The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-12-23

command of the regiment. The war
department has hitherto refused to
make these reports public. The second
and most important report, after the
usual formal Introduction, takes up the
story Of the fighting on July l, at San
Juan hill. Col. Roosevelt says:
My orders had been to march forward un-
til Joined Gen. Lawtons left wing, but,
after going about three-quarters OF mile,
was halted and told to remain in reserve The
bullets dropped thick among us for the next
hour. and many Of my men were killed and
wounded. Acting Lieut.. Haskell was shot
at this time
You then sent me orders TO move forward in
support OF the regular cavalry. then ad-
vanced We moved through several skirmish
lines OF the regiment ahead OF us, as 1t
seemed to me cur cnly change was in rush
ing the entrenchment in front, instead OF
firing at them from distance. Accordingly
We charged the block house and entrances
on the hill to right against a heavy fire.
It was taken in good style, the men Of my
regiment thus being the first to capture any
fortified position and thus break through the
Spanish lines. After capturing this hill we,
first OF all, directed heavy fire upon the
San Juan HILL to our right which was at
the time being assailed by the regular In
fanry and cavalry, supported by Capt.
Harkers Calling guns. BY the time San
Juan was taken a large force had assembled
on the hill which had previously cap
tured, consisting not only Of my own force,
but Of the Ninth and portions Of other
airy regiments. We then went forward un-
der a heavy fire, across the valley, against
the Spanish entertainments on the hill behind
the San Juan hill. This we also took, cap
turing several prisoners. We then formed
in, ubaf and moved
ward, driving the Spanish before us TO the
crest OF the hills in our front, which were
Immediately opposite the city Of Santi2go
Itself. Here l received orders to halt and
hold the hill of Crest.
NIGHT ATTACK.
The Spaniards made an attack during the
night, but were easily driven back and then,
after dark, we remsined under a heavy fire
from their rifles and heavy guns, lying fiat
on our faces Capt. Parkhurst's eating gun
battery was then run up to the right Of my
position, and did excellent service. In or
der to charge, my men had been obliged to
throw away their packs, ard We had nothing
to sleep in and nothing 20 eat. We were
lucky enough, however. to find in the last
block house captured the Spanish dinners,
stiIl cooked, which We ate, with relish.
That night we dug entrenchments across
our front
At 3 O'Clock In the morning the Spaniards
made another attack upon US, which was
easily repelled, and at I they opened the
day with q heavy rife and shrapnei fire.
All day long we remained under this, reply
ing whenever we found the chance. At
about O'Clock the Spanish fred three guns
and then opened a heavy rife fire, their
skirmishers coming well forward. We opened
a heavy return fire. The Spanish advance
was at once stopped and after an hour their
FIRE died away This night We strengthened
most of our trenches and began to build
bomb-proof pits. The protection afforded to
our men by this means was good, and the
next morning only had one man wounded
by the bombardment which lasted till MORN
ing
The Spanish guerillas were very active.
especially in our rear, where they seemed to
have preference to attack the wounded
men. who were being carried litters. doc
| tors and medical attendants with Red Cross
badges on their arms, and burial parties.
organized a detail of sharpshooters and sent
them out after these guerillas. who killed
thirteen OF them. Two of the men killed were
| SHOT several hours before the termination OF
the fight, but in spite of this fact they con-
tjnued to fire on our men as they went u
draw water They were stationed in trees,
as the guerillas generally were, and, owing
to the dense foliage and use OF smokeless
rowder, it was exceedingly difficult to locate
them.
SHELTER AND SUPPLIES SHORT.
For the next seven days, until the 10th, We
lay in our lines During that time we were
obliged to work at additional bomb-proofs,
and had insufficient shelter. food and Dledi-