The Florence tribune., 1898-08-20
LETTER FROM GEORGE TRUMAN.
Our Rough Rider Graphically Tells Of His
 Terrible Experience.

hoisting the white flag, but not desir- ing to agree to our terms of surrender. From their actions, however, l believe they see their hopelessness and will give in. As promised, I will give you few of my experiences on the day of the 1st.
 1t is about 5 e m. 8 miles from Santi- ago, and we have just finished break fast. Do you see that battery taking it's position just on that little hill about 100 yards in front? That's Capron's battery. Watch him liven up those Spaniards. There she goes! don't it make music? A couple more-it's get ting pretty lively now; watch lem let loose; the Spsniards can never teuch us at this range. Whiz whr-r-r burr whuh-heavensi man, that shell just went over our batteryand burstl00yards to our rear, (order) "get ready ,men, to move promptly; fall in, right face P' wh-w-b-wh-, between the battery and us, three men hit, one same as dead, two not seriously injured. "Forward march, halt, lie down." We nre at the base and behind small hill 100 yards back from camp shells falling frequent ly. One burst in front and over me, cut ting the brush under which lam lying. We are all lying low-just as close to the ground as the ground will permit, and none too close to suit us.
 "Troop B, fall inl" We march about 300 yards to the right and halt again, lying down now out of direct range from the shells. After waiting here perhaps half hour, the batteries hay ing ceased, we fall in and march about one and half miles to the front. We hear firing of to the right front. Our regiment is ordered to move by the right flank by troops consecutively. A Just iu front of us. We here leave the road. (These roads are like tunnels cut through brush.) The firing is now coming our way and the bullets are cutting close. We are crossing knee deep stream and are going on 8 run, no hurry-up orders needed. "Lie down, " ait for ordersl downl" Myl what a hail of bullets in front, behind us, over us, and at cur feetl "Forwardl downl" Gain of 60 yards-the bullets just the same. Sergeant Lee at my right is shot in the head. "Forward l"Another gain of 75 yards. Sergeant Pate is shot in the chest in this rush.-"Downl-for- ward and fall behind the creek bank for shelterl" We nuke it, and so far no more are hurt.
 Oar regiment is supposed to be 6 re- servei notice how we are reserved.
 B and K troops are now in the creek !; A is on the bank behind small depresz sion.
 Said Lieutenant Kane: "capt. O'Neill do not expose yourself so much; come down here." 1T am all safe, the Span- ish bullet has not yet been moulded that will kill me-" We are waiting for orders and are cooling of nicely; it is very hot where the sun strikes. It is perhaps twenty minutes since heard ONeill speak-and now he is shot in the head, dead Brave, but unwisely so: too many unnecessary chances.
 "B troop, fall inl advance in two lines as skirmishers "We are now in partially open field, all the troops in the same formation. Block house about 600 yards on our front-advancing by rushes-men going down here, there and everywhere. We must charge or. retreat. Roosevelt-"Charge them, menl" We charge. Tells go up and men go down. I am at the base of the hill and at Roosevelt's side. Cheers and cheers. The enemy's fire is much less. Roosevelt stops to dismount; rush past him. and so far as can see no Rough Riders are in front and but about half dozen of the Tenth caval- ry. We have gained the brow of the hill. 10th man at my side and on my left; all others behind, but close up and coming. My partner and saw four Spaniards about 800 yards in the open and we commence firing. One drops.
 6weatman from behind-"Do you see them, Truman, over there?" "Yes, do, but do you see that trench full or the left front pouring it into us?'' "Yes." One more of the four drops
 the other two run. Who stopped the two I know not. We three and others
 who have joined us, commence on tht
 trench. My gun became 30 hot must
 stop and let it cool of.
 As turn around I see that there are
 more than two hundred of our men anG
 the Tenth regiment now here; the rest
 have gone on and to the right. Blu
 what see is still more horrible. Here
 and there, and being carried away ar' Sweatman, Logue, Rex Hall, dead
 Murphy and Norton, badly wounded
 Wharford and John Hall seriously
 wounded. This is awful ;-others cal