Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-13
IN SANTIAGO FIGHT
LIEUTENANT CRALLE WAS IN THE
BATTLE AT. SANTIAGO.
DESCRIPTIVE LETTER FROM hin.
He Tells Of the Contests between
American and Spanish Arms and
Says Uncle Sans soldiers Are
Great Fighters.


pany +, Twentieth Regiment United
States army. has. written to relatives
here a highly interesting account OF the
fight at Santiago. in which he partic-
pated:
Lieutenant Cralle is the son of Mr.. G.
H. Cralle, of Blackstone, Va; graduated
from West Point In the class OF 1898, snd
was Immediately assigned to the Twcn-
tieth Regiment, United states Regulars,
then in camp at Mobile. He enjoys tho
distinction of having been the first man
TO embark for Cuba. Lieutenant Cralle
has a sister married and living in Rich
mond, Mrs. D. c. Kennedy. of cast
Franklin street.
His letter follows:
In Trenches Around Santiago,
Sunday, July 3. 1898.
NY Dear Brother,-I saw my first bat
tie and realized the horrors OF war on
July LIST, when the fight around Santiago
commenced. We left Sabine at o'clock
June Goth. and marched till u o'clock. l
slept on the ground and was awakened
at $50 A. NJ; pushed on towards Cohhae'
where the Fourth. Twelfth. ana twenty
fifth infantry were engaging the span
iards. The Twenty-fifth charged lne
works in a magnificent way Uhe twenty
hfth are negroee). and we supported their
right. while the Twelfth supported their
left. and the Fourth their centre.
The Spaniards were strongly lnuencheD'
hut we carried the works, killed about
Cd a
capturing eighty or ninety. The Ire OF
hattie was about twenty-five miles long
We were on the extreme right. The LETT
was more strongly fortified, and the nSht-
ing there was heavier
ALL FOUGHT WELL.
After oHr victory at Connae we march-
ed that night to the extreme lett Oh 'he
line. where we are en- echelon In a suhkeh
road. The battle ragged all DAY Oh the
LIST all night. all yesterday, and all last
night and to-day till O'CLOCK "nen
sent a flag of truce for exchange OF prison.
ers ouite a number of which We nave
cantured All our men fought Weil' IN
fact. lust like Americans.
Except I'm point of military rank there
&c No difference between officers ana men,
We Joke with them and eat what they
oa+ and carry our own rations on our
back lust as they do.
have had three hours rest In Sixty
four. Last night / slept pretty wei, pu'
was awakened at 10 o'clock by the span
iards assaulting our works. The hsht
lasted twenty minutes, and the SpahaIus
cot seventy-fve yards out OF their works
and retired leaving over nVe huiiuieu
deaa and wounded. l think the truce was
10 allow them to bury the dead ana car
Cor the wounded, while we demanded the
surrender of the town.
HE LOST MANY FRIENDS.
am only guessing about this. Ger
.a,,I,, e 10 they have been removed
Ve lost heavily yesterday In charging
their outer line. Most OF my ola class-
mates are gone. God be merclui u
their loved ones!
po,cblev Churchman Davis, and others
ara dead. Poor Benchley was shot III .,io
san Juan river. on the line nearest INC
snanish works. where he was tryihs ~
destroy wire fence, 2o yards i'll 'heH
front. The mon
49, t1ow how TO disobey an order In
hattle and nv trouble has been to Keep
tbar from necdlessly exposing them
selves. ooo
we are in the mountains. in 200 yards
NJ their last line. We sleep, what little
| vve get on our guns. We can't get Ia
lions. and ] have been living nearly two
DAVIS on raw western meat. We dare
not build fires. FOR it draws Spanish bull
let's. They are expert marksmen, 100,
no matter what has been said TO the con-
trarv. and they never surrender. Even
| after their guns have been taken away
they draw their revolvers and shoot. we
! have had several cases. some twelve or
| fifteen. where Frenchmen dressed in our
uniform are in the tops of trees in our
rear and pick Off our men. They nave
heen promptly shot each time. though
tbev claim 10 be Frenchmen. What the
outcome will be, TO one can tell.
Lovingly,
lc,onen MAURY.
DIIRING THE ARMISTICE.
A postal written three days later Is as
follows: ,ooo
Before Santiago, July o. 1888
The armistice is still on Fighting l
hear will be resumed this evening. Span
,eb feet completely annihilated. Span
iards completely shut up in their works
before Santiago. They are TOOLS not 10
surrender. Am we'll and doing nicely
| Got a bath yesterday, the hrst Tor a
month mearly). No fevers as yet Deau
oil hurled. / visited Benchley's grave
Yesterday. and wrote TO his mother TO-
dav. Poor woman! Her only boy
Lovingly,