The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-08

question. They we're both filed with
eager longing to show their mettle
and both were rightly confident that
if they lived they would win honora-
Bile renown and would rise high IN
their chosen profession. Wltnln
twelve hours they both we're dead.
/ I had lain down when toward mid
night Wood returned. He had gone
over the whole plan with General
Young. We were to start by sunrise
toward Santiago, General Young tax
ing four troops Of the Tenth and four
troops of the First up the road which
led through the valley; while Colonel
Wood was to lead our eight troops
along hill trail to the left, which
joined the valley road about four miles
on, at point where the road went
over a spur Of the mountain-chain and
from thence went down bill toward
Santiago. The Spaniards had their
lines at the junction Of the road and
the Grail.
Before describing our part in the
fight, it is necessary to say word
about General Young's share, for, OF
course, the whole fight was under his
direction, and the fight on the right
wing under his immediate supervision.
General Young had obtained from
General Castillo, the commander OF
the Cuban forces, full description OF
the country in front. General Cas-
tillo promised Young the aid OF eight
hundred Cubans, if he made recon-
noissance in force to find out exactly
what the Spanish strength was. This
promised Cuban aid did not, however,
materialize, the Cubans, who had been
beaten back by the Spaniards the day
before, not appearing on the firing line
until the fight was over.
General Young had in his immediate
command a squadron Of the First Reg
ular Cavalry, two hundred and forty
strong, under the command Of Major
Bell, and squadron of the Tenth
Regular Cavalry, two hundred AID
twenty strong, under the command Of
Major Norvell. He also had two
Hotchkiss mountain guns, under Cap
tain Watson Of the Tenth. He started
at quarter before six in the morning,
accompanied by Captain A. L. Mills
as aide. 1t was at half past seven
that Captain Mills, with a patrol Of
two men in advance, discovered the
Spaniards as they lay across where the
two roads came together, some Of them
in pits, others simply lying in the
heavy jungle, while Oh their extreme
right they occupied big ranch.
Where General Young struck them
they held high ridge little to the
left of his front, this ridge being
separated by deep ravine from the
hill-trail still farther to the left, down
which the Rough Riders were advanc-
ing. That is, their forces occupied a
range of high hills in the form of an
obtuse angle, the salient being toward
the space between the American for
ces, while there were advance parties
along both roads. There were stone
breastworks fanked by blockhouses
on that part of the ridge where the
two trails came together. The place
was called Las Guasimas, from trees
Of that name in the neighborhood.
General Young, who was riding a
mule, carefully examined the Spanish
position in person. He ordered the
canteens Of the troops to be filled,
placed the Hotchkiss battery in con-
cealment about nine hundred yards
from the Spanish lines, and then de-
ployed the white regulars, with the
colored regulars in support, having
sent Cuban guide to try to ind Col
oncl Wood and warn him. Hc did
not attack Immediately, because he
knew that Colonel Wood: having a
more difficult route, would require a
longer time to reach the position.
During the delay General Wheeler
arrived: lie had been mp since before
dawn; to sec that everything went
we'll. Young informed him Of the
dispositions, and plan Of attack he
made. General Wheeler approved OF
them, and with excellent Judgment
left General Young free hand to
fight his battle.
So. about eight o clock Young began
the fight with his Hotchkiss guns, he
himself being up on the firing line.
No sooner had the Hotchkiss one
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