The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-09

lear OF 1nJuring our own men. and, In fact,
there was some complaint that the artillery
fire had not stopped quite soon enough. How
ever. Best's battery soon limbered up and took
position on San Juan HILL to the right OF the
" Had he fired indiscriminately he might
OWN he eoSd not pck up the range to
the battery that opened fire upon him. which
had heretofore been INACTIVE. and which his
and too / a position from which he could have
CAPTURING the San Juan hill; As soon as he
retired the fire Of the Spanish battery ceased
hbiR y on tifopsf It's POSI-
,,Grimess and Parkhurst,s batteries were
held on, FL Peso hill, with orders to prepare for
the night. While this was being done the &C.
ton of Best's battery on San Juan hill could
be seen. as we'll as he reply from the Spanish
used black powder, as shown by the smoke
Had it not been for intervening Red Cross flags
FIRE h s sp"G Tbs ta sae o e9 Poso fdHe
but at least half dozen Red Cross flags were
covering the position of this battery: hence.
Again the engagement Of our infantry with
trenches could have been assisted from FL
Peso hill fully as well as. If not better, than
So to the h" snn
house was known to a certainty, and throw
ing either shell or shrannel with, a range
from 300 to 800 yards greater would have been
as safe to our infantry as absolute inaction on
our part. But there was no one to give orders.
or to see what could be done hence nothing Of
this nature WAS attempted
shortly after the departure Of Best''s bat
terry an order was received for Parkhurst's bat
Best. Tho battery lin bered up and went. but
before arriving at their position another order
into position upon the Kettle Hill. in rear Of Of
San Juan hill. Here Best's battery was formed
formed on his. left Both batteries were forced
to keep out OF action from the nature Of the
POSITION Immediately in our front. and but
about 600 yards away, was the infantry upon
San Juan hill. carrying on an intermittent en-
gagcment with the enemy. who appeared to
As San Juan hill! was higher than our posi-
ton. and the distance so short no fire
pG to o%n nons
known as to how far away the enemy might be-
hence no possible knowledge as to the range
tory for any curved fire at any such short ranges
as would probably, have been called for: Hence
to support any possible retreat by our own
line and helrrcpulse any ATTACK by the enemy.
IT was now getting late in the, afternoon.
and the ,sp2smodic attack and fire of the enemy
gradually dwindl"d down and ceased. and the
ON the following day the artillery was again
in action, 1t had been placed. however, where
Santiago and cou ID not well sweep the ground
in its Immediate front 1T is doubtful, there
against the enemy We made noise Gsss and smoke
enough. and the latter was n good target for
the conGentFaton h Of all IF the Spanish fire
AT least, and to this fact may perhaps be at
+" Tn" batteries were finally ordered with
drawn. aud executed the order; not after hav-
haste than dgny as it has been made to ti 9p
pear in the text at the head of this article, for
hs
dig gun pits. fired three rounds. and was then
forced 70 seek safety in precpitate and disor-
rarkhurst's battery, alone fired, over eighty
| rounds. as was shown by the, count OF
chests after arriving at the FL Poso hill how
many the other batteries fred is unknown.
ant the rep9rttS Of their CnIatns ini to tell
but by hand down he hil to thus save horses
loose from, its gun crew and ran away down
hill and that. was all the excuse there ever
dignity or 'pracipitate and disorderiy flight.
THAT this withdrawal was mistake no one
XII attempt 6d tb no deny that knows any
we're not suffering BADLY the casualties
1--WE lived Were they We're Is f bsyond "a ali
question, Whether 1.-THE. they were doing any
taking OF keeping them there. is another Tues.
! ton, and one the writer will not attempt TO de-
eide If he he may be " al al in ,S to express an
sending the three batteries up to the advanced
line before II was known, whether Lawton 5
| division could accomplish its task or not. The
bombardmcnt Of Santiago could really have
! been done az well from FL Poso hin as from
San Juan hin, as a beginning. or as demon
| stration. which this was evidently intended
Whether the best use possible was made OF
! what was at hand on July | is a matter for
others to decide. The country was very diffl-
| cult; artillery positions were not as thick as
| they might have heenI and the one position on
! FL pOSO hill was not as extensive rs II Nigh
! have been. Doubtless moro artillery would
( havc beer put there on June 80 if il had been
| at hand. and doubtless more than one battery
! would have been sent to FL Caney had there
| been a-Ulcnty to spare"
! As Capt Parkhurst was wounded and inca
/ pacitatcd for duty on the morning OF July he
! has to- depend for his discussion Of events after
| that time on official reports. In quoting these
/ he gives much that now for the first time ap-
| pears before the public and that serves his pur-
| pose of showing how much the artillery did a,
! Santiago and why it could not do more
Cabmen to Fight tho Automobile Bill.
! The Liberty Dawn Association OF Livery