T. G. Steward - The Colored Regulars in the United States Army

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The "Concho" is a large ship, but without the comforts I
have seen since then on the U.S. Army transports plying
between San Francisco and Manila. The ships used were
hastily fitted up for the occasion, and it could not be
expected that they would be all that was required, but some
of the appointments could and should have been better. After
a tedious wait until June 14th, we sailed down Tampa Bay and
out on the Gulf of Mexico, still in ignorance of our
destination. The evening of the 15th the light at Dry
Tortugas was seen to our right. June 16th, 17th and 18th our
course was a little south of east, and part of the time the
north coast of Cuba was visible. The weather (except the
intense heat) was fine. On Sunday morning, June 18th, we
entered the Windward Passage, and it seemed certain, from
our course, that Santiago was our objective. Early the next
morning the high mountains of Santiago de Cuba were in plain
sight to our north. June 20th and 21st, remained off the
coast; the sea was rough and the vessel rolled considerably,
adding to the discomfort of every one, especially those
subject to seasickness. During the evening of the 21st,
orders were received to be ready to disembark the following
morning. About 8 A.M. on the 22d our warships began shelling
the coast, and two hours later the troops started in small
boats from the transports to the shore. By evening most of
the Second Division and part of the Cavalry Division were on
Cuban soil. There was no opposition to our landing; I
believe that a small force well handled could have made it
very difficult, if, indeed, it could not have prevented it.

As soon as the regiment had landed it was marched out about
four miles and bivouacked for the night. The country is
rugged and covered with a dense tropical vegetation. A few
"Cuban Patriots" had joined us and formed the extreme
advance, saving us some disagreeable outpost duty. This was
the only service that I know of them doing throughout the
campaign, though they were always on hand ration day. Later
developments showed that the service rendered was not so
important, as any Spanish force had retired to a safe place,
something our friends looked out for whenever there was any
danger.

June 23d, the regiment started shortly after daylight
towards the city of Santiago. About 9 o'clock there was a
report that the enemy were in our front. The regiment was
immediately formed for battle, and reconnoitering parties
sent forward; after about thirty minutes' delay the supposed
enemy proved to be the large leaves of some tropical trees
being moved by the wind, giving them the appearance of
persons in motion. Our route was over a narrow trail,
through a dense wilderness; water was scarce and the heat
was intense. About noon we arrived at Siboney, where we
bivouacked for the night. Before daylight next morning the
troops in our rear were heard passing on the trail by our
camp. Shortly after daylight Captain Capron's battery of
four guns passed, and the men lined up along the road and
cheered lustily. About an hour later, musketry fire and the
occasional discharge of a Hotchkiss gun could be plainly
heard towards Santiago. About three-quarters of an hour
later we received orders to march. By mistake, the wrong
trail was taken, and after marching fourteen hours we
returned to our camp of the previous night, all fagged out.
A great many men of the brigade were overcome with heat
during this long, tiresome and fruitless ramble. I cannot
say how many of these were of the 25th Infantry, but in my
own company (B) there was not a man out of the ranks when
the camp was reached. (I have called the above-mentioned
place "Siboney." There is probably some other name for it,
as the Cubans have one for every hamlet. It is not far from
Siboney, and not knowing the name, have called it Siboney.)

On the morning of the 25th we got rations from the transport
and all enjoyed a hearty breakfast. At 1 P.M. we broke camp
and marched to Sevilla, about six miles. Here we remained
until the morning of the 27th, part of the regiment being
out on picket duty. June 27th, the regiment marched three
miles towards Santiago and bivouacked on the banks of a
small creek. Bathing was forbidden, as the creek was the
only water supply for the army. The troops remained at this
place until the afternoon of June 30th. The camp was in the
valley of the creek, the ground is low and flat, and with
the heavy rainfall every one was uncomfortable. Rations had
to be brought from Siboney over a trail and did not arrive
regularly.

About 1 o'clock in the afternoon on the 30th, the officers
of the regiment were assembled at headquarters and were
notified that there would be an attack on the Spanish
position the next morning. About 4 o'clock the regiment
started for its position, arriving after 10 o'clock, having
covered a distance of less than three miles. The route was
over an excuse for a road, but was crowded with some of the
troops of almost every organization of the army, causing
numberless halts, but worse than all, breaking the
much-needed rest of the troops. On one part of this route I
heard men asking, "What regiment is this?" and heard various
responses, as follows: "The W.W.W.'s, the 1st Cavalry, the
4th Infantry, the 10th Cavalry," etc. Some one asked, "What
are the W.W.W.'s?" and some one replied, "Wood's Weary
Walkers." I do not know who is responsible for that
condition of affairs. Had we had an enterprising enemy in
our front, disaster certainly would have followed. Here were
a number of organizations scattered along a narrow, muddy
trail, at the mercy of an active foe. All this was only
three or four miles from the Spanish works. The men were
cheerful, and few if any realized that there might be
danger.

Most of the men were up and moving about before daylight the
next morning. Shortly after, the regiment started in the
direction of El Caney. At 9 A.M. we halted in a mango grove
near the Ducureau mansion. Shortly before noon a mounted
orderly appeared with a message for the brigade commander. A
few minutes later the march towards El Caney was taken up.
Heavy musketry fire had been heard in that direction since
shortly before 7 o'clock. A march of little more than a mile
and the regiment was formed for battle, Companies G and H in
the firing line, C and D in support, the remaining four
companies in reserve.

For two hours or perhaps more the firing was very heavy,
especially during the second hour. Attention is called to
report of Colonel A.S. Daggett, pages 387 and 388, "Report
of the War Department, 1898, Vol. I," and endorsement on
same by Major-General A.R. Chaffee. He says: "This stone
fort was practically in the possession of the 12th Infantry
at about 2 P.M. July 1." I cannot reconcile this statement
with the fact that between the hours named some of the
heaviest firing was going on, which does not indicate that
its defenders were ready to give up. Lord Wellington once
said, "At the end of every campaign truth lies at the bottom
of a deep well, and it often takes twenty years to get her
out." This may not be an exception. About half-past 4
o'clock the firing ceased and El Caney was ours.

The dead were collected near a hedge and the regiment was
formed in column of masses to pay a silent tribute of
respect to our departed comrades.

The regiment then started for the mango grove where we had
left our blanket rolls and haversacks. Just as we were
starting, some men with canteens started for water (about a
mile away), when orders were received to be ready to march
in twenty minutes. A few rods took us back to the road
leading to Santiago. We moved down the road about
three-quarters of a mile and halted. Two hours later, the
pack train arrived with ammunition and then another with
rations. Before the latter were issued orders were issued to
move at once to the rear. The regiment marched over the
trail it had come on the day before, arriving at El Poso
about 8 o'clock A.M. Here we took the road leading to
Santiago. About 9 A.M. we passed under San Juan Hill and
moved to our right. Our forces held the crest of the hill.
In passing along the hill we were sheltered from the fire
except a short space, where one or two men were slightly
wounded. Arriving at the La Cruz house near the road leading
from El Caney to Santiago about 3.30 P.M. and bivouacked for
the night. About 10 o'clock the troops on our left were
attacked by the Spanish. The firing was very heavy for an
hour, when it suddenly ceased, and we retired for the night.
During this time we were under the hill and protected from
the fire.

Next morning (Sunday, July 3d) desultory firing began at
daylight. About 7 A.M. the regiment left the La Cruz house
and moved across the Caney-Santiago road and formed line to
the left and moved forward to a ridge overlooking the city.
A number of shots fell about us, but no one was struck.
Shortly after, we were in possession of the ridge and began
intrenching. The firing was kept up and two men were
wounded. About noon we were informed that a truce had been
established and all work was stopped. This gave all a
much-needed rest, though it proved to be of short duration,
caused by a false alarm by Major Webb, the inspector of the
division staff.

During the afternoon the regiment was moved to the foot of
the ridge, leaving only the pickets on the crest. About 8.30
P.M. we were ordered to the picket line and began
intrenching. The tall grass was wet from a drenching rain a
few hours before. The ground, though wet, was hard, and slow
progress was made, having only their bayonets for picks and
their bare hands for shovels. All night this work went on.
The men were tired, and hungry (as rations had not come up
that day), but worked faithfully. During this, and I will
add, throughout the campaign, I never heard a murmur nor a
complaint; even when almost all the men of the regiment were
down with fever and bowel trouble they were cheerful and
ready to do any duty they were called on for.

The morning of July 3d Cervera's fleet sailed down the bay.
An officer rode by our part of the line about half-past 9
and informed us of it. A few minutes later we heard the roar
of the big guns, though at the time I little thought of what
was going on. In the afternoon we heard cheering on our line
way to the left, and as the good news came along it was
taken up, and soon the whole line was shouting.

On the morning of July 5th the non-combatants left Santiago
by two roads, one passing through our line. It was a pitiful
sight. During the forenoon of the 5th we moved about a mile
to the right and began intrenching. This position was very
near the Spanish line, and quite elaborate works were
constructed. We remained in this position until the morning
of the 11th, when the regiment was ordered to the right of
the line, about three miles. Here we intrenched. About 1
P.M. a truce was announced.

At 9.15 P.M. a staff officer came to the regimental
commander's tent and informed him that the regiment was to
be on the line at 12 o'clock midnight, and as soon as the
moon rose to advance through the jungle until fired on, when
the line was to halt and intrench. The night was stormy and
any moon there might have been was obscured by the clouds.
We were up, however, standing until daylight in a drenching
rain, for it was so dark that any movement was impossible.
Our rest was broken, without accomplishing anything that I
know or heard of.

However, the rain and storm were providential, for I will
always believe if the movement had been started we should
have met with disaster. The ground was broken, deep ravines
and underbrush with wire fences running through it. I have
never learned who was "the father" of this order, and
possibly never will. He must be ashamed of it.

The afternoon of the 12th the regiment advanced several
hundred yards to the front and dug more intrenchments. They
were still on this work the afternoon of the 14th when it
was announced that the Spanish army had agreed to surrender.
This came none too soon, for our men were coming down with
malarial fever. A few days later nearly half the regiment
were on the sick list, and the balance could not have done
much.

The regiment was moved the same afternoon to higher ground
in rear of the trenches. Strong guards were kept to look out
for our prisoners and to prevent "our allies," the Cubans,
from going into the city.

On the morning of the 17th the formal surrender of the city
and Spanish army took place. We were some distance away and
did not see anything of the ceremony.

On July 25th the regiment was moved about a mile further
back in the hills and made camp, our tents, etc., having
been brought up from the transport. Medicines appeared very
scarce, resulting in much suffering. The food supplied was
totally unfit for our new surroundings, and I believe not a
little of the sickness can be traced to this. Our last camp
was as good as any to be found in that vicinity.

The regiment remained in camp until August 13th, when it
embarked on the transport "Camanche" for Montauk Point,
arriving on the 18th, and landed on the 23d.

B.H.R. LOUGHBOROUGH,
Captain, 25th Infantry.

FOOTNOTES:

[18] First Lieutenant McCorkle killed; Captain Edwards and First
Lieutenants Kinnison and Murdock wounded.

CHAPTER VII.

SAN JUAN.

Cavalry Division: The Ninth and Tenth Regiments.

When Lawton's division swung off to the right to engage the enemy at
El Caney, with the results described in the preceeding chapter, the
divisions of Wheeler and Kent were ordered to proceed directly along
the Santiago road toward San Juan. Within a mile from El Pozo, the
point where they had bivouacked for the night of the 30th, the troops
arrived at the Aguadores River, which crosses the road here within
less than a mile from San Juan Heights. Wheeler's division headed the
column, although that general was not commanding. He had been relieved
on the afternoon of the 30th and did not resume command until about 4
o'clock on July 1,[19] long after the heights had been carried,
although he was on the field shortly after 1 o'clock of that day.

The Dismounted Cavalry Division on the morning of July 1 presented
2,663 fighting men, including officers. The First Brigade, commanded
by Colonel Carrol, had 50 officers and 1,054 men, in regiments as
follows: Third Cavalry, 22 officers, 420 men; Sixth Cavalry, 16
officers, 427 men; Ninth Cavalry, 12 officers, 207 men, the Ninth
having hardly one-half the strength of either of the other regiments
of the brigade. The Second Brigade, commanded by General Wood,
contained 1,559 persons, distributed as follows: Brigade staff, 9
officers, 14 men; First Cavalry, 21 officers, 501 men: Tenth Cavalry,
22 officers, 507 men; First Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders), 25
officers, 517 men.

Before the troops left El Poso, Grimes' battery had been put in
position and had fired a few shots at a blockhouse on San Juan Hill,
distance 2,600 yards. Using black powder, which created a cloud of
smoke with every shot, the battery was readily located by the foe, and
the shrapnel from their guns was soon bursting among our forces. The
second shot from the Spaniards wounded four of the Rough Riders and
two or three of the regulars, while a third killed and wounded several
Cubans. As a matter of course there was a rapid movements of the
troops from that immediate vicinity. The firing soon ceased, and the
troops took up that general advance movement already noted.

It is no easy task to follow the movements of the Cavalry Division
from the time it left El Poso that July morning until it finally
entrenched itself for the night on San Juan Hills. As heretofore we
will take the official reports first, and from them make up the
itinerary and the movements of the battle that followed, as far as
they will enable us to do so. General Sumner says the division
proceeded toward Santiago, and when about three-fourths of a mile from
El Poso was halted in a narrow road to await orders and remained there
for nearly an hour, subject to the effects of heavy artillery fire
from the enemy's battery. Major Wessells, of the Third Cavalry, says,
while following the road toward Santiago that morn, "much delay ensued
from some reason unknown to the undersigned," and that the First
Brigade of the division arrived at San Juan ford about 10 o'clock.
This creek was about five hundred yards farther toward Santiago than
Aguadores River, and ran about parallel with San Juan Heights, from
which it was about three-fourths of a mile distant.

The orders for which General Sumner had waited nearly an hour under
fire had come and were "verbal instructions to move to the San Juan
Creek and hold it." Reaching this creek his advance guard was met by
the Spaniards who fired one volley and retreated to a position on a
hill on Sumner's right front, about 1,200 yards distant. Crossing this
creek with sufficient strength to hold it, Sumner was now ordered to
move by the right flank and connect with Lawton's left. While his
troops were in this massed condition prior to deploying to the right
through a thick jungle, the balloon that was in use for purposes of
reconnoitering, came up the road and exposed itself to the full view
of the Spaniards upon the heights. They needed no further invitation
to direct toward our forces their artillery, for which the balloon
became a flying target. Many officers and men were wounded here by
exploding shells and small arms' fire of the enemy (Sumner). Under
this fire, however, the troops were deployed as ordered.

Colonel Wood, who had charge of the Second Brigade, of which the Rough
Riders were the leading regiment, says this "regiment was directed to
change direction to the right, and by moving up the creek to effect a
junction with General Lawton's division, which was engaged at Caney,
about one and a-half miles toward the right, but was supposed to be
working toward our right flank. After proceeding in this direction
about half a mile the effort to connect with General Lawton was given
up." This movement to the right took place between ten and eleven
o'clock, at which time Lawton's forces had made no impression upon El
Caney, and he was far from making any movement which might be
described as working toward the right flank of the Cavalry Division.
Lawton was not found by that half-hour's search to the right; and it
was evident that something must be done by these troops in front, and
done quickly. The whole division was under fire, and the battle on the
Spanish side was in actual progress. True our men were hidden away in
the jungle that bordered the creek, but their position was known to
the Spaniards, and leaves and boughs are no cover from shot and shell.
They were receiving the fire of the enemy and making no reply
whatever, save by the few ineffective shots from the far away battery
on El Poso Hill.

Directly in front of the cavalry division was a little hill occupied
by a Spanish force. This hill is called in General Wood's report East
Hill, but in the literature of the battle it is usually mentioned as
Kettle Hill. The fire in part was coming from here. Colonel Wood gives
another report of the morning's experience in which he says: "The
brigade moved down the road toward Santiago in rear of the First
Brigade, with instructions to deploy to the right after crossing the
San Juan, and continue to extend to the right, reaching out toward
General Lawton's left and holding ourselves in rear of the First
Brigade as a support. On reaching the stream the First Volunteer
Cavalry, which was in the lead, crossed the stream with comparatively
slight loss and deployed to the right in good order, but at this time
a captive balloon was led down the road in which the troops were
massed, and finally anchored at the crossing of the stream. The
approach and anchoring of this balloon served to indicate the line of
approach of the troops and to locate the ford, and the result was a
terrific converging of artillery and rifle fire on the ford, which
resulted in severe loss of men. Under this fire the First United
States Cavalry and the Tenth United States Cavalry crossed the stream
and deployed to the right where they were placed in position in rear
of the First Brigade. Two regiments of the Second Brigade, to wit.,
the First and the Tenth Regular Cavalry, were located in the rear of
the First Brigade. The First Regular Cavalry had begun its day's work
as support of Grimes' battery, but had later come forward and taken
its place in the brigade time enough to join in the action that
followed.

"After completing the deployment," says Sumner, "the command was so
much committed to battle that it became necessary either to advance or
else retreat under fire." The troops were already in battle, but were
not fighting, and could not do so in their present position, simply
because they could not see the enemy. "Lieutenant Miley, representing
General Shafter, authorized an advance, which was ordered, Carroll's
brigade taking the advance, reinforced on the right by Roosevelt's
regiment, and supported by the First and Tenth Cavalry." (Sumner.)
Colonel Wood says: "After remaining in this position for about an hour
(meaning the position held by his brigade previous to the coming of
the order to advance) the order to advance was given, and the brigade
advanced in good order as possible, but more or less broken up by the
masses of brush and heavy grass and cactus; passing through the line
of the First Brigade, mingling with them and charging the hill in
conjunction with these troops, as well as some few infantry who had
extended to the right." It must be remembered that the First Brigade
consisted wholly of regulars, the Third, Sixth and Ninth Cavalry,
while the Second Brigade had that remarkable regiment, the Rough
Riders. This fact may account for their breaking through the lines of
the First Brigade. Major Wessells, who commanded the Third Cavalry in
that fight, and was himself wounded at the close of the first charge,
says his regiment became entangled with other regiments, but,
nevertheless, was to the crest as soon as any. Of the advance of the
whole division, General Sumner says: "The advance was made under heavy
infantry fire, through open flat ground, cut up by wire fences, to the
creek, distant about 600 yards. The advance was made in good order,
the enemy's fire being returned only under favorable opportunities. In
crossing the flat one officer and several men were killed and several
officers and men wounded. Both sides of the creek were heavily wooded
for about 200 yards. The creek was swollen, and the crossing through
this space and the creek was made with great difficulty.

"After passing through the thick woods the ground was entirely open
and fenced by wire. From this line it was necessary to storm the hill,
upon the top of which is a house, loop-holed for defense. The slope of
the hill is very difficult, but the assault was made with great
gallantry and with much loss to the enemy. In this assault Colonel
Hamilton, Lieutenants Smith and Shipp were killed; Colonel Carroll,
Lieutenants Thayer and Myer were wounded. A number of casualties
occurred among the enlisted men." The heights were carried by the
whole division.

Lieutenant-Colonel Baldwin's account of the part his regiment took in
the assault upon San Juan is told about as follows: After the search
for Lawton had been given up, the First and Tenth Cavalry were formed
for attack on East Hill. "I was directed," he says, "to take a
position to the right, behind the river bank, for protection. While
moving to this position, and while there, the regiment suffered
considerable loss. After an interval of twenty or thirty minutes I was
directed to form line of battle in a partially open field facing
toward the blockhouses and strong intrenchments to the north occupied
by the enemy. Much difficulty was found on account of the dense
undergrowth, crossed in several directions by wire fences. As a part
of the cavalry division under General Sumner, the regiment was formed
in two lines, the First Squadron under Major S.T. Norvell, consisting
of Troops A, B, E and I, leading; the second line, under Major T.J.
Wint, consisting of Troops C, F and G. Troop D having crossed farther
down the river, attached itself to a command of infantry and moved
with that command on the second blockhouse. The regiment advanced in
this formation in a heavy converging fire from the enemy's position,
proceeding but a short distance when the two lines were united into
one. The advance was rapidly continued in an irregular line toward the
blockhouses and intrenchments to the right front. During this advance
the line passed some troops of the First Cavalry, which I think had
previously been formed on our right. Several losses occurred before
reaching the top of the hill, First Lieutenant William H. Smith being
killed as he arrived on its crest. The enemy having retreated toward
the northwest to the second and third blockhouses, new lines were
formed and a rapid advance was made upon these new positions. The
regiment assisted in capturing these works from the enemy, and with
the exception of Troops C and I, which in the meantime had joined the
First Volunteer Cavalry, then took up a position to the north of the
second blockhouse, remaining there all night."

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