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

road in the shade Of some high Dram
bles. Our boys were being picked of
one by one, aud those not killed out
right were awkwardly bandaged and
helped to the nearest shade to wait for
death or the Red Cross corps.
1t was a situation to try the nerve Of
hardened veterans, much more of youth
full volunteers. Yet I could see no
hinching, except in one case, and that
was amusing under the circumstances.
The bullying sergeant, already men
toned, had utterly forgotten the posi-
ton Of a soldier" in paroxysm OF fear.
With bullying eyes and pallid counte-
nance he plunged head first into a
briar bush, striving desperately for the
protection afforded by an abrupt rise in
the ground few feet to the right. The
brush was too thick for entrance, and
with groan he stretched himself fiat
with his face buried in the dirt. A
corporal and four privates broke thru
the underbrush from the direction Of
the front and dropped beside me. The
corp. said he was Craig of Co. B,
10Th" and related story of fierce
combat along the little creek ahead.
He had become separated from his
company and for little while had been
lost in the Jungle. Craig produced
cigarettes, while I furnished bareback.
We dined and smoked.
Shortly afterward an order was borne
up the line, transmitted only by COM
missioned officers: Advance the fist
forward in that direction as far as posi-
BILE. Orders from General Kent to
Colonel Downs" The direction was
indicated by motion with the sword,
and if obeyed would have taken the
regiment across the ford and up San
Juan hill. As the order went up the
line a chorus Of jubliant approval fol-
lowed from the men.
In about ten minutes the reply came
back: The list has gone as far for
ward as possible; can go no farther.
Colonel Downs to General Kent"
There were church members in the
ranks who suddenly remembered how
to swear like mule-skinners at this COW
ardly refusal Of Colonel Downs to obey
orders. And insult was added to in
jury, for in short time there came from
the rear a regiment of regulars who lit
orally marched over US in their advance
to the front, where it was not possible"
for US to go. They were almost imme
diately followed by another regiment,
which advanced By degrees, hating
and lying down, then marching on.
Charging the Hill With the Regulars
1t SO happened that Co. F, of this
regiment, took cover in the road
right where we OF F, list, were lying
and mingled with US. Company F,
forward" rang down the line. The
order was meant for the regulars, who
instantly responded. But many of our
company also started, and being neither
slow-witted nor cold-footed, Captain
Rafferty, waved his sword, shouted IF,
list, forward!'' and away we went, past
the other men Of our regiment, who
stayed behind because their officers
refused to lead them. A brief squirt
brought US to the ford where. for mo-
ment, we hesitated. Pandemonium
reigned and hell was loose. Wounded
and dead lay thick about. Officers
were dashing about, ordering and ours
ing. Casualties were happening every
moment. The firing from the hill was
concentrated and terrific. Many regu-
lars, both white and colored, wayered
and stampeded with the volunteers.
An officer rushed up from somewhere
and shouted: For Gods sake, list,
go on ahead"
Who are you, and whose orders are
these?" asked Rafferty,.
"Orders from General Kent-I'm
his adjutant," and he hurried off.
Come on, boYs!" cried the captain,
and we waded in. Weighted down
with all our equipment except tentrolls,
and stumbling over slippery sunken
logs, some of US experienced no little
difficulty in reaching the opposite side,
but we finally made it and promptly
shed everything but guns and ammuni-
ton. Deploying in extended forma-
ton we faced the hill and forged ahead
with scattered lines of the 18th and
10th advancing about one hundred
yards in front and squads of negro SOL
diers to the right, left and rear, fl ling
at will as they pressed on.
With some three or four hundred
feet intervening between US and the
crest we heard loud cheering from the
front and saw hats and rifles waving the
signal Of victory. The Spaniards were
on the run toward Santiago and the
American army had taken the main
trick in the game.
...-.-I Il. =