The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-28

| tNpyElEntcu, lNlsf py James NpTdOu He'll
Colonel Woods Headquarters, Ia Qua.
sina, Juno 25, via Kingston. Jamaica. Mon.
day, June 21-The first report sent to yot
OF Colonel Woods fight was written imme.
diatcly the firing ceased 1t has been pos.
sible to obtain fuller dctails from n Span
lard who was In the fight and was cap.
tured by Cubans.
| This prisoner said OF the volunteers
They did not fight as other soldiers
| When We fired "a volley they advanced in.
stead OF going back, The more we fired
the nearer they came to US. We are not
used to fighting with men who act so
This comment touches the most crafty
| ing feature of the engagement.
Five hundred volunteers, surprised In a
narrow trail successfully drove back four
times their number under fire which
killed or wounded every tenth man. This
is what is called docimating fire and one
under which, according to military tactics.
troops are expected to retreat. Credit for
the engagemtn mt therefore Is all the greater
for the reason that Instead OF retreat
only ceased when the cnemy's base had
been taken and the Spaniards were secu
retreating carrying their wounded. Forty
dad Spaniards have since been found.
The charge OF the Tenth cavalry OF reg
ulars, and the First cavalry, who coming
up by another trail, cleared ridge upon
which the army was en,rcnched, assisted
equally in the repulse.
The Spaniards had selected their posi-
ton with care Two trails from Siboney
approached La Quaslna like two halves of
wshbonc, the Spanish position being at
the meeting point The enemy accordingly
WAS so placed that the men were able tn see
down the valley and cover the approach OF
The Americans whichever way they came.
General Young arranged to meet Colonel
Wood at this spot and as his trail was
longer he started from Sboney with the
Regulars half an hour In advance of The
volunteers. His scouts saw the Spanards
on the ridge long before those In the brush
were discovered by Colonel Wood and the
losses In killed and wounded were for that
reason greater among the volunteers, be-
cause OF the ambush, which brought them
within thirty 10 fifty yards of the enemy.
One feature OF the fight which Illus
tratts the spirit shown by the men was
that when one fellow dropped out wounded
three or four others did not fall ont 10
help him to the rear. service which has
been very popular. On the contrary, the
wounded were left where they fell. at
tended only by the hospital corps. In
three cases men wounded In an arm or leg
cared for others who were fatally wounded.
There was no one else to help them for
no one OF the volunteers who was able to
shoot did anything else.
The spirit OF Mr.. Marshall. corresponds
cnt of the New York journal. was as ad
mirable as that OF any soldier on The field,
He was shot on the first firing line aud
though the bullet passed within an inch
OF his spine and threw him into frequent
commissions. he continued in his intervals
of consciousness to write his account OF
the fight and gave II TO wounded soldier
to be forwarded TO his paper, This devo-
ton TO duty BY a man who knew he was
dying was as fine as any OF the many
courageous and inspiring deeds that oc-
CURED during the two hours OF GREATNESS.
desperate fighting. The conduct OF all the
men in the fight can not be over praised
II must be remembered that not for
one minute during the two hours did the
strain slacken nor did the officers call
halt. The movement was as fast and as
lncessant as at ball match. The ground
was uneven, and the advance was impeded
rs vines an inch thick, trailing bushes and
cactus plants. known as Spanish bayonets,
which tar the flesh and clothes. Through
this the men fought their way. falling
stumbling, wet with perspriration. painting
for breath. but obeylng Colonel WOODS
commands Instantly. They disproyod all
that has been said In criticism OF them
when the organization was formed. The
cowboys observed perfect discipline, and
the Eastern element In Troop X, from
clubs and colleges. acted with absolute
coolness and intelligence.
Cowboy Rowland. from Deming. New
Mexico, WIS shot through the thigh. the
bullet entering at the side and going out
at the back He lmped to the hospital on
the trail and was told nothing could be
done for him at that moment. Accordingly
he walked to the front and craw.ci along
on his belly. firing yolleys with the rest
Colonel Wood who was 81 the front
throughout tt.c entire action, SAY q trooper
apparently skulking fifty feet In the rear Of
the firing line and ordered him sharply 10
advance. The boy rose. hurried forward.
limping. AS he took his place aud raised
his carbine he said, my leg was little
stiff. sir" Colonel Wood looked and saw
that a bullet had ploughed alongside the
troopers leg for twelve inches. One man
had three bullets pass 30 close to him a5
10 leave marks In three distinct places 40
though a hot poker had been run across the
flesh and blistered H.
Color Sergeant Wright Of Omaha, who
walked close TO Colonel Wood carrying the
fag. had his hair clipped in two places
aud his neck scorched. Three bullets
passed through the flag Two officers
standing on either side OF Colonel Wood
were wounded. but nothing seemed able TO
reach him. lie was cool and deliberate al
ways. but more concerned than his serious
manner INDICATED when he made the move
that won the fight which was piece OF
American blum, pure and simple.
Tho Spanish position wa, an old ruIno
distiuery shut In by impenetrable bushes.
In ADVANCE Of the bushes there was bun