many men were killed and wounded.  The troops became separated from one another, though the general line was pretty well preserved.  The works of the enemy were carried in succession by the troops; and the Spaniards were steadily driven back toward the town to their last ditches.  We now found ourselves about half a mile from the city, but the troops being by this time nearly exhausted, here intrenched themselves for the night under a heavy fire.  By dark this line was occupied by all the troops engaged during the day.”

The official reports of the troop commanders of the Tenth Cavalry bring out a few more particulars which serve to give us a more vivid conception of this moving line.  The entire cavalry division advanced together, and notwithstanding the roughness of the ground, Major Norvell assures us the line was pretty well preserved.  Troops A, B, E and I were in the First Squadron, which was in the lead; Troops C, F and G were in the second line; Troop D made its advance with the infantry off to the left.  We have now a fair knowledge of the general movement of the whole regiment.  Let us follow the fortunes of some of the Troops, and by that means get nearer to the work done by the individual soldier.

Troop A was on the right of the leading squadron as the regiment took its place in line on the left of the First Cavalry and moved against the Spanish blockhouses in the face of a heavy fire, making a rush forward without intermission.  A portion of the right platoon, under Lieutenant Livermore, became separated in one of the thickets, and under instructions received personally from the brigade commander, who seems to have been everywhere where he was needed, continued up the slope toward his right and toward the first blockhouse.  The remainder of the troop, commanded by Captain Beck and Lieutenant McCoy, moved in the same direction at first, but observing that on account of the shorter distance to the slope from that end of the line, a large number of troops were arriving there, Captain Beck swung his troop to the left and reached the summit of the hill between the second and third blockhouses, and on arriving received a message by an aid of the brigade commander to hold the ridge.  Just then Lieut.  Livermore arrived, having come by way of Blockhouse No. 1.  The troop now being together, held the crest for an hour.  At times the fire of the enemy was so severe and Captain Beck’s force so small that there was great danger that he would be compelled to abandon the position, but fortunately at the most critical juncture Lieutenant Lyon of the Twenty-fourth Infantry came up with a few reinforcements, and Lieutenant Hughes of the Tenth Cavalry with a Hotchkiss gun.  Lieutenant Lyon formed his troops to the left of the gun, Troop A of the Tenth Cavalry being on the right.  With this force the position was held until other troops arrived.  Soon after, the squadron was reformed and the men entrenched themselves under fire.  Troop B was next to Troop A and advanced