Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-14
In THE GREAT FIGHT.
A RICHMOND nov WHO HELPED
DESTROY CT, ERA's FLEET.
HIS ACCOUNT OF The BATTLE.
The Brooklyn and the Oregon DIS
posed of All the spanish Bonts-Mr.
Christians Experience With the
Rough Riders.

Mrs. r. j. GOODWIN, OF no. liz nOftH
Twenty-third street. has received let
ter from her son. Bert, who is member
OF the Brooklyn's crew, in which he gives
an interesting account of the destruction
Of Cervera's fleet. The letter follows:
Guantanamo, Cuba, July T. 1898.
NY Dear Mother,-This is a notable day
in the history of our glorious country but
no more so than July 3, 1898, which was
Sunday. 1t was beautiful morning, ana
Just as we were at general muster bat
tie quarters were sounded. The Spanish
feet. which we have had bottled up at
Santiago for five weeks. came out on us
unawares, but in four hours time we had
utterly destroyed five out OF their SIX
ships and captured the last and only one,
the Cristobal Colon. 1t was an awe
inspiring sight to see her fine ships all
ablaze and sinking their crew IN the
waters below. The Brooklyn was stand
ing the fire of four ships but we and the
Oregon, which is irst-class battieship-
only two ships-whipped six. IT was
complete victory for Commodore Schley
and his crew. He said his was the finest
crew in the navy.
GODS HAND SUSTAINED THEM.
I tell you, mother, the hand Of Almighty
God sustained US for we only lost one
man and two wounded, and our ship was
struck thirty times, one large shell goirs
clean through the next compartment 10
where l was stationed. One OF our o-lncn
shells killed eighty Spaniards, and those
that were not killed were captured.
think we will soon go to New 1ork' OF
some American port, for repairs. Inc roar
of the great guns and the smoke was ter
rible hut there seemed to be hardly any
excitement. l was on the quarter-deck
when the battle commenced, and shells
from the enemy dropped thick ana Iast
all around US. | saw one or the enemy
torpedo boats, Furor, blown TO atoms
with one shell. God grant 1t may soon
end ..,,,.a
I am quite tired now. We just arrived
here two hours ago TO bury the youHs
man who was killed. He was the captain
writer. His name was Ellis. lie leaves
Vic and a baby months old. He was
only o years old, but he died at his post
fruIv a noble death. Pray for your poy'
Good night Write soon. ,r,
Affectionately, your son, BERl'
Three cheers for the Red, White, ana
III, NV TIGER.
The Fight of the Rough Riders.
Mr. +. d. Christian, Jr., member ol
T. Troop First United States volunteer
cavalry, has written letter TO MT. JONI
Wingo. from the battlefield, near Gan
tiago. In which he says:
"Well I am here, but had very Close
call on Friday, as the Spaniards got u
right into the middle Of their aihpusii
They we're in entertainments oehiho th'
thick cactus and underbrush, ana we "el'
- tho omen. The devils let part Of oul
regiment get into the mlddle Oh the u"l
before they opened fire on us l. IrooI
and our troop were the advance saat,,
and we caught the hottest Of the hght
Trharo we're 1000 Standards and only 4s
i'm our regiment, but we made II so no
for them that we had them on the rui
! In two hours. The Tenth ana FRS
| I-pited States Regular Cavalry had thre
| troons about a mile behind us. and cam
nm AT double-quick time as soon as the!
| heard us firing. Our regiment lost nm
men and fifteen wounded. we iouh
| about 10 Spaniards dead, and one OF III
| Cuban scouts said that they had eleNe'
,ragon-Ioads Of dead and wounded taklnt
them into Santiago. Inc 'ns A 80
| caught them as they were retreatln
about two miles from where we tough'
and they killed sixty Spaniards, VIM
onIv twelve insurgents were Killed. The
left a note pinned on a tree written
Spanish, saying that we dam fanke
pigs had whipped them, and we 'oul
| have the mountains, but they Will get u
before we get to Santiago. Well, we ar
now in two miles of Santiago. and W
have seen nothing of them. One OF ,hel
cantains that was captured said that w
! aid not fight fair. as the more they hre
on us. the closer we advanced. Ihey eVl
IDENTIFY expected us to shoot and lur
as they and the Cubans do, but we wer
not built that way. The Spanlac1s Wer
! entrenched 10 the right and left or vi
and were behind fortifcations ma ]
blockhouses in front Of us. If We la
beon in their places and they In ours
not one of their 1900 would have bot'e
hack 10 tell the tale. l think our reg
ment put up one Of the greatest fsh'
on record. considering that there "er
4 600 Standards, and that thev were or
trerced and had ms surrounded. sho
sixty shells at them, and know mat
got a few. I saw two tumble )ut q
tree This is a beautiful moIa,l lou
country. and very healthy. we WIN nav
Santiago in day, and VIII propaDIy
| ,barn for some time