with the Tenth U.S.  Cavalry; General Wheeler made his the same.  Hotchkiss guns were ordered closed up; magazines filled.  The column had proceeded but a short way when the engagement opened in all its fury; troops were deployed and advanced in the direction from which the bullets were coming the thickest, as rapidly as the formation of the ground would permit, the left of the line touching the right of the Rough Riders.

June 24.  Headquarters, band and the remainder of the First and Tenth U.S.  Cavalry were off at 6 A.M.  The road was alive with troops (C, D, F, G,) colonels and privates alike lugging their rations and bedding beneath that ever watchful tropical sun, feeling as though they would wilt at every step, the undergrowth being so thick and tall that scarcely any breeze could get to you.

On emerging from this thicket, through which we had been marching for several hours, the Sampson fleet could be heard firing on the Spanish batteries on shore.  Marines and other troops could be seen crossing the mountains above Altares; this revived the men very much.  As we approached Verni Jarabo (Altares?), we were met by General Lawton, who informed our Colonel that the advance guard was engaged with the Spanish at La Guasima, and that it was hard pressed.  Our pace was quickened; the news appeared to lighten our heavy packs as we toiled to the front to assist our comrades.  The roar of the artillery became plainer; wounded men along the road as well as those played-out from the intense heat.  Women and children were fleeing to places of safety.  Our forces were repairing a railroad engine and track; also tearing up a piece leading to a Spanish blockhouse.  In fact, everything seemed to have on an exceedingly warlike tint, but our advance continued as swifty as our weary feet would allow, which soon brought us to a number of our own comrades conveyed on litters from La Guasima, where our advance guard was tussling hard with the Dons for the honors of the day.

Upon arrival of reinforcements, victory had been wrested from the Dons fairly by the advance guard without assistance.  Every one greeted each other, as though it had been a year instead of a few hours since parting.  The First U.S.  Cavalry and Rough Riders were unstinted in extolling the fighting qualities of their brothers in arms, the Tenth U.S.  Cavalry.

The enemy was struck early June 24, entrenched on the heights of La Guasima, near Sevilla, on the main road from Daiquiri to the city of Santiago de Cuba.  The advance guard was soon hotly engaged with them; after a very desperate fight of over one hour, the enemy was driven in confusion from their intrenchments.  Our men were too exhausted to follow them.  The Tenth Cavalry lost 13 killed and wounded.  For a while it was a terrific fight, as the enemy was strongly intrenched on the heights and our men had to climb them subjected to their fire, which was very accurate, and much of it doubtless from machine guns in hands of experienced men.  Our men had also to contend with the thickest underbrush, wire fences (the famous military trochas) and Spanish daggers jabbing them in side at every step.  For a while the situation was serious.  The decisive blow of the attack seems to have been struck at an opportune moment, and the enemy withdrew in confusion.