The Topeka state journal., 1898-12-23

Spanish before us to the crest of the
hills in our front which were immed-
lately opposite the city of Santiago
itself.
hold the hill or crest. I had at that
time fragments of the Sixth cavalry
regiment, and an occasional infantry
man under me-three or four hundred
men all told. AS was the highest
there I took command of all of them
and so continued until the next morn
ing. The Spaniards attempted to make
a counter attack that afternoon but
were easily driven back and then until
after dark we remained under a heavy
fire from their rifles and great guns, Iy-
ing fiat on our faces on a gentle slope,
just behind the crest. Captain Parker's
gatling battery was run up to the right
of my regiment and did most excellent
and gallant service. In order to charge
the men had, of course, been obliged to
throw away their packs and we had
nothing to sleep on and nothing to eat.
We were lucky enough, however, to
find in the captured blOckhOuSe ca ptur-
ed the Spanish dinners, still cooking,
which we ate with relish. They con-
sisted chiefly of rice and peas, with
big pot containing a stew of fresh
meat, probably for the officers. We also
distributed the captured Spanish blank
cts as far as they would go among our
men and gathered a good deal of Mau-
ser ammunition for use in the Colt rap
id fire gun which was being brought up.
That night we dug entertainments
across our front. At 8 O'Clock in the
morning the Spaniards made another
attack upon us which was easily re-
PEELED, and at o'clock they opened the
day with a heavy rifle and shrapneI
fire. All day long we remained under
this, replying whenever we got the
chance. In the evening at about
o'clock the Spaniards fired three guns
and then opened a very heavy rifle fire,
their skirmishes coming well forward.
got all my men down into the trenches,
as did the other command near me, and
we opened a heavy return fire. The
Spanish advance was at once stopped,
and after an hour their fire died away.
This night we completed most of our
trenches and began to build bomb
proofs. The protection afforded to our
men was good, and next morning I had
and shell fire until 12 o'clock, when the
truce came. do not mention the Off
GERS and men who particularly distin-
guiShed themselves as 1 have nothing
to add in this respect to what was con-
tanned in my two former letters. There
were numerous Red Cross flags flying
in the various parts of the city, two of
them so arranged that they directly
covered batteries in our front and for
sometime were the cause of our not firr
ing al them
tive, especially in our rear where they
seemed by preference to attack the
wounded men who were being carried
on itterS, the doctors and medical at
their arms and the burial parties. I
organized a detail of sharp shooters
and sent them out after these guerrilas
of whom they killed 13. Two OF the
men thus killed were shot several hours
after the truce had been in operation,
because in spite of this fact they kept
firing upon our men as they went to
draw water. They were stationed in the
trees as the guerrilaS were generally
and owing to the density of the foliage
and to the use of smOkeless powder ri
flo
to locate them. For the next seven
days, until the tenth, we lay in our line
while the truce continued. We had con-
tinuously to work at Omb-prOOfS and
at the trenches, and as we had no pro-
per supply of food, and utterly made
quate medical facilities, the men suf-
The officers chipped together and pur-
chased beans, tomatoes and sugar Tor me
men, SO that they might nave some t5-it rJ,leI q
from the bacon and hard tack WIN a
great deal of difficulty we got them col
fee. AS for the sick and wounded. they
suffered so in the hospitals when sent 10
the rear for lack of food and attents2n
front and give them such care as our
own doctors could. As 1 mentioned N
ed men continued to fight through the
battle in spite of their wounds, ana OF
and wounded. came up to rejoin us as
soon as their condition allowed them to
mateiy sent to the states. On the 10Th
the truce was at an end and the lombard
ment reopened. AS far as our lines were
concerned it was on the Spanish part
very feeble. We suffered no losses, and
speedily got the fire from their trenches
in our front completely under On the
mile to the right. The truce again being
on, nothing happened here, except we
continued to watch and do our best to get
the men, especially the sick, properly fed,
and having no transportation and being
able to get hardly any through the regu-
lar channels, we used anything we could
find, captured Spanish cavalry horses,
abandoned mules which had been shot but
which our men took and cured; diminu-
tive skinny ponies, purchased from the
Cubans etc. BY this means and by the
exertions of the officers we were able
from time to time to get supplies of beans,
sugar tomatoes and even oat meal while
from the Red Cross people we got our in