Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-01-19

u FARMER would run no rlSk with u luAi
load of hay, that some one in authority
had hobby for pack mules, and for
that reason wagon transportation was
neglected.
The landing was effected at Daiquiri
and Siboney between June 22 and 20.
AS rule the troops disembarked while
the transports were from one mile and
half to two miles offshore. Some idea
of the confusion attending the landing
may be gained from the experience OF
Lieutenant Parker with his Gatliug bat
terry. Parker had an order from Shafter
to land at once and get his outfit to the
front. That was on the evening OF June
22, The Cherokee, upon which the bat
terry made the trip from Tampa, was
warped along the iron pier at Daiquiri,
and Parker seized government pontoon
to use in transferring his outfit to shore.
He was stopped by young officer, who
claimed to control the pontoons, and
who said that in spite Of Shafter's g order
that the Gatlings get to the front at
once his pontoon should mot be smash
ed in doing it," While this parley was
going on general officer rode up and
ordered the Cherokee to put to sea again
SO that some other ships might come up
to the pier. For another day the Chero-
kee. with Parker's guns on board, lay
In the offing 1t is said that at that time
the steamer Alamo had ON board an en-
tire cargo Of pontoons, which had not
been landed. On the 25th the Gatlings
were taken off the Cherokee by light
draft steamer and were put upon the
shore where Lieutenant Parker was
warned by the engineers that the roads
to the front were impossible. A little
later it was demonstrated that Parker's
Gatlings were as effective as anything
in the whole fighting outfit.
AS the cavalry brigade Of General
Young took the lead Of the real advance
On Santiago and first felt the teeth of
the Spanish tiger clear view OF the
opening events Of the actual campaign
is best gained by following its move
mer.s. The brigade landed at Daiquiri
on the evening of the 22d and the morn.
ing of the esd of June. II was composed
Of two seuadrons each of the First and
Tenth (colored) regular cavalry and
First volunteers, or rough riders, all
dismounted.
General Young's orders were TO take
position OH the left of Lawton S infantry
division, which had already landed.
The troopers had no rations During the
voyage they had exhausted the three
days travel rations supplied them.
Soon after landing part Of the command
received ordinary rations which the
men placed in their blanket rolls. as the
cavalrymen carried no haversacks.
After landing his command General
Young sent an aid ON board the steamer
where General Wheeler was for further
orders and received instructions to move
out five or six miles and select camp
for his own brigade, screen and cover
the landing and relieve the jam there.
The cavalry bivouac was near the mouth
Of stream, the water of which was al.
ready polluted by the infantry camps
above. After getting rations for one
squadron each Of the First and Tenth
and all of the rough riders, also alnmu-
milton for his Hotchkiss guns, General
Young moved out on the 2Sd, and, find
ing Lawton's troops occupying all the
desirable camps. passed on until he
reached Lawton's advance post There
he learned Of an engagement the night
before between Cubans ard Spaniards.
Meanwhile General Wheeler had
come ashore at Siboney and reached
Lawton's advance position. General
Young reported to Wheeler, who said
that he was glad that Young had come
mp. He (Wheeler) had been ont with
General Castillo. the Cuban. and looked
over the Cuban position Being very
tired, he was about to lie down and
asked General Young to get an account
Of the affair from Castillo. Castillo said
that he had met 1000 Spaniards at
point near Savilla. He thought they
had retired after the battle, but General
Young got information that they were
being REINFORCED. AS there was good
camp ground beyond the scene Of the
skirmish, Young decided to 90 forward,
reconnoiter and develop his front.
From Castillo's description Colonel
Rivers, of Young's staff, made sketch
of the region around Las Guasimas Re-