The herald., 1898-08-20
The Herald's Correspondent at
the Battle Of San Juan
STRICKEN DOWN BY YELLOW fever
Major Romeyn Gives Graphic Account Of
the Skill of the Surgeons and the
Nursing of the Sick
By Henry Romeyn, Brevet-Najor. u. s.
A. Retired)

"A, 1tetlT6O.J
On the afternoon of June 80 last, satisfied
that a battle was impending between the
American and Spanish forces, obtained
permission from the surgeon at Siboney.
Cuba, to ride on an ambulance as far to
the front as General Skaters headquart-
ers on the way to Santiago. Rough scarcely
expresses the character of the trip to
persons accustomed to American roads.
Our way was a mere cart-track cut
through the brush. in some places deep in
mud that reached to the hubs of the We
hicle. and on the hills covered with loose
powders or large rocks, over which the
mules stumbled and the wheels slid and
bounced In a way that threatened the de-
struction Of the outfit.
Just before sunset we overlook troops
Fastening to the front along this road.
which was not wide enough for a column
OF fours, and every time we would reach a
detachment the men would have to fall
3, out Of line to the side to give our team
room. mention these things to illustrate
the extreme difficulty of getting troops TO
the front in any sort of formation.
The march was continued late into the
night. but at o. clock the ambulance halted
at the tents of the First Division hos
pital, about three miles and o half from
Santiago. Here among the medical men
found those who knew me, and was
taken care of for the night.
After an early breakfast the next morn
Ing, equipped with field glass, camera ard
havervack containing a few bareback, !
started for the front. The road was full
Of moving troops, and at the crossing of
the creek about a mile and half from
camp found the war balloon, which was
being taken slowly to the front. had
seen 1t the night before, a thousand feet
or more in the air. whence the occupants
OF the car looked down upon the fortiflca-
lions and city Of Santiago. 1t was now
lowed along, not more than so feet from
the ground, by about dozen men.
With Grimes Battery
A fourth Of a mile beyond the crossing
referred to, the track entered q dense tim
Der which extended to the next crossing Of
the San Juan. At the left of the road.
and fourth Of mile from It, 1 saw
Grimes battery-A, I'd U. S. Art.-on a
hill perhaps rs feet highe than the road
way, and near the buildings of an aban-
doned sugar plantation called Ell Poso, or
The Well, the name being derived from a
well near the creek, in which steam
pump had been used.
Believing from the location of the bat
terry that this would be good place to Sec
the coming battle, left the road and went
over to 1t. found that knew the officers
and was made welcome. 1t was not yet
o'clock. The battery was in position, await
ing orders to open fire.
Far Off to the right Capron's battery had
gone into position near the town of Ell
Caney, and the first gun was fired at $3.50
o'clock. Infantry fire on the right began at
7:10 o'clock and soon afterwards Grimes
battery opened on the Spanish blockhouse
and intrenchments surrounding 1t, which
stood In front of hospital building jus,
outside Of the city Of Santiago. Over this
building then one Red Cross flag fioated.
In half an hour seven were displayed from
the group Of buildings. Directly In front
of the buildings were two batteries, one OF
which could not be reached without danger
Of striking the hospital.
The Spaniards did not return the artillery
fire until $40 o'clock, but the first sho,
showed that their range had been accur-
ately calculated; the first shell explodinp
Immediately over the guns of Grimes bat
terry, killing two men and woun6ang five
others.
Correspondents Retreat
The scene had It's comic as well as IT.
tragic side. With the battery were three
correspondents. At the explosion of the
first shell they scattered. 1 had camera
In my hand endeavoring to catch a picture
with the flash of the gun. When the shell!
burst found 1t convenient to walk down
the hill, and walking down was much
easier than walking up had been, and could
be done more rapidly. 1 did not get INV
picture.
Ny route was to one side, to get out of
the line of fire. The other two CORRESPONDS
ents, unaccustomed to fire, started directly
to the rear and were In a more dangerous
position than If they had remained with
the battery. When they came out of the
brush half an hour afterwards they were
without any impedimenta; blankets. can.
teens, haversacEs, cameras, had disa n
peared. forgotten In the rush for shelter
The fire OF the battery was resumed as soon
as the Spanish fire ceased, and was directed
principally upon the blockhouse referred
to, and to position on its left, where II was
thought the battery was placed from
which the shells had Gomez the smokeless
powder used by the Spaniards making I.
extremely difficult to locate the guns. but
this was eventually done, and there was ne
more artillery fire from that particular
spot on that day.
The Battle Of San Juan
Immediately in front of the blockhouse
and on the side of the hill, which sloped
steeply down to the valley Of the San Juan
was rife pit large enough to accommo-
date battalion, and this was filled with
Spanish infantrymen. With their use OF
smokeless powder It also took some time to
determine their position, but when 1t was
done they were soon driven out by the
rapid fire Of the artillery.
While this was going on the troops, when
had left in the roadway early In the morn
Ing, were pushing to the front. and the bal
loon, for some unknown reason. was carried
well to the front Of the column. floating just
above the tree-tops. AS 1t approached the
clear ground on the farther side of the
stream a dropping fire was opened upon II
by the Spanish, which soon increased to vol.
leys. Kidding the balloon and rendering /,
useless.
The head Of the column succeeded in get.
ansonto open ground, and pushed forward