The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-30
In Front of Sevilla, Cuba,
T,,J. o 1Coo


surrender of Santiago:
In Front of Sevilla, Cuba,
July 8, 1898,
1 will have to begin this letter from the
| date of June so last On the evening of
| that day, while in camp four miles north
of Juraguasiti, orders came to US to pack
and move to the front, and in twenty
minutes we were in line, the head of our
column moving up the road toward Sc
villa. On the road We passed several reg
lments, including the list New York. and
at p. m, passed the Cubans under Cen
eral Garcia. Turning to the left we
struck camp at a block house vacated by
the Spaniards at 4:3O o'clock the same
day. Orders were to sleep on our arms,
and we slspt the sleep of the tired.
On the morning of July l we break
tasted at 4:30 O'Clock. At daylight four
sections Of artillery were planted on a
small hill thirty yards to our left The
First United States cavalry was placed
on the extreme left, the Tenth cavalry
next the First volunteer cavalry with
the Ninth cavalry to the extreme right.
with the Cubans moving to the front in
northwesterly direction. At o'clock the
artillery under CAPITA n Capron sent steel
pointed missile into the town of SeviIla.
and followed 1t with four shots ia quick
succession. The fun was all on our side
during this time, but soon the boom of a
cannon came from the town, and the buzz
Of the returned shot came like a wllirI-
wind toward US, bursting directly over our
heads. killing one and wounding five. Be
fore we could collect our nerves another
shot burst over a cannon. killing one
cannoneer and woundng several Then
We moved 50 or 40 yards 10 the rear, be-
mind an embankment. As the shells came
over with terrible buzz every man felt
himself as the special target and tried TO
make himself as small as possible our
artillery answered as best il could and
for nearly an hour we had Z severe arttI-
lery engagement
When this fun was finished we moved
down the road, turning 20 the right ana
asain passing the Cubans. At o'clock
heavy firing on our extreme right was
heard. and We knew that the battle would
soon open Up all along the line. Al
o o'clock We came 10 a creek or river run
n-ns north. and while We were IN It's bed
IRE was opened upon Us from the block
house ives, OF Us. Under 3 heavy fire we
marched several hundred yards north
taking position behind the creek bank.
Here we remained for nearly an hour
never returning a shot or receiving an
order. The wounded passed Us by tie
dozen. and the news OF the killed came
IN thick and fast Here Captain O'NeH.
OF troop A, the bravest captain in the
regiment, was killed, and Buglar S,ar
Nhetmore was shot il the leg.
At 1880 O'Clock we were ordered - move
to The front and charge the Spanish rife
pits and block houses. We moved 70 the
riga, about a quarter OF a mile. turned
formed as sk-rmishers and moved y a
southwes'erly direction. passing. several
regiments lying under cover Of .ha hfrn
grass and thick underground. The b,e@l
house was now several hundred warts :,
our front and IN plain sight. The Nf--h
and Tenth boys were formed 70 the from
and left Of US. and several courarfas
were in the rear. With yell. We char
ed. firing where the enemy could be sen
and receiving a not FIRE In return. Ne
Spanlards could no, stand n Vel and
scampe.ed to the west taking positions