The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-20

Ou JutiT Ddst anu COumcnCeu uiink uicW
shots in the air, which frightened the |
mules, as we'll as the men, who were |
crowded in the narrow passage way and
a stampede OF mules followed. We tried |
TO get into the woods, but the mule stried
to do the same thing. In the scuffle |
Private James johnson, OF our company,
was stepped on by mule and had his |
leg wounded 80 bad that he could hardly |
walk and we sent HIM back with the |
mule wagon. We have heard since that
he is doing nicely and not seriously hurt.
Privates Rose and Wagr er we're sick on
the boat and were left at Sebano where
they get excellent treatment.
After that marching was resumed until
morning where we struck General Shaft
ers headquarters, three miles from the
firing line. Then we we're given an hours
rest and chance to eat our bareback
and canned meat. at s O'Clock we re-
sumed the march to the front. IL got
exceedingly hot before long, both from
the sun and stray bullets that came
dangerously near. Once we made short
stop near hospital and shots flew thick
from Spanish sharp-shooters who were
in the trees. 1t must be remembered
that all the ground we had. covered was
the territory which had been taken inch
by inch by the Americans and quite
few Spaniards had been left in the trees
and they improved every opportunity to
pick of Americans on the roadside.
Once a piece OF shell dropped in front OF
some OF the boys and scattered the dirt
but did not hit any one. All the way
along we met w ounded men and occasion
| ly passed a dead soldier. We met one
party OF soldiers with a big party OF
Spaniards who had been taken prisoners.
The farther to the front we got the
warmer the firing got and all the more
dangerous. At noon we reached posi-
ton behind hill about two miles from
the CITY and hall mile from the trenches
where our men were entrenched. The
shooting was hot and heavy here and
was kept up all day. We were marched
on the eide OF a hill and expected to be
moved to the trenches any moment. We
found out afterward that our being
equipped with Springfield rifles kept US
out of the pits as the smoke they made
made the shooter an easy target.
While we were laying on the side OF the
hill stray bullets kept whizzine over US
thick and fast and an occasional one
would plow up the dirt at our feet.
Finally one shot hit Bert Allen. $500"
and wounded him badly in the face. The
same bullet struck Lieutenant-Colonei
BENEFITS in the coat button, but glanced
off.
That afternoon it rained water as well
as bullets for an hour or 30 and every
body was soaked to the skin. Beside
that the boys got their feet soaking Ia
fording streams on the march. That
night the boys slept in the open air on
the wet ground and themselves wet, but
very tired. The boye had to drop their
blanket rolls few miles back and there
fore had to sleep with nothing over them
The firing had stopped at nightfall, but
at 10 O'Clock the regiment was routed
out by heavy cannon and rifle hring
, The moon was full and the Spaniardt
were making a charge from the city OF
. our entrenchments. They made terri
ble charge, but we're moved down like
sheep and had to fall back to the city
During the charge the shot and shell lei
like rain over our heads from the top O
thu hill, but every man was in position
and ready to move. Colonel Petermanl
, was in very dangerous position on tol
. NJ the hill where he was exposed to no
: fire. After while the firing stopped ant
! we were allowed to spend the remainde
nj the night in sleep. 1t became coli
= during the night and the next morninl
. we got up chilly to listen to more pound
: ing Of cannon and whizzing OF bullets.
This was Sunday morning, July D, AM
at 10 O'Clock the firing ceased, the span
!, iards having hoisted the white nag
: Nothing happened Sunday. their benz
. no firing all day. Early that mornin
a squad went back for our lost olanket
!" and had hot time oiit, as many me
II were killed along the road by SPANS
sharp shooters who were in the trees
\ The boys got back all 0. X. with a lou :
\ blankets they managed to pick up on tn
q road,
= There was not much firing Sunday 9
y Monday, the 4tb, but that day our oa
: talon was moved two miles to riv'
= ford where we are no locatedunder MAC
: Latimer. We slept pretty well crowde
on the wet grass last night ana wei
.. awakened during the night oy nr'n
) which lasted for an hour.
n Rations are scarce, but we received SOY
+ belly and bareback today and IL WI