The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-12
FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
WOUNDED SOLDIERS TELL OF THE
FIGHT AROUND SANTIAGO.

ShornshooterS Conc called in Trees
picking on the Wounded and
Those Renewing Tn I'm to the Rear.
Standards Turned Over to Cubans
Were Speedily GuiliOtined With
Macbetes-Gen. Joe Wheeler the
Idol of the Army--StOmach Binds
Left by the Waysihe TO Make DOH
Clothes for Cuban Children.
Sly wounded soldiers from the battle
field of Santiago arrived in Savannah yes
terday morning on their way to New
York, and for a short time were the cen
ter of attraction 10 a large number OF peo-
ple. Five of them carried an arm each IN
a sling. the result of the work of Spanish
hullets while the sixth had bandages
about his head, coucealing the ugly wound
made bv Mauser rife. All were in uni
form save one and wherever they went
there were men and many women eager
90 hear from the lips OF the participants
some OF the details Of soldier life IN Cuba
and actual incidents Of the almost hand to
hand fighting with the Spaniards now 60
ing on.
Two of the men We're regulars, Privates
Frank A. Sandin of Company G, Seventh
Regiment, and J. D. Hoeksrah of Troop
C. First United States Cavalry, the latter
having a severe wound in the back OF the
skuH. The other four We're James E. Kel-
Ter. James Carroll, Fred c. Kuehnle and
c. NJ. Goodman, all of the seventy-first
Regiment of New York Volunteers. All
of the men are going home on a three
months furlough, with the hope that be
how
able to return to Cuba and take hand
further in the liberation of the Queen
of the Antilles The taste they have had
of war has not been sufficient
The two regulars went to the Savannah
Hospital on their arrival in the city and
had their wounds dressed. They are
having their own expenses home, are TAX
ing their own route and otherwise satisfy
ing themselves as TO what they snail DO
en- route. Three Of the volunteers are the
benefciaries of the kindness of soldier
wife Mrs. G. l.. Babeock, wife of Sergt.
Babcock of Comapny 3, of the Seventy
first who is stopping at Tampa Bay Iio-
tel, has played the kind samaritan 10
these unfortunate comrades Of her nus
band, and is defraying the expenses Of all
but Goodman, a relative OF whom sent
him funds at Tampa.
The men tell an interesting story of their
experiences around Santiago. What they
say of the climate and of the health oil
the men differs very materially from the
popular conception of the surroundings
and condition of the soldiers.
1--WE did not find the country such
terrible place as had been pictured said
Private Goodman. Indeed, we generally
considered it preferable in many ways to
Florida. OF course 1t was hot at midday
hut SO 1t was in Florida and at night the
air was cool and refreshing, the only
drawback being the heavy dews. What
fever there was yielded easily TO treat
ment and did not leave the men exhaust
ed physically We were at a pretty good
altitude soon after landing, and for men
largely unaccustomed TO roughing it in
this way our health was anything but
bad. Of course we We're told not 70 eat
the fruit, and all that but many of us
cooked the fruit we found at hand and
suffered no inconvenience from IT,"
II tell you one thing" chimed in an
other OF the soldiers chose stomach
bands must be strewing the roads and
fields around Santiago by the
ands. 1t was mighty kind in
our friends to send Them but flannel
ON a hot day isn't very pleasant, and
many of the boys gently left them by the
wayside for the Cuban children to play
with after the war is over. We looked at il
in this light II you don't eat the fruit
you don't need the band, and If you do
eat the fruit the band is outside and won't
cure the trouble inside. The people of
Santiago will have no trouble finding
souvenirs of the war in the shape of fan
mel bands"
The men in this party We're all wounded
on Friday, July l, when FL Caney was
taken and the outer breastworks of the
Spaniards stormed. 1t was a brilliant
charge, but was accompanied by heavy
loss of men.
ION Thursday" said one of the party
''we got but small Tations, few crack
ers. We did not expect to go into battle
soon. We were called out that night anC
given three days rations. We were no
allowed to build fires to cook coffee, but
some of US managed to violate the rule
and get a little hot drink. About 3 O'Clock
I'm the morning we broke camp and start
ed on the march As we passed Gen
Skaters headquarters we found that w,
were to go within six miles of Santiago
and there camp. But we ran into th'
Spaniards before that Unexpectedly, AM
then the fight was on. 1t was hot from
the start. l had often heard about tn
sound of bullets whistling around you
head. but that was the first taste ha'
had of that sort Of music. 1t was
queer sensation for a minute
but then it was gone and we were il
the thick of the fight almost before W
knew it. Men were struck all around, som
dropping dead, some wounded to death
and scores with bullets in them, but fight
ing on regardless of their injuries
don't think any one was scared. No on
showed the white feather. All we wante
to do was to drive the Spaniards befor
US. There was almost a keen enjoyment il
the sight of them breaking in front o
us and yielding ground that they wi
never recover. They fought in a peculia
way, but one that showed much shrewd
ness on their part. They would not com
into the open, where we would hay
slaughtered them by our better shooting
Behind every kind of a concealment the
lay, picking us off or trying to do so, uni
disodged. When they were forced to a
open place they would drop half way
the ground and run along like a lot (
rats seeking cover. IN bet many a or
bit the dust with a bullet in his back as l.
sought a place of refuge. Ii was slo
work at times. and many a good ma