The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-09-23

ana Wh0le lot more dead Spanlards,
lying around. There were twenty
dead and wounded in the Spanish
block house. | was about twenty
feet from it.
Well the Goth stayed upon the hill
till about 3, p. M, firing from time to
time. / don't know who relieved us,
but we went down the hill and back
from the line about two miles to a
clearing and were all drawn up in
company file. We thought we were
going to get to turn in, but the order
was given to get supper as soon as
possible as we were to take the road
in half an hour.
We marched clear around to the
left of the firing line through creeks
and swamps I don't know how far
we went, but we marched a good
ways. 1t was o'clock a. m. when
we got to a camping place. We turn
ed in, wet feet, shoes and all When
we woke up the next morning, we
were at the foot of a small hill with
bullets flying over our heads and
every minute or two there would be a
shrapuel come over our heads. 1t was
fine to see them burst in the air, but
the Mausers made it uncomforta BILE
they had me scared for awhile. There
were so many getting hit. Then
thought that ifI were hit, why |
would only be hit. 1t was kind of
funny to see the men hug the ground
when they would hear shrapel
coming. like to watch them burst in
the air. don't expect | would like
so much if one had burst in about
twenty or thirty feet in front of me.
| don't know what regiment relieved
us, but we rolled up and left there
about 8 o'clock. We always seemed
to be an advance and reserve guard
both, some way or other.
AS we went back one man out of Co
f, was shot through the neck. They
took him to the hospital and he has
not been heard from since and / don't
know whether he is dead or not.
We walked and twisted around
some way till we got in kind of road
We all took two pace interval and
then fell out and those that were able
went back TO the last creek we crossed
and got some water. This is the
march during which we suffered most
from heat and thirst and in addition
to that we were very sleepy and tired
We boys lay around in the road till
. p. M, when ate my last bareback
and bacon raw, as it was against the
rules to have fires, and the order
came to load chambers and magazines
and get in our places, and there to
fire. The Goth and the 9th Mass,
pumped lead in that hill. There were
no Spaniards there | am sure for
only heard two or three bullets whiz
by and l think they were stlays
though, of course, had as many fire.
works as anybody. The firing lasted
about an hour and then it was stop
ped till about 10 O'clock that night
when they commenced their fireworks
again and it lasted till 1880. That is
what they told me. ! never woke up
till it was half over but it only seemed
little while to me. No one noticed
me, and | was as big as any one after
wards.
That was my last battle for the flag
of truce went up at noon. The next
day, we got rations, built fires, and
had plenty to eat. The next day
felt sick and could not eat, but lay
in the trenches for four days until one
afternoon we took our guns and belts
and marched forward over on the 9th.
er side of the hill in front, and that
evening at dusk we shouldered ouI
shovels and picks and went right VI
to the top of the hill and commenced
to dig trenches and put up sand bags
| found out that | was sick when il
came to that, but stayed up there on
the hill until the next night when two
fellows helped me down to the hospi
tai. My fever tempature was 1916
From there l was sent to Siboney anC
then home.