(PART SECOND.)
To receive praise for work accomplished, no matter in what form, is
certainly pleasing to every phase of humanity. And to be rewarded for
our work gives us a certain feeling of satisfaction, and assures us that
our work along a certain line has been appreciated and admired. But to a
soldier, whose duty is to do battle, praise for his victories is more
than pleasing--it is exalting. And when after struggling along almost
indefinitely at a certain task, and finally accomplishing it with
overwhelming success, he is commended by anxious relatives and friends,
usually the height of his ambition has been reached.
But to be especially commended and congratulated for his achievements,
and by his superior officers and his commander-in-chief especially, is
one of the highest honors that could be conferred upon him.
When he has performed deeds of true valor and courage, wherein he
exhibits exceptional bravery, and is almost overwhelmingly besieged with
letters of congratulation and praise, he has received one of the
greatest of earthly rewards. But there are other rewards, such as
promotion, for instance, and one has but to consult our army records at
Washington to find that many of those who constituted what is known as
the Lake Lanao Expedition have been fittingly rewarded for their gallant
services on the 2d day of May, 1902.
That the reader may judge of the magnificent gallantry shown by those
troops on that eventful day, a few of the letters are hereby published
in full.