The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-15
ROUGH RIDERS.
Episode Of Their First Action Before
Santiago.
How They Were Surprised by the
spani ards -Oncers Warned.

Writing under the date OF June 90
from Siboney, Cuba, the New York
Posts correspondent describes the first
fight of the rough riders at La Quasina
as follows:
It is now comprehended that yester-
days skirmish between ambushed Span
iards and rough riders was mere mess
up, due to want of the most ordinary
military prudence. A few ragged Gu
bans were ahead, and following, single
file, were drummer, a corporal, SER
geant, and so on-no hanking force-all
advancing along the trail through the
close growing bush, garrulous as lot
of laborers going homeward after days
work. Above the tramping noises and
the confusion Of voices you could hear
Jim Smith, who used to keep the store
at Red Horse, l. T., arguing with much
blasphemy about the capabilities OF
Sheriff Sukes in sobering up, though
nearly insensible with drink, to meet an
emergency, or you caught the high rasp-
ing accent Of Led Jinkson asserting.
Nov, - - it, his name was
Green, tell yc.r There was another
sound, too, and correspondents who had
heard it during the anxious nights at
Camp McCalla felt exciting apprehen-
sions. 1t was the soft coo-coo-coo Of the
wood dove in the chaparral.
In vain did they warn the officers that
the cooling of the wood dove was for
some one the knell Of DEATH These
troops were fresh from the transports,
having no acquaintance with the Cuban
bush or Spanish warfare. 1t is difficult
at first to realize in war that human be-
ings with guns are lying in wait for
you, and that they will shoot to kill.
On struggled the horseless troopers, ex-
ecrating the sun which made them drop
out and sit by the wayside or throw of
their blankets and half tents as deadly
burdensome or suffer pangs of thirst
with no relief in their canteens or fall
back to the hospital line or tumble,
overcome, in the path. Forward the line
came across the body of Cuban. The
shot that killed him was not heard above
the clamor of marching and talking.
Immediately there was firing from
left, right and front. But you knowsthe
story-Mauser rifles and machine guns
from ambush played among our men
with horrifying havoc. AS is the Amer
ican impulse, oaths and imprecations
rose from the wounded and their COM
rades till Colonel Wood commanded,
Don't swear; fight" 1t was relief
to swear, but it also was q relief to
fight, and with chins set grimly the ex-
asperated troops, at one time fat on the
ground, later in extended order, shot
blindly in the directions from which
bullets came. Overhead these bullets
cracked and snapped among the twigs
till IL was thought they were explod-
ing. OF course tho men were bit de-
moralized by the sudden attack and the
stampede of the mules. The thing to
do, the infectious thought Of the mo-
ment, was TO run.
Come to your senses, men" yelled
one of the officers, and before long
Troops l. and G. were advancing, driv-
ing ahead tho hidden enemy. Hero was
a Spanish soldier. in his blue dungaree,
stretched on his back amid American
dead, arms thrown out, jaw fallen and
eyes staring at the sun and not blinking
any more. To see mon bleed, TO see
them thrash in agony and foam at the
mouth. is unsettling 20 the nerves. You
are not surprised when friend, face
flaming with heat and excitement,
rushes up TO tell you something. stops
still and can find only voice enough 20
say q weak, choking, inconsequent
Hello" What he wants TO say Is that