The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-14
TOLD BY THE WOUNDED.
Incidents of the Fighting rs Related
by Those Who Returned,


afternoon. and the town went Wild over
them and showed its enthusiasm In every
way Il could think OF. Men and women
alike clustered about them TO hear their
stories
When the wounded arrived yesterday.
the 800 men now stationed at Fort Nc
Pherson were waiting 20 cheer them,
but this idea was not carried out The
expressions which came from the troops
at the post were more OF pity than or
glorihcation. The wounded men came
from the train. some OF them on crutches,
others aided by companions. while many
had TO be carried on stretchers Their
faces were drawn and piached. their
clothes we're torn, and many OF them
were without suiucent clothing. Some
OF the officers had dispensed with their
coats. and had placed their shoulder
straps on their shirt sleeves, 10 show
their rank Save for these shoulder
straps there was no difference in appear
ance between officers and privates in
many cases All were worn and hungry
and Sred. Many OF them had not taken
off heir clothes for ten days When
food was placed before them they ate
ravenously. and II was only when ordered
by the physicians In charge OF the hospl-
tai mess TO stop eating that they LETT
shown to their rooms. and after a bath
they all went 20 sleep. Many Of them
did not wake up for supper II was tho
first time in weeks that they had en-
joyed tho luxury OF sleeping on Clean
cool cots. with a sound roof over their
heads. and nature made the best Of the
opportunity. To-day, however, much or
the fatigue and the suffering belong TO
the past, and the Atlanta which General
sherman pOunded-Confederate Atlanta
has been clarifying them, and the boy IN
blue is a hero at home among his own
people.
The wounded men were I'm the hottest
part OF the fight and they have interest
ing stories TO ten. Some OF them ad-
vanced 10 within a half mile Of Santiago,
and they declare that they could have
held this position had they not been
ordered 20 fan back. On the night OF June
9Oth tho men advanced 20 within a short
distance OF the city of Santiago and then
slept on their arms. The following morn
ing il was found that tho pickets had
been within ten yards Of the Spanish lines
For some reason they We're not fired
upon. on July 1 the battle began one
OF the greatest difficulties the Americans
had 10 contend with was the Spanish
sharpshooters. II IS said that these men
did more harm prior 10 their rout then
any other part of the Spanish army.
The Americans did not know when or
from what tree they would be greeted
with a vOlley OF Spanish bullets.
A private says he was fighting near a
commissioned officer. a lieutenant ne
thinks. who kept lodging from side %
side The officer continued these antics
for some time and then the private adj
vanced 10 his side and asked If he was
wounded
my God. man" replied the officer,
"dont you see that fellow shooting at
me? lie has been pegging away at my
carcas for fifteen minutes"
Sure enough. I'm proof Of what the officer
said. a moment later a pun OF smoke
came from the tree pointed out and a
bullet whizzed close TO whore the officer
and private were standing. The officer
took the privates rifle and coolly knelt
on the ground while he took deliberate
aim at the place from which the pun of
smoke had arisen. The aim OF the officer
was good, and at the crack of the rifle
the sharpshOoter was seen 10 hang head
downward from the tree. This was she
secret Of the fighting Of the sharpshooters
I'm the trees They had been tied in place
by their officers, and escape for them
was impossible. In addition 10
this. they had been informed, 80
the captured ones said. that the Ameri-
cans invariably killed all who were taken
prisoners. and for this reason they fought
with a courage born OF desperation. be-
lleving that capture meant sure death
and the mutiation Of their bodies.
Another private said that they fought
from trenches with their food supply by
them Their supply OF privisions was
enough to last for weeks, and had the
.,r.fff rnH l.rF ha al 4 al i
there would have been a temporary end
OF the famine IN Santiago. The private
added. however that there was no dan
ger OF the provisions being captured as
long as the United States soldiers de-
Tended the trenches.
The officers were tho principal objects
OF attack by the Spaniards. The Span
ish sharpshOoters and the regular lines
Of infantry all directed their fire at the
officers. and when one was seen 10 ran
a cheer Invariably went up from the dons.
Many privates were naturally victims OF
the fire. but both the officers and the
men who arrived yesterday say that the
Spaniards appeared to take special de-
light I'm killing officers.
one story was Of a duel on the battle
field between two soldiers, one American.
the other Spanish. IL was during one
the other Spanish IL was during one
of the lulls that occasionally occur on
battlehelds. when the men on their own
accord stop firing in order TO let the
smoke clear away and 20 catch n breath
OF fresh air The Spaniards had made
a charge and had been repulsed. The
Americana had pursued them and one
man was left in front Of the American
line when the United States soldiers re-
tired 10 their original position. This
man was wounded and near him was a
Spanish soldier. who was thought 20 be
dead. IL developed that he was not. lie
saw the American and slowly brought
his gun 20 his shoulder and fired, tho
ball striking the United states soldier In
the leg The American answered with
his gun. and for several minutes the firel
was kept up, six or seven shots being
fired on each side. The Spanlard was
Killed and the American was brought
back 10 the line. where he received tho
plaudits OF his companions for his brav-
cry The man who related this story did
not know tho name OF the American en-
gagged IN this duel. but he vouched for
the accuracy of the account given by
him.
Chaplain Dwight Galloupe OF the Ninth
Cavalry Is one Of the men brought here
from the battlefield. He arrived at the
post wearing a suit OF brown corduroy.
leggings. blue flannel shirt and bicycle
cap. Hts shoulder straps were silver
mounted. with silver cross, signifying
his office, while from a cord around his
neck was suspended a silver cruciAx.
Yesterday he said:
Garcia failed 10 notify our men OF the
nresence OF Spanish sharpshOOters in