The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-08
Capt. Young's Map of the Battlefield

back out of the enclosure and put our
two in their places. 1t made the ma
tiyeS stare to see two great big guns
replaced with two much smaller ones.
They did not understand that the mod
ern rifle cannon is much superior to
the old. We had a most uncomforta-
bic location. The natives had been
around there for some time and the
place stunk most sickeningly. The
water was in every depression. 1t lies
about II inches below the surface and
so rises into every hole. The earth
work we were stationed behind was
about 10 feet thick, and at the rear
was sustained by bamboo poles sunk
en- in the ground, behind which were
placed pieces of wicker work made of
bamboo-this held up the earth to the
desired height, about six feet-through
it all were two embraSures, narrow
behind and 'gored out in front, so the
guns could be traversed around from
side to side.
THE FIGHT.
"Monday-The fight has occurred.
We occupied our new positions on the
new lines dug by the Colorado boys
two or three nights since yesterday
morning early. Fortunately Captain
Grants two guns were taken forward
yesterday morning to a position on the
parativeiy quiet yesterday. There were
a few shots now and then, when some
of our men unnecessarily exposed this m
selves, but there was a sort of cam
that preceded the storm CT last night
We made some very comfortable houses
for the men around the guns. l re-
manned up there until about o'clock
in the evening and left Lieutenant
Gibbs in charge for the night the
main ma RI Of the N and man ha
ing in Camp Dewey.
At 1850 last night I was awakened
by the most Internal racket L ever
heard. There was an inceSsanL roar
of small arms, punctured with the dis
charge every second, almost, of some
heavy cannon. The whole camp was
UP Immediately. We knew our boys
were in for it, to what extent we did
not know. Bugles began to sound the
call to arms. We had our limbers and
caissons loaded with shot and shrapnel
and the terrible noise of the battle con-
tinued-it was beyond all question the
most Internal noise l ever heard. An
aide of General Greenes went through
our camp and told US to await orders
The infantry fled past and soon choiled
uD the narrow road. Down this road was
yeritable rain of lead. Men fell in
every regiment. The sea beach was
swept with shrapnel and small arms.
We waited in the impenetrable dark
ness and rain for orders. Men soon be-
gan to run through camp. They were
terror-Stricken. One shouted. Turn
out the guard Bring, on all the am
munition.' We grabbed him and found
out he had no orders, but was simply
stampeded. Another man came rum
ming down the road, and when halted
by an officer and asked where he was
going, said the first sergeant had sent
him for drink of water. This was two
and a half miles from the scene of
battle.
WILD REPORTS.
Then came the reports that the
Utah batteries were knocked out, wiped
out, that the trenches had been en-
tered by the Spanish and all our men
killed. 1t was a most fearful exper-
fence. We could not have taken more
up the roads. the infantry
ciogged them up and it would have !
been suicide TO alike one fair Timber |
chest full of ammunition up through I
such fusillade. A single ball would I
have exploded the whole AZ rounds. Be +
sides we were under orders to remain |
in camp. After two hours of fearful /
suspense the end came. Then we hur- |
ried our ammunition forward, 40 of the !
boys taking two limbers for two and |
one-half miles through mud a foot /
deep. They got there, safely, and thank |