But the national feeling was exhibited in thousands of other ways besides the flags in the open streets. Great meetings were held all over the land; sermons were preached, and public prayers ascended to the Throne of Grace for the speedy triumph of our armies over the oppressive Spaniards. The very envelopes that went through the Postoffice were stamped with miniature flags, and pictures of the Maine were hung up in almost every house. No doubt many an ingenious man cleared a good, round sum by a newly-brought-out device that was cast upon the public, and eagerly bought up by almost everybody. An immense quantity of patriotic poetry was also written, and scattered broadcast to all the four winds of heaven; and it was read and quoted with most unbounded enthusiasm. Music came in now for its full share. All the patriotic songs we had were sung and played in public and private to their own well-known tunes. The Star-Spangled Banner, indeed, "took the cake," and seemed to be everywhere floating in the air. Even "John Bull," our true and faithful friend across the seas, fell into line with us, and he placed the Star-Spangled Banner from one end of the British Isles to the other. "Mother England," indeed, was most loyal to us, even before we struck a blow at the Spaniards, for she set down her foot against privateering on the high seas, and Spain submitted to her against her own will! THE AMERICAN-SPANISH WAR—II. _The Brave Exploits of our Colored Regiments Around Santiago de Cuba—Their Rescue of the Rough Riders—The Wounded in the Hospitals—Regiments That Never Went to War—Great Flag Presentations at New Orleans—The Colored Chaplains—The Killed, Wounded and Sick of the War—Coming Home and Disbanding, Etc.—The Glorious Results of the War—Colored Men Did Their Duty—Glory to God in the Highest!_ The reader will naturally expect an account of marching and counter-marching, pitched battles, skirmishing, and all kinds of military operations, such as I have already described in the war of 1861-’65. And the reader is justified in such expectations; but this American-Spanish War was one of the very shortest conflicts ever recorded in history, for the whole affair was over in less than four months, having begun towards the end of April, and concluded on the 12th of August, 1898. The readers of my own people will now ask if there was no opportunity given us whereby we might show our prowess upon the battle-field, like our Anglo-Saxon brothers. Well, yes, we had opportunities given us to show of what kind of material we were made, and I believe that all the generals, officers and soldiers in the army awarded us the most unstinted praise for what we did, and they did it with a most hearty good will. [Illustration: _SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR._]