Evening star., 1898-07-26
BAP TISM OF FIRE
The District Volunteers Did Duty at
the Front.
HURRIED FROM SIBONEY TO TRENCHES
Narrow Escape of Col. Harries and
Some of His Officers.
NO r r 8 It A TT N q II II
RRIED FROM SIBONEY TO TRENCHES
n o RE st AT MIG H T

NO REST AT MIG HIT
! Special From a Staff Correspondent
With the United States Troops in Front
of Santiago, July II, via Siboney. July 13.-
| The men of Col. Harries regiment received
| their first baptism of fire from the Spanish
! intrenchments yesterday afternoon, and
last night they received a baptism from the
| clouds which for discomfort and possible
future ill effects far outclassed the shower
| of Mauser bullets.
The District soldiers reached the front
| Tuesday afternoon about . o'clock, and
| Immediately took position on the right of
| the advance line, where there was sharp
! firing going on. AS the regiment marched
| past General Wheeler's headquarters, firing
began along the entire extent of the long
crescent-shaped lire which our troops oc-
cupy in the investment of Santiago. Above
the sharp reports of the field artillery and
the periodic boom of its heavy siege guns
We could hear the sharp, irregular rattle of
the small arms which told that the sharp
shooters were also at their deadly work.
Nobody knew just where our boys were to
go into action. but all knew they were
going to be posted where there was work
to be done.
This is always the time in an engage
ment which tries the souls even of ex-
perienced veterans-the waiting and the
anticipation of what is coming. 1t would,
therefore, not be surprising If raw troops
should show some nervousness under such
conditions. but if there was faintness IN
the heart of any one of the District boys,
he surely made no sign. Veterans never
marched more steadily or with more non-
chalance to the place assigned them a
battlefield.
After many detCurs and disappointments
the District regiment was finally directed to
swing off to the left for the line of fire
From the main trail encirclng our front
they had to climb a long hill which fortu-
nately was not steep and was freer from
underbrush than most of the surrounding
country. AT the top they found they were
to occupy the position lately held by a reg
! iment of regulars, who had thrown up some
rife pits at the crest of the hill They were
told by Major Creighton Webb who direct
ed Col. Harries into position that this was
the nearest point to the Spanish line. The
faces of all who heard this information
plainly indicated the pride that was felt
in being given this place of honor at the
front.
A Shower of Mauser Bullets.
There had been a short lull in the firing,
and Colonel Harries, Surgeon PyIes and
his assistant, Surgeon Cox, Chaplain Dud-
ley Majors Urell, O'Brien and Hine of the
staff had gone over the crest of the hill
to make a reconnaissance. Two or three
regular army officers were with them and
had warned them to be careful about form
ing in groups, the Spanish sharpshoot-
ers were unwearied In their efforts in pick
ing out officers as targets They were all
soon thoroughly advised of the wisdom
of this caution, for in less than a minute
a shower of Mauser bullets whistled
around the District officers. Colonel Har-
ries. Major Hine and Surgeon Cox per-
haps had the closest calls of any of the
officers, and all made somewhat hasty,
though digntffed, movement for cover. In
the meantime the main body of the regi-
ment had come up and a detail of two COM
panies was made to occupy the trenches
and return the fire of the enemy. Com
pany l. under the command of Lieutenant
Walker, and Company B, under Captain
King, were detailed for this duty. There
was some desultory firing during the next
two hours, but about o'clock a flag of
| truce fiuttered from the Spanish line in
| front Of u.s. and vigilance was changed to
| expectation as to what the next move
would be.
Meantime the remainder of the men had
been busy getting ready for their nights
| bivouac. They had left everything in the
| way of tents, baggage and rations at a
| camp which they occupied the night pre-
| vious on their way to the front. All they
| had was what was left of two days ra-
| tions in their haversacks, a blanket apiece
and in some cases rubber poncho. Brush
| tepees to keep off the night dew were
| hastily constructed, a hasty and frugal
meal made off of the ever-ready hard tack
| and such canned stuff the boys had
| at hand. and they were ready for the night
| which had by this time settled down on
| the camp.
Digging Trenches in the Night.
But there was work ahead of the men
| even though it was night, and in spite of
| the fact that they had had but little sleep
| during the two nights previous, in addition
| 10 the tiresome march of fourteen miles
| TO the front from Siboney. A new
| line of trenches were to be dug extend
ing our advance closer to the enemy, who
| were then about 500 yards away. Col.
| Harries and Lieut.. Hayes had made re-
cCnnaisance of the enemys position and
| marked out the places for the new trenches.
| They had also come to the conclusion that
| the Spanish, under their flag of truce, were
| about TO extend their lines toward us dur
| ing the night.
Company d, Captain Hodges, and Com
pany l., Captain England, were detailed to
| dig the trenches. The men were sup
piled with picks and shovels, each man, in
| addition to his rifle pit bearing one or the
other of these tools, which to the soldier are
| only second in Importance to his rifle 1t
| was an impressive scene, as the men struck
| out in single file for the trenches They
| had bean warned to be careful against max
ing any noise their lives depended upon
| silence and caution. The men were bluntly
told that any one who. so far forgot the
| common welfare as to talk aloud would
| simply be shot in his tracks by his COM
| manding officer. All orders were to be
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