The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-06
DASTARDLY SPANIARDS


Fire on Wounded AnrsicAn Soldiers and
the Ambulance COrDs-ConsplelonS
bravery OF Hawkins and Roosevelt.
Copyright. 1873, by tho Associated Pfess.l
CENTRE OF THE LINE BEFORE
SANTIAGO. July ], Delayed in trans
mission). via Kingston. jamaica, July l.
u a. m.-one feature OF the night which
has aroused great indignation among
the American troops is the act of the
Spanish In having sharpshooters In the
trees along the line of march OF the
American troops. or course II the
sharpshooters had fred on armed men,
they would have done nothing more than
might have been expected, but one Span
lsh marksman from his post fired on
wounded men and on men carrying the
wounded to the rear.
Several members Of the ambulance
corps were wounded In this manner and
two wounded men who we're toliing
along to the rear were shot and killed.
Some OF these marksmen were posted
less than half mile from the American
camp. Colonel Liscomb, Of the Twenty
fourth infantry, said: 81 was fired upon
several times by men in trees and SIX
bullets flew very close To me"
Later in the day company of cavalry
was sent along to clear them cut, and
the work was effectively done. The gal
iantry of the general officers was con-
spIcuous during the fighting. Major
General Wheeler. who was seriously In
disposed the night before the battle, was
suffering from an attack Of fever on the
morning of the fight, Out as soon as he
was aware that the United States troops
were likely to be engaged, he ordered an
ambulance to convey him to the front
His surgeons attempted to dissuade him,
but the old general was obdurate and to
the front he went. The ambulance once
there. the sound Of fighting restored his
breath and in short time he was call
ing for his horse and personally direct
iRg his division IN the attack on the
great redoubt.
General Hawkins. commanding the
First brigade, Ninth division, was con-
spicuoUS for the manner in which he eX-
posed himself to Spanish bullets. and 1t
Is a miracle how he escaped serious in
jury. After taking the redoubt on the
hill by his cummand, aided by detach-
ments from General Wheeler's division,
he stood for long time on the summit
of the redoubt, watching the progress
Of the fight.
A heavy fight at times was concentra-
ted on the spot where he was standing,
but. free from apparent fear, he survey
ed the field Of battle while the bullets
were wh!ZZlng past by hundreds.
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt was In
front OF his regiment throughout the day
and his boot-heel was carried away by
a piece Of shell.
The greatest care and attention were
bestowed upon the wounded men, and all
were cared for In a very short time af-
ter reaching the hospital. The hospital
Of the Second division was established
on the field OF battle, as was also cav
airy division hospital. The hospital Of
the first division was established a short
distance west Of General Skaters head
quarters where, by 10 o'clock, fully 500
men had received medical attention.
Those seriously hurt were kept near the |
hospital, the officers being placed under
the large palms. The men were placed
upon the ground around the tents and
made as comfortable as possible.
The Rmbulanco corps proved very eff
fective and no wounded men are allowed |
TO remain on the field after dark. The
provisional hospital at Siboney received
a large number OF men who all night !
long, loltered along the road from the
front as best they could. Wagons con-
veyed many, but others preferred walk.
ing and throughout the night the road
was filled with the wounded who moved |
slowly along the path leading down to
the sea coast.