Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-23

III III the regiment came With rush.
| 81 meanwhile the five men cool.y
lay down in the open, returning the fire
from the trenches. 1t is to be wondered
| at that only Clark was seriously wound-
ed, and he called out as we passed again
to lay his calteen where he could reach
1t. but to continue the charge and leave
him where he was. All the wounded had
to be left until after. the fight. for we
could spare no men from the firing line.
Very respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Lieut.. Col. LIST L. S. Cavalry"
The second and more important of the
two reports begins with the movement
forward of the regiment at the head of
the I'd Brigade past El Poso sugar mil
and on to the blockhouse which was
stormed and taken. Col. Roosevelt says
any fortified position and to break
through the Spanish lines. 1t was during
the first part of the movement that Capt.
O. Neill was killed and Acting Lieut. Has
in the highest terms of O Neil's efficiency
and says the bravery of Haskill calls for
some action to be taken regarding him.
Col. Roosevelt recites in detail the
movements of the troops over whom ne
had command. tells how they were
Obliged to throw away their packs and
in and nothing to eat. Bomb proofs Were
built by the men which afforded them
good protection during the night before
the truce was declared.
who particularly distinguished them
selves, as | have nothing to add in this
respect to what was contained in my two
Red Cross flags flying in the various
parts of the city, two of these arranged
50 that they directly covered batteries IN
our front ana for some time We're the
cause of our not firing at them. The
Spanish guerillas Were very active. espe-
cially in our rear, where they seemed by
preference, to attack the wounded men
t,..t,, tod
doctors and medical attendants with Red
Cross flags on their arms and the burial
parties
and sent them out after the guerillas, of
whom they killed IL. Two of the men
thus killed We're shot several hours after
the truce had been in operation. because
in spite of this fact they kept firing upon
our men they went to draw water
They Were stationed in the trees, as the
guerillas We're generally, and owing to
of sm0keless powder rifles, it was an eAr
ceedingiy difficult matter to locate them.
For the next seven days, until the 10Th.
we lay in our line while the truce con-
additional bomb proofs and at the
trenches, and as we had no proper sup
ply Of food and utterly inadequate medi-
cal facilities. the men suffered a good
deal. The officers Clipped together pur-
chased beans. tomatoes and sugar for the
men so that they might have some relief
from the bacon and hard tack. With a
great deal of difficulty We got them
coffee.
'.As for the sick and wounded, they
suffered So in the hospitals when sent To
tue rear, for the lack of food and atten-
ton, that we found it best to keep them
our own force could. AS l mentioned IN
my previous letter. 10 of our wounded
men had to fight through the battle Iii
spite Of their wounds, and of those sent
to the rear many. both of the sick and
wounded. came up to rejoin us as soon
as their condition allowed them to walk;
most of the worst cases were ultimately
sent to the States.
ION the 10th the truce was at an end
and the bombardment reopened. As far
as our lines were concerned, it was on
the Spanish part very feeble. We suffered
no losses and speedily got the fire from
their trenches in our front completely
under. On the 18th We were moved
three-quarters of a mile TO the right, the
truce again being on, nothing happening
here except We continued to watch ana
do ourebest to get the men, especially the
sick, properly fed, anu having no trans
portation and being unable to get hardly
any through the regular channels. We
used anything We could find, capturing
Spanish cavalry horses abandoned mules
which had been shot but which our men
took and cured, dlminutive, skinny ponies
purchased from the Cubans, etc.
by these means and by the exertions
of the officers we were able from time 10
time to get supplies of beans, sugar. to-
matoes and even oatmeal, while from the
Red Cross people we got our invaluable
load of rice, corn meal etc, and all OF
this was of the utmost consequence. not
only for the sick, but for those nomnally
well, as the lack of proper food was tell
ing terribly on the men. 1t was utterly
impossible to get them clothes and
shoes, those they had We're, in many
cases, literally dropping to pieces.
ION the nth the city surrendered. On
the 18th we shifted camp to here, the best
camp we have had, but the march hither
under the monday sun told very heavily
and overwork, and the next morning, II
cases were reported to the doctor and
now have but half of the 600 men with
which / landed four weeks ago, fit fol-
| duty, and these are not fit to do anything
| like the work they could do then. As We
| had but one wagon, the change necessl
| tated leaving much of our stun behind
1 with a night of discomfort, with scanty
shelter and scanty, food for most of thu
possession of the improvised pack tra,T
4 alluded to above saved Us from beins
worse.
/ yesterday, sent in detail of sly
4 officers and men to see If they could no
purchase or make arrangements for ;
supply of proper food and proper cloth
Il ing for the men, even If we had to pa.
for II out OF our own pockets. Our suifer
i Inn has been due primarily to the lacl
i Of transportation and of proper food o
6Nanelent clothing and of medical sup
f5fstWc should now have wagon sheet
HSntnge.
Ns ..sVery respectfully,
saTHEODORE ROOSEVELT.