The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-03
HERO OF
SANTIAGO.
Geo. H. Harris Full of En-
thusiam Over the Two
Days Fight.
SPANIARDS FOUGHT WELL.
Admiral SIMPSONS Guns
Made Ploughing Tn.
necessary on the
Island This :
Year.
LIEU. CHURCHMAN' DEATH.
SPANIARDS FOUGHT WELL.
LIEU. CHURCHMAN'S DEATH.

kGeorge H. Harris, an intelligent colored
man, fresh from ntago battle fields and
enthusiastic over the American victories
achieved thcre about, Is in this city the
guest Of friends who are heaping upon
him all the honor due an American SOL
der.
Mr.. Harris Is a private Of Company e.
Twenty fourth Infantry who left Fort
Douglass, Utah, in juno for Cuba.
The regiment comprised but 50) men who
landed of Santiago on June ~. after the
Indiana Brooklyn and Iowa had shelled
the coast and made plouRhing unnecessary
on the island for months to come.
Incidentally the bombardment compell-
ed the Spanish army to retreat, and upon
landing MIR. Harris marched fifteen
miles.
On June23 the regiment moved to with.
In two miles Of Santiago from which point
the Spanish army could be seen intrenched
on the outskirts Of the city. Before the
breaking out Of the Santiago battle In
earnest, MIR. Harris says they had several
skirmishes with the enemy which result
cd IL $50 eolSred troops being killed and
wounded. Men fell about him, but the
sight Of blood only renewed him to fight
the better. July brought the general en-.
gagemont he says. and for forty eight
continuous hours boz armies fought
The colored troops fought without cloth.
ing, excepting trousers, and held up their
end Of tho limo nobly. While tho fight
was at its height Mr.. Harris says he heard
of the death Of Lieutenant Churchman,
but at tho time he did not know he
was Delawarean. Although admitting
that the American troops suffered much.
Mr.. Harris had no complaint knowing
that the conditions could not DO otherwise.
For tiree days he says they stood in rifle
pits with water about their waists, anA-
ious to fight however, and buoyant with
prospects Of victory. j
Tho suspension of hos:ilities, which
came on the third day he says was VOL
coined inasmu9h as the mon were very
much exhausted by the hard fighting on
the part Of the Spanlards which was due to
the fact that they wero strongly intrench-
ed, were acclimated to the country and
had years Of experience at active warfare.
He had confluence in The American Army
however and when the victory came
thanked the Almighty a, did many other
brave men. =
Although defeated Mr.. Harris credits
the Dons with being good fighters. He
says they were sll well trained, could
shoot faster than the Americans (Which
fact was due to their possession of Maussr
rilles) and could stand tho heat which
WAS often times 50 hot that the colored
soldiers thought red hot bullets had drop.
ped on their heads. -,.
Although brave in many respects the
Spanihrds were coward!y in others. Mr..
Harris says that on one occus'on tho regi.
ment was disturbed by u volley of shrap-
mel which came from an unknown quarter
the enemy using smokeess powder. Tho
firing continued at intervals Lieutenant
Keen was on the lookout and lodging
toward Santiago through his glass he ssW
tho doors Of u church open. In n second
the shrapnel disturbed the army wing and
in another second the siege guns opened on
the improvised religioes fort with the eff
feet of dcmoisbing 1t in few minutes.
Mr. Harri, snrs the Rough Riders and the
famous list New York fought on the right
of the limo and covered themselves with
glory.
After tho surrender which was gre el
with general rejoicing among the troops.
Mr.. Harris says he went into Santiago
where. Spanish prisoners boosted of
firing on the colored troops believing
them to DO tho weakest But they found
IL, the btsi H shtinylmen in tho llne." en-
exclaimed the heroe. '"Those
fellows were having good timo down
there before we got thore," he said contn-
ung land believe they would have an
initiated the starved Cubans in a fow
weeks"
Mr. Harris did not know of Cervera's
plight until aftcrward, when the news
was conveyed to the entire army. The
city OF Santiago he says was only damaged
about the bay by the bombardment
On August Is no left Santiago on tho
troopship Pearl, and landed at Montauk
Point about a week later From there he
came to this city and is now staying at No.
III French street. This morning no Wis
tied Stansbury Murrey, Dr., who paid him
much honor MIR. Harris wasborn at Port
Penn, thirty-lve years ago. He has been
In the army ten years and after his three
months furlough will return to Fort
Douglass, Utah, to serve out his term Of
enlistment. Although having lost 80
pounds during tho campaign, ho Is we'll
and ready to 60 through moro fire should
Uncle Sam say SO.
Complaint From Delaware Soldiers