About 8 A.M. on the 22d our warships began shelling
the coast, and two hours later the troops started in small
boats from the transports to the shore. By evening most of
the Second Division and part of the Cavalry Division were on
Cuban soil. There was no opposition to our landing; I
believe that a small force well handled could have made it
very difficult, if, indeed, it could not have prevented it.
As soon as the regiment had landed it was marched out about
four miles and bivouacked for the night. The country is
rugged and covered with a dense tropical vegetation. A few
"Cuban Patriots" had joined us and formed the extreme
advance, saving us some disagreeable outpost duty. This was
the only service that I know of them doing throughout the
campaign, though they were always on hand ration day. Later
developments showed that the service rendered was not so
important, as any Spanish force had retired to a safe place,
something our friends looked out for whenever there was any
danger.
June 23d, the regiment started shortly after daylight
towards the city of Santiago. About 9 o'clock there was a
report that the enemy were in our front. The regiment was
immediately formed for battle, and reconnoitering parties
sent forward; after about thirty minutes' delay the supposed
enemy proved to be the large leaves of some tropical trees
being moved by the wind, giving them the appearance of
persons in motion.
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