Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-17
Part Of the Oath Infantry in Cuban
Campaign.
CORP ORAL CONN'S DESCRIPTION
Gallant Charge Which Drove Span
iards From Trenches.
RESPONSE TO BUGLE CALL

Cromwell, in this city, giving details. from
his point of observation, of the career of
the regiment from the date of its landing
in Cuba to the fall of Santiago.
The letter is as follows:
SIBONEY DE CUBA, August "a, pm.
You request If your letter that I write
you an account of my daily life here. There
is SO much confusion that 1 do not know
how to commence. We came ashore from
transports here at Siboney June % the
next day after the Rough Riders had their
famous battle; and here let me tell you
the real truth of the case: Five or six reg
iments disembarked on the Dist or odd
am Uncertain which date-at a point about
twelve miles east of here, and started west
toward Santiago and met with little or no
resistance until they had advanced this far
The morning of June "a there were three
columns started west-firSt, the 1St Volun-
teer Cavalry Trough Riders), going over a
narrow bride path on the very comb of a
mountain, where the underbrush was so
thick it was impossible to walk only in
single file; next, the LIST United States Reg
ular Cavalry, going over very rough and
irregular wagon road, running north of
parallel with the route taken by the Rough
Riders, the two roads making junction
about four and one-half miles west of here,
and the third column, the 10th United
States Regular Cavalry, taking route
about mile or more still farther north,
where there was no road at ALL 1t was
intended that the three commands should
move as nearly abreast a possible but the
difficulties the 10th Cavalry had to contend
with in advancing were not taken into con-
sideratfon, so they were about twenty to
thirty minutes behind getting into &C
ton.
Cautious Advance.
They all took up the march as above
advancing as cautiously as a blind man
alrtr
through the dense underbrush, where it
was. at times, impossible to see more than
ten feet from you, and difficult at any time
to see more than fifty to seventy-five yards
In any direction. The first column the
Rough Riders. was the first to strike the
enemy in ambush about 800 yards east of
the junction of the two roads mentioned
receiving volley that would have routed
anybody but an American. The first regu-
lars, nearing the music, as they called it,
hurried forward to join in the dance, and
aWoke a hornets nest of Spaniards on the
ieit' north OF the party engaging the Rough
Riders, and had more music than they
could furnish dancers for. But, to the
credit of the uniform and the flag, there is
no account of either column giving an
inch. They advanced sufficiently to come
into line. and holding their ground until
the much abused and poorly appreciated
sens of Ham burst through the under-
brush, delivered several volleys, and yell
ing as only colored threats can yell, ad-
Vanced on run. Their position being still
further to the north and opposite the left
flank of the Spaniards, they Uhe Spaniards)
could not stand it any longer, but broke
and ran and did not make decided stand
until they faced US at San Juan Hill july
/. When the battle CLOSED June "a there
were nineteen or twenty killed, but only
one of them was colored.
The First Greetings.
The first thing that greeted us as we
came ashore was an exaggerated account
of the battle of the day before. The killed
and the wounded, rumor had it, was
something like 800, and in evidence was d
column OF litters coming down the hill. l
counted ten or twelve and they were still
coming, and l think l was scared a little
II took us about three hours to dis embark,
and We marched about half a mile north,
going into camp in a beautiful cocoanut
grove, where we remained three nights,
living almost entirely on cocoanut milk
and native fruits. Here is the first place
we were issued raw rations, and everybody
had to cook for himself. AS l can scarcely
cook plain water without burning it,
was not benefited much in the change of
cooks.
We camped here three days, while diff
ferent parts of the army were marching
past us taking their places in columns be-
tween us and Santiago At last our turn
came-3d Brigade, LIST Division-to move
FORWARD ana go IN camp on the same
ground made almost sacred by the blood of
the Rough Riders, where we also stayed in
camp three days. June 80 the army was
again put in motion, and all day long there
was almost a continual column of soldiers
passing our camp until about o'clock in
the afternoon, when d general call was
sounded in our headquarters and we struck
tents and took our final position in the line.
We advanced about four miles further
west, but the road was so densely choked
with soldiers that 1t was 10 o'clock before
we went in camp, and everybody knew
what to expect in the morning.
l slept very soundly that night and was
awake very early next morning. We were
issued rations for three days, and l had
just started to eat breakfast when the first
gun was fired. at $50 o'clock. Very soon
the Spaniards began replying and the navy
began firing, and in a very short time there
was real and terrible duel with modern
arms going on. The navy, as 1t was stu
ated, could render no assistance, and the
Spanish guns, by using SmokeleSS powder
and being posted in such well-masked posi-
tons, soon forced our artillery to change
from one position to another, to their very
great disadvantage, but they still could adj
vance, and did advance. l still think the
Spaniards had little the best of it with
the artillery the first day.
Forward Move.
About S o'clock am. we started forward
and We were then almost the extreme rear
VI TIC di NY anu lOuT LulleS from the
front. or firing line. Almost Immediately
our right, since learn, was hotly engaged
taking a small town called Ell Caney, on
the right of our position. There is where
the 18th Infantry distinguished itself. AS
We advanced We could hear the small arms
more and more distinctly. After we had
advanced about mile we began to meet
the wounded coming to the rear, and
thought seriously of the situation and then
in a short time the road was almost choked
entirely with the wounded and stragglers
Our progress was very slow, 50 when We
got into the zone of the small arms firing it
was about 11:30 o'clock. 1t was terrible
There were wounded and dead men lying
all along, beside and in the road, and the
air seemed alive with bullets and shells Of
all descriptions and caliber. You could not
tell from what direction they were coming;
all that We could understand was we were
needed further in front, and we could not
shoot, for we could not see anything to
shoot at. We advanced until we were as
sured by our division commander that our
mettle was about to be tested; that he was
depending on his boys of the oath to make
history. and that the fate of his record and
possibly of the nation depended on the
quality of the mettle mentioned.
Chaplain's Message.
We piled up all our extra baggage and
our blanket rolls, nothing but orr arms