Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-01-14

Tho first order heard in this brigade
tame from Major Vessels to his own
regiment 1t was THE Third is order
ed to 60 through this brush Immedi-
ately Major jackson $ squadron depioy-
ed as skirmisbers and attempted to adj
vance. Morton's squadron deployed 200
yards in the rear as support. Major
Vessels observed, II don't see how wo
can do it, but we will If we can"
Plunging into the brush, the men found
that it was only hedge on the border
Of an open field. When the skirmishers
got through, they called out that there
was cavalry moving across the front.
That made it necessary to draw the line
back.
Through the openings in the trees,
Captain Merton and others saw the left
of the San Juan intrencbments and
Spaniards with guns at hand 500 or 700
yards away, looking at the American
line. At this time the dynamite and the
Hotchkiss guns in rear Of the brigade
opened fire on the Spaniards. The dyna-
mite gun was choked with the first car
fridge, and the cavalrymen say that the
Hotchkiss gun was siIenced by the
Spaniards, who then turned their rifles
and shrapnel upon the cavalrymen. In
this plight the cavalry remained an
hour and half subjected to constant
volley firing and to shrapnel. The Off
GERS Of the brigade estimated that the
cavalry division suffered from 20 to 80
per cent of its casualties around that
crossing. Dead and wounded were
brought there through ranks of men,
only few of whom had been under fire
before Says Captain Morton. veteran
Of 26 battles, at was enough to rattle
the bravest, but not an officer or soldier
left the position, except to help the
wounded. /"
To some old soldiers it may seem
strange that at Santiago fighting men
left the ranks to help the wounded. But
that is according to the new order Of
things. Every man has first aid pack
age in his kit, and it is part of his duty
to apply it when comrade is stricken
down. If 1t had not been for this, the
terrible. The first aid bandage stops
the flow of blood and keeps the wound
clean. also giving the patient relief and
hope, which conduce to recovery. In
general, officers criticized the shame
full neglect of wounded" at Santiago
The next order to this brigade was
brought by aids who came to Major
Vessels and told him that the brigade
was to advance. They could give no
definite instructions. Vessels said that
he was not in command of the brigade,
but that Colonel Carroll was and was
somewhere on the ground. The aids
discussed among themselves what was
to be done, and finally agreed that the
brigade had an order to advance
The cavalry troops spoken of before
as being in front of Carroll's brigade
evidently belonged to Woods brigade,
In attempting to move ont of the range
of the Spaniards missiles and also to
find clear ground to form in the differ
ent regiments got out of line, "a matter
which caused some confusion to the bri-
gade commanders, 1t was this state Of
things which led to the assertion that
the general officers were weak at San
Juan ridge. The fact is that me ground
was unsuitable for forming and charg
ing in brigade columns. TIE regiments
! kept well together until they started to
go up the hill, when some commands
DETECTED to the right or to the left, ac-
cording assthey saw favorable ground
or Spanish position to strike at.
General Sumner says that the cavalry
II s,r,u alxn
the road near the crossing of San Juan;
that he formed his line, and, being fred
upon, said to a representative of Gen
eral Shafter who was present: 1--WE
cannot stay here without heavy loss.
We must go back or go forward. y The
general added significantly, Forward
we wentp'
There was no lack of fearless and
capable men to carry orders to the com
mands through fire and blood. Colonel
j. H. Dorst, the adjutant general of he
cavalry division, was seen all along the
line all day, and the same Of Captain
r. l.. Howe of Summers staff, who
was on horseback until the hill was
taken.
After the aids had settled it that
Carroll's brigade was to go forward
Major Vessels ordered his second
squadron to go forward, supported by
the first, and to move at once. Captain
Morton says that the majors did not
take time to pass the orders along 70
the companies, but shouted out the
command "Forvardp' Then the line
plunged into an almost impenetrable
~.ystvs--