The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26


4 Dumphy, and Private James MtCoigan
! As result OF the success of this ex.
( petition of the First Marine Battalion tn,
following were advanced or bray5tted
I Lieut. Col. Il. W. Huntington was appoint.
! Cd colonel for eminent and ccusplcuuu.
! conduct in battle" Capt. George f. Ell.
! oft was advanced three numbers on tbs
! list OF captains for like distinguished con
quot; First Lieut. ". {. Neville IVES mad,
captain for the same reason; Second Lieut.
& Louis J. Magiil was appointed captain by
breTet. ard Second Lieut.. Philip NJ Ban
non, first lieutenant by brevet.
For some time" said General Haywood
/ after the establishment of the new Navy
/ 1t was question whether or not it would
! be advisable to station marines at the
! rapid-iire and secondary batteries. l main
tai2ed that the men of the corps could dc
this work, and do It we'll as the marines
are thoroughly trained as sharpshooters
and it has been demonstrated that a e cd
marksman with a rife is good gunner
and, furthermore. many of the men are
thoroughly drilled at he small guns be-
fore going on board ship.
Il accordingly urged that the marines
should be given a trial at these guns.
After due consideration the Department
accepted my suggestion, and included in
the regulations orders to station them
guns. BY the reports received after the
battle Of the Sd of July, when the Spanish
fleet off Santiago was annihilated and
the reports of the Spanish officers who
were on beard these ships, 1t was shown
that the greatest damage on the enemy
vessels resulted frcm the fire of the sec
on6ayy batteries and the rapid fire guns,
this fire being 50 effective that, by it, the
enemy were driven from their guns. As
a r1>e . m oa~ IF bo nj
engaged were manned by marines I feel
safe in asserting that the Department did
not make a mistake when it directed that
the small guns should be manned by ma
rines."
Courage Greater Than Spnrtans.
The following description, given by Bre-
vet Major Paul St c. Murphy, T. S. NJ c.,
of the conduct of the marine guard of
the flagship Brooklyn, in the battle of
Santiago, may be taken as typical of the
naval service rendered by the Corps on
every American vessel engaged.
The men," says Major Murphy, who vas
himself advanced from the rank of captain
for gallant conduct in the action. were
full of enthusiasm. but there was no ex-
element or disorder, and apparently no
concern for personal safety.
Tine battery was handled with admira-
bic coolness and deliberation. Greater care
could not have been taken in setting
sights and aiming if the men had been
at target practice and each striving to
make a record score.
Considering the fact that the enemy
was within effective range during tire
greater part of the action the fire OF the
secondary battery must have been most
destructive to his men and material, and
contributed its full share TO bringing the
battle 10 an end so speedily and with so
little loss to ourselves.
Where ali did their duty manfully it is
a difficult matter to select individuals for
special mention. There are some. how
ever who deserve notice by name for con-
duct that displayed. in a conspicuous man.
ner. courage, intelligence, and devotion to
duty.
During the early part of the action a
cartridge jammed in the bore of the star
board forward siX-pounder and in the
effort to withdraw it, the case became
detached from the projectile, leaving the
latter fast in the bore and impossible TO
extract from the rear. Corporal Robert
Gray. of the port gun. asked and RECEIVED
permission to attempt to drive the shell
out by means of the hammer. To do this
l. was necessary to go out on the gun,
ties ard Danger. the latter due, in great
measure. 10 the blast Of the turret guns
firing overhead. The gun was hot, and il
was necessary to cling to the jacob ladder
with one hand while endeayoring with the
other to manipulate the long hammer.
After a brave effort he was forced TO give
up and was ordered in. Quarter Gunner
". II. Smith then came, sent by the ex-
ecutiye officer. and promptly placed him
self in the dangerous position outside the
gun port. where he worked and failed, as
the corporal had done. Neither had been
able 10 get the rammer into the bore and
there seemed nothing left to do but dis
mount the gun. At this juncture Private
Macneal. one Of the crew, volunteered to
go out and make a final effort. The gun
was so important the starboard battery
being engaged. that, as a forlorn hope,
he was permitted to make the attempt.
He pushed out boldly and set to work.
The guns OF the forward turret we're
firing. the blast nearly knocking him
overheard. and the enemy's shot were
coming with frequency into his immediate
1T was at this time that Chief Yeoman
Ellis was killed on the other side OF the
deck. Macneal never paused in his work.
The rammer was finally placed in the bore
and the shell elected. The gun was i'm
mediately put in action and Maeneal re-
sumed his duties coolly as if what he
had done was a matter Of everyday rou- |
tine.
''The battle orderlies we'll merit place 4
among those whose conduct is worthy OF 1
special mention. They were on the move |
constantly. bearing battle orders to all /
parts OF the ship and. in no instance. did /
they fail in the prompt and intelligent ]
performance Of their responsible duty. Tho /
signalinen occupied very exposed positions /
during the action, and rendered excellent /
service. Signal halyards and numbers. /
battle flags, and speed cones were riddled I
by small proiectiles and fragments of /
bursting shell, casualties that show IN what /
q zone Of danger the signalmen performed /
their duties. Signalmen Coombs and Nc /
lntyIe. and Battle Orderiies Rail and Da-
viS we're so near Yeoman Ellis when he .
was killed that they were despatched with |
blood.
The music boys. Drummers Weisenberg
and FifeT Stewart were stationed on the
main and gun decks, respectively, 10 sound
trumpet calls. and behaved manfully. None
showed more unfinchng courage than the /
nfcn in the military tops who stood by
heir guns delivering their fire with un-
s-Tirg precision. undismaye1 by the pro-
ectilcs flying about them and striking in
heir immediate vicinity. Private Stock
JrluSe' the only man on the SICK list
,limbed into the main top at the signal
or battle where he remained to the end
If the action, doing good work at his
gun
Tributes From AdmiraIs.
Admiral Cevera, after being taken pris-
,ner. acknowledged that the secondary bat
cries and rapid-fre guns, manned princi-
,ally by marines. wrought the greatest
Iamage to his feet.
Admiral Dewey, enthusiastic on the con-