SO through the long and weary summer months the scattered batteries of the regiment served faithfully at their posts along the coast, patiently enduring the dull monotony of garrison life, and hoping against hope that the fortunes of war yet might bring them their own chance for training their guns upon an enemy. For a time rumor still busied itself with the movements of the Spanish fleet, while spook cruisers still held the seas—as the men on Shafter's crowded troopships could have testified to their sorrow—but, as the final event proved, Spain either was too blind or too feeble to improve her one possible opportunity of inflicting injury on her adversary by striking a sharp and sudden blow at some point on our long and weakly defended coast line. The national salute fired on the Fourth of July at all the posts along-shore answered a double purpose, since, while complying with army regulations for the observance of the holiday, it also served to celebrate the victorious fighting on land and sea at Santiago. But the men of the coast artillery, regulars and volunteers alike, listened with heavy hearts to the booming of their unshotted guns; rejoicing with their brethren of the Navy over the signal victory that had been won, they yet felt that the destruction of Cervera's squadron had deprived them of the one chance to which they had trusted for obtaining distinction. Like all thinking men, they had to face the fact that the events at Santiago marked the beginning of the end. On July 11th, Governor Wolcott informed the authorities at Washington that the people of Massachusetts no longer were in uneasiness regarding the safety of the cities and towns on the coast, and requested that the First might be relieved from its present stations and assigned to more active duty. Colonel Pfaff also urged that his command be retained in service for any work that yet might remain to be done, while General Lee, who had heard of the efficient condition of the regiment through Lieutenant-Colonel Curtis Guild of his staff, made strong efforts to secure its transfer to his Seventh Corps, then completing its organization for the occupation of Havana.