The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-24

q good many of them got sick Sunday
night Chauncey heard firing in the dis
lanoe. Right in front OF him was hill.
He put night attachment on his fed
glasses and looked before him Right in
front was a semi-circular rim OF fire ike
a row OF burning matches. Mos; Of the
men were asleep. He got orders 10 open
up. and reused his men The Spanish
were making a sortie. So the men kneeled
IN their trenches and for three-quarters
OF an hour fired as rapidly as they could.
The semi-circular line OF fire became thin
ner and thinner and finally petered out.
and everybody went to sleep. knowing the
Spanish had been repuEsed
For five days the boys held this posi-
ton, drinking the terrible water. Chaun-
cey got a fever and was taken 10 the
rear with a lot OF his men in an ambu-
lance. He was sent back home 10 the
states and was granted a furiough. The
length Of his leave ne does not know. but
he is recovering rapidly and will probably
Dc of 10 the war soon.
He commanded his company throughout
the battle. His captain was in the states
recruiting. the first lieutenant was acting
adjutant 10 the colonel 1t is hardly pos
sible that one young man has done more
in the present war in the land forces
than Chauncey Humphrey. who only tells
his experiences after solicitation. and then
( modestly.
Here IS the military story OF the battle
as 'Chauncey picked it up at Siboney when
he returned:
General Lawtons' division was the first
tn
and underbrush 10 examine the interven-
/ ing country between Baquiri and Sib-
oney. Some small resistance was met but
the Spaniards were hurriedly driven out.
On the afternoon of the third day after
landing. Colonel Wood with his gallant
men. the Rough Riders" started over
the hills by narrow path through the
dense tropical underground in the direc-
ton OF the city. They were advancing
steadily without any advance guard and
were about three miles from Siboney
when the head OF the column was fired
/ into from ambush. resulting In panic.
. The attack was very unexpected but was
met with a great deal Of vigor by the
Rough Riders after the first ten minutes.
The firing was heard by a squadron OF
the First and Tenth cavalry. who were
advancing by a main road up the valley
toward Santiago. They hurrfadly came
forward TO the assistance OF the Rough
Riders, taking their position on the right
For an hour and a half the men fought
the Spaniards IN the dense underbrush.
finally resulting in the enemy being driven
back hurriedly toward the city. leaving
their dead and wounded after them. II
was during this fight that Captain O'Neal
and Captain Capron were killed. while
Captain Knox of the First cavalry was
severely wounded. A report was brought
TO the camp at Siboney by camp followers
from the scene of battle to General Bates
I headquarters that Colonel Wood and
fifty men were killed in the engagement
which proved TO be false.
A general advance was made by ali
troops toward Santiago on June % and
80. The First and Tenth cavalry. along
with the Sixteenth infantry. taking the
advance. No resistance was met OF any
consequence until our troops approached
within four miles of the city when they
met the outposts of the enemy and halted
on the night Of June 80. Early the next
morning at daybreak, July I. a very sue
| cessfuI balloon observation was made by
Colonel Derby Of the engineer corps. An
! altitude of about a thousand feet was
reached. where perfect view Of the city
| OF Santiago. the village OF e Caney. FIVE
miles 10 the northeast, with the works Of
the enemy. were obtained Early on the
same morning the troops were moved TO