The Cavalry at Santiago 125 



men had from time to time responded. We had 

 also suffered from the hill on our right front, which 

 was held chiefly by guerillas, although there were 

 also some Spanish regulars with them, for we found 

 their dead. I formed my men in column of troops, 

 each troop extended in open skirmishing order, the 

 right resting on the wire fences which bordered the 

 sunken lane. Captain Jenkins led the first squadron, 

 his eyes literally dancing with joyous excitement. 



I started in the rear of the regiment, the position 

 in which the colonel should theoretically stay. Cap- 

 tain Mills and Captain McCormick were both with 

 me as aides ; but I speedily had to send them off on 

 special duty in getting the different bodies of men 

 forward. I had intended to go into action on foot 

 as at Las Guasimas, but the heat was so oppressive 

 that I found I should be quite unable to run up 

 and down the line and superintend matters unless 

 I was mounted ; and, moreover, when on horseback, 

 I could see the men better and they could see me 

 better. 



A curious incident happened as I was getting the 

 men started forward. Always when men have been 

 lying down under cover for some time, and are re- 

 quired to advance, there is a little hesitation, each 

 looking to see whether the others are going for- 

 ward. As I rode down the line, calling to the 

 troopers to go forward, and rasping brief directions 



