USA > Wisconsin > Eau Claire County > History of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, past and present; including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county > Part 23
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"As soon as this decision was arrived at the retreat began, but not before attempting to set fire to the railroad station, in which they only succeeded in burning a few cars. But even after
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the retreat there was anxiety among the inhabitants, as it was reported that the powder magazine of the barracks would be blown up before the Spaniards left the town definitely; we are happy to say that this did not happen.
"The town was left in charge of the local first brigade, who undertook the duty of keeping order, but their services were not called upon that night, nor have been since, as not the slightest disturbance has taken place. Ponce gave proofs of its good sense as usual. At daybreak the next morning a half dozen men of the American forces hoisted the Stars and Stripes on the custom house together with the headquarters' flag of the commander in chief. Later the flag was unfurled over the town hall.
"The landing of the troops began and were distributed about in accordance with instructions of the American commanders. The people welcomed the American forces as liberators and friends and with the greatest demonstrations of joy and hearti- ness.
"The commander of the expeditionary forces decided that the municipal and judicial authorities should remain at their post as well as the local police and the employees of the custom house, which latter is in charge of Colonel Hill, appointed inspector of the port and customs. The American troops have entered this town with the greatest order and are fraternizing with the people. Said troops later relieved the firemen at guard duty at the city prison and other places.
"The political prisoners have been set at liberty and among them our friends, Messrs. Santiago Geraldino, Rudolfo Figueroa, Jose Hilaria Roche and others. We heartily congratulate them all. The inhabitants that had gone into the country have gradul- ally begun to return to town, in which the greatest order prevails.
"At the town hall there took place an incident worthy of mention. Mr. Figueroa, who had been just set free, went up to the Seasions hall and unslinging the portrait of the queen regent with the king and the crown which overtopped them, attempted to throw them over the balcony, saying: 'There go the remnants of Spanish domination.' But an American officer who was pres- ent interfered in a friendly. way, requesting that said picture and crown should be given him as a historical memento of the occasion, which request was immediately granted."
Notice. "To this office has been brought a hat belonging to one of the guards of the army at present in the city. It is marked R. J. Bilie, Fort Wingate, N. M. We hold same at the disposal of said guard."
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After landing, the troops were surrounded by frantic natives, shouting, laughing, waving flags and crying "Viva Americanos! Viva Americanos!"
An orderly from General Roy Stone, of the army, reported a short time after Major George had landed, to that officer, with a message from General Stone requesting a detail be sent to him at the railway depot in the city. The orderly reported General Stone, with two or three staff officers and orderlies, had gone into the city and found the Spaniards had evacuated. The Gen- eral desired the escort for which he sent to accompany a train he was making up to proceed to Yauco. Before leaving, con- trary to pledges given the authorities, the Spanish troops had attempted to burn the depot and rolling stock and disable the locomotives. The fire department had saved the depot and most of the cars. Mechanies soon made the locomotives available for use.
Major George directed Captain Ballard to detail a Lieutenant and seventeen men from his company to proceed to the station and report to General Stone. The detail was made up as follows:
Corporal Bartlett, Corporal Bailey, Privates Carroll, Kelley, Harry Fowler, Curry, Eldridge, Watson, Holberg, Nichols, Cal- vert, Hibbard, Charles Johnson, Rohn, MeKinnon, Van Wagenan, Samuels.
The city of Yauco had been in possession of American troops for several days. None of the enemy were encountered on the trip. The train proceeded with caution, but found efforts to destroy the track had failed.
A sensational and fabulous story was sent back from the island of the capture of Yauco by this detachment of E Com- pany, and many of the men were greatly annoyed that such a story should have been published.
About noon Major George, with Companies H, Captain Ohn- stad, and I, Captain Newton, marched into the city and took possession of the barraeks. This was a very fine building, built of concrete, located in a plaza, and was capable of housing a regiment. It had been occupied up to five o'clock on the morn- ing of the 28th, by the 25th Infantry of the Spanish Army. Everything in the barracks was in confusion. In the officers' quarters clothing and articles of personal property were strewn about everywhere. Evidently they had picked out the valuables but abandoned all else in their haste to get a change of air. The courtyard was surrounded by a high stone wall. A ladder against this wall showed that some had departed by this route
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rather than to lose the time to go around by the gate. Before leaving they had set fire to the magazine, which stood in one corner of the courtyard, but a detachment of the fire department had extinguished this blaze.
In the office of the Commandant, Adjutant Cousins found, among other papers, a communication written in Spanish, ad- dressed to the commanders of detachments at other points, giving the plan for the defense of the islands. It was intended all troops should, after a resistance, gradually drop back, avoiding decisive engagements, but retard the American advances as much as possible until San Juan was reached. Here they pro- posed to annihilate Uncle Sam's men. This communication was forwarded by Major George to General Wilson.
A large number of machetes and other weapons were found in the barracks, together with ammunition. Some of this am- munition created comment, as the balls appeared to be brass jacketed. A considerable quantity of rations was also captured. The hard bread was a great contrast to that in use by the Ameri- cans. It was made up in round disks about the size of an Amer- ican pie and five-eighths inch in thickness. To all appearances it made an excellent food and certainly looked appetizing, being nicely browned.
H and I Companies remained at the barracks for several days. C Company, of Major George's battalion, was on out- posts to the west of the city. E Company was left at the port. Colonel Moore, with other companies of the regiment, estab- lished a camp north of the city on the road leading towards San Juan.
The road from the port to the city is along a beautiful high- way. On both sides the luxuriant growth of tropical vegetation appealed to the eye. In all directions could be seen the flags of France, England, Ilolland and other European countries. A cele- bration was quickly organized by the citizens.
To show their pleasure many engaged in festooning trees and the streets with strips of paper. These strips were put up in goodly-sized rolls and the rolls could be thrown over tree branches and across streets. In many of the yards foliage was largely concealed by this form of decoration.
Most of the places of business in the city were closed and the windows protected by heavy wooden shutters. Many of the merchants and wealthier class had sent the ladies and chil- dren out of the city, expecting bombardment and a battle be- tween the Spanish troops and the Americans for possession. The
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Spaniards, for a long time, had industriously circulated reports of the villainies committed by the American soldiers and many of the natives stood in fear of the treatment they might receive. This feeling of fear quickly passed.
A brief sketch of the island of Puerto Rico and the landing of General Miles will not come amiss at this point.
PORTO RICO.
The island of Porto Rico was discovered in 1493 and from that day until 1898 was under Spanish rule. It is one hundred and eight miles in length and about forty miles wide. It is a most healthful and delightful country, with mountain ranges and many streams. In area it is about thirty-six hundred square miles and the population in 1898 was computed at 800,000. It is fourth in rank, according to size, of the Greater Antilles group, but in prosperity and density of population it is first. The white population was claimed to outnumber the black. In few of the tropical islands was this the case. The commercial capital and largest city is Ponce, situated three miles inland from the port of the same name on the southern coast. The city rests on a rich plain, surrounded by gardens and plantations. There are hot springs in the vicinity which are much frequented by invalids. At the port are extensive depots where products from the interior are stored for shipment. There were no docks and ships were loaded and unloaded by means of lighters. The last enumeration gave to Ponce the population of 37,545, while San Juan, the capital on the north coast, had a population of 23,414. In Ponce are a number of fine buildings, among them being a town hall, theater, two churches, the Charity and the Women's Asylum, the barracks, the Cuban House and the market. The road connecting the city and the port was a beautiful promenade.
Besides Ponce and San Juan, the largest towns were Arecibo, 30,000; Utnado, 31,000; Mayaguez, 28,000; San German, 20,000; Yauco, 25,000; Juana Diaz, 21,000; and there were reported to be ten other towns with population of 15.000 or over. Nearly half the population lived in the larger towns, where there were many fine residences.
Porto Rico had been more lightly touched by Spanish rule than other provinces. Internal improvements had been inaugu- rated. There were nearly one hundred and fifty miles of rail- road. This was narrow gauge and skirted about the coast. A system of particularly fine military roads connected Ponce and San Juan with some of the other larger cities.
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In times of peace the island abounded in sugar, coffee, tobacco, honey, wax and fruits. A large part of the trade had been with the United States. The entire island is said to be rich in natural resources and very healthful.
The capital, San Juan, was the best fortified city of Porto Rico, occupying there the relative position that Havana occupied in Cuba. When General Miles started on his expedition the expectation was it would effect a landing at Fajardo, on the northeastern coast. After this ostensible purpose had been well published the convoys and transports changed their course, swung around the east of the island and suddenly arrived off the harbor of Guanica on the southwestern coast at daylight on the morning of July 25.
A small Spanish garrison in a blockhouse on the beach was utterly surprised when Commander Wainwright, of the Glouces- ter, ran into the beautiful little harbor and opened fire with small guns. The Spaniards attempted to reply, but were soon driven off and a party of marines landed and hoisted the Ameri- can flag over the blockhouse, the stars and stripes taking the place of the flag of Spain, which was first raised 405 years before. No Americans were injured, but the Spanish lost several killed and wounded. The 3,500 troops of this expedition were landed in the forenoon without difficulty. The Guanica harbor is the best in the island. East of Guanica are the towns Yauco and Ponce, the former not more than five miles distance and connected with Ponce by railroad.
Marching on Yauco on the 26th, there was a skirmish with the enemy in which the Americans had four men wounded and the Spaniards lost sixteen killed and wounded. When General Miles' troops entered Yauco they were received with enthusiasm and joy, not unmixed, however, with some anxiety. The Alcalde, or Mayor, Francisco Megia, had issued in advance of the troops, a proclamation which accepted annexation to the United States as an accomplished fact :
Citizens: Today the citizens of Porto Rico assist in one of her most beautiful festivals. The sun of America shines upon our mountains and valleys this day of July, 1898. It is a day of glorious remembrance for each son of this beloved isle, be- cause for the first time there waves over it the flag of the Stars, planted in the name of the government of the United States of America by the Major General of the American army, General Miles.
Porto Ricans, we are, by the miraculous intervention of the
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God of the just, given baek to the bosom of our mother America, in whose waters nature placed us as people of America. To her we are given back, in the name of her government, by General Miles, and we must send her our most expressive salutation of generous affection through our conduet toward the valiant troops represented by distinguished officers and commanded by the illus- trions General Miles.
Citizens: Long live the government of the United States of America ! Hail to their valiant troops! Hail, Porto Rico, always American !
Yauco, Porto Rico, United States of America.
The 29th, 30th and 31st of July were passed quietly. Men and officers alike, when opportunity offered, were looking about the historie old city and viewing with great interest the moun- tains in which lay the enemy.
Before daylight on the morning of August 1, E Company, which had been relieved from duty at the customs house by General Miles, went on outpost. Adjutant Cousins this day made an arrest of a private of the 16th Pennsylvania Regiment, whom he found trying to pass a worthless Confederate due bill for $300.00 on a merchant. The culprit was turned over to the Provost Marshal, who happened to be his own company com- mander. The prisoner attempted to bribe the Adjutant by offer- ing to give him the due bill. This incident is mentioned, as later it beeame a matter of considerable official agitation. The man came from a prominent family and was one of the leaders in Y. M. C. A. and Sunday school work when home. His regi- mental commander, Colonel Hulings, of the 16th Pennsylvania, and even an officer superior in rank to him, at different inter- views suggested Adjutant Cousins withdraw his charges against the prisoner. This the Adjutant would not do, as the man, when first arrested, had claimed to be a Wisconsin man.
During the stay in the Ponce eamp the old Springfield rifles with which the regiment were equipped at the time of their muster into the volunteer service, were replaced by the new Krag. This was a magazine rifle and entirely unfamiliar to most of the men. It is a far superior rifle to the old Springfield, being lighter, equipped with magazine, and more powerful.
Second Lieutenant John E. Barron was taken sick during the stay at Ponee and left in hospital when the command marched into the interior. Later he came on to Coamo, but after a few days was sent with other sick soldiers back to Ponce, and did not again join the company until the return to Eau Claire.
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On Sunday, August 7, at 7 a. m., the regiment marched towards the interior along the San Juan road. This is a beautiful macad- amized road. There are several hundred miles of such roads on the island. They are known as the military roads and were built and kept in repair by the Government. The regiment passed through the city of Juana Diaz about noon. The Mayor met Colonel Moore outside of the city, extending a welcome to the American troops and made the request the band play during passage through the city. An enthusiastic welcome was extended by the citizens. At three o'clock the regiment went into camp, having marched about twelve miles. This camp was about five miles from the enemy's lines. On August 8, men were given an opportunity for a little practice with the new rifles. At noon the regiment, in light marching order, advanced about three miles and again went into camp. All extra baggage, together with the sick, were left behind, with the band as a guard.
Camp was made in front of Coama, within striking distance of the Spanish troops. K Company, of Tomah, Captain Warren, was put on outpost to the front.
The main military road from Ponce to San Juan, along which the brigade had been advancing, becomes quite tortuous before reaching Coamo, but has a general northeasterly direction enter- ing the town. About two miles from Coamo it is joined by the road from Santa Isabel, an excellent macadamized highway. Be- fore its junction with the Santa Isabel road it crosses, by an arch of masonry, a deep gorge with very precipitous sides.
The town lies upon a plateau on the right bank of the Coamo river and well above its level, surrounded by high hills. It is in the foothills of the main ridge of the island, and the sur- rounding country is rough. According to the best information obtainable it was occupied by about 400 Spanish troops well intrenched, and resistance was expected. A small blockhouse of corrugated iron on the Santa Isabel road was occupied by an infantry outpost, which had frequently fired upon our recon- noitering parties. The exact location of the other defenses was not known.
A trail had been discovered practicable for infantry, by which a force leaving the main road well to the southwest of Coamo could, by a wide detour, reach the road again in rear of the town.
The main body of the brigade, consisting of the Third Wis- consin Infantry (Colonel Moore), the Second Wisconsin Infan- try (Colonel Born), Battery F, Third United States Artillery
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(Captain Potts) and Battery B, Fourth United States Artillery (Captain Anderson), the two batteries being under the command of Major J. M. Lancaster, Fourth Artillery, was in camp about two miles nearer Coamo, to which camp it had advanced that day.
The division commander was present with the troops and directed their movements. With a view to capturing the gar- rison, he directed that one regiment be sent by the mountain trail above mentioned to the rear of the town, and that the front attack be deferred until this regiment could reach its position.
The Sixteenth Pennsylvania Infantry was selected for the turning movement. It left its camp, 650 strong, at 5:15 p. m., August 8, and under the guidance of Lieutenant Colonel Biddle, marched six miles and then went into bivouac. At 6 a. m., August 9, the two other regiments of the brigade and four guns of Captain Anderson's battery left their camps to take position for the front advance upon the town.
The Third Wisconsin Infantry, 788 strong, was sent to the right, with orders to cross the Coamo river and advance on the Santa Isabel road until the latter should reach the river, then to leave the road and advance up the left bank of the river. While it was moving to its position, fire was opened upon the blockhouse with the four guns of Captain Anderson's battery.
An advance on the city by any other route than the pikes is next to impossible. Three roads lead into the city, one from the southwest, connecting with Ponce; one from the northeast, connecting with San Juan, and the Santa Isabel road from the south. These were all military turnpikes, and streams were crossed by substantial iron and cement bridges, or, in case of smaller streams, reinforced cement bridges.
From the block house above mentioned the Spanish troops had a clear range of the valley leading towards the city.
K Company, Captain Warren, had been on outpost through- out the night. K, together with G Company, Captain Abraham, was now posted on the high hills commanding the San Juan road and had a full view of the block house and the city.
At four o'clock in the morning a silent reveille was had. The companies fell in and in light marching order, with only rifles and belts, haversacks with one day's rations, and ponchos, the regiment moved out to the position it was to occupy on the firing line.
As the regiment advanced, Companies G and K were left behind on outpost duty. A Company, Captain Hommel, was guarding the city of Juana Diaz and this left only nine com-
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panies in the field. The Third Battalion, Major Richards, with his two remaining companies, D, Captain Turner, and F, Captain Lee, was assigned to lead the advance. Following him eame Major Kireheis, with three companies of the Second Battalion, B, Captain Schultz, M, Captain Peek, and L, Captain McCoy. The advanee began at 6:30 and at 7:05 the first shell from Lan- caster's Battery was fired. At the third shot the gunners had the range and the bloek house was set on fire. With the ad- vance began the opening fire by the enemy. The deep tropical grass almost concealed the Americans from view. The regiment followed closely the skirmish line. The opening by the battery started a lively battle. When the bloek house was fired by the shells the Spanish retreated along the road baek into the eity. Major Richards advanced the skirmishers towards the east and reached the range of hills on which the Spanish outpost was stationed. The Spaniards were firing thick and fast on the ad- vaneing men, but little could be done towards returning the fire with small arms on account of the long, heavy grass. The troops were advaneing all along the line and met with many natural obstacles, such as ravines, heavy growth of underbrush and other obstruetions. The eactus hedges caused more anxiety than the whistling Spanish bullets. The line was still advancing when infantry fire from the north was heard, making known the Sixteenth Pennsylvania were engaged with the enemy north of Coamo. Between the Third Wisconsin and the town was the Coamo river. On the south side, where the regiment was de- ployed, the bank was almost perpeudieular. Colonel Moore directed Lieutenant Holway and Lieutenant Cousins to make effort to find a place where the column eould pass down in order to ford the river. After considerable search these officers found a place where a path or opening down the bluff had been made. This could only be used by lowering one's self by clinging to grape vines. The signal was passed baek to the regiment and the men eame down the grape vine ladder one at a time. Lieu- tenants Holway and Cousins had moved on, forded the river and struek a trail leading toward the military road. Soon after fording the stream a barb wire barrier obstrueted the trail. While engaged in eutting through this barrier, Lieutenant Cousins was wounded. Colonel Moore had just come up and ordered him carried to the rear. An emergency dressing was applied by Sergeant Major Grout, and he proceeded with the column. While the wound was painful it was not serious.
The column, after fording the river, followed the trail until
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the military road was reached and then marched into the city. Before reaching the city, natives eame out to meet them and it was learned the Spanish troops had passed through the town and been engaged by the Pennsylvania men on the outskirts north of the city. The troops were given an enthusiastic and frantic weleome by the excited natives, and the Third Infantry flag was soon flying over the city hall. The Spaniards had made entrenchments in many of the streets by ditching and sand bags. In some cases iron water and sewer pipes had been used.
The citizens had been on short rations for some days. The Spaniards had swept the whole country for food stuff and those from the rural districts had been afraid to bring provisions into the town for over a week. Stores were closed and many of the merchants and business men, with their families, had fled the town.
When the Spanish troops were driven from their blockhouse and entrenehments by the Wisconsin men, they retreated through the city and out onto the turnpike leading towards San Juan. Here they walked into the range of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania and a sharp, decisive battle occurred. The Spanish commander, Major Marlinez, made a brave effort to hold his position. He reeklessly dashed up and down the Spanish lines, and finally fell, shot several times. As far as can be learned the Spanish loss was six killed, twelve wounded and one hundred and fifty pris- oners. Some one hundred and thirty-five Spanish escaped to the hills, but later some of them were captured.
After a short rest in the city the regiment marched about a mile on the San Juan road and there went into camp. It was necessary to hold a large bridge four miles further up the road. Major Kircheis, with Companies D, Captain Turner, F, Captain Lee, L, Captain McCoy, and M, Captain Peck, was detailed for this outpost duty and at onee marehed to his position. An out- post was established at a point south of Aibonito Pass. The pass is where the military road goes over the Sierra Del Sur Mountains. On three hills, commanding the military road, the Spanish troops were thoroughly entrenched. Major Kircheis plaeed outposts in the hills covering the Spanish positions.
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