We have now these facts clearly brought out or suggested:  That the brigade took its place in line of battle soon after 12 o’clock; that the Fourth Infantry was on the left; that the advance of the First Battalion of the Fourth Infantry was “toward the blockhouse;” that aside from the companies of the Fourth Infantry that fired into town, “the remainder of the brigade advanced upon the stone fort.”  The Fourth Infantry, holding the left of the line, however, reached a position from which it could not advance, its commander having “quickly perceived that an advance meant annihilation, as it would involve not only a frontal, but also a flank fire from the town.”  Here the Fourth Infantry remained, but continued to maintain a fire upon both the blockhouse and the town.

There is but one more regiment in all of Lawton’s division to be accounted for, and that is the Twenty-fifth Infantry, holding the right of Miles’ brigade in this advance.  This regiment was in place in the line under its gallant and experienced commander, Lieutenant-Colonel A.S.  Daggett, and contributed its full share of that “heavy fire on the stone fort from the time the fight began until it ended.”  Major McCaskey says the First Battalion of his regiment took a position on the left of the Twenty-fifth’s firing line.  The statement seems erroneous, and one is inclined to believe that it was originally written “on the right,” instead of “on the left”; but it is enough for our purpose now, that the firing line of the Twenty-fifth is recognized well in advance.  Major Baker, who commanded on the left of the brigade line, and whose advance was stopped by the flank fire from the village and a frontal fire from the fort, says:  “as a matter of fact the village of El Caney was not charged by any troops.  Those of Bates’ brigade and the Twenty-fifth Infantry, after having carried the stone fort (on a hill some 75 feet higher, and to the east of the town,) fired into the village, and the Fourth Infantry continued its fire.  Nor was it charged by any of the troops to our left.  Such a charge would necessarily have been seen by us.”  Major Baker, who was on the field and had the blockhouse in clear view, declares that some of Bates’ brigade and the Twenty-fifth Infantry carried the stone fort.  Major McCaskey says that one battalion of the Twentieth Infantry (Bates’ brigade) was on the left of the Twenty-fifth’s firing line, and that one company (A) took part in the latter part of the charge by which the fort was taken.  This battalion may be referred to by Major Baker when he says:  “Those of Bates’ brigade and the Twenty-fifth Infantry, after having carried, etc.”