Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-29
s. @. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 90 1898.

the Cuban, the heads of half dozen
Spaniards were seen to pop up out of
the grass hundred yards away, and
then almost instantly drop out of sight
again. Then came the order to load,
and no time was lost in giving it prompt
obedience. Firing could be heard
about two miles to the right, appar-
emily coming from the hills beyond
the thicket. The reports of Hotchkiss
guns could be distinguished, and the
Rough Riders interpreted this to mean
that General Young had engaged the
Spaniards with his regulars.
But there was no time to speculate
on the probable tide of the battle.
Suddenly Mausers began to crack all
around, and hail of bullets whistled
about and over the heads of the Rough
Riders, cutting leaves and limbs from
the trees and viciously knocking chips
from the posts of the wire fence. The
Spaniards were only about 200 yards
away but only occasional glimpses
of them could be gotten. Under Or
ders, however, the Rough Riders began
to pour volleys into them, and the air
was soon filled with flying bullets.
Colonel Wood coolly walked down his
lines and ordered the men to deploy,
one detachment in the thicket and the
other in the open space. Lieutenant
Colonel Roosevelt led the detachment
in the thicket, cutting and tearing his
way through the tangled growth and
urging his men to follow. All this
while the firing of the Spnnis IDS grew
fiercer and fiercer, and as the Rough
Riders got into position they returned
it in kind.
The first American to fall was Ser
geant Hamilton Fish, a son of the
New York millionaire of that name,
and the grandson of the Hamilton
Fish, who was secretary of state in the
cabinet of President Grant. He was
standing up with his face to the ene-
my, gallantly popping away wherever
he could see the form of a Spaniard or
the flash of Mauser. A bullet struck
him square in the heart and he was
dead in twenty minutes. AS he lay
propped against tree, Captain Cap
ron and others took position in front
of him and made the fire against the
enemy as hot as possible. After the,
fight the ground was literally covered
with empty cartridge shells. Before
he died Fish gave a messmate lady's
gold watch as souvenir.
Captain Capron, of Troop L, stood
with his men, directing their fire to-
ward the unseen enemy, and encour-
aging them to hold their ground at all
hazards. Presently he caught a
glimpse of squad of Spaniards, and
borrowing the rifle of Sergeant D. w.
Bell, who stood beside him, took care
full aim and commenced firing. AS the
result of the first two shots, two Span
iards were seen to fall but as the
captain was aiming for third shot
he was struck by Mauser bullet and
mortally wounded.
In the meantime, Sergeant Bell had
procured rifle from the side of dead
comrade and commenced popping
away. Sergeant Bell is himself re-
markable marksman with a rifle, calm
and cool in the face of danger, and
must also have done execution. AS
Captain Capron fell, Sergeant Bell
took him in his arms. The incident
disconnected the other men, and seeing
it Captain Capron said to them :"Don't
mind me, boys; 60 on and fight"
Then, as Sergeant Bell made him easy,
the captain impaired last message to
his wife and father, babe the sergeant
goodbye, and was borne away dying.
He lived only few hours.
Roosevelt's detachment in the thick
ct was at a serious disadvantage. I'm
able to see the enemy at all, the men
could only fire by sound. When they
were located by the Spaniards, they
received volley after volley but they
returned the fire as vigorously as pos
sible, and did their full duty. 1t is
believed, however, that some Of their
shooting was very wild, and to this fact
was due a portion Of the loss in the
American troops ahead of them.
After 10 or Is minutes of very hot
work, the firing of the enemy began
to slacken and it was noted that he
was changing his position. This gave
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt a chance
to bring his men out of the thicket,
and he was not slow to take advantage
of it. While having the movement ex-
ecuted, bullet struck tree within six
inches of his head.
But now the Spaniards were in full
retreat, and led by Colonel Wood and
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, the
Rough Riders followed in hot pursuit.
A stray shot struck Major Brodie in
the right forearm. But after that no.
nobody else was hurt. Soon the en-
tire command of Rough Riders were
sending after the fleeing Spaniards a
hail of bullets, and the enemy made
for blockhouse.
General Young had already defeat
ed the force of Spaniards with which
he had been engaged with his regulars,