The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-26


Practically two battles were fought at
the same time, one by the Rough Riders
under the immediate command of Col.
Wood on the top of the plateau and the
other on the hillsides. several miles away
by the regulars, with whom was Gen.
Young.
The expedition started from Jaragua
marked on some Cuban maps as AL
tares-a small town on the coast, nine
miles east of MORO Castle, and which
was the first place occupied by the troops
after their landing at Baiquiri last Wed
nesday.
The first part of the journey of the
Rough Riders was over steep hills sew
eral hundred feet high. The men car
ried twenty rounds of ammunition
and heavy camp equipments. Although
this was done easily, in the early morning
the weather became intensely hot and
the sun beat down upon the cowboys
and eastern athletes as they tOiled up
the grade with their heavy packs and fire.
quent rests were necessary. The trail
was so narrow that for the greater part
of the way the men had to proceed sin
gle file. Prickly cactus bushes lined
both sides Of the trail and the under
brush was so thick that it was impossi-
bic to see ten feet either side.
ENEMY'S CUCKOO CALLS.
The Rough Riders entered into the
spirit of the occasion with the greatest
enthusiasm. 1t was their first oppor
tunity for IA fight, and every man was
eager for it, The weather grew swell
teringly hot and one by one, the men
threw away blankets and tent rolls and
emptied their canteens. The first inti-
nation had by Col. Woods command
that there were Spanards in the yicini-
~, was when they reached a point three
or four miles back from the coast, when
the low cuckoo calls of the Spanish sol
diers were heard in the bush 1t was
difficult TO locate the exact point from
which these sounds came. The men
were ordered to speak in whispers and
frequent halts We're made. Finally n
place was reached about eight o'clock
where the trail opened into space Gov
cred with high grass on the right hand
side Of the trail, and the thckest kind
Of brambIe and underbrush on the other.
a barbed wired fence also ran along the
left side. The dead body of IA Cuban
was found on the side of the road, and
at the same time Captain Capron's
troops discovered the outpost, the heads
of several Spaniards being seen in the
bushes for moment.
1t was not until then that the men
were permitted TO load their carbines.
When the order to load was given they
acted on it with will, and displayed
the greatest eagerness to make an at
tack. At this time the sound Of firing
was heard a mile or two to the right,
apparently coming from the hills beyond
the thicket. 1t was the regulars reply
ing to the Spaniards, who had opened
ON them from the thieket. In addition
to rapid rifle fire the boom Of Hotchkiss
guns could be heard. Hardly two minu-
ties elapsed before Mauser rifles COM
menced to crack in the thicket, and Il
hundred bullets whistled over the heads
of the Rough Riders. cutting leaves from
the trees and sending chips flying from
the fence posts by the side Of the men.
The Spaniards had opened, and they
poured in heavy fire, which soon had
most disastrous effect. The troops
stood their ground with the bullets
singing all around them. Private Colby
caught sight of the Spaniards and fired
the opening shot at them.
HISS AND SHREK OF BULLETS.
Sergeant Hamilton Fish, Jr.. was the
first man to fall He was shot through
the heart and died instantly. The
Spaniards were not more than 200
yards off, but only occasional glmpses
of the could be seen. The men con
tinued to pour volley after voley into
the brush in the direction Of the sound
OF the Spanish shots, but the latter he
10
getting nearer. Colonel Wood walked
along his lines, displaying the utmost
GOODNESS. He ordered troops to deploy
into the thicket. and sent another de-
tachment into the open space on the left
of the trail Lieutenant Colonel RoOse-
welt led the former detachment and tore
through the brush, urging his men on.
The shots came thicker and faster every
moment. and the mir seemed filled with
the singing and shrieking of the Mauser
bullets, while the short pop of the Span
ish rifles could be distinguished easily
from the heavier reports of the Ameri-
can weapons. Sometimes the fire would
come in volleys, and again shots would
follow each other in rapid succession
for several minutes.
DON'T MIND ME. BOYS"
Captain Capron stood behind his men,
revolver in hand. His aim was sure,
and two OF the enemy were seen TO fall
under his fire. Just as he was prepar-
ing to take another shot and shouting
orders to his men at the same time, his
revolver dropped from his grasp, and
he fell to the ground with a bullet
through his body: His troop
was badly Disconnected for a
moment, but, with all the strength
he could muster he said: Don't mind
me, boys, go on" Lieut. Thoas of the
same troop, received II wound through
the leg soon afterwards aud became de-
lirious.
The troops that we're in the thieket
were not long in getting INTO the midst
of the fight. After ten or fifteen minutes
Of hot work the firing fell off some, and
Lieut.. Col. Roosevelt ordered his men
back from the thickct into the trail
narrowly escaping q bullet himself
which struck "A tree alongside his head.
Tt was evident that the Spanlrls were
falling back and changing their position,
but their fire continued at intervals
Then the troops tore TO the front and