Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-18
Dons ut Eel Caney.

! G$&&SX&hlsf{rrecDfXsX4 5s IL tllllc 10 tdhc OIL
M1$EYYl9B& n ~ "a hats to them now
| IpVfT MI ~ ysS sSW9 that q regiment
| rF' w 'I->Glt of city dandics
| ,Ilt1T-SkGn -, ".LlNM has carried away
| honors beside the
regulars at Santiago. The mon of the
| Seyenty-firs, New York militia volun-
| tGers did not go in in brigade column
in tho attack on FL Caney heights, sup
ported right and left by regulars. They
ran into a fight of their own and held
their end up like veterans.
On the march to Ell Caney, move
mcnt which rs intended for a feint
and not an afvr.:R, the Scventyfirst fol.
lowed the road taken by the regulars
some distance until the Spaniards on
the flank. a.rlg the works around San
tiago, began to harass the column. In
fact, by reading between tho lines Of
the reports one sees that the Spaniar1S
had the best of the situation and but
for the valor of our troops would have
given us Bull Run then and there.
The road used by tho troops was in dan
ger of seizure by the Spaniards. Com
pany i of the Seventy first, led by Cap
tain Rafferty,, who has the warlike ardor
Of his race, dcployed to guard the road
| Gradually the fight developed, and the
regulars deploycd line Of two regi-
mcnts, with skirmishers to the front
Captain Ratferty's militiamen formed
the right of the skirmish line. Over the
hill the line rushed, through shelter
ing woods, into the broad open, beyond
which was u Spanish blockhouse.
After leaving the woods the troops
had no shelter whatever from the Span
ish fire. Still it looked easy to advance
upon the blockhouse and take it with u
rush. Suddenly the hillside was swept
with shells and bullets. The Spaniards
had waited TO get the American line
we'll out of reach Of shelter before OPEN
ing fire. 1t was complete surprise yet
the militiamen did not waver. Closing
up the gaps in their ranks where the
shells and Mauser bullets tore through,
they marched on to the aid Of the regu-
lars, who were in danger Of being cut
off. Before it was half way across the
field the Seventy first lost 70 men killed
and wounded.
The Spadards, making a target of
tho NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were behind
breastworks and out of sight Their fire
grew moro terrible every moment, but
tho Seventy first, instead of shrinking
I, from it, broke into run straight for
the Spanish position. Soon they got
close enough to SEQ the Spaniards and
opened fire i'll answer to theirs.
All this time Captain Raffcrty's COM
pany was leading. 1t dashed for the
crest with bayonets fixed, charged the
trenches and drove the Spaniards out.
Many of the latter were shot down as
they ran away, and tho little field of
the gallant company's exploit was soon
covered with dead and dying dons.
Rafferty's men occupied the captured
rife pits. Nearly every man had been
hit lot none who was able to handle
q rife would leave the ranks.
Captain Rafferty, held the pit for an
hour, when it became certain that the
rain Of shots poured upon him from the
next hill made it impossible to retain
it long Withdrawing his men, he found
shelter on the hillside out of range OF
the Spanish. Re-enforcements joined
the brave company, and the line adj
vancod to another position, where II
could concentrate its fire upon the hill
along which the stubborn enemy seemed
intrenched.
In u short time the Spanish outpost!
were driven into their trenches by thC
CALLING fire of the Americans Then tn!
Seventy first with two regular regi
ments, at last, in closed line, charged tC
the second hill and captured the trenches
there with flags and prisoners. TIL,
Spaniards driven from the trenches
quickly reformed in others, and the bat
,. tie lasted for hours. Several times thu
:. enemy charged to retake the lost ground
q but were as often repulsed by the gal
y liant Americans, regulars and militi
n side by side
- The battle loss of tho regiment was
"a killed and 46 severely wounded. / re
member that in the second year of on
:. service, at the battle of Gaines Mill
q the Twenty seventh New York in fight
90 ing similar to that at FL Caney los
"a about the same number, and we Away
" counted it as one of our star fights. w
:, fought beside the regulars that day ais
"a and felt proud that we held our ow'
n with them.
X, Captain Rafferty, was not the onl
~ ~ personal hero of the command. Char
" lain Van dc Water added to the list c
~ brave men of the cloth by going int
~ battle with the line and cheering thel
n on. One hundred young men of tn
NJ regiment belong to families of his fol-
m mer parish, and, like true shepherd, b
10 sticks to his flock even in pastures roam
ed over by Spanish wolves.
Colonel Downs of the Seventy first
militia colonel who saw his first figl
at Santiago. He showed himself tru
blood, as did Adjutants Abeel an
' Fisher
:, But it is not alone in fighting tn;
the raw militiamen Of the Seventy-fir
have shown the stuff Of American SO
diers These ara the men who Law Oyt