The first warning the people had of a foe being near was the roar of our field artillery and the bursting of a shell in their midst.  The battle was on.  In many cases an invading army serves notice of a bombardment, but in this case it was incompatible with military strategy.  Non-combatants, women and children all suffered, for to have warned them so they might have escaped would also have given warning to the Spanish forces of our approach.  The battle opened at dawn and lasted until dark.  When our troops reached the point from which they were to make the attack, the Spanish lines of entrenched soldiers could not be seen.

[Illustration:  CORPORAL BROWN. (Who was killed at a Hotchkiss gun while shelling the Spanish block-house to save the Rough Riders.)]

The only thing indicating their position was the block-house situated on the highest point of a very steep hill.  The undergrowth was so dense that one could not see, on a line, more than fifty yards ahead.  The Spaniards, from their advantageous position in the block-house and trenches on the hill top, had located the American forces in the bushes and opened a fusillade upon them.  The Americans replied with great vigor, being ordered to fire at the block-house and to the right and left of it, steadily advancing as they fired.  All of the regiments engaged in the battle of El Caney had not reached their positions when the battle was precipitated by the artillery firing on the block-house.  The 25th Infantry was among that number.  In marching to its position some companies of the 2d Massachusetts Volunteers were met retreating; they were completely whipped, and took occasion to warn us, saying:  “Boys, there is no use to go up there, you cannot see a thing; they are slaughtering our men!” Such news made us feel “shaky,” not having, at the time, been initiated.  We marched up, however, in order and were under fire for nine hours.  Many barbed-wire obstructions were encountered, but the men never faltered.  Finally, late in the afternoon, our brave Lieutenant Kinnison said to another officer:  “We cannot take the trenches without charging them.”  Just as he was about to give the order for the bugler to sound “the charge” he was wounded and carried to the rear.  The men were then fighting like demons.  Without a word of command, though led by that gallant and intrepid Second Lieutenant J.A.  Moss, 25th Infantry, some one gave a yell and the 25th Infantry was off, alone, to the charge.  The 4th U.S.  Infantry, fighting on the left, halted when those dusky heroes made the dash with a yell which would have done credit to a Comanche Indian.  No one knows who started the charge; one thing is certain, at the time it was made excitement was running high; each man was a captain for himself and fighting accordingly.  Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, etc., were not needed at the time the 25th Infantry made the charge on El Caney, and those officers simply