The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1898-09-21
How Our ArtilIerists Behaved
in Porto Rico.
They Give Spaniards q Taste Of Yam
kee 0unnery.
SOLDIER WRITES FOR THE NEWS.


After the surrender Of Santiago De
Cuba we were ordered to load on trans
ports and proceed to Porto Rico. During
our voyage was too sick to remember
how long ii took our transports to reach
their destination. Guanica was the place
selected to land. The gunboat Glouscester
went cautiously in the small harbor and
commenced bombarding. You could see
from our transports Spanisrds we're fee
ing in all directions to escape the heavy
fire the Glouscester was pouring into them
In very short time our infantry was
pursuing them to the surrounding hills.
BY next morning everything was un-
loaded and waiting orders to move.
After camping two days in this place
in mud and slush up to our ankles, the
expected order came for Us TO move in
the direction OF Ponce, with one days
forage for our horses. Night attacks
were OF common occurrence, and al
though they did no material damage,
they served the purpose Of the Spaniards
to allow us no rest, which was not very
pleasant to men who had been marching
all day through rain and mud
After making several camps, passing
through Juaco, Guayanila and several
other small towns, we went into camp at
Ponce in a pouring rain. After hard
uyorJ IF o,,r man vva ,nanaood ~ proou 70
forage for our horses (10S in numberl
that had been 80 hours without grain
and hay, not saying anything OF our
selves, as we managed as best we could
under the conditions OF the weather.
After staying three days in Ponce we
received orders to move in the direction
of SAP Juan. Here the roads were ex-
cellent, but still our Spanish friend was
to be looked for any moment. We came
to bridge after bridge that were blown
uU by our retreatiDg enemy. Mines that
had been planted across the road and
had to be dug up was another obstacle
that caused delay. But not far ahead
n
garrison of about 1000 Spaniards.
We commenced firing at different
block houses that were the outposts of
the Spaniards, and as they retired we
closed in on the town, keeping them in
good range, and by 9:l5 a. m. the town
and 3S2 prisoners surrendered, the rest
making their escape in the direction Of
their stronghold in the Albonito noun
tains, where they had considerable ar
tillery and 5000 strongly entrenched in
iantry. Our cavalry and infantry 600
in number) pursuing them until they
came in range of their artillery which
opened fire on them. Seeing they could
do nothing with their small force they
held what they had and waited for rein
This wound up this days battle with
our loss very small, but the Spanish loss
was quite heavy.
On Aug. II, two days later our bat
terry IF. 3rd artillery with five pieces Of
modern artillery and IS men under COM
nand of Capt. r. d. Potts, received Or
lers to locate the Spanish batteries in
he Albonito mountaiRA. At l1:30 a. M.
We left camp, leaving 48 men and one
piece in camp, as the captain did not |
,hink it necessary to take them along.
After travelling briskly some four miles |
he captain halted the battery to find
Iome place to 90 in action. BY this time |
he Spaniards had seen us and opened |
IN us with their artillery, shell and
Ihrapnel coming close. We got in ac-
ion with some difficulty, owing to the
act that we could find no position where
We were and had to advance three-fourths
II mile under heavy fire to an open
ield. Four pieces went into the field
md the fifth remained on the road.
1t was only the work OF a minute until
III of our guns were doing excellent
work, the first shot going eq uare into
heir earth-works $3.50 yards. Every
nan worked his best and every shell
eemed TO strike right among them. 1t
vas only a few minutes until we had
ilenced their battery. Up TO this time
)ut little attention had been paid to ther
but now we turned our guns on
hem and it seemed they could find no
,laee OF safety in their entertainments,
3 we could see them running in every
Iirectien.
At this time General Wilson ordered
me piece TO advance up the road toward
ONE more entertainments on the right.
being senior gunner OF the battery in
barge OF first piece was ordered to take
'osition 200 yards to the right and front
1 fifth piece that had remained on the
Dad. There received the warmest re-
option / ever had in my life. With a
ecreased number OF cannoneers we
lorked like madmen, but 1t proved too
ot, and having our first lieutenant 81.
;. Haines) and three horses wounded by
lauser bullets, we were ordered to re-
ire 10 fifth piece ana resume the fire.
lat the little bullets seemed to be COM
ng thicker and thicker, and our ammu-
ition being expended we retired under
heavy fire, intending TO continue the
ose early next morning, when we re-
eived orders from Washington TO cease
Il hostilities, as they were making ar
for peace, and the next
iorning the white flag was flying on
9TH aidaa