The Monte Vista journal., 1898-08-06

"Our brigade halted and filled can.
teens at the ford. Grimes battery
was up on hill to our left front, play.
ing on the Spaninrds. Nobody that /
, saw knew where we were going or
anything of what was going on In
front. We only knew we were going
where we were told and that those in
command understood II we didn't.
We marched up the road almost half
mile, halted and laid OF everything
but canteens. arms and ammunition.
Just at this time the wounded men be-
gan passing us going to the rear. many
Of them badly shot and bleeding, 9th.
ers, supported by comrades. stagger.
Ing along. some carried on stretchers,
some In blankets. A bit farther on up
the road we passed under the fire Of
the Spanish battery and Grimes bat
terry. Right here the road became
blocked ahead OF us and we lay down
at the side Of the trail. The Span
iards were cutting their fuses too
short to rench Grimes battery and we
got the full benefit OF their shrapnel.
which burst right in our faces. This
was the worst pnrt OF the battle for
us. The Spanish infantry on the hills
beyond had the road located and was
firing on 1t. Men were hit on all sides
Of us. We couldn't see where the bul-
let's were coming from beyond the
brush. The trees were filed with
sharpshoOters, who picked our Off
GERS on. and altogether 1t was a Sc
we're test of the courage of our men.
In fifteen minutes. which seemed
that many hours to us. Colonel Ewcns
called down the column: Rise and
move forward on the rum The COM
mnnd was repeated down the column.
and we found ourselves shuffling down
the road. In few minutes we reach.
cd the ford OF the San Juan river.
The men plunged into the water up to
their waists and got across. This
ford was In plain view of the enemy
and was swept by n terrific fire OF in
fantry. Many men fell. Some Of the
wounded succeeded In gaining the
other bank. Others fell in the water
and We're pulled out. Some We're
drowned.
ION the other side OF the ford there
was little shelving plateau In the
shape OF semicirclc. Here we Inv
down again. somewhat protected, hut
the shrapnel and the sharpshooters In
the trees continued to pick us of.
Right here Colonel Worth was shot.
As we lay here had chance to look
over the bank and see in front Of us
for the first time the enemy. Immedi-
ate1y In front of us was n long grassy
plain about half Il mile wide, perfectly
level. with few large trees scattered
over II. At the other side was n hill
which seemed 10 have sides almost
perpendicular and about 300 feet high.
On top OF this were two houses pre-
pared for defense and trenches occiI-
pied by the Spaniartis. and the whole
crest Of the hill was covered with lit
tie puffr OF BLUSH mist.
"rhe sixth and sixteenth pushed
out. deployed ns skirmishers. and be-
gan to advance by short rushcs. lying
down and firing ut the hnlts. The
Twenty-fOurth cnme up and formed
behind us. The Thirteenth moved out
from the river bottom. deployed. lay
down and began to fire volleys at the
hill crest. Our hearts were In our
mouths as We watched our skirmlsh
line move forward. Sometimes I,
looked as II they could go right along.
At other times It seemed that they
must come hack. All nt once my bat
talon got our command to slide down
the bank and form In line In the river
around the bend. Then came the com.
mand Forward and with sigh Of
relief we sprung over the bank. up the
slope through some thin underbrusl.
pushed over u barb-wirc fence at the
edge. rushed out into the open. de.
ployetl ns skirmisher~. and moved for
ward In quick time. We were not al