The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-13


From the start General Shafter backed
up the young enthusiast and gave or
ders that the Calling detachment be put
ashore with the first troops landed at
Cuba. In spite of Skaters orders there
was difficulty in getting the outfit
ashore, but it landed On the 25th of
June and hurried to the front, taking
position in the defensive line formed by
Wheeler at Sevilla. Except for delay
in landing, the Gatlings would have
been heard from at Las Guasimas on
the oath. By Skaters special orders,
again, Parker went to the front on El
Poso hill the morning Of July to
await the deployment of the troops fos
battle, when he was to advance to the |
front line. His orders, and his own ex.
PLANTATION of the attempt to carry them
out literally. are very interesting at this
time. The instructions were: "Find
the Seventy first New York and go on
with them if you can. If this is not
practical, find the best position you can
and use guns to best advantage.
Captain Parker says:
Pursuant to these instructions, went for
ward and found the Seventy first hating to
learn what their instructions WERE could get
no clear idea of what they were going to do,
but waited about Is minutes in their rear to
| find out. Meantime troops continually passed
US toward the front. rode forward alone
along the road, a narrow defle through the
/ Jungle, and found that about half a mile i'll
front was n creek, upon the crossing of which
/ the Spanish fire seemed to be concentrated.
| In front of the crossing level plain for
400 to 500 ards beyond which was semicir
cular ridge, crowned with Spanish trenches
from which the Spanish fire seemed to come
Men We're being continually hit at the ford
but it seemed to me good place to work my
guns effectively.
rode back, finding the Seventy first still
lying beside the road without any apparent in
tention of moving determined to leave them
and go into action Taking gallop, moved
the battery forward nearly to the ford, where
Imet Colonel McDerby Of General Shafter's
staff, who informed me that the troops were
not yet sufficiently deployed to take advantage
of my fire and advised me to watt The bull
lets were cutting through all around us, and
the enemy's sharpshooters were actually IN
the woods near us, up tall trees, picking of
officers and men.
AS Lieutenant Parker knew only part
Of the plan of BATTLE he decided to await
developments as advised by General
Shafter' S aid -de-camp. The fire was still
hot around the ford, and, placing his
men under cover, he staid till o'clock,
when Colonel McDerby further in
, structed him by Skaters express order
to turn over one gun to Lieutenant
Miley of the corps staff and 'take the
others forward beyond the ford, where
the dynamite gun is, and go into action
at the best point you can find" At that
hour the whole line beyond San Jua1
, river had been developed by the caval-
~, and the brigades of Hawkins and
! Wikoff, the latter being deployed in
, front of Fort San Juan.
| The Gatlings were drawn by mules,
. and after crossing Parker kept in the
Q main road, which ran between the fort
1 and the hill which the cavalry attacked
1 This road was between the two attack
9 ing columns and free from troops After
: crossing Parker caught up with som;
q cavalry officers accommodating Oh th.
: road toward the fort, which still belchet
g fire in all directions and stubbornIy re
u sisted the assaults upon it. Said he t,
Captain Boughton of the Third cavalry
i "Show me Spaniard. l have been al
: the morning looking for them an,
b haven caught sight of one yet" Guild
y ing the young soldier toward the firing
d Of trees lining the road, the captain
i pointed out the fort and trenches whic
10 the men of Wikoff's and Hawkins
b brigades were trying to silence, saying
it There are Spaniards in plenty"
n Parker's own story Of what followe
ID is very modest, what might be locke
d for in the narrative of hero telling {
le his own exploits. He says:
$. The battery opened at ranges of COO to 81
ar yards at l:15 p. IN. The enemy at first col
:. centrated his fire upon us, but soon weakened
Q and in five minutes was clambering from h
s. trenches and running to the rear. We fired
IN rapidly as possible upon the groups thus pr
70 scented until saw white handkerchief wave
:. by one of my own regiments, the Thirteen1
u infantry, and at the same time Captain La
dis, First cavalry, said: "Better stop. o.
4. own men are climbing the ridge" I ordert
the fire to cease at 1:23}a p. NJ. and a momel