Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-22
MEN OF iii HOUR.

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Corporal II. r. Newman Of Company b,
Twenty second infantry, who had the honor
Of leading the detail that captured the first
Spanish flag near Santiago, has written a
letter to his brother in Kansas City describ-
ing the battle of June /, In which the
Twenty second calamity participated. New
man led a squad Of seven men during the
battle. Everyone Of them was hit by
Spanish bullets. Two were killed. New
man was shot by a Spanish sharpshooter
concealed In a cocoanut tree. The bullet
passed entirely through his body, penetrat-
ing his left lung, and Killed Private William
Warner. who was behind him. AS their
company ran to their assistance the
Spaniards fred upon them. killing one and
wounding four others. The wounded men
lay on the battlefield until 10 o'clock the
following day, when they were removed to
the division hospital, eight miles away, in
army wagons. The wagons were fired upon
by Spanish scouts and a driver was killed.
At the division hospital the surgeons were
unable to attend the large number of
wounded, and Newman lay on the ground
in the rain all night. On the following
day, July 3, he was removed to the hospital
ship olivette and given the first food he
had had since the night Of June 80. New
1890 ~ " W ~ u ~ AhS
Pherson, Atlanta, Ga
General James H. Wilson, who is promi-
nently mentioned in connection with the
military governorship OF Cuba, was for
several years president OF the New York
& New England railroad, with headquarters
at Hartford, Conn. The Hartford Courant
says he displayed immense energy in de-
veloping the through traffic Of the road and
at one time had more business than could
possibly be transacted upon Its single track.
He had, Immediately preceding his connec-
ton with the road, been engaged In busl-
ness in Cape Colony, Africa, and is well
known as an active, go-ahead sort of man.
Ensign Joseph Wright Powell Of the New
York, who won promotion by seeking to
rescue Lieutenant Hobson and his men,
secured the assignment in a novel manner.
Ensign Palmer had been chosen for the
task. Powell fastened to Palmer and
begged to be allowed to go in his stead. A
prompt refusal met the cadets pleading,
but the %latter's eagerness was so apparent
that Palmer finally suggested that they
draw lots. A seaman was passing at the
time with a package of cigarettes in his
hand, and Palmer said: THE one who
guesses the nearest to the number OF roots
In that box goes after Hobson.' Powell
made the nearest guess, thus winning the
coveted command. Executive Officer Potter
approved Of the unique idea in that instance
and Powell made the daring trip which won
him his rank as ensign and placed him
three numbers ahead in the line Of promo
ton.
The story that General Wheeler led the
charge on the heights Of San Juan and
yelled, Come on, boys; the Yankees are
running" is not substantiated by all the
correspondents at the front. Richard Hard
ing Davis says General Wheeler did not
command his troops on the day Of the main
battle. July 1, being too i'll to participate in
the action. According to Davis, General
Sumner was in charge of General Wheeler's
division and Colonel Wood OF the Rough
Riders. was in command of General Young's
brigade. All orders to advance and attack
were issued by Generals Sumner and Kent.
The attack itself was led by Generals Hawk.
ms and Sumner. Colonel Roosevelt and
General Sumner met at the top of the hill
and shook hands there. General Wheeler
came out while the fight was on, but did not
lead his division to the front. I saw him
Just after the Sixth had placed its flag or
the hill, which it had taken, and Informed
him of the fact. He was then seated with
his staff and surrounded by the wounded
under a large tree at the ford" The story
is good enough to enliven future CAM
fires, even though its basis is shadowy.
The colored troops are receiving well MGR
tied praise for their desperate fighting be.
fore Santiago. Talk about men that are
, fghters,' writes a soldier who witnessed
/, their heroism, you want to see the negroes
They let out a yell and then charge ant
the fight is over" The intrepid courage O.
!, the blacks will be appreciated by a brie
description Of one action. They were or
dered to take an entrenched position pro
!, tected by artillery and block houses, which
had been subjected to no fire by our artil
lery. With a yell they responded to thu
order to charge, ran over the open spact
through a plunging fire and captured thu
enemy's position.