USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of companies I and E, Sixth Regt., Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Whiteside County > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
.
First Camp near landing at Guanica, Porto Rico.
217
FIRST MEETING WITH NATIVES.
it seemed criminal to throw this beautiful land into the turmoil of war.
Turning about and looking toward the sea an en- tirely different scene presented itself. Out on the open water the lead colored hulls of the war vessels stood out in bold relief, the uncovered guns directed shore- ward prepared to throw a storm of shells into the ranks of the enemy, should they develop in formidable num- bers. Close into shore the many transports were busily engaged unloading their cargoes. Much of the work had already been accomplished and white tents dotted the plain while the battery of artillery was getting its guns in readiness to limber up at a moments notice.
The position taken by the men on the summit seeming untenantable, a report of the situation was made to Major Channon and he ordered them to the plain below, where they were soon joined by the remainder of the company. The men were immediately placed on out- post duty, the second platoon, under command of Lieut. Lawton was placed on the extreme left and along the main road which led to San German, with the wooded hill on the one side and the waters of the bay run- ning up close on the other. The last out-post to the left was stationed fully two miles from the camp on the beach. Capt. Colebaugh, with the first platoon ex- tended his line in toward the camp and was joined on the right by company F. Farther to the right company G of Dixon, was on out-post duty between the left of company A and the right of company F.
As the day wore on several natives were captured and brought into camp. They were very much excited and more than half expected the Americans would put them to death as they had been made to believe this by the Spanish soldiers who had so recently fled. The
218
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
natives were made to understand that no harm would befall them if they would return to their homes and re- main quiet. The glad tidings soon spread to the mountains and they began to come in from all directions. They were quite timid at first but soon overcame their fears and in a short time they were mingling with the soldiers apparently perfectly satisfied with the turn affairs had taken. Of course we could not understand a word of their language, nor they ours, but by signs and motions we made fair headway and usually made them understand what was wanted. One of the first things they learned was that we were completely out of to- bacco, and for several days after our arrival when a na- tive met a soldier he would come to a halt several paces from him and if he had any tobacco, cigars or cigarettes he would produce them as a peace offering. but should he be so unfortunate as to not have any of these articles he would strike each pocket in turn to show it was empty, throw both hands out before him and repeat "No I, No I," meaning he had none and look appealingly at us fearing we would do him harm because he could not pay us tribute. Some one of the boys would step toward him and in a threatening man- ner tell him he must be a Spaniard, the native would turn pale and tremblingly exclaim, "Spanolia, No! No! America, Porto Rico."
We knew there had been but few Spanish soldiers in the village but we were told by the natives that there were several hundred lurking in the hills near us and we did not know what moment they might steal upon us and open fire. The underbrush and shrubbery was so thick they could have approached us without much fear of detection. We had no dinner and the provisions did not get out to us until after dark; then
219
ON THE PICKET LINE.
we were not allowed to build fires to make coffee, but we enjoyed it nevertheless as we were in actual service then and felt that we were soldiers in every respect.
We sat around the box of hardtack and ate keep- ing as quiet as possible. our guards were posted along the public highway and partly up the mountain side. It was not long until the boys began to take snap shots along the line. There were a number of cattle running through the timber and we had been cautioned to be- ware of the inooing of cows. barking of dogs and hoot- ing of owls, as these were Spanish signals. This made us suspicious of every sound and the consequences were the boys fired at imaginary Spaniards quite frequently.
The enemy was not far distant as we found be- fore daylight. The bullets kept zipping around and over us and in the morning we picked up some of the spent bullets which had dropped in our camp. When- ever a shot was fired every man was wide awake with his rifle ready for instant action; the moon shone brightly and the relief guards were more or less exposed through - out the night. The natives continued to straggle in long after dark and it was a miracle that some of them were not shot as they did not appear to recognize the challenge of a sentinel as a command to halt but more as a greeting and they would walk straight ahead. The sentinels hardly knew what action to take. They knew there were Spunish soldiers in the vicinity but they doubted their having the courage to come forward so boldly; they also knew there were any number of harm- less natives yet in the mountains and they did not wish to have the blood of an innocent man on their hands. There was but one alternative and that was to be pre- pared for instant action upon the first sign of treachery
220
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
and allow them to pass the lines. The actions of the Americans in this matter went a long way toward quiet- ing the fears of the natives and gave them a feeling of safety which made them our friends.
During the early hours of the morning, company G was attacked by the Spanish. As this was the only in- stance where our regiment clashed with the enemy, the report of this skirmish, given in the words of General Garrettson, follows.
"At about six p. m. a report was sent in from this outpost that the enemy in considerable numbers had been discovered. I sent out two companies of the Sixth Massachusetts as a reserve.
During the night the enemy opened fire on the out- posts, and their commander sent in a report, which ar- rived in camp at two a. m., July twenty-sixth, that an at- tack was expected. At three a. m., I, with my staff and Major W. C. Hayes, First Ohio Cavalry, and five com- panies of the Sixth Massachusetts, left camp for the out- post on the 'Yauco road. The command arrived there shortly before daylight, at about four thirty o'clock. From the reports of the outposts the enemy was supposed to be in a field to the right of the road to Yauco. Packs were thrown off and the command formed for an attack. The company of Sixth Illinois(G) remained on the hill and protected our right flank. The remaining companies were collected, two as support and three as reserve. Af- ter advancing to within two hundred yards of the plain of the hacienda Santa Decideria, the advance guard of our attacking force was discovered by the enemy, who opened fire from a position on the hill to the west. The north and east slopes of this hill intersect each other, forming a solid angle. It was along this angle that the enemy was posted. Their reserve, posted in a road leading from the hacienda to the east, also opened a strong fire on the road. A body of the enemy moved against the company on our right(G, Sixth Illinois),
Second camp at Guanica
221
SKIRMISH WITH THE SPANISH.
stationed on the hill of Ventura Quinones. This com- pany had intrenched themselves during the night, and after repulsing the attacking force, directed their fire against the enemy on the hill to the west.
The conformation of the ground was such that the fire of the enemy's reserves and party on the left was effective in the seemingly secure hollow in which our re- serves were posted. The heavy volume of fire, the noise of shots striking the trees and on the ground, and the wounding of two men among the reserves caused a momentary confusion among the troops. They were quickly rallied and placed under cover. The fire of the advance party and supports was directed against the party of the enemy on the hill, and temporarily silenced their fire from that direction.
Our advance guard of two companies, ignoring the enemy on the hill, then deployed mainly to the right of the road, and were led with quick and accurate military judgement and great personal gallantry, by Lieutenant Langhorne, First Cavalry, aid, against the reserves of the enemy. The supports and one company of reserves, under the direction of Captain L. G. Berry, charged against the party on the west of the hill, through the barbed-wire fence and chaparral. The reserves were deployed along the barbed-wire fence running at right angles to the road, conducted through the fence, and brought up in the rear and to the left of the attack- ing party conducted by Lieutenant B. Ames, adjutant, Sixth Massachusetts. The enemy were driven from the hill and retired to the valley, disappearing behind the hacienda. The reserves of the enemy ceased firing and retired. It was supposed that they had retired to the hacienda, as this house was surrounded on the sides presented to our view, with loopholed walls. The troops on the hill were collected along the road. A reserve of three companies was established at the intersection of the road and the main road to Yauco. The two companies in advance, which were deployed. wheeled to the left and advanced through the cornfield
222
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
to our right. The remainder of the command deployed and advanced to the hacienda, enveloping it on the left. It was then discovered that the enemy had retired from the hacienda in the direction of Yauco, along cleverly concealed lines of retreat.
As the object of the expedition was considered ac- complished, and in obedience to instructions received from Major-General Miles, no further pursuit was un- dertaken.
The battalion of recruits of the Regular Army, un- der Captain Hubert, reported for orders, having heard the firing, but were not needed and returned to camp.
The force of the enemy engaged in the battle con- sisted of Battalion twenty-five, Patria, of the Spanish Army, and some volunteers, in all about six or seven hundred men.
The casualties on our side were four slightly wound- ed, all of the Sixth Massachusetts. After the occupa- tion of Yauco the casualities of the enemy were found to have been, one lieutenant and one cornet killed, eight- een seriously and thirty-two slightly wounded.
After the confusion resulting from the first unexpected fire, the conduct of the troops was excellent. They were speedily rallied, and afterward obeyed orders given through my staff officers without hesitation.
The following officers of the command are especially commended for gallantry and coolness under fire: Maj- or C. K. Darling, Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers; Cap- tain F. J. Gihon, Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers, who was painfully wounded early in the action, and remained in command of his company until it reached camp; Cap- tain L. G. Berry, assistant adjutant-general volunteers; Lieutenant G. T. Langhorne, aid; Lieutenant G. M. Wright, aid; Major W. C. Hayes, acting aid; Major Geo. W. Crile, brigade surgeon, and Major Frank Anthony surgeon Sixth Illinois Volunteers, were present under fire with hospital attendants and rendered necessary aid to the wounded."
During the early part of the engagement, Major
223
MAJOR ANTHONY AT THE FRONT.
Anthony, who with the hospital corps was quick to re- spond to a call to the front probably saved the Massa- chusetts boys from having a large number of their men cut down by the withering fire of the Spanish which was poured in on them after the Dons had located General Garrettson's troops. The major was not far distant when the first volley of the enemy wounded two of the Massachusetts boys. They were formed in a solid col- umn and remained huddled together, apparently having lost their heads for the moment, when Major Anthony rushed among them and with voice and gesture urged the men to scatter out which they did. Had they re- mained in close ranks a well aimed volley from the enemy would have wrought havoc in their ranks.
After the skirmish was over the major and his corps of assistants rendered the wounded Spanish all the medical assistance possible, the fact that they were our enemies being entirely forgotten by the big hearted ma- jor.
This skirmish caused considerable excitement in camp as well as among the men who were scattered among the hills and brush doing outpost duty. The fact that we were possible targets for Spanish marks- men gave us a creeping chilly feeling. as we were in the open where the enemy could steal upon us, fire a volley or more and get back in the underbrush into compara- tive safety before we could form for defence or an at- tack. During the night the powerful searchlights of the boats lying in the harbor swept the hills and moun- tain sides quite frequently. This no doubt restrained the Spanish soldiers from venturing too near our picket lines.
During the first twenty-four hours of outpost duty company I's guard headquarters were established at the
224
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
very entrance of the village graveyard. It was rather a grewsome place as nearly all of the boys had explored the small enclosure during the day and visions of the white wooden crosses and the larger shafts, built of brick or stone and covered with a coating of white lime, float- ed before their eyes ever and anon during the lonely watch throughout the night.
The next morning we were privileged to build small fires and searching everywhere we could find nothing that would burn excepting a couple of decayed burial cases which lay in one corner of the graveyard. They had either been in the ground for some time or were very old as they all but dropped in pieces when we attempted to carry them out. We concluded it must be the latter as during our stay on the island we witnessed several burials and in not one instance was the casket interred. The body was taken out and placed in the ground without the box. We did not wait to decide the question but hurriedly broke them up and soon had a bright fire burning merrily.
The afternoon of the second day following the land- ing at Guanica occurred the first burial of an American soldier in Porto Rico. One of the Massachusetts boys had breathed his last on board one of the boats which lay in the harbor. His body was wrapped in the folds of the starry banner which had lured him to his untimely death, placed on an artillery caisson, which was drawn by six horses; by the side of the heavy carriage marched an escort of infantrymen, his comrades. Then the silent march to the little graveyard was taken up where the body, from which the soul had winged its flight, was in- terred, a volley was fired over the newly made grave, the company bugler sounded "taps", and the little pro- cession turned sadly away wending its way slowly back
1.
Funeral cortege of a private of the Sixth Mass , the first U. S. soldier buried in Porto Rico.
225
SECOND CAMP AT GUANICA. .
to camp. Before the troops left this camp, private Aberg of company F was buried by the side of the Mass- achusetts soldier. .
The second day company I was ordered farther out and we marched a couple of miles to the west where a new picket line was established. This position was considered too much exposed and in the afternoon we were returned about a half mile to vards camp where we remained on duty all night and until afternoon of the following day when we were relieved and returned to the general camp at the landing. During our fifty-two hours of picket duty there had been but little opportuni- ty to sleep and but few of the boys would have taken ad- vantage of it had there been. When we arrived in camp and had our shelter tents up we sought the much needed rest and retired early.
The boys of company E were detailed to general duty, building bridges and unloading ammunition, etc., on the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh. On the morn- ing of the skirmish previously mentioned, the company went out to the scene but did not participate in the en- gagement. On the afternoon of the twenty-eighth the company went out on outpost duty for twenty-four hours. The men were posted along the main road at in- tervals, covering more than a mile of the outer picket line, and were about a mile and a half from camp. The duty performed was a repetition of that of the guards of the previous day. The feeling of apprehension which naturally affected the men during the first hours of their presence in the enemy's country had gradually worn off and the long hours of guard duty were made more pleas- ant by the rising spirits of the boys and they whiled the time away with joke and repartee yet ever on the alert. Some scattered shots were heard during the night but
226
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
nothing occurred to cause alarm. They fought the mos- quites until relieved the next day.
Down at the camp we found the remainder of our regiment. The boys who came in on the Rita related their experiences and pronounced that vessel an old tub not fit for a river boat. Serg't Cushman had met with an accident while at sea which resulted in the amputa- tion of a portion of one of his fingers. The band boys were all there and living high, the result of their for- aging. They appeared to enjoy the situation and spent the most of their time in scouting.
Privates Sneed, Bert Johnson and Frank Aument of company E were on board the Lampassas, which was ly- ing in the harbor of Guanica. Aument was sick and Sneed and Johnson were detailed to assist the nurses on the boat on its trip to Fort Monroe where the invalid soldiers were to be nursed back to health. The boat sailed first to Port Ponce leaving there July thirty-first. On the eighth of August the patients were taken to the fort and Sneed and Johnson received a thirty day fur- lough going directly to their homes. Aument remained at the hospital in the fort.
On the twenty-eighth we broke camp and pitched our tents on a low level piece of ground about half a mile to the north and east of the original camp.
July twenty-seventh, Major General Wilson arrived in the harbor of Guanica with General Ernst's brigade. The same day Commander Davis of the Dixie entered the port of Ponce and found that it was neither fortified nor mined. The next morning the fleet and transports, with General Wilson's command, moved into the harbor of Port Ponce. The troops disembarked and marched into the city of Ponce, a distance of two miles, taking possession of the city and adjacent country, the Spanish
227
ADVANCE ON YAUCO.
troops withdrawing on the military road to San Juan, and our troops were pushed well forward in that direct- ion. In the meantime General Henry's command, of which we formed a part had been directed to proceed to Ponce.
228
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
CHAPTER XVII.
Major Clarke with two companies of his battalion was selected as an advance guard of General Henry's troops in their march to Ponce. He left camp in the afternoon of July twenty-eighth. Ten men from each company of the first battalion. with a few others from our regiment, under command of Lieut. E. L. Phillipps. of the Sixth Cavalry, and Lieut. Geo. M. Gould, of company F, Sixth Illinois, the whole command under the direction of Major W. C. Hayes, First Ohio Cav- alry, with three days rations and one hundred rounds of ammunition, were ordered to proceed to Talaboa, about half way between Guanica and Ponce, where it was reported the Spanish had concealed, or on cars, a considerable number of Mauser rifles with a supply of ammunition. This force was to capture these supplies and return them to Guanica, or destroy them.
This detachment was to receive mounts and pro- ceed with all speed possible. After a long wait, the horses, which were to have been sent into camp by alcalde of Yauco, but which never came, the start was made about five o'clock in the evening. Every one was anxious to be among the number selected for this expedition and those who were fortunate in this respect felt highly elated as they expected they would have a brush with the Spanish, and as they were given to un-
.
Porto Rican belles.
229
RECEPTION AT YAUCO.
derstand the men were to be mounted they anticipated a rather lively experience. When they were informed they would make the march on foot they were sadly dis- appointed but left the camp and regiment in a happy mood. They were dubbed "Gould's Rough Riders."
The expedition overtook Major Clarke's command on the outskirts of Yauco and together they entered the city. Their entry into the town was hailed with delight by the citizens. In fact a more enthusiastic welcome was never given to any body of troops. The streets of the village were lined with the inhabitants, who indulged in vivas to the American Republic, the President of the United States, and the American sol- diers. This reception was repeated at every town and village where the troops entered. Major Hayes and staff, proceeded to Tallaboa, in company with General Stone, who had come from Ponce to Tallaboa that after- noon in command of a small detachment and a telegraph corps. On their arrival they found the sidetracks empty and after a thorough inquiry concluded there were no supplies in that vicinity and the major returned to Yauco, where he found the fifty men of his command ·. · encamped.
Arrangements were made for the formal raising of the American flag over the residence of the alcalde the following day. The citizens were somewhat awed by the military at first, and there was absolute silence while the military presented arms and the colors were raised; and not until the close of the proclamation by the alcalde was there any demonstration on their part, when, without a note of warning, a volunteer band struck up an inspiring strain and all of the citizens joined in vivas to the United States, to the President,
230
HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
to the American soldiers, and to the city of Yauco, in the United States of America.
On the morning of July thirtieth, General Henry's division broke camp at eight-thirty and began the march to Ponce. It had rained heavily the day previous and in many places the roads were in bad condition. The boys made the start with long swinging strides but were brought down to a more moderate pace after covering a few miles. The heat was not so intense, that is, the mercury did not register anything astonishing but there was a thin vapor rising from the damp earth which made the men feel as though they were broil- ing. We soon began to feel the effects of being cooped up on board the boats for nearly three weeks without exercise. Had we been thrown into this country with- out loss of time after our training at Camp Alger, we would not have been so easily overcome with the heat.
We arrived at Yauco shortly after noon and camped on the bank of a swift brook. In passing through the town we had met with a very cordial wel- come by the citziens. We found the "Rough Riders," and Major Clarke's command encamped on a hill to the left of the spot designated as our camping ground.
Previous to leaving Guanica each company had been given a number of bullock carts in charge of native drivers to transport rations and a supply of ammunition. These carts were huge two wheeled affairs and were drawn by from one to three pairs of bullocks. The ani- mals were fine looking specimens of bovines, being large, with wide spreading horns and usually very gen- tle. The yoke was an uncouth affair hewn from some species of hard wood. It was strapped to the horns on top of the animals head, the draft of the loaded cart
231
THE SPANISH PRISONER.
coming directly on the horns. There were something like one hundred of these "Army wagons" attached to our command. They were behind the troops and did not arrive in camp until late and we got nothing to eat before dark. We had not been allowed to stop for mess at noon consequently we were feeling rather lank when we finally drew our rations.
From this time on we were illy fed. We were is- sued fresh beef nearly every day for a time, but it was in such condition it was unfit to eat. They would run the animals for half an hour before being able to catch them, shoot them down the moment they got them back to quarters, and cut them up before they were fairly dead, and the meat would be on the fire in less than an hour from the time they were shot. We were compelled to eat this or go without and to this cause we could trace the beginning of many a case of sickness.
In the camp we found the ground alive with centi- pedes, and in some cases the boys would not lie down for fear of getting stung. An English speaking native informed us that the female sting alone was fatal, and then during a certain period only. The natives were deathly afraid of them, and as a rule they were bare- footed and would jump at the sight of one, getting as far away as possible. We found the wicked little things in every camp along the coast, but on getting farther in- land they disappeared. While encamped at Yauco the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.