The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-19

cactl. palmeteoes and brs=nbles. The
roads were originally little more than
blind trails. every one OF which afforded
a hundred opportunities for amouseafs-
What an undertaking II was 70 deploy
aliae of battle al right angles 10 one Of
the paths vii pe<h&ps oe imagined. On
Friday, July l. IN moving through the
timber towards san Juan ridge. some Of
Wheeler's regiments became serionsly
naked up. owing TO the utter Impossible
Ky OF moving th2ight forward at any
thing Inc regular intervals. Captain Chas
Morton. commanding = battalion OF tns
THIRD cavlary. when 10 nnally approach
ed the open space across which the dash
was made for the right Of the San Juan
position. found himself surrounded By
men OF two or tire different regiments.
mostly. however. OF his own he did not
itatien- Msuser bullets and shrapael
were singing thick and fast through the
air and men were falling on every side
Morton put all the men mar him into line
and when Major Vessels commanding
the Third. gave the order TO charge he
led the men DIFFICULTY behind the
First battalion under Major jackson ana
quickly took the most advanced position
on The right. driving the Spsnisrds from
the hacienda house. which he found
there. back upon a battery OF theirs
down under The walls Of san Juan bar
racks. He held this position against sup
erior odds for long tims before relief
was sent him.
Spanish line 90 defense showed the very
highest order OF engineering skill This
Is the verdict OF al cOrnpa tent officers
who have examined II. Zach fortified
point or angle comma nded some other one
In many places. on gaining - piece OF
intrenchments. our troops found them
selves under a cross fire from OJhsr por-
lions Of the original line. And even IN the
psition which wa held Suce ths frng
ceased, just pjror TO the truce. Ne were
largely exposed to q possible cbliqus and
in jplaces even an ennaidizg FIRE from
spanish 5atteris on our left ofset thia
however, traverses were constructed az
certain parts OF our hne
hTe ridiculous over condolences % nor
general officers has received a severe r.
huke. while the rank and file Of the army
have evidenced a far greater degree %
heroisSn than Il was supposed would %
required OF than. Csrclessnsss as -
first military principles characteriSed
much OF the conduct of the campaign up
70 the beginning Of the night on July I.
Even on that day few OF the general Of
hcers seemed 70 thak II incumbent upon
them to show themselves to their SOL
diers at the front. or to examine tho Sit
uation with their own eyes. II was long
after the battle had began that a field
officer congratulate ted General Sumner on
being me first officer OF his rank 70 visit
the firing line. Lata IN the day General
Wheeler came forward form SEX bed
and afterwards remained In the very froat
an example. and an Inspiration. as sim.
pie and unaffected courage tlvays r.. 20
all who knew Of his presence
In constrast with the scientific aeeu-
racy of the Spanish line OF defense. the
and ignornant manner in which
certain portions OF our eutrenchments
hav been constructed would cause the
veriest cadet TO smile in derislon. one
regiment. for instance. dug q trenches
so far below the brow % the hi that no
aim could be taken at the enemy until
he should be right Up IN the procession.
The truth Is that before and while our
army was intrenching itself no oflcer
o fine engineer corps was on the ground
charged with the study % directing tEs
work. Luckily many 81 tho officers q
the line ara sufficiently able In the
ma thematlcs OF defense to have caused
their men to construct fanirly respee-
table works.