near the Ducureau mansion.  Shortly before noon a mounted orderly appeared with a message for the brigade commander.  A few minutes later the march towards El Caney was taken up.  Heavy musketry fire had been heard in that direction since shortly before 7 o’clock.  A march of little more than a mile and the regiment was formed for battle, Companies G and H in the firing line, C and D in support, the remaining four companies in reserve.

For two hours or perhaps more the firing was very heavy, especially during the second hour.  Attention is called to report of Colonel A.S.  Daggett, pages 387 and 388, “Report of the War Department, 1898, Vol.  I,” and endorsement on same by Major-General A.R.  Chaffee.  He says:  “This stone fort was practically in the possession of the 12th Infantry at about 2 P.M.  July 1.”  I cannot reconcile this statement with the fact that between the hours named some of the heaviest firing was going on, which does not indicate that its defenders were ready to give up.  Lord Wellington once said, “At the end of every campaign truth lies at the bottom of a deep well, and it often takes twenty years to get her out.”  This may not be an exception.  About half-past 4 o’clock the firing ceased and El Caney was ours.

     The dead were collected near a hedge and the regiment was
     formed in column of masses to pay a silent tribute of
     respect to our departed comrades.

The regiment then started for the mango grove where we had left our blanket rolls and haversacks.  Just as we were starting, some men with canteens started for water (about a mile away), when orders were received to be ready to march in twenty minutes.  A few rods took us back to the road leading to Santiago.  We moved down the road about three-quarters of a mile and halted.  Two hours later, the pack train arrived with ammunition and then another with rations.  Before the latter were issued orders were issued to move at once to the rear.  The regiment marched over the trail it had come on the day before, arriving at El Poso about 8 o’clock A.M.  Here we took the road leading to Santiago.  About 9 A.M. we passed under San Juan Hill and moved to our right.  Our forces held the crest of the hill.  In passing along the hill we were sheltered from the fire except a short space, where one or two men were slightly wounded.  Arriving at the La Cruz house near the road leading from El Caney to Santiago about 3.30 P.M. and bivouacked for the night.  About 10 o’clock the troops on our left were attacked by the Spanish.  The firing was very heavy for an hour, when it suddenly ceased, and we retired for the night.  During this time we were under the hill and protected from the fire.

Next morning (Sunday, July 3d) desultory firing began at daylight.  About 7 A.M. the regiment left the La Cruz house and moved across the Caney-Santiago road and formed line to the left and moved forward to a ridge overlooking the city.