The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-01
ELEVENTH SAW
ACTIVE SERVICE
ITS EXPERIENCE DESCRIBED BY
LIEUTENANT DENTLER.
Took Part in an Engagement at a
Small Town Called Hemagueros
in Porto Rico and Was Fastening
Forward to Participate in Another
Fight When the Spaniards Broke
and Fled-Several Men Were Killed
and a Number Wounded During
the Fighting.

| unu u ~ uHDeT WOuuueu DufIn&
the Fighting.
In a letter to relatives at Pittston
| from Porto Rico Lieutenant Clarence
| E. Dentler gives some details of the
experience of the Eleventh infantry at
Porto Rico. The lieutenant recruited
a large number of men in this and
| Luzerne county for the Eleventh and
when that regiment went to Porto
| Rico he was in command of company
X.
The letter is dated August Ia in a
camp on the mountains ten miles from
Mayaguey. The lieutenant says:
August 10th we encountered the en-
emy at a small town called Hema-
gueros (the place of the anti and after
an exciting battle of four hours dur
alton, from p. m. till dark, we drove
the enemy over the hills with consid-
cradle loss. One prisoner, who was
surgeon, that we captured, told us that
the Spanish casualties were more than
a hundred. We lost several men killed
and seventeen wounded. A man near
me, in company ID, was shot through
the heart and killed, and three men
in company ID were wounded.
THE company of which / am in COM
| mand, Co. X, was next to company ID
in column and got mixed up with ID in
the line of battle, but were soon
Strengthened out and we advanced on
the entertainments of the Spaniards
side by side on the left of the regi-
ment.
ONE PACE BETWEEN MEN
| l,.,1 i,, - I,.t ,,.,t 4,
one pace between men, going through
a dense swamp, with the bullets whist
ling about us in a very ugly manner.
Some of the men went into the water
up to their necks. We could not fire
because of the advance guard of our
men being in front of us on a hill but
after a severe struggle we also gained
the ridge of the hill and opened fire
and then we felt better
II was sent out with part of my
company on two expeditions while the
firing was going on, but although we
did the proper thing they did not prove
successful. Darkness came down upon
us on the field of battle, and damp
ness also, and we lay down on the
ground, where we We're to sleep. Cof-
fee was made in a hollow some half
mile back of our line, and with two
hardtacks and a pint of coffee apiece
we were content to await the break
of day. At dawn we We're up and on
the march toward Mayaguey, Com
panies ID and X advance guard.
| We had out the usual point and
flankers, but saw nothing but evidences
of hurried flight on the part of the
Spaniards. Stone houses were knock
ed galley west by our artillery the day
| hpfnrn nd a
Spanish soldiers, one an officer, was all
that was left. The entire Porto Rican
population of Mayaguey came out to
meet lis and we took the town without
opposition, although it had been forti-
fled for defense. We learned that the
rear guard of the enemy had passed
through the town in the night and
campad about two miles the other side
of the road to Lares.
BROKE CAMP IN HASTE.
In the morning when Companies d
and * marched out of the South, the
Spanish rear guard broke camp in
haste, leaving guns, helmets, belts, etc,
on the roadside and fed toward Lares,
where the main body were marching.
We went into camp near the main road
and at night my company established
and half miles out, on the very
ground occupied by the Spanish rear
guard the night before. We We're up
all night watching for spies and ar
rested several
THE next morning Lieutenant Col
onel Burke, OF our regiment, with six
companies of the Eleventh infantry,
one troop of cavalry and platoon of
nSht artillery, marched past our out
posts on the trail of the enemy and
Company X was ordered back to camp
at Mayaguey. | believe my company
and myself slept all the afternoon and
all night, although the rain poured
down all night and soaked us through
and through, tents and all. 1t was a
regular tropical downfall.
The next morning We were up be-
fore light and after a hurried break
fast were once more on the march to-
ward Lares. Companies f and II the
advanced guard. Captain Jonas EN-
cry commands Company F, and he
and l, with our companies, pounded
along over the highest mountain and
steepest road l ever saw, up, up, up,
and the heat was terrible, but we
struggled along as fast as we could
while several men in both companies
we could bear the boom of cannon in
the distance.
COULD SEE THE BATTLE.
Major Gilbraith, of the Eleventh,
on horseback overlook us Just as we
arrived at a large gap in the hills
through which was a beautiful vista,
with the little town of San Marco,
where a fierce battle was then raging
between Lieutenant Colonel Burkes
force and the Spanish. We We're a.
little too far away to see much of it,
but could hear it all right Imagine
our impatience when we We're called
to halt and await too more companies,
that were being hurried up to make a
battalion.
1t was not long however, before the
four companies were hurrying along
again, at pace so fast that thought
/ should melt. and a great deal of me
did melt When were within a short
distance of the mountain and the town
another halt was called and we were
informed that it was all over. More