral won't do a thing but knock hell out of whatever fort does it and land a party of marines and bluejackets Even if they only occupy the place for 24 hours； it will beat that army out and that's what I want。 They'll get second money in the Campaign if they get any； unless they brace up and come over I have the very luck of the British Army； I walked into an open hatch today and didn't stop until I caught by my arms and the back of my neck。 It was very dark and they had opened it while I was in a cabin。 The Jackie whose business it was to watch it was worse scared than I was； and I looked up at him while still hanging to the edges with my neck and arms and said 〃why didn't you tell me？〃 He shook his head and said； 〃that's so； Sir； I certainly should have told you； I certainly should〃 They're exactly like children and the reason is； I think； because they are so shut off from the contamination of the world。 One of these ships is like living in a monastery； and they are as disciplined and gentle as monks； and as reckless as cowboys。 When I go forward and speak to one of them they all gather round and sit on the deck in circles and we talk and they listen and make the most interesting comments The middy who fired the first gun at Matanzas is a modest alert boy about 18 years old and crazy about his work So； the Captain selected him for the honor and also because there is such jealousy between the bow and stern guns that he decided not to risk feelings being hurt by giving it to either So； Boone who was at Annapolis a month ago was told to fire the shot We all took his name and he has grown about three inches。 We told him all of the United States and England would be ringing with his name When I was alone he came and sat down on a gull beside me and told me he was very glad they had let him fire that first gun because his mother was an invalid and he had gone into the navy against her wish and he hoped now that she would be satisfied when she saw his name in the papers。 He was too sweet and boyish about it for words and I am going to take a snapshot at him and put his picture in Scribner's〃he only stands about so high〃
DICK。
I enclose a souvenir of the bombardment。 Please keep it carefully for me It was the first shot 〃in anger〃 in thirty years。
TAMPA； May 3rd； 1898。 DEAR NORA：
We are still here and probably will be。 It is a merry war； if there were only some girls here the place would be perfect。 I don't know what's the matter with the American girlhere am Iand Stenie and Willie Chanler and Frederick Remington and all the boy officers of the army and not one solitary； ugly； plain； pretty； or beautiful girl。 I bought a fine pony to…day； her name was Ellaline but I thought that was too much glory for Ellaline so I diffused it over the whole company by re…christening her Gaiety Girl； because she is so quiet； all the Gaiety Girls I know are quiet。
She never does what I tell her anyway； so it doesn't matter what I call her。 But when this cruel war is over （6 a day with bath room adjoining） I am going to have an oil painting of her labelled 〃Gaiety Girl the Kentucky Mare that carried the news of the fall of Havana to Matanzas； fifty miles under fire and Richard Harding Davis。〃 To…morrow I am going to buy a saddle and a servant。 War is a cruel thing especially to army officers。 They have to wear uniforms and are not allowed to take off their trousers to keep cool They take off everything else except their hats and sit in the dining room without their coats or collars That's because it is war time。 They are terrible braveyou can see it by the way they wear bouquets on their tunics and cigarette badges and Cuban flags and by not saluting their officers。 One General counted today and forty enlisted men passed him without saluting。 The army will have to do a lot of fighting to make itself solid with me。 They are mounted police。 We have a sentry here； he sits in a rocking chair。 Imagine one of Sampson's or Dewey's bluejackets sitting down even on a gun carriage。 Wait till I write my book。 I wouldn't say a word now but when I write that book I'll give them large space rates。 I am writing it now； the first batch comes out in Scribner's in July。
to you all。
DICK。
During the early days of the war； Richard received the appointment of a captaincy； but on the advice of his friends that his services were more valuable as a correspondent； he refused the commission。 The following letter shows that at least at the time my brother regretted the decision； but as events turned out he succeeded in rendering splendid service not only as a correspondent but in the field。
TAMPAMay 14； 1898。 DEAR CHAS。
On reflection I am greatly troubled that I declined the captaincy。 It is unfortunate that I had not time to consider it。 We shall not have another war and I can always be a war correspondent in other countries but never again have a chance to serve in my own。 The people here think it was the right thing to do but the outside people won't。 Not that I care about that； but I think I was weak not to chance it。 I don't know exactly what I ought to do。 When I see all these kid militia men enlisted it makes me feel like the devil。 I've no doubt many of them look upon it as a sort of a holiday and an outing and like it for the excitement； but it would bore me to death。 The whole thing would bore me if I thought I had to keep at it for a year or more。 That is the fault of my having had too much excitement and freedom。 It spoils me to make sacrifices that other men can make。 Whichever way it comes out I shall be sorry and feel I did not do the right thing。 Lying around this hotel is enough to demoralize anybody。 We are much more out of it than you are； and one gets cynical and loses interest。 On the other hand I would be miserable to go back and have done nothing。 It is a question of character entirely and I don't feel I've played the part at all。 It's all very well to say you are doing more by writing； but are you？ It's an easy game to look on and pat the other chaps on the back with a few paragraphs； that is cheap patriotism。 They're taking chances and you're not and when the war's over they'll be happy and I won't。 The man that enlists or volunteers even if he doesn't get further than Chickamauga or Gretna Green and the man who doesn't enlist at all but minds his own business is much better off than I will be writing about what other men do and not doing it myself； especially as I had a chance of a life time； and declined it。 I'll always feel I lost in character b
