The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-01
HEROIC ROUGH RIDERS.
Sample Of American Pluck They
Gave the Spaniards.
SOME FEATURES OF THE RIaHr,

Bullets Was Poured Into Them, There
was . Steady. Cpol Advance-Spirit Of
the Men = Their Conduct Cannot No
.Ovcrpraised--where Heroes Are Buried.
The first report sent Of Colonel Woods
fight at La Quasina was written imme-
diately after the firing ceased. 1t has
since been possible to obtain fuller de-
tails from a Spaniard who was in tho
fight and was later captured by Cubans.
This prisoner said OF the volunteers;
"They did not fight as other soldiers
When we fired volley, they advanced
instead 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 graft
flying feature of the engagement. Five
hundred volunteers, surprised in mar
row trail, successfully drove back four
times their number under fire which
killed or wounded every tenth man.
This is what is called decimating fire,
and one under which, according to mil
itary tactics, troops are expected to re-
treat. Credit for the engagement there
fore is all the greater, for the reason
that instead Of a retreat there was
steady, cool advance, which only ceased
when the enemy's base had been taken
and the Spaniards were seen retreating,
carrying their wounded. Forty dead
Spaniards have since been found.
The charge Of the Tenth cavalry Of
regulars and the First cavalry, who,
coming mp by another trail, cleared
ridge upon which the enemy was in
trenched, assisted equally in the re-
pulse. The Spaniards had selected their
position with care. Two trails from
Siboney approached La QuasiInas like
the two halves of wishbone, the Span
ish position being at the meeting point.
The enemy, accordingly, was SO placed
that the men were able to see down the
valley and cover the approach Of the
Americans whichever way they came.
General Young arranged to meet Colo
mel Wood at this spot, and as his trail
was longer he started from Siboney with
the regulars half an hour in advance Of
the volunteers. His scouts saw the
Spaniards ON the ridge long before those
in the brush werc discovered by Colonel
Wood, and the losses In killed and
wounded were for that reason greater
among the volunteers because OF the
ambush, which brought them within
80 to 30 yards Of the enemy.
One feature of the fight which illus
trates the spirit shown by the men was
that when one fellow dropped out
wounded three or four others did not
fall out to help him to the rear--a serv-
ice which is, as a rule, the most popu-
lar. On the contrary, the wounded were
left lying where they dropped. unat-
tended except 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, corre-
spondent Of the New York Journal, was
as admirable as that of any soldier ON
the field. He was shot in the fret firing
line, and though the bullet passed with
in an inch Of his spine and threw him
into frequent and terrible convulsions
he continued in his intervals Of con-
sciousness to write his account Of the
fight and gave it to wounded soldier
to be forwarded to his paper. This de-
votion to duty by man who knew he
was dying was as fine as any OF the
many courageous and inspiring deeds
that occurred during the two hours OF
breathless, desperate fighting.
The conduct of all the men in the
fight cannot be overpraised. 1t 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 fast and incessant,
as at ball match. The ground was un-
even, and the advance was impeded by
vines an inch thick, trailing bushes and
cactus plants known as Spanish bayo-
nets, which tear the flesh and clothes.
Through this the men fought their way,
falling, stumbling, wet with perspira-
tion, panting for breath, but obeying
Colonel Woods commands instantly.
They disproved all that had been said
in criticism of them when the organiza-
tion was formed. The cowboys observed
perfect discipline, and the eastern ele-
ment in Troop X, from clubs and col
1eges, acted with absolute GOODNESS and
intelligence.
Cowboy Rowland, from Deming, N.
NJ, was shot through the thigh, the
bullet entering at the side and going
out at the back. He limped to the hos
pital on the trail and was told nothing
could be done for him. That moment
accordingly he walked to the front and
crawled on his belly, firing volleys with
the rest.
Colonel Wood, who was at the front
throughout the entire action, saw troop
er apparently skulking 60 feet in the rear
of the firing line and ordered him sharp
ly to advance. The boy rose, hurried
forward. limping AS he took his place
and raised his carbine he said. my leg
was little stiff, SIR" Colonel Wood
looked and saw that bullet had plowed
alongside the troopers log for 10 inches.