The Press., 1898-08-25

alike;and I heard an officer state who was through the war, Andersonville and prisons excepted, that he never suffered so for fations. It took two weeks of hard road shsilding before an army wagon could get IS miles inland.
 On the evening of the 3Oth we broke camp and were issued two-days' rations. We moved about 6.30 p. m., after a heavy rain-ssSrm. On this march we could scarcely see the men in front of us; and our route was through mud which even Virginia could not boast. All the way was from ankle to knee-deep in mud and water, from which at times 1t seemed im- possible to withdraw your foot. About 9 p. m. we went to sleep under arms, with our rolls for pillow.
 We soon learned that there was a little fortified town of Ell Clancy which we were to capture in the morning. It was with some strange feelings that we undertook to rest, Knowing we were to fight on the morrow. We were aroused at daybreak July 1st, but did not get under way until 6. 30. The first gun was fired at 635. can safely say many of us jumped. It would be but natural. Almost immedi- ately cane the rattle of musketry. We soon began to move towards the left of the town About @ mile from our camp we suddenly found ourselves in the firing line. Ign give no adequate idea of our conceptiop of battle as the bullets began to whistle over our heads with that pe- euliar ringFlnd whistle and the rustic of the leavey as the bullets passed on in their deaFhly career. We immediately dropped tp the ground, and I am not ashamed Q say that my nose hugged the ground pretty closely. Our skirmish line was soon ssrmed, and we started our ad- vance kszsnes. Three men were wound ted t tafs4sSJ J4u sik--zpsa11z without c qualm of fear that our company started it's advance. After few short rushes we rushed across an open space and into a sunken road where we took our position. During our advance the third battalion got separated from the regiment, and was late in getting into position. We were fortunate in this, for there were men killed and Al wound ed in the first two battalions. Had we
 
 did our loss would have been propoI tion- ately greater. Here we were spread out under a boiling sun, and many of our men had given up their canteens to wounded soldiers, and now felt the loss severely. Here was more work for me. As cap. tain's orderly. had to advance the length of our line to find our major. His orders were to send detail back with canteens. As yet we had not fired, as we could see nothing to shoot at, as the enemy were using smokeless powder. Much of oul loss in the first two batallions was due to the smoke of their Springfield rifles, which showed our position at once to the enemy | It is almost suicide to use our Springfield rifles in our warfare. Our regulars, oi course, have the Krag Jorgensen gun which uses smokeless powder. As oul fire was withheld was one of the first tC go back for water, and carried eight can. teens back nearly two miles and filled them. On my way down we passed many dead and wounded, and as we passed 1T the rear of the clump of trees used as a hospital the groans of the wounded were terrible The Spaniards have no respect for a red-cross flag, and their sharpshoot CTS fired continually on men carrying lit ters. On my way back to the line heard our captain was sick, so carried his | This made a heavy load. As I approach ed the firing line was personally eau tioned by Colonel Clark not to undertake to cross the open space at the end of ou line. knew our men were sadly in neeC of water, and, seeing one other man ge safely across, l made 6 break, and whil, bullets were whistling all around me, crossed safely, and saw my canteens giveI to the suffering men. was pretty wei exhausted, but felt I had done what
 could.
 The regulars on our right soon charged the fort and entrenchments, and drov, the Spaniards out into the hills. Tbei loss was terrible. Out of 500 picked mel sent out from Santiago in the morning t. re-enforce the town only 40 returned No Spaniard could resist bayonet charg with a hvesAmerican behind his guns s
 The firing soon ceased, and we secured our rolls and haversacks and started to wards Santiago. An attack on the earth works on the western edge of the city wa
 begun at the same time we assaulted E Carney. About two miles of ground ant the entrenchments of San Juan were gain ed for our side. Again we bivouacke.
 under arms, and got about two hours sleep. Rations were issued, and befor daybrea we were again on the march to ward Santiago. Our position was nov on the right of the line. Attack on tn
 city opened about five o'clock, and agail we had to advance. Leaving our rolls
 we soon secured our position, this tim
 as support for the 17th infantry. Tn firing kept up necessarily all day. A dark it became quiet. Our regiment be gan to throw up earthworks, but wer
 discovered by the enemy, who began lively fusilade about II o'clock. w
 all were called out, but did not advano to the firing line. Several men in ou battalion were wounded by stray bullets The firing only lasted about an hour
 The next day we again moved to right About this time some kind of an armistic ) was put in force, and we had a rest of
 week. During this time we were busil engaged in digging entrenchments. eac
 company building it's own; not with tn
 modern implements of warfare, but wit l few bayonets, tinpans, cups and plates The boys worked with a will, and we 500 had good ditch. About as soon as W tgot our entrenchments finished some IT Inducements arrived. and we would nov
 out to the right. This happened fou , times, until we have completely surround
 ed the city, and our right now rests 6 the harbor's edge.
 On Sunday, July 10th, we went into th , trenches, and bombardment of the cit
 began at 4. 40 P. m. Cur artillery wrecke many of the Spenishs outWorks, and or gunners secured the range of all parts [ the city. Firing ceased at dark with n