The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-22


fantry dashed by them, with cheers
and went on TO the front l
It was not yet noon, and the Twenty
first was under severe fire, many OF
them being wounded. Futile efforts
having been made to deploy, the whole
regiment had plunged Into the creek
and formed into pocket; then again
forming In line, Company A, resting
across the road on the left, they moved
by files and broken lines across the
open, which had been cleared by troops
IN front, and assembled the hill. The bull
let's flew thick, as the Spaniards tried
repeatedly to gain their lost position.
The rapid fire guns rolled out their sue
cesslon of Misses and shells screamed
overhead. With these modern rapid IRE
machines on both sides the capacity. for
continuous Gre was beyond description.
There has never been in the history Of
battles anything to compare with Il,
ClrcllnG 10 the left OF the exhausted
| troops resting under the front crest.
| the regiment formed on right into line,
bringing Company A from the rear Of
the column on the left Of the line, and
on the slope facing the city and inner
trenches Of the enemy; thus moving
around their left the brigade teTrned
their lines, and swept the Spehlafds
AlgAn kAlE HALN~A+A anu hAAN ANNNAAAAtltA
into their trenches, west and n9fth.
Passing The crest Of the Hill. led by
Captain Williams, in full advance ot
the regiment, and on the extreme left
went Company A, enveloping the curve
OF the hill TO the northwest. HGving
abandoned all lmpedlmentaI save can
teens and arms, and following their
commander. the company pressed for
ward hundred yards or more beyond
the other portion Of the line, In front
OF Santiago, and facing the enemy IN
his trenches, less than four hundred
yards away.
There was no cover here, and the adj
vance was made In full exposure to the
enemy's FIRE. not only in front. but, the
/ company having been thrown at a sa-
! lent, the FIRE OF the Spaniard5 took
them crosswise as well as in front. This
angle, or salient, was the most advane-
ed positIon of any OF the troops ON San
Juan hill. The hill turns here (sloDe re-
\ ceding west and north and the COM
pany, In broken line, faced In two d..
rectlons. The men began rapidly 10 be
struck. Welsheit was killed, barnard
| shot through the arm, Jansen through
both thighs, and others we're also
wounded.
The fearless ndvance OF Company A
had its effect upon the whole regiment
inspiring them with eagerness TO follow;
| but the reglmental commander ordered
the regiment TO emirench, Under tins
order The body Of the regiment had
ceased to advance II charge, and had
| aligned near the crest, IN the rear. Not
Ing his precarIOus position Captain
Williams ordered his company 10 move
back toward the crest. and on order oil
/ the reEimeBtal commander, Lieut.. COL
McI(ibbeg, took position on The right
and proceeded TO entrench on the dne
held by the remainder Of the brigade,
and just TO the right OF the salient. All
the picks ard shove!s, however, Of the
regiment having been abandoned, tho
company was compelled to entrench
| with bayOHets and bare HANDS, which
they did. urdfr most persistent FIRE from
"a field work OF the enemy, four hundred
yards IN front Before they could get
fairly entrenched. Davis Was Killed ard
nine men we're wounded. The battle con-
tiHIed till dark. when the eTitrcnch-
IneD;s were Improved, and throughout
the next dag, iuly 2, the company from
their Entertainments wlthgtOOd and kept
IN check thu fierce FIRE OF the enemy,
holding and strengthening their posi-
ton.
ON the second day tine tropical sun
shonc Hereby in the trench; there was
10 shade. Before night the men began
TO moan and wrIthe under the fierce
heat; some began to talk incoherentiy
and 10 voms. in the trench Nearly
every man in the trench was sick. and
the company was without medical aid.
During the forty eight hours Of that
actiop and while in the trench. the COM
pany rTbsIsted on hard tack and raw,
fst pork. TO tirCs could be built to cook
az mule coffee; besides they were Il
mile from water. The supply OF water
Of hp urti having been exhausted, Cap
inin Williams. from two carteens. tho
sole remaining rupp'y or the company
gave mt INC precious liquid In mouth
iuir - his suffering men.
After holding their own tennoIouG!y in
this Cooperate coudition, they were
nral2y relieved by Company u. under
Lieutenant Parmcrter.
From rs advanced and EXPOSED posi-
t.on Company a suffered accordingly
from the fire OF the enemy Its per-
centaEo Of killed was 30 per cent, and Of
wounded 81 PCT cont Of the entire loHEul