The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-08-04


x.aAVQ| ssSsSsss#z H(#; Of the thought
SGsNjNAsySss9gfA less crowd, but it
1aa sss:Ssa is time to take off
SsEss hats to them now
lgIt0)Ilsg ls TNA that regiment
Y .I|E of city handles
fIfs1' -S@s6s: -. :,aWh has carried away
honors beside the
regulars at Santiago. The men of the
Seventy-frst New York militia volun-
teers did not go in in brigade column
in the attack On Ell Caney heights, sup
ported right and left by regulars. They
ran into fight Of their own and held
their end up like veterans.
On the march to Ell Caney, a move
ment which was intended for a feint
and not al attack, the Seventy-first fol.
lowed the road taken by the regulars
some distance until the Spaniards Oh
the flank, along the works around San
tiago, began to harass the column. In
fact, by reading between the lines Of
the reports one sees that the Spaniards
had the best Of the situation and but
for the valor of our troops would have
given US a Bull Run then and there.
The road used by the troops was in dam
ger of seizure by the Spaniards. Com
pany T Of the seventy-frst, led by Cap
tain Rafferty,, who has the warlike ardor
Of his race, deployed to guard the road.
Gradually the fight developed, and the
regulars deployed line of two regi-
ments, with skirmishers, to the front.
Captain Raferty's militiamen formed
the right of the skirmish line. Over the
hill the line rushed, through shelter
ing woods, into the broad open, beyond
which was Spanish blockhouse.
After leaving the woods the troops
had no shelter whatever from the Span
ish fire. Still it looked easy to advance
upon the blockhouse and take it with a
rush. Suddenly the hillside was swept
with shells and bullets. The Spaniards
had waited to get the American line
we'll out Of reach Of shelter before open
ing fire. It was complete surprise, yet
the militiamen did not waver. Closing
up the gaps in their ranks where the
shells and Mauser bullets tore through,
they marched on to the aid of the regu-
lars, who were in danger Of being cut
off. Before it was half way across the
field the Seventy first lost 70 men killed
and wounded.
The Spaniards, making a target of
the advancing Americans, were behind
breastworks and out Of sight. Their fire
grew more terrible every moment, but
the Seventyfrst, instead of shrinking
from it, broke into a run straight for
the Spanish position. Soon they got
close enough to see the Spaniards and
opened o fire in answer to theirs. !
All this time Captain Raferty's COM
pany was leading. It dashed for the
crest with bayonets fixed, charged the
trenches and drove the Spaniards out.
Many of the latter were shot down as
they ran away, and the little field Of
the gallant company's exploit was soon
covered with dead and dying dons.
Rafferty's men occupied the captured
rifle pits. Nearly every man had been
hit, but none who was able to handle
a rife would leave the ranks
Captain Rafferty, held the pit for an
hour, when it became certain that the
rain of shots poured upon him from the
next hill made it impossible to retain
itlong. Withdrawing his men, he found
shelter On the hillside out Of range of
the Spanish. Re-enforcements Joined
the brave company, and the line ad-
vanced to another position, where it
could concentrate its fire upon the hill
along which the stubborn enemy seemed
intrenched.
In a short time the Spanish outposts
were driven into their trenches by the
CALLING fire Of the Americans. Then the
Seventy-frst, with two regular regi-
ments, at. last in closed line, charged to
the second hill and captured the trenches
there, with flags and prisoners. The
Spaniards driven from the trenches
quickly reformed in others, and the bat
tie lasted for hours. Several times the
enemy charged to retake the lost ground,
but were as often repulsed by the gal
liant Americans, regulars and militia
side by side.
:. The battle loss of the regiment was 9
killed and 46 severely wounded. I re-
member that in the second year Of ou1
service, at the battle of Gaines Mill,
the Twenty-seventh New York in fight.
ing similar to that at Ell Caney lost
about the same number, and we always
counted it as one Of our star fights. We
fought beside the regulars that day also
and felt proud that we held our OWL
with them.
Captain Rafferty, was not the only
personal hero Of the command. Chap
lain Van de Water added to the list oil
brave men of the cloth by going into
battle with the line and cheering then
on. One hundred young men of the
regiment belong to families of his for
Iner parish, and, like true shepherd, he
sticks to his flock even in pastures roam.
ed over by Spanish wolves. y5
Colonel Downs of the Seventy first is
militia colonel who saw his first fight
at Santiago. He showed himself true
blood, as did Adjutants Abeel and
Fisher. .
But it is not alone in fighting. that
the raw militiamen Of the; Seventy:first
have shown the stuff Of American sol
diers These,are the mentwho .tlayo owe,
IA hours on shipboard in New York