History of the Gatling Gun Detachment, Fifth Army Corps, at Santiago Part 6

No. 5, Private Barts, Co. E, 13th Infantry.

Driver, Private Correll, Co. C, 12th Infantry.

Gun No. 3: Chief, Sergeant Newton A. Green, Co. H, 13th Infantry.

Gunner, Corporal Matthew Doyle, Co. C, 13th Infantry.

No. 1, Private Anderson, Co. C, 12th Infantry.

No. 2, Private Sine, Co. E, 17th Infantry.

No. 3, Private Lauer, Co. C, 12th Infantry.

No. 4, Private Dellett, Co. D, 17th Infantry.

No. 5, Private Cory, Co. A, 13th Infantry.

No. 6, Private Greenberg, Co. G, 13th Infantry.

Driver, Private Merryman, Co. A, 17th Infantry.

Gun No. 4: Chief, Sergeant John N. Weigle, Co. L, 9th Infantry.

Gunner, Corporal Robert S. Smith, Co. C, 13th Infantry.

No. 1, Private McGoin, Co. D, 17th Infantry.

No. 2, Private Misiak, Co. E, 13th Infantry.

No. 3, Private Power, Co. A, 13th Infantry.

No. 4, Private McDonald, Co. B, 17th Infantry.

No. 5, Private Prazak, Co. E, 12th Infantry.

Driver, Private Chase, Co. H, 13th Infantry.

Cook, Private Hoft, Co. D, 13th Infantry.

a.s.sistant cook, Private Bremer, Co. G, 13th Infantry.

Absent, sick, Private Murray, Co. F, 13th Infantry, at Tampa.

Sergeant Weigle was subsequently appointed first sergeant of Co. L., 9th Infantry, and of the Gatling Gun Detachment, vice Weischaar, relieved at his own request.

Another element which contributed much to the success of the detachment was the presence with it of Captain Marcotte. This excellent officer had served with great distinction in the Civil War, having been promoted from a private in the ranks through all of the grades up to a captaincy, for meritorious conduct in battle, and having failed of higher grades only because he was too badly shot to pieces to continue with the Army. He joined the detachment on the 25th of June, and his valuable advice was always at the disposal not merely of the commander, but of any member of the detachment who wished to consult him. He had spent seventeen years in the Cuban climate and was thoroughly familiar with all the conditions under which we were laboring. He contributed not a little, by his presence, his example, and his precept, to the final success of the organization. When the battery went under fire, Marcotte was with it. It was the first time most of the members had pa.s.sed through this ordeal, but who could run, or even feel nervous, with this gray-haired man skipping about from point to point and taking notes of the engagement as coolly as though he were sitting in the shade of a tree sipping lime-juice c.o.c.ktails, a mile from danger.

Such was the personnel of the detachment. It lay in Camp Wheeler, which was only about a mile and a half from El Poso, where the first engagement occurred on the first of July, until that morning. The mules were daily harnessed up and drilled in maneuvering the pieces, and the members of the detachment experimentally posted in different positions in order to get the most effective service.

On the 27th, Serg. Green was sent back to Siboney with orders to bring Corp. Rose or his body. He brought Corp. Rose, and the corporal was very glad to be brought.

The mules were fed with oats and on the juicy sugar-cane. It is worthy of mention that no other organization at the front had oats. A feed or two of oats was given to Gen. Wheeler and Col. Dorst for their horses; it was the first time their horses had tasted oats since leaving the transports, and was probably the last time until after the surrender.

Furthermore, the Gatling Gun Detachment had "grub." Of course, it was "short" on potatoes, onions, and vegetables generally; these luxuries were not to be well known again until it returned to the United States; but it did have hardtack, bacon, canned roast beef, sugar, and coffee, having drawn all the rations it could carry before leaving Baiquiri, and was the only organization which had as much as twenty-four hours' rations. Gen. Hawkins and his whole brigade were living from hand to mouth, one meal at a time. The same was true of Gen. Wheeler and the whole cavalry division, and they were depending for that one meal upon the pack-mule train. On the 30th of June a complete set of muster- and pay-rolls, was prepared for the detachment, and it was duly mustered in the usual form and manner. It was the only organization at the front of which a formal muster was made, and was the only one there which had muster- and pay-rolls.

It rained on the 29th and 30th of June. Not such rains as the people of the United States are familiar with, but Cuban rains. It was like standing under a barrel full of water and having the bottom knocked out. These rains caused the rifles and carbines of the army to rust, and some quickwitted captain bethought himself to beg oil from the Gatling Gun Detachment. He got it. Another, and another, and still another begged for oil; then regiments began to beg for oil; and finally application was made for oil for a whole brigade. This led to the following correspondence:

"Camp Six Miles from Santiago, "29th June, 1898.

"The Adjutant-General, Cavalry Division, Present:

"Sir,--I have the honor to inform you that I have learned that some of the rifles in this command are badly in need of oil, and that in some companies there is no oil to use on them. These facts I learned through requests to me for oil.

"I therefore report to you that my men found at Altares (the second landing-place) and reported to me four (4) barrels of lard oil and three (3) barrels of cylinder oil, in an old oil-house near the machine shops.

"If this be procured and issued, it will save the rifles and carbines from rust.

"Very respectfully,

"John H. Parker, "Lt. Comdg. G. G. Detachment, 5th Corps."

First Endors.e.m.e.nt.

"Headquarters Cavalry Division, "Camp 6 miles east of Santiago de Cuba, "June 29, 1898.

"Respectfully referred to the adjutant-general, 6th Army Corps.

"Jos. Wheeler, "Major-General U. S. Vols., Comdg."

Second Endors.e.m.e.nt.

"Headquarters 5th Corps, "June 29, 1898.

"Return. Lt. Parker will send a man back tomorrow to obtain the necessary oil.

"By command of Gen. Shafter.

"E. J. McClernand, "A. A. G."

Third Endors.e.m.e.nt.

"Headquarters Cavalry Division, "June 29, 1898.

"Return Lt. Parker. Attention invited to the foregoing endors.e.m.e.nt.

"J. H. Dorst, "Lieutenant-Colonel."

Fourth Endors.e.m.e.nt.

"June 30, 1898.

"The Quartermaster, Altares, Cuba:

"Please furnish to Sergeant Green of my detachment transportation for two (2) barrels of oil. He will show you an order from Gen. Shafter, and the matter is urgent. The soldiers must have this oil at once, as their rifles are rusting badly.

"John H. Parker, "Lt. Comdg. Gatling Gun Detach."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sergeant Greene's Gun at Fort Roosevelt.]

The quartermaster furnished the transportation and two barrels of oil were duly forwarded to the front and placed in charge of brigade quartermasters at different points, with orders to distribute out one quart to each company. This oil, perhaps, had some bearing upon the condition of the rifles in the fight following.

On the 27th of June, Captain Marcotte and the detachment commander made a reconnaissance of a high hill to the left of Camp Wheeler, and, having gained the top, reconnoitered the city of Santiago and its surrounding defenses with a powerful gla.s.s, and as a result reported to Gen. Wheeler that the key of Santiago was the Morro mesa, a promontory or tableland overlooking the city on the east side at a distance of about a mile and a half and not at that time occupied by the enemy, with the proposition that a detail of a half-dozen men from the detachment should make a rush and capture this plateau, and hold it until the guns could be brought up. The general could not authorize the proposed undertaking, as it would have endangered the safety of his army, perhaps by leading to a premature engagement. By the time a sufficient reconnaissance had been made and convinced everybody of the value of this plan, the mesa had been strongly occupied by the enemy.

It is still believed that the occupation of this height was practicable on the 27th of June, and thought, if it had been authorized, the Gatlings could have occupied and held this position against all the Spaniards in the city of Santiago. A glance at the map will show the extreme tactical importance of this position.

CHAPTER VII.