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

Santiago.

were tHe STedteet. OoA' "ooo N"'
with an advance guard we'll out in
front, and two Cuban guides before
them, but apparently with no fankers,
went squarely into the trap set for
them by the Spaniards, and only the
unfaltering courage Of the men in face
of a fire that would even make yete-
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 hurriedly sent forward
every man would probably have been
killed or wounded.
ssThere must have been nearly 800
Spaniards in front and to the sides Of
us, said Lieut.. Col. Roosevelt to-
day, when discussing the fight. "They
held the ridges with rifle pits and ma
chine guns, and had a body.of men in
ambush in the thick jungle at the
sides Of the road over which we were
advancing. Our advance guard struck
the men in ambush and drove them
out. But they lost Captain Capron,
Lieut.. Thomas and Is men killed or
wounded.
ssThe Spanish firing, was accurate
SO accurate, indeed, that it surprised
me; and their firing was fearfully
heavy.
ST want to say;a word for our own
men" continued Col. Roosevelt.
ssEyery officer and man did his duty
up to the handle. Not man finch
ed"
From another officer who took
prominent part in the fighting more
details were obtained. "When the
firing began" said he, "Col. Roose-
velt took the right wing. with Troops
G and K, under Captains Llewely and
jenkins, and moved to the support Of
Captain Capron, who was getting it
hard. At the same time, Col. Wood
and Major Brodie took the left wing
and advanced in open order on the
Spanish right wing. Major Brodie
was wounded before the troops had
advanced 100 yards. Col. Wood then
took the right wing and shifted Col.
Roosevelt to the left.
"In the meantime, the fire Of the
Spaniards had increased in volume,
but, notwithstanding this, an order
for a general. charge was given, and
with a yell the men sprang forward.
Col. Roosevelt, in front Of his men,
snatched rife and ammunition belt
from wounded soldier, and cheering
with his rnen, led the advance. For q
momens the bullets were singing like
a swarm Of bees all around them, and
every instant some poor fellow went
down. On the right wing Captain
McC Clintock had his leg broken by
bullet from machine gun, while four
of his men went down. At the same
time Captain Luna, Of Troop F, lost
nine Of his men.
'sThen the reserves, Troops K and
E. were ordered up. Col. Wood, with
the right wing, charged straight at a
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 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,
which the Spaniards 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 FIJI volume.
One Of the men Of Troop E, sdesper-
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 mans wound, bandaged it
and walked unconcernedly back, soon
returning with two men and a 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 a wounded COM
panion and moment or two later was
himself wounded.
Sergeant Bell stood by the side of
Captain Capron when the latter was