The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-12
1T WAS NOT MISPLACED
Missoula Was Confident of the
Bravery of the Twenty-Fifth.
IN THE THICK OF BATTLE
The Assault on FL Caney Was One OF
the Most Gallant Charges Known
In Military History-Proud OF
the Regiment.

&AceCaAos vi z ~ @oAh
left Fort Missoula, there was 10 one
in all the immense throng that watched
the regiment as IL marched through
Missoula's streets on its way to the
station who did not feel perfectly con-
fident that the regiment would ac-
quit itself with credit under whatever
conditions II might be placed. The
messages that ave come from Santi-
& since that terrible charge upon Eel
Caney n San Juan have all shown
that the confidence that was felt in
the 18th was not misplaced. The reg
iment's march on that Sunday morning
was the first movement of troops in
the whole war. At that time the public
had not a clear idea of the terrible con-
ditions in which the regiment would be
placed, but their opinion would have
been the same had they foreseen the
awful heat. the treacherous methods of
the enemy and the fearful odds against
the men as they charged against the
Notifications of FL Caney. There could
have been nothing that would have
caused them to doubt the valor and
steadfast devotion to duty of the men
in the command. And time has shown
that the opinion was well founded The
25th has established Itself more firmly
than ever i'm the good opinion of the
people of Missoula. Where the battle
was thickest. there was the 25th. Some
of the best officers of the will
not r~eturn-they sleep OF Cuban soil
but they did just what Missoula knew
they would do. They vent straight
ahead To almost certain death, obeying
orders. The regiment had been at Fort
Missoula so many years that the men
seemed like a part of the city here.
When they went to the front IL was
like bidding goodbye TO a volunteer
command, made up of citizens of the
city. That is why the movements of
the regiment have been watched with
so much interest by the people of the
city.
While most of the special correspond
ents at Santiago are of the opinion
hat the charge upon FL Caney SHOULD
not have been ordered, as the capture
of this strong fertilization might have
been easily accomplished by the use
OF artillery with much less loss of life.
all of them agree hat the assault was
one of the most gallant charges i'm mil
itary history. The New York Herald's
account says: Finally orders were
given to charge the fort. and the 18th
and 25th infantry regiments undertook
the difficult task. They formed behind
a clump of trees 400 yards from the
fort and advanced in open order. They
gave a cheer as they broke from cover
and began to run up the PERCEPTIONS
ascent. The Spanish opened a fierce
! fire and many men fell. but the regi-
ments kept on. When our men were
within SO yards of the fort the Span
iards gave way and fled down the hill
to the village. MANY Of them were
killed as they ran. Cheers rose from
hundreds of thruats as the hill was
taken. other blockhouses were still
held by the Spaniards and these con-
tinued the fight. After half an hour
all opposition ceased"
In speaking of the loss of our men
the same account says; "When victory
was assured parties were sent out 10
search for and collect our dead and
wounded. In the confusion, with night
coming on rapidly. IT was impossible
to get even a partial list. our dead
and wounded were scattered over sew
eral miles of country. Several regi-
ments lost heavily. among them the
18th and 25th. which made the charge
suffered severely. Company q of the
25th lost nine killed. Lieutenant Nc
Corkle was killed and Captain Ed
wards and Lieutenant Murdoch were
wounded. SO great was the loss among
the officers that at n time Lieuten-
ant Moss commanded two companies
That Is the kind of stun the 18th was
made of and that is why Missoula is
proud of the regiment.
Those who are in any way familiar
with the habits of the 25th while ii was
at Fort Missoula will appreciate the
story OF the soldiers singing The Star
Spangled Banner" in the trenche IN
the night after that fearful charge. II
was the practice of General Burt Chen
coloneD to have the splendid and of
the regiment play this national air at
the close of the ceremonies of guard
! mount, and when the first note of the
tune was heard every man in the post
and remained so until the
TO witness and there were few visitors
at the post who did not join in the ST.
lent salut There were few men IN
the command who could not sing the
song, too. IL a recruit arrived who vas
not able to carry IL through he was
soon taught. and there used to be
some stirring choruses at the fort in
those days. Those who have heard the
colored soldiers sing this song in the
open air will readily believe that the
25th Joined Justify in the chorus before
the walls Of Santiago. and the music,
as IL noated toward the b~eleaguered
town. must have struck terror to the
soldiers behind the walls. Men who
could sing after a fight such as these