[Transcriber’s Note:  This footnote appeared in the text
     without a footnote anchor: 

“The intrenchments of San Juan were defended by two companies of Spanish infantry, numbering about two hundred and fifty to three hundred men.  At about 11 o’clock in the morning reinforcements were sent to them, bringing the number up to about seven hundred and fifty men.  There were two pieces of mountain artillery on these hills, the rest of the artillery fire against our troops on that day being from batteries close to the city.”—­In Cuba with Shafter (Miley), page 117.]

CHAPTER IX.

THE SURRENDER, AND AFTERWARDS.

     In the Trenches—­The Twenty-fourth in the Fever Camp—­Are
     Negro Soldiers Immune?—­Camp Wikoff.

After the battle of El Caney the Twenty-fifth Infantry started for the mango grove, where the blanket rolls and haversacks had been left in the morning, and on its way passed the Second Massachusetts Volunteers standing by the roadside.  This regiment had seen the charge of the Twenty-fifth up the hillside, and they now manifested their appreciation of the gallantry of the black regulars in an ovation of applause and cheers.  This was the foundation for Sergeant Harris’ reply when on another occasion seeing the manifest kind feelings of this regiment to the Twenty-fifth, I remarked:  “Those men think you are soldiers.”  “They know we are soldiers,” replied the sergeant.  The regiment bivouacked in the main road leading from El Caney to Santiago, but sleep was out of the question.  What with the passing of packtrains and artillery, and the issuing of rations and ammunition, the first half of the night gave no time for rest; and shortly after 12 o’clock, apprehensions of a Spanish attack put every one on the alert.  At 3.30 the march to the rear was commenced and the entire division passed around by El Poso and advanced to the front by the Aguadores road, finally reaching a position on Wheeler’s right about noon, July 2.

Subsequently the line of investment was extended to the right, the Cuban forces under General Garcia holding the extreme right connecting with the water front on that side of the city.  Next to them came Ludlow’s McKibben’s and Chaffee’s forces.  In McKibben’s brigade was the Twenty-fifth, which dug its last trench on Cuban soil on July 14th, on the railroad running out from Santiago to the northwest.  This intrenchment was the nearest to the city made by any American organization, and in this the regiment remained until the surrender.