El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-09-30
OUR CAVALRY.
And Their Work in Porto Rico.

A report has been received in this
city OF the operations of troop A of the
Fifth cavalry, 'actipg as caval screw,
or advance guard, to General Schwan's
regular brigade of the western army
OF invasion, Porto Rico" AS this troop
was stationed at Fort Bliss the record
is of considerable intere st here.
From July to "a, the regiment was
in camp at Tampa. On July 25 the
troop was detached for special duty.
and later undsr command of Captain
A. g. Macomb left on the transport
Morgan for Porto Rico. On August 3
the transport, under escort of the
cruiser Montgomery, anchored near
Cape San Juan on the north coast pre-
paratory To making landing. On the
morning. of August fifty sailors from
the Montgomery, accompanied by Sec
ond Lieutenant w. S. Valentine OF
troop A, raised the American flag over
the San Juan light house.
The transport then sailed around the
eastern end of the island and on Aug
uss the troop went into camp near
Ponce. The troop was at once assign
ed to the regular brigade under Gen
Schwap. The troop joined the brigade
near Yauco. On August 10 the troop
advanced as cavalry screw or advance
guard toward HOrmigueros. On the
way the troop had hot skirmish with
the enemy, but no loss to our boys re-
suited. Here we quote from the rec
ord:
'At Hormigueros the troop covering
the right flank of main column turned
westerly. AT p. n, when 600 yards
from town, hot fire by volleys was OPP
ened on the troop by a considerable
Spanish force-estimated at 300 men
a lntf
yards to our right. The smOkeless DOW
der of the enemy made it almost impos-
sible to locate them. The enemy's fire
was biRb, passing nearly entirely over
my troop and falling on the main col
umn which sustained q loss of eighteen
men killed and wounded. This fire was
quickly answered by my troop and an
advance was made on the Spanish posi-
ton. The enemy fell back under a no.
fire by my troop and the infantry
which bad come into position on our
of his second position and retreated on
obscure trails towards Maysguez, dis.
tsnt some six miles. Just after sun
down my troop was detached or a scout
towards Mayaguez. down the main
road, with view to ipterceptipg q rail-
road train which bad just come In from
Mayaguez and was about one mile dis
tant. This pursuit was uusucce ssful-
the train retreeting rapidly towards
Maysguez. Pursuit was kept up to
within two miles of tina. town, though
it was rapidly becoming dark. Upon
my return trip a Spanish lieutenant,
wounded, and three enlisted men, all
Of the Alfonso XIII regiment, were
made prisoners on the road. Camp
was made with the maiu command
near the battle field at $50 D. ~. Aug.
marched % miles On
Aug. 1lth the command marched to
Mayaguez, the troop preceding it and
scouting the position and roads Oc u
pied and used by the enemy the even
Ing previous. A number of dead Span
lsb soldiers with their arms were found
at the last position of the enemy At
ter making this side scout of some five
miles, the troop rrjoined and took posi-
ton in advance of the brigade. AT $50
>. m. the troop entered Mayseuez and
Captain Augus'in G. Macomb. in the
name of General Schwau, received the
of the town, the large infan-
try barracks and the military hospital.
and raised the American flag over the
,ity hall"
The remainder of the report is q
story OF scouts and short advances, uu-
III an armistice was declared The
work was done on the road to Las Ma
las. Lares, and San Juan, along the
Rio Graude, and through the moup-
aims on the line of retreat of the Span
ards. The total distance marched
vas los miles. There were no casual
les.