Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-08-11
AT SANTIAGO, CUBA.
AMERICAN ARMY, UNDER GEN.
SKATER, AT THE FRONT.
Before the Surrender the Soldiers
Were Working Day and Night
Making Ready to Attack the
Spanish Stronghold.
Correspondence of the Ledger.

correspondence of the Ledger.
NEAR SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July 16.-
As an extension vf the truce was
agreed upon this morning, and conse-
quently nothing to do but try and keep
cool, my mind naturally wandered
back to the land OF "GrandIOld Mis-
souri," where 1 might be enjoying the
furlough of my life had not the "Dons"
invited us Owe to spend the summer
In Cuba. On the night of Feb. 18th
their doors, already ajar, were opened,
and Uncle Sam walked in, but evil
IDENTIFY they feel rather tired Of his
company, for now they are in their
trenches surrounding the town, and
just across a ~ravine, about 500 to 1900
yards from them lies the American
army, awaiting further developments
and strengthening its works. The
S~paniards are short of both ammuni-
ton and provisions. Their PROPOSE
tons to surrender the town, but to
march out with the honors of war
Ito again meet US where they can
probably be better provided), is re-
ceived with disgust all along the lines.
They all say, "Give it to them while
we've got them" We have Jul NOR
tars planted in behind a hill about 900
yards from their line. On July 4th we
began III march of 10 miles to the
front, greatly disappointed that we
couldn't bring our 5-inch and finch
siege guns instead of only the three
6-inch mortars, but such were our
orders, and that march will not be
soon forgotten by any of US. The sun
was that of a tropical country, and our
road was through dense woods and
between two ranges of mountains,
through a narrow valley. Ever since
we arrived we have been digging and
shoveling, working nearly all day, and
till IL, or late at night. The men have
stood it wonderfully we'll and not
many are sick 30 far, but the number
is increasing. Something must be
done soon. This morning we finished
our battery pits and magazines, pre-
pared our charges of powder, and got
out enough shrapnel for an hours
action. All was at last ready for IL
O'Clock to arrive, the time set for the
truce to expire. / went to the crest
Of the hill to look at the Spanish line.
Somehow it seemed to me like Sun
day morning. Everything was quiet,
and everybody waiting. Then I saw
white flag leave the Spanish line and
come toward US. 1t was met half way
by ours, and their plans of evacuating
the city were received and the truce
extended. We have had nc rains for
three days and the men are dry again.
It has rained a great deal along the
lines, although not much down along
the coast at Baiquiri. AS we came
along from Baiquiri, we passed the
skirmieh ground of the Rough Riders,
and saw the graves of the first vic
Tins. As we came on we began to
pass by old shoes, blue coats, mess
pans, knives and forks, empty cart
ridges, etc., along the road. Two of
my classmates have been killed, one
shot through the neck, but will re-
cover; received a sun stroke and
is ordered back home for a sick leave;
n was sent back with typhoid fever,
and another with malarial fever. So
far ! have felt exceedingly well, and
I little fear the yellow fever. The
English, Russian and Japanese at
taches have just been here to see the
mortars. They are active and are
getting all the Information they can
from modern warfare. As I opened a
mortar breech the Russian said in his
broken English: "I shall be back to
nee these babies spit fire."
Monday, July 11.-Yesterday at one
O'Clock q courier came galloping up
with orders that the signal gun would
be fred at four O'Clock, and that n
less the city should surrender before
that time, to open fire. We at once
prepared u charges, fuses and
shrapnel being IN explosive shell
containing 21s bullets, which are scat
tered by this explosive charge when
the shrapnel reaches the enemy.
Shortly after four the signal gun was
fired and we began Smelling the block
houses and trenches. When a shrap-
mel scattered them from a block house
the Calling guns were put in action,
moving them down as they ran. The
Calling fires 800 shots q minute, 30
cal, the same as the Krag- ~Jorgensen
rifle. Firing lasted till dark and was
resumed about seven o'clock this
morning and lasted till one o'clock
this afternoon, when "cease firing"
was sounded on the trumpets all along
the line and another truce agreed
upon to parley again on the surrender
Of the city. The firing to-day, how
ever, was not general, as we could get
no reply. Some think they are about
ont of ammunition, but most think
they are trying to work q bluff and get
m to come out Of our trenches. The
ground between the lines is thickly
brushed and full of barbed wire fences,
and an advance on their works would
be met with heavy losses IN Dur part,
The only way seems to shell them on,
with artillery. It seems to be the
general impression that they would
surrender, but must put up more fight
In order to aver show themselves again
In Spain. Both of our captains are
sick this morning, but we think they
will be out In a few days. Our sicl
List 10 increasing. We hope for sur.
render soon. Mail Is slow down here;
there is next to no postal system al
all. We hear over q hundred sacks o.
mail lie down at Siboney, but we have
no means of sending for IL, and they
have no meaus of sending it-that 4
the fine postal system that was to bt
% soon established In Cuba. We car
stand hard-tack and beans, but /
does 20 hard to do without mail.
haven't had q LEDGER since / left, bu
such ID our lot and I q stand It |
the rest car. A deserter comes ovel
10 our lines every now and then ans
tslls pretty hard stories a. to thei