The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-23
COL. ROOSEvELI'S
STORY Of SAN JUAN.
Continued From Page One.

I @SAl4AAcN Z aZls tAkS O-C
MY regiment crossed the ford before the
! balloon came down, and attracted the fire
| OF ths enemy; ar that point We lost no
one
My orders had been 10 march forward
] unti Joined Gen. Iawton's left wing. but
/ after going about three-Quarters of 3 mile
+ / was halted and told 10 remain in reserve
/ near the creek by q deep lake. The bull
/ lets dropped t3ick among Us for the mex,
| hour while we lay there, and many of my
/ men were killed or wounded, among the
| former being Capt O'Neil. whose loss was
/ heavy blow 10 the regiment, for he was
| q stngllariy gallant and eff Zen. officer.
! Acting Lieut.. Haskell was also shot at
I this time He showed the utmost courage
! and had been OF great use during the fight
! ing and marching IL seems 10 me some
action should be taken about him. You
! then sent me word 10 move forward in
| support or the regular cavalry, and / ad-
| vanced the regiment in column OF compa-
! MES, each company deployed as sksrmish-
| ers.
We moved through several sk.rmish
| lines OF the regiment ahead of US, as il
seemed TO me our only chance was in rush
| ing the Entertainments IL front instead OF
. firing at then; from a distance. Accord
! ingly we charged the blockhouse and in
! trenchments on the hill to our right against
heavy fire. 1t was taken in good style
! Lie i4acA VI Ky lEsiHSiti mus pr40R luS
| first to capture any fortified position ana
| to break through the Spanish line. The
| guidons Of Company c and Z troop were
| nrst At this point, but some OF the men
| Of and b troops were with me. and
| got in ahead of them. At the last fence
! up this Hill | was obliged to abandon my
! horse, and after that went on foot
! After capturing tbs hill We first Of all
| directed heavy fire upon the San Juan
| hill. 10 our left. which was at the time be-
| ing assalled by the regular infantry and
cavalry. supported by Capt Parker's
eating guns. BY the time San Juan was
taken large force mad assembled on the
| hill We had previously captured, consist
| ing not only OF my own regiment, but of
/ the Ninth and of portions of other cavalry
| regiments. We then charged forward I'M
| der a heavy tire across the valley. against
| the Spanish Entertainments on the hill in
| the rear Of the San Juan hill. This We also
| took. capturing several prisoners. We then
| formed III whatever order could and
| moved forward, driving the Spaniards be-
fore us 10 the crest of the hills in our front.
which were Immediately opposite the city
Of Santiago itself
Here / received orders To halt and hold
the hill. / had at that time fragments of
the Sixth cavalry regiment and an occa-
sional infantryman under me-3o0 or AGO
men, all told.
AS | was the highest there, I took COM
mand Of all OF them, and so continued until
he next morning. The Spaniards attempt
| ed TO make a counter attack that after
noon. but were easily driven back. and
then, until after dark. We remained under
a heavy fire from their rifles and great
guns. lying fiat on our faces on a gentle
s.ope just behind the crest. Capt Par
ker's Calling battery was run up 20 the
right OF my regiment and did most excel
lent and gallant service.
I'm the charge the men, of course. had
been obliged 10 throw away their packs,
and We had nothing 10 sleep in and nothing
10 eat.
We were lucky enough however. TO find
a blockhouse with Spanish dinners still
cooking. which we ate with a relish. We
also distributed the captured Spanish blan-
kets as far as they would go among our
men and gathered a good deal of Mauser
ammunition fer use in the Colt rapid-tre
| gun which being brough, APP That
night We dug Entertainments across our
| front.
AT o'clock In the morning the Span
iards made another attack upon US. which
was easily repealed ami at O'Clock they
opened the day with a heavy rifle and
| shrapnel fire. All day long we remained
under these, replying whenever we got
the chance.
In the evening at about O'Clock the
| Spaniards fired three guns and then open
ed a heavy rifle fire, their skirmishers
coming we'll forward. L got all my men
down into the trenches. as did the other
command and We opened q heavy return
fire. The Spaniards' advance was at once
stopped, and after hour their fire died
away.
That night We completed most OF our
trenches and began 10 build bomb pits.
The protection afforded to our men was
! good and next morning j had but one
| man wounded from the rifle and shell
| fire until Il o'clock when the truce came.
| Il do not mention ;he officers and men
who particularly distinguished themselves
| az / have nothing 10 add in tniS respect
| 10 what was contained in my two former
| letters. There were numerous Red Cross
| flags flying in the various parts OF the
| city two OF them so arranged that they
| directly covered batteries In our front and
| for some time were the cause OF our not
| firing at them.
.eTvhe Spanish guerrillas were very active
! as,,ecfaltv in our rear where they seemed
| Ia attack the wounded men who were be-
! ing carried on Ntters, the doctors and
| medical attendants with Red cross
| badges on their arms and the burial par
| ties.
| ers and sent them out after THESE guerrii-
| lac Of whom they killed thirteen. Two
| ~ tha men thus killed were shot several
! bot,rS after the truce had been In opera
! tinu because in spite Of this fact they
/ kept firing upon our men as they went
| ca Get water They were stationed IN
trees as the guerrillas were generally, and
owing to the density of the foliage and
- INC usa of srnokeless powder rifles. il
was an exceedingly difficult matter TO
locate them.
~For the next seven days. until the Iotn'
we Jay in our line while the truce contiis
| ned We had continually 10 work az addi-
| ,so7al ,r,rnt.,roofs ana az the trenches. and
As ne had no proper supply OF food and n'-
terly inadequate medical facilities. tn"
| mn suffered a great deal The officers
| ehirrpad together ard purchased beans, TO-
! har,sa and sugar for the men. 50 that they
| might have some reliet from the bacon aEd
| BAREBACK With a great deal OF difficulty
va got them coffee.