The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-06-16

bugle call to cease firing, notwithstand-
ing an undiminished- fire nom the enc
my. I wandered down the hillside
facing the town to note the wreckage
OF battle and discovered that quite
number Of or regiment, besides those
Of my own company, had climbed the
hill either with US or the regulars. One
Of these-Hurley Of Co. C-received
bullet thru the leg, but didn't seem to
mind it and refused to retire. Another,
shot thru the hip and unable to stand,
was stretched at full length and send
ing shot after shot into the town. He
said there was plenty Of time to 60 to
the hospital after the sport was over.
Seeing none Of my outfit around and
being concerned about my brother l
began a seach for Co. F, but failed to
locate them. Fearing that Captain
Rafferty, had been ordered back to the
regiment, I gave myself orders which
led me along the hill to the right, in
which direction detachments of regu-
lars were continually heading. It never
occurred to me to stoop low and creep
along until a regular lieutenant shook
his sword at me, called me a damn
fool and ordered me to duck" I
ducked, but my feelings were hurt and,
when shortly afterward he halted his
men, I left them and pursued my
! course alone. The second blockhouse,
approximately half a mile from the first,
! presented a similar scene of destruc-
ton. Two huge pots containing boiled
rice, still hot, showed the principal food
of the enemy's bill Of fare. A Spanish
officer, one hand grasping his revolver,
the other hand holding a long black
cigar, was leaning against the trench
partly supported by other dead. I
smoked the cigar, but left their dinner
untouched.
Further on, while crossing meadow
a Rough Rider threw up his gun and
halted me. I assured him in plain
English that I was on his side, when
he grinned sheepishly and said: l
wasn't sure; you look more like a
dago than anything else. Pm going
for reinfJrcements; there's only few
of US over there on the ridge and you
might go there if you're looking for a
job" At the point he indicated I
found half a company of Roosevelt's
volunteers and remained with them
for an hour, but an obsolete Springfield,
using black powder and a bullet the
size Of ones thumb, doesn't mix socia~
bly, with Krag-Jorgensen carbines, so
I retraced my steps in search of F.
Near the point from which l started
I found Majors Keck and Wells on the
hill with most OF the I'd and 3rd bat
talions, and was told that Booth No. .,
had been killed. ran up to F's posi-
ton and found my brother unhurt. 1t
was Booth No. the lad I heard at
prayer-who had stopped bullet.
This had happened about 4 o'clock
p. m, when companies F and M. had
been called on to cover the retreat OF
battery, the gun crews of which had
been picked off so fast that its position
had become untenable. The battery
was moved to a more sheltered location,
but 80 per cent Of our bunch were hit
inside of fifteen minutes.
During the night trenches were dug
and dawn found US comparatively secure
from the steady fusillade from Santiago.
The enemy were trapped and had no
alternative to surrender except a des-
perate attempt to break thru the Ameri-
can lines during the night and gain the
open country. The attempt was duly
made. By accident or design, the
Spaniards chose the weakest link Of the
chain-that held by the N. Y. volun-
teers. At 1880 Saturday night, while
we were sleeping, they charged. The
shots of our outposts were echoed by
Spanish volleys. Then came the boom
Of artillery, and for three-quarters Of an
hour we enjoyed quite a warm enter
tainment. Our loss was insignificant
What damage we did the enemy, be-
yond forcing their retirement, was never
ascertained.