El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-01

| crept over the men: and 1t creIt
quickly, too: no more laughter
ness was not absted; and the check on
their chatting was, indeed, but tenn
porary; they soon broke out again. To
| add to the racket-there was no con-
fusion-st irregular intervals there
tore over our heads shrapnel from the
old smooth bore that the rebels had
planted about three-fourths of a mile
to our front. But on up the narrow
street we went, and sOOn in and
through gardens, behind walls and
houses, we were in position; battalion
on either side of the street. That old
common kept ripping out its intern al
roar and the men were fairly crazy to
locate it's position. Once Established,
we opened with volleys, firing slowly
and we'll under control, but the in
surgents with plenty of ammunition
punctured with their rifle fire. They
were using individual fire and were
reckless in the extreme in their eX
penditure. Through the long night
their fire kept up-now ragged and
then bursting into quick, fierce volleys.
Morning, SO longed for finally dawned.
What long night it was. We made
slow, steady advance OF about 400
yards, followed shortly by second of
artillery, on our right. that they were
cramped by the ground and intended
making q forward movement to get
into better position.
daylight showed us q line of the
enemy some 800 yards away, behind a
barricade-and daylight also brought
with tia terrific fire from the navy.
But my two advances had thrown the
left of my regiment pretty we'll up into
the line of their shell fre-indeed, it
looked bit as if the navy were she'll
ing my left. Happily but one slight
injury was received by our men. The
navy fire was ceased. [ encouraged my
men preparatory to making charge.
1 must confess that 1 was not absolutely
sure that the insurgent fire was mac
curate, but said: "Come on, men; 1
sounding the charge we went at them.
1t was grand: it was superb. Arriving
at a point 60 yards from the first bar
ricade, did what l could not do again,
because it would be unnecessary. We
halted and fixed bayonets. That done
there was no stopping US. The first
barricade was rushed and taken, the
men going right in on top of the rebels,
aud the second, 150 yards further on,
and not hitherto seen, we also assault |
ed and, when the resulting slight con-
fusion had been overcome, we prepared |
to treat an insurgent blockhOuse,
n our man nses bDs just In then
we received peremptory orders to
we had gotten ahead at too
rapid a gait; and we went reluctantly
sembling in fours we took up this re-
turn march, and then 1 had the most
distinct shock of any that l have ex
pertenced during the campaign. The
navy reopened fire and SHE'LL
shrapnel-seemingly ss big as q
bucket. struck within so yards and to
the right front of the head of the col
umn; exploding with terrific crash it
literally swept with it's fragments and
How we escaped, for it was right on
top of US, 1 shall never even hazard a
guess; but we did escape. For that
matter the whole night had been a
period of great and good luck in cas-
ualties. For, during the first advance
In column up that narrow street under
Mauser and artillery fire and all the
long hours of waiting for
the day to come, not q man had been
was marvellous, bus it was
true.
"Once back from out the navy's
range we took up our position of the
q ght before, and the rest is chapter
If what fear will-indeed, must-be
! story of many volumes before the
end can be written.
''There were some humorous things
hat 1 recall as having occurred that
hight. One was the jeering of the I
men as a shell would go sailing high
'ver their heads; aud their wells, bor-
owed from base ball, of "High ball." {
Get 'em down, old man: get 'em
Town" But the night itself is mem
Try more vivid, more lurid than any
'ther experience l have ever under
.one.''