ADDRESSES 331 



and baggage. Chafing under his forced inactivity and hear- 

 ing that a battle was imminent, he left the ship and re- 

 joined the regiment Monday, June 27, five miles from 

 Santiago. Being ordered by the lieutenant-colonel to return 

 and finish the unloading, he made his way back on the fol- 

 lowing day to the shore, completed his task, and once more 

 — late on the night of June 29 — reached his command. 

 On Thursday the army advanced, and that night the regi- 

 ment bivouacked so near the enemy that fires were not 

 allowed to be lit and the utmost quiet was enjoined that 

 their position might not be betrayed. 



It is not my purpose to go into details of the battle of El 

 Caney . That has already been done by abler pens than mine. 

 Suffice it to say that El Caney is a small village cresting a 

 hill three and a half miles northeast of San Juan, three 

 miles north of El Poso, and five or six miles northeast of 

 Santiago. In the native language it signifies "the tomb," 

 because upon this hill were buried many of the ancient 

 inhabitants — a fit name for the battle-field where so many 

 of our bravest found their last resting-place. On that fatal 

 morning no one was calmer or more cheerful than Lieuten- 

 ant Dickinson. No fear nor disturbing thought seemed 

 to enter his mind, and he made his few preparations for the 

 advance as quietly and with the same care as if going on 

 parade. His duties as quartermaster did not require his 

 presence at the front, but he could not bear to remain at the 

 rear and not share the dangers of his comrades. Going to 

 Lieutenant-Colonel Haskell he said: "Colonel, I want to go 

 with you to-day"; and from that time, with the exception 

 of two short intervals, during which he was carrying orders, 

 never left his side until he received his death wound. 



