The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-30
LA QUAStNAS FIGHT.
RICHARD HARDING DAVIS DE-
sCRIBEs THE COMBAT.

| E8ct That the Americans kept
Advancing, Notwithstanding the
Decimating Fire They We're Under.
r. II. Davis, in Philadelphia Ledger.
Col Woods Headquarters, La Quasinas,
June 25 via Santiago, June T.-The first
report sent you of the Rough Riders fight
was written soon after the firing ceased.
Ii has since been possible % obtain many
interesting details. A, Spanard who was
in the fight, and who later was captured
by the Cubans, said of the volunteers
"Thct did not fight as other soldiers.
When We fired a volley they advanced, in.
stead of going back. The more we frea
the nearer they came to us We are not
used TO fighting with men who act so"
This comment touches a gratifying fea-
tire Of the engagement The volunteers,
surprised on a narrow trait successfully
drove back four times their number under
a fire which killed or wounded every tenth
man. This is what is called decimating
fire. aud one under which, according to
military tactics, troops are expected 10
| retreat
/ The credit of che engagement therefore
is all the greater for the reason that in
/ stead OF retreat there was . steady, coil
advance, which only ceased when the
! Spaniards base was takon and they were
seen reTeating, carrying their wounded.
Forty dead Soaniards have since been
found
The Standards had selected their posi-
ton with care. Traits from sibonev APP
preach La Quasinas like the ,wo parts of
a wishbone, the Spanish pos ticn being the
meeting point. The enemy. accordng,y,
was so placed that they were Able 40 see
down the valley and cover the approach of
The Americans whichever way they came.
Gen. Young arranged 10 meet Col Wood
at this spot, ard as his traa was Eonger
he started from Siboney witch the regulars
half an ho3r in advance Of the v3luuleers.
His scouts saw the Spaniards on The ridge
dong before those in the bush we're dis
covered by Col. Wood The losses IN
killed and wounded were for this reason
greater among the volunteers and be-
cause of the ambush which brought the
volunteers within about fifty yards Of The
enemy.
One feature of the fight which Illustrates
the spirit shown by the men was when
one fell out Of the ranks wounded three
or four others did not falla oHe 10 helT,ahAm
10 the rear, a service which. as a rule Is
popular On the contrary, the wounded
lay whore they dropped, unattended, ex-
cept by the Hospital corps In three cases
men wounded in the arm or leg cared for
others fatally wounded There was no
one else 10 help them. for no one 81 the
volunteers who was able to shoo did any
Trims else.
The spirit of Edward Marshall. the
" nd.
as admirable as hat of any soldier on The
field. He was shot first In the firing line
and though the bullet passed within an
inch Of his spine and threw him into fire.
Quent, terrible conyulsions, he continued
in his intervals Of consciousness 60 dtstaie
an account of the fight and gave it to
wounded soldiers to forward TO his Paper
This devotion to duty of a man who knew
he was dying was as fife as any of The
many coura seous inspiring deeds that oc-
CURED during the TWO hours Of desperate
fighting.
TIE conduct Of al the men in the fight
Cannot be overpraised. II must be remem-
bored that nor for one minute during Two
hours did the strain slacken nor the ofi-
GERS call a halt. The movement was East
and incessant The ground was uneven
and the advance impeded by vines an inch
thick, trailing bushes and a cactus plant
known as the Spanish bayonot, which
tears the flesh and clothing Through
/ these the men fought their way. falling
and stumbling, wet with Precipitation,
parting for breath. but obeying Col.
Wood, heir commander.
Inc cowboys observed perfect discipline
and the Eastern element in troop K from
clubs and colleges, acted with absolute
coolness and Intelligence. Among the cow
boys Rowland, from Deming. New Mex
leo, was shot through the high the bullet
coming in al the side and going out at he
back. He limDed 20 the temporary hos
pitai and was told that nothing could be
done for him at that moment Acopl-
ingly he walked 10 the front again aud
crawled along, firing with the others
Col. Wood, who was az the front through
out the action, saw a trooper apparently
skulhng, fifty feet in the rear Of the fir
ing line end ordered him sharply 10 adj
vance. The boy rose and hurried eor-
ward limping As ne took his place he
raised his carbine and said:
Ny leg was a Little stiff. sir"
Wood looked and saw that bullet hsd
ploughed alongside the troopers leg for
twelve inches.
One man had three bullete pass 50 close
/ that he has marks in three distinct places
as if q hot poker had been drawn across
/ the flesh and bhsteTed Il.
! Color Sergeant Wright, of Omaha. who
walked close TO Col. Wood, carrying tne
]
! his neck scOrched and three bullets pass
4 ed through the flag.
/ Two officers, standing on each side Of
/ Coz Wood. were wounded.
/ Nothing seemed able 10 reach the COLI
( onel. He was cool. deliberate always out
: more concerned and serious in manner
I when he made the move that won the
/ fight which was "a piece of American
bluff, pure and simple. The main SPAN
! sh position was in an old ruined distil-
! lery, shut in by impenetrable bushe-. In
/ advance of the bushes was hundred
| Yards Of open ground, covered by high
/ grass. At the edge OF this grass Col
I Wood ordered the line TO cease firing,
rise and charge across. The men obey
! ed under a heavy. but fortunately misdi-
/ rected fire.
To che spaniards they looked ike a
! skirmish line thrown out IN adyf nee Of
regiment The Spaniards could rot be-
1 neve SO few men would advance aith s0ch
4 confidence unless supported by icrce. 50
they turned and ran. What bad looked
TO the enemy like anladyanef Inc was
every man Col. Wood had az biz disposal.
AS the Spaniar1s' me slackened and
ceased. those far 10 the left SAL them re-
| treating The Americans eheered; a long,
! painting cheer it was.
| -A,.,. s.-a. fal hv f4,sf Col Rooca.