July 4.  Flag of truce all day; national and regimental colors placed on parapets.  At noon the regiment paraded, and all hearts cheered by the patriotic telegram of the Commander-in-Chief—­His Excellency, President McKinley.  Refugees, in droves, could be seen leaving for several days, notice of bombardment having been served on the city.

July 5.  There was much excitement when Lieutenant Hobson and party crossed our lines.

During truce, the monotony was broken occasionally by the presence of Spanish soldiers in quest of something to eat or desiring to surrender.

Truce was off July 10 at 4 P.M.  Bombardment of the city commenced by the army and navy combined, which continued until 2 P.M. 11th.  Gatling, dynamite, rapid-firing and Hotchkiss guns were so well trained that the Dons scarcely dared to raise their heads, and their firing was soon silenced.  During the attack our part of the line suffered no loss.  While occupying these works, it was discovered that the gun of the enemy that annoyed us most was quite near a large building covered with Red Cross flags.

During the truce all of our dead were located and buried.  It was sad, indeed, to see the vultures swarming like flies, when we knew so well their prey.

Though prepared to, several times, no shots were exchanged after July 11, and all was quiet until date of capitulation.  The hardest rain ever witnessed, accompanied by terrific thunder and lightning, was on the last day of the engagement.  Trenches were flooded and everything appeared as a sea.

July 17, at 9 A.M., the regiment, with the remainder of the army, was assembled over the trenches to witness the formal surrender of General Toral, with the Spanish forces.  Owing to the dense tropical growth, and its similarity in color to their clothing, little or nothing could be seen, beyond the straw hats of the Dons, as they marched through the jungles.  At 12 M., we were again placed in the same position, to salute “Old Glory” as she ascended over the Governor’s palace in the city, which was told by Capron’s battery U.S.  Artillery.  At the first shot, every individual tested his lungs to their fullest capacity, bands of music playing national airs.

Spanish soldiers were soon over our lines, trading off swords, wine, cigarettes and trinkets for hard tack and bacon.  This soon ended, as there were positive orders against our fraternizing.  The Spaniards were a fine looking lot of young men; though generally small in stature, and were very neat and clean, considering.  The officers were an intelligent and dignified looking set.  The Dons were away ahead on ammunition, and away behind on eatables.  A few musty, hard tack, thrown in our trenches, were devoured like so much fresh beef, by so many hungry wolves.

Campaigning in the tropics entails many hardships, though unavoidable and only to be expected, in war.  War is horrible in any aspect in which it may be viewed.  Even those features of it intended to be merciful, are full of harshness and rigor; and after all, fighting is the easiest part.