Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-19
FACED DEATH AT SANTIAGO
Washington Boy Writes His Mother the De-
tails of, the Battle.
Soldier of Tenth Infantry Kills n
spnniard alta Distance of
.
1880 Yards.


Washington boy, whol1is one of those
who faced death on the field at San
tiago, has written a letter to his mother
here, descriptive of his experiences in the
battle. buckingham enlisted in Company
c, list New York Volunteers, last May
while in New York on business. He
ceived his military training in the Wash
ington Eastern High School. from which
institution he graduated in 1893. His
father, F. NJ. Buckingham is a well-known
confectioner of this city. The boy has also
a host of friends and relatives in this city.
The reference made to the kitten in the
latter part of the letter is to the mascot of
his company. When the list went through
Washington on its way south crowd of
Buckingham's friends and relatives went
to Virginia avenue southwest to see him
and bid him goodbye, the train stopping
here about hour and a half. Some OF
the men remarked that Company c was
the only one without a mascot, and they
were lamenting the fact, SO Buckingham's
father went home and got a cherished
black kitten and presented 1T to them
While in camp at Tampa the kitten was
either stolen or had strayed away, and one
of the officers offered $40 reward to the one
who would find it and bring it to him. So
the cat came back and one of the privates
got the $40.
The first section of his Ietter-there are
four-is dated Six miles from Santiago,
The Start.
I'VE did not leave Fermeza until Monday
morning at 5 o'clock, and arrived at this
place after an easy, cool and pleasant
march through a valley lined with trees
and thick shrubhery., Had there been any
Spaniards concealed We should have had
very little show, but there was no danger,
as the ground had been thoroughly search
ed by our soldiers and the Cubans.
Our outposts are stationed within l 500
yards of Santiago, and General Shafter
was within a thousand yards this morning.
The Spaniards have been on half rations
for several days, and it is reported that we
have cut off their water supply. Their
Notifications defending the city are strong
and will have to be taken before the city
proper is taken. Yesterday twenty-eght
hours was given them to get the women
and children out of the city, and they sent
word back that we would be given twenty
four hours to get our army out of Cuba
black flag is flying over the city, and that
means no quarter will be shown and no
prisoners taken.
There are some fine shots among our
boys, and Tuesday a sergeant from the 10Th
Regulars shot a Spanish officer at 800
yards. colored soldier from the 10th
Regiment shot Spaniard who was up a
tree about 1900 yards away Spanish SOL
diers, who were probably in the battle
fought last Friday, are being found all
over, some dead and some wounded.
artillery, and as soon as they get to the
front we will be o. K. We also have war
balloons, which will be sent up to locate all
strongholdS.
The letter was here interrupted, but July
l he says III
In 1t for Rights.
I'VE are in it for rights. Broke camp this
morning at $3.50, moved on to the storming
of Santiago, and commenced to fight about
8 o'clock, and the fring has been heavy
ever since, and it Is now $50 pm The
firing has been terrible and the killed and
wounded are many. The Spaniards are
well ntrenched and fortified. but we have
driven them from their stronghold, and
they are gradually falling back, but their
sharpshooters are in the trees and picking
off our men highland left The hospital
corps is not recognized and are picked Off
with the rest,
my corporal was shot through the head.
1 was beside him at the time. AS far as
we know three from our company are dead
and several wounded. 1 have thus far
been spared" u
The next day. Saturday, he resumed his
narrative, as follows:
1--WE are on top of hill, the Spanish
stronghold from which they were driven
Friday by our boys with great loss of life.
Our men had to cut through barbed wire
fences and go through an open field with
the Spanish fire coming down at a terrific
rate. The storming of Chattanooga and
Lookout Heights was not in it with the
way the boys charged the hill.
I'VE were kept busy all night digging
trenches and at daybreak the firing COM
menced again and was carried on all day.
We have the Spanish in a V. We and the
9th Cavalry are on top of a hill The
American soldiers are on the two sides,
with the Spanish on small hill to the
right"
July he said:
The Fight Resumed.
commenced again thic
but not heavy. We sent out flag of truce
today at II o'clock and so we are enjoy
ing rest for while. How long it will
last 1 do not know, but it is a relief to have
the bullets stop whizzing over our heads
We have four spies, of whom is a
Frenchman
July 4, daybreak-The truce will not be
up until 10 o'clock today, SO the usual
booming of cannon land crackers on the
4th will not be heard until after then The
Spanish fleet under Cervera attempted. to
leave the harbor yesterday morning, and
was destroyed all but one ship, which went
to and is being chased.
THE truce was offered to give the Span
iards a chance to surrender to save the
city and their men. If they do not agree
to it the city will be bombarded and their
loss of life will be terrible as our siege
guns are in place and will tear the place
to pieces in short order
Our regiment has lost thirteen killed
and about sixty-five wounded, our company
losing more than its proportion. | have
not seen the kitten since we left the ship
1t was then doing well. l am also well and
have been all along.
Tell the Endeavorers I have not forgot
ten them or my c. E. pledge since I left
them. Give them the sixth chapter ninth
verse of Galatians for a message
1T may be my last letter, but if God is
willing, more will follow. l shall have to
stop, as mail is going out now"