Utah was early distinguished13 in the furious fights of Luzon. Even before the soldiers of "Uncle Sam" had felt their way into the defenses of Manila, her guns had awaked the long-sleeping sentries14 of the Dons and torn holes into the bulwarks15 of Spanish oppression and tyranny. Her later accomplishments16 against the fierce Tagalan braves have only served to increase the homage17 and admiration18 of the world, yet, in the dark days of the conflict, as veterans know, are performed many daring acts and feats19 of human strength, which are never recorded in the chronicles of fame, or proclaimed by the bugle's blare. There were those who knew what it was to feel the pangs20 of hunger and the ravages21 of disease, those who experienced the racking pains occasioned by fatiguing22 marches, and long, weary tramps through the unbroken wilderness23 of the tropics; and there were belated ones who hid in the[Pg 14] swamps anxiously watching for the first beams of dawn to reveal the lurking24 foe25.
An account of the actions of the men of Utah is not a recital26 of the performances of one man; neither is it a description of the doings of a particular section of men. It is the story of brave men fighting under competent chiefs. Their history is exceptional. In every engagement against the insurrectionists, on land and river, the unceasing fire of the guns of Utah was heard. While Major Young, Major Grant, Captain Critchlow and Lieutenant27 Seaman28 battered29 down the enemy's breastworks at Caloocan and San Lazerus cemetery30, the cannon10 under Captain Wedgewood hurled31 fiery32 wrath33 into the terrified foe at Sampaloe, and Lieutenant Webb's death-dealing monsters flung destruction into the ranks of the Filipino hordes34 at Santa Mesa. While the land batteries, with the infantry35, worked their way through the tropical forests in that campaign which drove the natives out of Calumpit and San Fernando and sent Aguinaldo flying into the mountains beyond, Major Grant, Lieutenant Naylor and Lieutenant Webb, with their fire-spitting dragons, the river gunboats, bore down upon the insurgents36 at Morong and Santa Cruz and disturbed the silence of the primitive37 woods at San Luiz and Candaba.
The country was not slow in recognizing Utah. Almost as soon as hostilities38 commenced Major Young was elevated to a position on General MacArthur's staff, and when the river gunboats were put into commission in anticipation39 of a Tagalan outbreak Lieutenant R.C. Naylor was placed second in command. Later when the river fleet was enlarged Major Grant took command and Lieutenant William C. Webb assumed control of the "Covadonga," positions which both held till Utah's fighting days were over.
The Utah cannoneers were not only exceptional as fighters, but they did things before unheard of in artillery40 annals. They pushed along in line with the infantry in many a hard-fought encounter in the vanguard; during the early days of the conflict, when the rival force first turned its weapons upon the walls of Manila, they hauled their pieces after them in grim pursuit of the fleeing foe.[Pg 15] They stood comparison with the well-drilled regulars, and in many instances surpassed them; the bark of their iron-tongued guns never failed to strike terror into the hearts of the dusky braves of Luzon, while it ever sounded as a note of cheer to the infantrymen on the straggling skirmish line.
There is Santa Mesa, Malabon, Quingua, Bag Bag, San Fernando—words hollow sounding to the ordinary ear; but when named to the stalwart veteran they touch a chord which quickens the pulse and sets every nerve fiber41 vibrating with emotion. To him each tells a tale of noble achievements wrought42 beneath the broiling43 sun of the tropics; to him each whispers an assurance that his duty was bravely done in the blasting fires of the East.
The warriors of Utah have listened to their last reveille and their last retreat. When they withdrew from the Orient they left the scenes of carnage behind and returned to loved ones and to peace. May that peace be lasting44 and happy.
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1
valor
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n.勇气,英勇 | |
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2
garnished
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v.给(上餐桌的食物)加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
rhetoric
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n.修辞学,浮夸之言语 | |
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4
oratory
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n.演讲术;词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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5
standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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6
hydra
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n.水螅;难于根除的祸患 | |
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7
majestic
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adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 | |
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8
mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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9
augment
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vt.(使)增大,增加,增长,扩张 | |
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10
cannon
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n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮 | |
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11
warriors
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武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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12
narrative
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n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 | |
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13
distinguished
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adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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14
sentries
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哨兵,步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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15
bulwarks
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n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 );保障;支柱;舷墙 | |
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16
accomplishments
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n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就 | |
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17
homage
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n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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18
admiration
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n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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19
feats
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功绩,伟业,技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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20
pangs
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突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 ); 悲痛 | |
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21
ravages
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劫掠后的残迹,破坏的结果,毁坏后的残迹 | |
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22
fatiguing
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a.使人劳累的 | |
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23
wilderness
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n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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24
lurking
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潜在 | |
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25
foe
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n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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26
recital
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n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 | |
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27
lieutenant
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n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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28
seaman
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n.海员,水手,水兵 | |
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29
battered
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adj.磨损的;v.连续猛击;磨损 | |
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30
cemetery
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n.坟墓,墓地,坟场 | |
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31
hurled
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v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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32
fiery
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adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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33
wrath
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n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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34
hordes
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n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 );部落 | |
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35
infantry
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n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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36
insurgents
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n.起义,暴动,造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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37
primitive
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adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物 | |
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38
hostilities
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n.战争;敌意(hostility的复数);敌对状态;战事 | |
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39
anticipation
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n.预期,预料,期望 | |
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40
artillery
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n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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41
fiber
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n.纤维,纤维质 | |
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42
wrought
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v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的 | |
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43
broiling
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adj.酷热的,炽热的,似烧的v.(用火)烤(焙、炙等)( broil的现在分词 );使卷入争吵;使混乱;被烤(或炙) | |
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44
lasting
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adj.永久的,永恒的;vbl.持续,维持 | |
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