I have ventured to set down in this place the following bald and brief items of our recent history, not because I doubt an already existing common knowledge of their substance, but simply because they serve to illuminate and give finish to the succeeding narrative. Major-General Miles sailed from Guantanamo, Cuba, on the 21st of July, 1898; and landed at Guanica, Puerto Rico, on the 25th of the same month. The troops sailing with him numbered 3,554 officers and men, mainly composed of volunteers

The First Day's March Disposition of our column — The road to Sabana Grande — The infantrymen's burden — Wayside hospitality — Hard tack and repartee — Into camp and under blankets — Arrival of Macomb's troop — A smoke-talk. [Illustration: Plaza Principal, Mayaguez. Town Hall in background.] The disposition and arrangement of our forces on the first day's march can best be shown by the following document:— HEADQUARTERS INDEPENDENT BRIGADE (REGULARS), CAMP AT YAUCO, PUERTO RICO, Aug. 8, 1898. GEN

The People of Puerto Rico Their attitude toward the invading Americans — The proclamation of General Miles — justice and the private soldier — Depravity of the native masses — Men and women of the better class — Local attributes of life — A hint to the weary. Before proceeding further with the story of our advance, it may interest you to know what manner of people we found the Puerto Ricans to be, and how they behaved toward us who came to them as dogs of war. When we were first on the island, t

The Second Day Begins We march to San German — Removal of the sick from the ambulances — An approaching Spanish force — Our scouts and their leader — Concerning Señor Fijardo — Visible effects of imminent battle — Something about the town of San German . At eight o'clock in the morning on the 10th of August General Schwan's brigade broke camp at Sabana Grande, and moved out on the road to San German. The order of march differed from that of the day before only in the presence of the troop of cav

The Engagement at Hormigueros Topography of the battlefield — Macomb's cavalry fired into by Spanish skirmishers — Our advance-guard comes into contact with the foe — General Schwan reaches the firing line — The main body arrives and joins in the fray — Subsequent manoeuvres of our column — The Spanish retreat — A computation of losses . The ensuing account of our fight with the Alphonso XIII Regiment of Cazadores, on the 10th of August, is taken bodily from the official report made by General S

The Second Day Ends A personal résumé of the fight — Lack of melodramatic accompaniments — A lost chance of glory — Another neglected opportunity — A glimpse of the flag — Once more into camp . At the risk of being considered tautological, I cannot refrain from devoting another chapter to the Hormigueros fight: first, because it was my initial experience under fire; and, second, because there are more things in a soldier's memory than are set forth in the official report of his commanding genera

The Occupation of Mayaguez We enter the city in triumph—An enthusiastic reception—A pretty girl and the star-spangled banner—Other memorable incidents—Our rags and tatters—A description of Mayaguez—We pitch our tents in a swamp—The First Kentucky Volunteers. As early as half-past eight on the following morning—August 11—our scouts entered the city of Mayaguez, some three or four miles distant from our camp of the night before. About an hour later Captain Macomb marched his troop through the stre

The Engagement at Las Marias Difficulties encountered in locating the retreating enemy — Final determination upon pursuit — Lieutenant-Colonel Burke sets forth — Discovery of Spanish troops near Las Marias — A one-sided encounter — Unwelcome notification of truce — The rest of the brigade comes up — Feeding the prisoners — Our disappointment . Aug. 22, 1898. GENERAL J.C. GILMORE, Headquarters of the Army, Ponce, P.R. Sir ,—… Detachments from the cavalry troop went out (from Mayaguez) in the afte

The Territory Won General Schwan returns to Mayaguez — Business and pleasure — A custom we abolished — Extent of the district captured by our brigade — Aguadllla — Facilities for transportation — Labor and the laborer — The cost of living — Rents and real estate — Skilled workmen — A word about investments . On August 16, in obedience to orders from Army Headquarters, General Schwan left the bulk of his troops in the positions they had respectively occupied at the time of the receipt of the truc

The End of the Campaign Arrival of the mail-steamer — The soldier-boy and his letters — The greater part of the brigade is quartered in Mayaguez — Agriculture in Puerto Rico — Material result of our campaign — A farewell order — General Schwan departs for the United States . On the 19th of August a steamer came into the harbor, bringing us a mail, the first we had received since the beginning of July. If the people who wrote those letters could have seen the happiness they wrought upon their dis

Theodore Schwan was born in Germany, July 9, 1841. He received his earlier education in the preparatory schools of his native land, but came to the United States when he was about sixteen years old. He enlisted as a private in the Tenth Infantry on June 12, 1857; and served successfully as corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, and quartermaster-sergeant until October 31, 1863, when he received his commission. He was made a first lieutenant, Tenth Infantry, April 9, 1864; regimental quartermaster i

The following officers received distinguished mention in General Schwan's reports, for service rendered under fire during the campaign in western Puerto Rico:—   Lieutenant-Colonel Burke, Eleventh Infantry.   [A] Major Gilbreath, Eleventh Infantry.   Captain P.M.B. Travis, Eleventh Infantry.   Captain R.W. Hoyt, Eleventh Infantry.   Captain A.L. Myer, Eleventh Infantry.   Captain Penrose, Eleventh Infantry.   Captain Macomb, Fifth Cavalry.   Acting Assistant Surgeon Savage.   Lieutenant Odon Gur