The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-01
LETTER FROM WILLARD
Graphic Description of the Fight
at Santiago.
WAS RIGHT IN THE MlX-UP
The Lieutenant Was Wounded and Is
Now at Columbus. Ohio. on a Fur
lough-The Spaniards Fought
Liz Fiends.

Great Falls, July 31.-A second letter
from Lieutenant Harry o. willard 10
his parents. DIR. Mrs. ]. H. Willard
of Lewistown. gives a very graphic de-
scription Of the fight before Santiago de
Cuba. 1t will be remembered that the
lieutenant was wounded on that occa-
sion while leading his troop into battle.
He is now at Columbus, Ohio, visiting
his aunt. Mrs. J. L. Bright. during his
sick leave. His mother has also gone
East to be with him until his furlough
expires. The letter reads as follows:
"~Siboney, Santiago de Cuba, 5th Corps
Hospital, July 5. 1898.
MY Dear Parents will try and
write you a few lines to let you know
j am still alive. On the 30th of jun
we moved out of our camp at Sevilla
and advanced on Santiago de Cuba.
We camped for the night on a hill, only
$500 yards from the barracks in the
city. Two of our light batteries had
taken up positions there, and the list
and 10th cavalry (my regimenO and
rough riders were 10 defend these bat
teries during the night in case of at
tack. We did not arrive on the hill,
lit NAo saA - h'@SN 80.
1890 ID. m. We had TO wade across
creeks where the water was waist deep,
lamb through the thickets and un-
derbrush, with the big Spanish daggers'
sticking into us at every step, a terri
BILE march indeed. Also we had to carry
very heavy packs, consisting of our ra-
tons for four days in a h~aversack, and
a little bedding. L carried a blanket. a
haversack, slicker, saber. an extra pair
of trousers, a canteen and a haversack
filled with all the rations | could take,
besides my revolver and belt of ammu-
milton, a very heavy load when one had
to carry il over the terrible trail we had
10 travel and the rapid march We had
TO make. Finally W. arrived, tired out
and hungry, on the San Juan hill, being
only 500 yards from the enemy's out
posts. No lights were allowed at all
so we could make no coffee nor even
light a pipe.
I'VE had to lie down on the grass. wet
with dew, and our clothing wet, to await
the break of dawn and to rest as best
we could. About 3 a. m, July /, we
were up, packed up our few things and
awaited the order to advance. Our IL
fantry early in the morning made a gal
liant attack on a town called Cannal
n some of our artillery began to shell
some ~blockhouses on our right. Ther
the batteries on our W position begar
to open fire, and the Spanish were no
long in replying. and soon a perfect hail
storm of solid shot and shrapnel com
menced to drop around us. We remained
here, exposed to this terrible fire, TO
about 40 minutes, when we were or
dered forward We then came down
and commenced to advance on the San
tiago trail, preceded by a balloon, which
was up several hundred feet i'm the air
.when we had gon about 400 yards w
met with a terrific fusilade. The enem!
began to fire on the balloon and we re
ceived the effect. We then d~eployed an
lay down behind the bank of a creek
while the rough riders and LIST ~cavalr,
made an advance
I'VE were ordered to support thes
regiments. There we began to lose on
men. Several were killed and quite
number wounded. Colonel Baldwin
son was severely wounded. TIL confic
from this on was terrible, but we drov
the Spanish back. our losses were yer
heavy. The Spanish ugh like hend:
Night found us on a ridge, only l3O
yards from the barracks at Santiago
There, after dark, we i~ntrenched our
selves. During the day l had been wad
ing in water up to my waist and a
night had a high fever, and by mornin
was quite sick and had to &c to the fel
hospital. While lying down in the hos
pital | was struck by a shot from
Spanish sharpshooter, just below tn
right kneecap. The wound is not dar
eerous, but very painful, and l was ser
down here to the corps hospital. Don
write me any more here. / have nevt
had a line from any one since we lei
Tampa. Don't worry about me. L al
doing we'll. With love, your son."