The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-06

WIFI an ADVANCE HuaTG Wctl out IN
front, and two Cuban guides before
them, but apparently with no hankers,
went sIuarcly into the trap set for
them by tn" Spaniards, and only the
unfaltcring courage Of the men in face
Of fire that would even make yctc-
ran quail prevented what might easily
have been disaster. AS it was,
Troop l., the advance guard, under the
unfortunate Captain Carron, was al
most surrounded, and but for the re-
enforcement hurricdly sent forward
every man would probably have been
killed or wounded.
There must have been nearly 800
Spaniards in front and to the sides of
us, said Lieut.. Col. Roosevelt TO-
day, when discussing the fight. "Thcy
held the ridges with rifle pits and ma
chine guns, and had body of men in
ambush in the thick jungle at the
sides Of the road over which We we're
advancing. Our advance guard struck
the men in ambush and drove them
out. But they lost Captain Capron,
Lieut.. Thomas and IL men killed or
wounded.
''Thc Spanish firing was accurate
so accurate, indeed, that it surprised
me; and their firing was fcarfully
heavy.
IL want to say word for our own
men,, continued Col. Roosevelt.
EVERY officer and man did his duty
I'D to the handle. Not man finch
cd"
From another officer who took
prominent part in the fighting more
details were obtained. "Whcn the
firing began sgid he, "Col. Roose-
welt took the right wing. with Troops
G and X, under Captains Llcwcly and
Jenkins, and moved to the support of
Captain Capron, who was getting it
hard. At the same time, Col. Wood
and Major 'Brodic took the left wing
and advanced in open order on the
Spanish right wing. Major Brodic
was wounded before the troops had
advanced 100 yards. Col. Wood then
took the right wing and shifted Col.
Roosevelt to the left.
SIN the meantime, the fire of the
Spaniards had increased in volume,
but, Notwithstanding this, an order
for general charge was given, and
with yell the men sprang forward.
Col. Roosevelt, in front Of his men,
snatched rife and ammunition belt
from wounded soldier, and cheering
with his men, led the advance. For
moment the bullets were singing like
q swarm of bees all around them, and
every instant some poor fellow went
down. On the right wing Captain
McClintock had his leg broken by
bullet from machine gun, while four
Of his men gent down. At the same
time Captain Luna, Of Troop f. LOST
nine Of his men.
"Then the reserves, Troops X and
E, were ordered up. Col. Wood, with
the right wing, charged straight at
blockheuse 800 yards away, and Col.
Roosevelt, on the left, charged at the
same time. Up the men went, yelling
like fends and never stopping to re-
turn the fire of the Spaniards, but
keeping on with a grim determination
to capture that blockhouse.
"That charge was the end. When
within 500 yards Of the coveted point
the Spaniards broke and ran, and for
the first time we had the pleasure,
~h;ch the Snaninrds had been expert
encing all through the engagement, Of
shooting with the enemy in sight.
''In the two hours fighting, during
which the volunteers battled against
their concealed enemy, enough deeds
of heroism were done to fill volume.
One Of the men Of Troop Il, desper-
ately wounded, was lying squarely be.
tween the lines of fire. Surgeon
Church hurried to his side, and with
bullets pelting all around him, calmly
dressed the man s wound, bandaged it
and walked unconcernedly back, soon
returning with two men and litter.
The wounded man was placed on the
litter and brought into our lines. An
other soldier of Troop l., concealing
himself as best he could behind tree,
gave up his place to q wounded COM
panion and a moment or two later was
himself wounded.
Sergeant Bell stood by the side of
Captain Capron when the latter was
mortally hit. He had seen that he