Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-14
YOUNG sAxToN,s EXPERIENcE.


YOUNG sAXTON'S EXPERIENCE.
Through the courtesy Of Attorney
Martin e. Smith the Wayfarer was en-
abied to read the following letter writ
ten to Mr.. Smith by his nephew, A. w.
Saxton, Company F, Sixteenth Infan-
try, now stationed at Montauk Point.
Long Island, in which he wildly de-
ccribes his experience while with the
army in Cuba:
Camp Wikoff, Aug. 81, 1898.
Dear Uncle: / had a glorious time
down in Cuba until l was stricken with
the fever. 1t was very warm down
there, but the list, I'd and Sd OF July
were the hottest l ever experienced.
On the LIST we broke camp about
o'clock in the morning and left in
heavy marching order for San Juan
hill, five mites away We were in
heavy marching order, with blankets
rolled on our knapsacks, three days ra-
lions in our haversacks, rifles and 200
rounds Of ammunition, a pretty good
lead to carry over sandy and hilly
ground for five miles, but the most Of
us etuck IL out well.
1t was about O'Clock when we
reached the fighting line, and every
man was nerved to do his best or run.
Two of the men did start to run. They
now fill a towards grave. One the cap
tain shot with his pistol, and the other
fellow was shot by the first eight men
D to his right. Seven bullets struck him.
, This occurred in a thicket 1000 yards
from the base Of San Juan hill, when
bullets were flying around us like hail
stones and men by the score were be-
ing killed and wounded.
: felt shaky myself, but when we got
out into the open field and could Gee
the copper-coiored devils l got reckless
and did not care whether I was hit or
net. Men were benig killed on either
side Of me by bullets and shells, but
2 remained untouched. I was the tenth
: man to reach the wire fence and broke
my gun while attempting to tear the
, fence down. / got ten panels down
when the lad alongside of me was kill
Cd and l was hit on the left arm near
Z the elbow at the same time, but / die
} not notice it and picking up the dead
lad'G gun I started up the hill. Their
a IL did rain bullets, but I escaped in
jury. Our captain wes wounded and
ouN first lieutenant killed, and out o.
p 105 men who started for the top Of tho
3 hill only sixty-four reached it. Oul
8 company coloIe were the first Of the
/ Sixteenth to be placed on San Juar
hill. Being near the Spanish trenches
we got in them and shot the Spaniardt
down from their own defences.
10 D, e. TIKI J..
quit. This ended the first day, but no
n the night. We had had nothing to ca
r. stree an early breakfast, yet thel
= moved us to a hill about 500 yards II
S front Of San Juan and there we had t,
r. dig all night. l was that tired that
c could have slept on a bed of sharp
Q pointed nails. Early on the morning
s Of the second day the Spaniards again
= opened fire on us while we were cover
a Ing our trenches with brush. We imme
% diately got in our trenches and as sool
n as our pickets were under cover we re
# turned the fire.
e Everytime we saw white straw ha
II bang" went two or three rifles, an
e they did their work. On the night o
r the second day the enemy attempted t
& break cur lines, but they got enough il
e about thirty minutes, for during tina
.e time We rsined lead into their rank
g, and | learned next day that we ha
e killed about ZOO Spaniards. l thin
Is that took the charging spirit. out @
is them. During the day they worHe
Is the shell game" on us and as we ha
l. no artillery in position they had a
easy time Of IT, One she'll l rememhe
particularly, as it killed my "bunlxie.
There were five of us and a major sill
ting under a tree, where we had a goo
:, view Of the Spanish trenches, when
- shell exploded in cur midst, killing tn
- major and my comrade, and woundin
= all excepting myself. 1t burned my lei
&c side, though, and l thought l was dor
for. Pieces Of the same shell wer
- farther on down the hill and killed tw
lss and wounded five other men.
~ The third day opened up pretty brisl
~ ~, and just as we were settling dow
"a 10 bueinpcs a white fac annoorpd IN