The Portland daily press., 1898-07-30
BEFORE SANTIAGO.
An Intere sting Letter Written in the
Trenches, by Lieutenant Hersey.

Adjutant General Richards received a
letter Tuesday written on a large sheet
of ledger paper, form Lieut.. Mark.
l.. Hersey, who is with the army OF in
vasion in Cuba, being quartermaster of
the 18th. U. S Infantry. The letter may
be of interest as Lieutenant Hersey has
many friends in Maine, and he also gives
u good idea of the feeling in the army.
In the trenches before Santiago de
Cuba.
July 9, 1898
My dear General Richards:
presume you are fully informed by
the newspapers Of our doings, but q per-
sonal letter may be more accurate from
a local point of view. We landed at
Daiguiri June %, after the little town
and shore had been shelled by the naval
batteries. We have moved 20 miles to this
point, within 100 yards of sthe city after
several advance guard engagements, and
three and one half days OF continuous
fighting, q general engagement in which
our losses We're heavy, 100 killed and
wounded, about Is per cent OF the troop
actually engaged Ne have been uni
formly successful and now have the city
invsted on the land side, and it is stated
that it is not the purpose to assault the
two outer lines), but will stay here, rat
tie at them with artillery, and starve
them out. They have sent thousands OF
the reconcentradoes through our lines to
the coast, where We are feeding them.
They are interesting and pitiful both.
The Cubans as allies are practically
worthless; at Ill Came, July 2, our colo
mel had to clear them out OF the way as
nuisances, before stoirning the block
house or stone fort which figured SO
prominently. We took that as our great
est feat / ain glad to be in this country
at this time.
The ration fer 16 days has now consist
ed, in general, solely of hard bread, bacon,
sugar and coffee. In the 18th we have
Jared somewhat better, for reached near
Daiguiri, 20. miles to the rear supply
that | have been able to draw from as
Quartermaster and oommissary.
Our men are cheerful and most SELF
rificing, helping and instructing new men
less accustomed to camp life.
The Spanish commander has just pro-
posed to surrender Santiago PROVIDED We
let them march out their army, keeping
their arms. 10 us this proposition seems
| absurd for we consider the army anu n lUs
arms moro valuable than the town. INC
proposition has been sent to Washlng0ou,
however, and truce is now on, anu on9
place seems liks Sunday in New Englanu
This is most wonderful country
Make it ours, and with American enhol e
prise 1t will be the garden spoU VI
America. .,..+
The naval victory was most brlllllain q,
Admiral Cervera, as the army closoo ~,
thought he was doomed anyway LII ~
harbor, and moved out, saying ne pre-
ferred defeat fighting to sinking ship s,t a.
anchor. This we have on the auuL ;tt, i1
of the French consul, who came WlCn ann
our lines. They lost all their ships, wv
killed and wounded. and 1900 prlsoneatsd
Our loss was one killed and two Woun9 y :; y
We do not understand yet why uhey l. ui ~
no more damage to our fleet, but thlnn -
is explained by their proba bly, ha Nhnfs
transferred stheir best guns to tne s MI,
they have some fine fine guns opposing us
and they have our range. ,si
We are minus stationery and our hooE
mental supply is this portly blahM .bins
which got in an abandoned
SHOP in Slboney, our second base; ,ost.
Sibcney is now United States p'S''