The state herald., 1898-08-05

Our brigade halted and filed can
teens at the ford. Grimes battery
was up on hill to our left front, play
ing on the Spaniards. Nobody that
saw knew where we were going or
| anything of what was going on in
front. We only knew we We're going
where we were told and that those in
command understood If we didn't.
We marched up the road almost half
mile, halted and laid off everything
but canteens, arms and ammunition.
Just at this time the wounded men be-
gan passing us going to the rear, many
of them badly shot and bleeding, 9TH
ers, supported by comrades, stagger-
Ing along, some carried on stretchers
some in blankets. A bit farther on up
the road we passed under the fire of
the Spanish battery and Grimes bat
terry. Right here the road became
blocked ahead of us and we lay down
Mt the side Of the trail. The Span
iards were cutting their fuses too
short to reach Grimes battery and we
got the full benefit of their shrapncl
which burst right in our faces. This
was the worst part of the battle for
us. The Spanish infantry on the hills
| beyond had the road located and was
firing on 1t. Men We're hit on all sides
| Of us. We couldn't see where the bul-
let's were coming from beyond the
brush. The trees were filed with
sharpshooters, who picked our Off
GERS Off, and altogether 1t was Sc
we're test Of the courage of our men.
Tn fifteen minutes, which seemed
that many hours to us, Colonel Ewcns
move forward on the run The com
mand was repeated down the column.
and we found ourselves shuffiing down
the road. In few minutes we reach.
ed the ford of the San Juan river.
The men plunged into the water .up to
their waists and got across. This
ford was In plain view of the enemy
and was swept by terrific fire of in
fnntry. Many men fell Some of the
wounded succeeded in gaining the
other bank. Others fell In the water
and were pulled out. Some Were
drowned.
"On the other side of the ford there
was a little shelving plateau In the
shape of n semicircle Here we Law
down again. somewhat protected. but
the shrapnel and the shnrpshooters in
the trees continued TO pick us OF.
Right here Colonel Worth was shot.
As we lay here had chance to look
over the bank and see in front of us
for the first time the enemy Iinmedi.
ately In front of us was long grassy
plain about half n mile wide, perfectly
level, with few large trees scattered
over IT.. At the other side was hill
which seemed to have sides almost
perpendicular and about 200 feet high.
On top of this were two houses pre-
pared for defense and trenches occu-
pied by the Spaniards, and the whole
crest of the hill was covered with lit
tie puffs Of BLUSH mist
"1'he Sixth and Sixteenth pushed
out. deplOyed ms skirmishers. and he
gan TO advance by short rushes. lying
down and firing at the halts. The
Twenty-fourth came up and formed
behind us. The Thirteenth moved ont
from the river bottom. deployed, lay
down and began TO fire volleys at the
hill crest. Our hearts were In our
mouths as we watched our skirmish
line move forward. Sometimes II
looked as II they could 20 right along
At other times II seemed that they
must come back. All AT once my bat
talon got our command TO slide down
the bank and form in line in the river
around the bend. Then came the com.
mand Forward and with n sigh of
relief we sprung over the bank, up the
slope through some thin undcrbrush.
pushed over II barb-wirc fence at the
edge. rushed out into the open. de-
ployed as skirmishcrs. and moved for
ward In quick time. We were not al