Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-17

ing shells; but our position was ,ompara-
lively secure on account OF lhe riNer bank.
We were then faced to the right (north),
about 300 yards south and right in the
front of the now famouSSan Juan hill The
order was then, Third Brigade 9th, Sd and
oath Infantry, forward" V
The orders from our colonel Were: ''Twen-
ty-fourth Infantry, move forward $50 yards
and lie down. With a laktI look to our
arms and ammunition? Yds and a little
prayer-we started, and sue1f volley as
they sent into u.s. 1t was then that Ser
geant Brown was shot almost at the river
bank. We had to cut and destroy a barbed
wire fence. You may form idea of how
strong it was when tell you it b adj FIVE TO
from two and half To roHr feet apart
How or by what means :. it was de-
stroyed no one scarcely knows, but
mob, nearly all their officers ha wing been
disabled. there was no orgapjzation recog-
nized Men We're crazy aSame one said
let US charge and sons, ono sounded
TO the charge on bugle. When that
pack of demons swept forward the Span
iards stood as long as mortals could stand.
then quit their trenches and retreated to
the trenches around Santiago When
we gained the hill they were in full retreat,
and our army just occupied their trenches
and commenced to get even.
Multitude of Dead Men. ...
1t seems now almost impossible that
civilized men COLD so recklessly DESTROY
each other they did that day. All the
crest of the hill, in their trenches and
aiong the main road, there We're piles of
dead and wounded Spanards. In the con-
fusion 1 was separated from my command
and went with small party to the right
or the block house, supporting piece of
artillery, and there l stayed until l was
ordered to the rear with man who was
shot in the head. 1t was about $50 or
pm, and the firing was terrible and con-
cd fro both e-tI
arms and artillery. The piece of artillery
L mentioned was forced to the rear, and
we were reinforced by part of the list, and
one small party, 1t then numbered less than
fifty men, was withdrawn below the crest
OF the hill. 1t was then l was sent to the
rear.
We had been on the hill then about three
hours, and my gun was almost red hot. l
had fired about 1I5 rounds of ammunition,
and, being very thirsty, / gladly accepted
the detail. as the hill was ours then and
We had been shooting at nothing for about
an hour. What sight was presented as l
recrossed the fiat in front Chen rear of
San Juan. The dead and wounded soldiers!
It is indescribable. One would have to see
t. to know what 1t was like, and having
once seen it 1 truly hope J may never see
it again.
Slight Supply of RatiOns.
When 1 returned from the hospital. five
mile,i to the rear of our position, 1t was
udTk, anu as passed. our PIE VI rolls re-
turning 1 took what rations 1 could find-a
few bareback and very little raw bacon
and kept on to San Juan in search of my
company, which found busy throwing up
entertainments. We snapped stories of our
experiences, and l divided my scanty fare.
We could not make any fire, so we ate and
returned to work. remaining until about 2
am. July 2. when we lay down in the
bitches to get what sleep we could before
daylight, as we knew We would have to
fight to hold our own.
/ was awakened at daybreak by tie
crack of small arms. 1t was the Spanards
driving in our pickets. In short time our
whole line was awake, replying to them.
and before sunrise the battle was raging
furiously. 1t lasted all day, with no inter-
mission, until dark. Everybody being his
own cook, and not having anything to
cook, 1 had a very simple diet that day.
Almost all the army had the same-break-
fast canteen half full of water; dinner. full
canteen of water: supper, the empty can
teen. We were relieved after dark by
part of the list and took to Fhe rear to get
some sleep and rest. 5--,a
In about one or two hours, at or 0
o'clock, the Spanish army made an assault
on our position, which was tepulsed with
terrible losses to them.
Loss of Six Hundred.
The casualties were Very light on our
side. but we learn since that it cost the
SpdIliaruS Hlole tLih oouf tieA ia
to drive us from San Juan. They found the
Yankee wide-awake and not giving an inch.
The attack lasted about forty-tive min
utes, and while it was EDIn9 on. it seemed
ten times worse than the battle of the day
before. We were finally: allowed to return
to our position in the reserve and go to
sleep.
The morning of July 3 we were issued
some rations, which / win asstfre you wee
more than welcome, and our simple fare
of broiled bacon hot, strong coffee brewed
in our tin cups, minus sugar, plus appetite,
was more wholesome than any fare L ever
tasted in my life. Just as soon as we could
swallow some breakfast we were returned
to the trenches, and at noon July J the first
truce was established and the sword rested
while the pen fought for the next seven
days.
HIS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.