AFTER THE BATTLE.
Sunday morning Captain Scott brought an order to Captain Groome to send
a commissioned officer, a sergeant and six privates to establish an
outpost two miles beyond the farthest infantry outpost, and to maintain
a flag of truce. This outpost was necessary because of the general fear
of Spanish treachery. The Spaniards had a white flag flying over their
blockhouse, but there was no telling at what moment they might pull it
down and charge into the American ranks; so the watchers at the outpost
were entrusted with an important duty. The detail first selected was in
charge of Lieutenant Browning, who took with him Sergeant Glendinning,
Corporal Thayer and Privates S. and W. Goodman, Strawbridge, Wheeler,
Mills and Ridgeway. Captains Scott and Groome accompanied the detail to
select the ground for the outpost.
As the men were about to start, it was found that they had nothing to
serve as a flag of truce. Captain Groome informed Captain Scott that the
Troop was just out of such articles, and for a moment the officers were
at a loss to know what to do. A handkerchief was too small and too
frail, but suddenly Lieutenant Browning had an inspiration. His wife had
supplied the officers' mess with some fine, large napkins. One of these
was therefore pressed into service as a flag of truce, and the
detachment rode forth. It was early morning, and the rain was pelting
down as usual.
On through the town, along the road the troops had tramped ready for the
fray, around the mountain side, past the place Rodney had planted his
batteries, past the pickets, past the last infantry outpost, under a
ridge dotted with Spanish sentries, the detachment, with the now
historic napkin, went on until, coming around a sharp turn in the road,
they saw a mile and a half across the valley the Spanish outpost with
its flag of truce already up.
Then the little band of Troopers halted and chopped down a stout
sapling. To this they lashed the flag of truce for the American army,
and set up the pole in a little clearing. Two Troopers were left on
guard, while the rest retired a couple of hundred yards around a bend in
the road and put up the little dog tents, beginning at once the routine
work of a vidette outpost. The flag was pitched squarely upon the top of
the mountain, so that it rained there continually, but the
discomforts were swallowed up in a sense of the responsibility felt by
all on duty there.
[Illustration: "CAMP ESPERANCA." GUAYAMA IN THE DISTANCE.]
The six men were divided in pairs, and each pair stood guard by the
fluttering flag as vidette for two hours and then rested four,
throughout the day and night. Through field glasses the Spanish troops
could be plainly seen standing on guard or idling about the trenches.
Thirty minutes after the flag first went up a group of Spanish officers
were seen approaching. As they came nearer it was plain that the party
consisted of a general and six aids. Captain Scott advanced to meet the
Spaniards, and was informed that the general carried a message for
General Brooke. The Spaniard declined to entrust the message to Captain
Scott. Captain Groome was informed of the difficulty, and at once
galloped back to the American camp, returning in a short time with
General Sheridan and others of General Brooke's staff. After much
formality the Spanish general delivered his message to General Sheridan
and ceremoniously retired.
At eight o'clock the next day Lieutenant Ryan and a like detachment from
H Troop relieved Lieutenant Browning. The next day Lieutenant McFadden,
with Sergeant Bates, Corporal Butcher and Privates Green, Newbold,
Wilson, Fell, Woodman and Armstrong relieved the H men. The day
following, at eight o'clock, Lieutenant Heiberg and his detachment of
regulars, and relieving them on the morrow went Lieutenant Browning,
Sergeant Smith, Corporal Thibault and Privates Jacobs, Wharton, Neilson,
Barclay, Cramp and Shober. Thus, as in all cavalry work for General
Brooke's army at Guayama, H Troop and the City Troop took share and
share alike.
Meantime the Troopers, in camp near Guayama, had little besides routine
duty to keep them occupied. The rainy season was on hand with a
vengeance. Day and night, with but slight intervals of clear weather, it
rained and poured. Good-sized creeks would be formed in a half hour by
the floods of rain, and these little streams seemed always aimed
straight at the Troopers' camp. To change clothing was useless, and at
times it was impossible to obtain dry garments. Flannel shirts would be
spread out in the hot sun to dry at eleven o'clock, and at half-past
they would be lying in pools of water, getting more thoroughly drenched
each minute.
Since leaving the United States, a wonderful change had taken place in
the appearance of the City Troopers. At the time of sailing from Newport
News, all the cavalrymen were bronzed and weather beaten. After but
little more than two weeks in southern Puerto Rico, exposed daily to
natural steam baths and kept in a constant state of perspiration, the
men were bleached out. Faces once ruddy became as white as paper, and
all the men had lost rapidly in weight.
[Illustration: AT THE BEACH NEAR GUAYAMA.]
The horses, too, showed the effect of the tropical climate. When herded
together there was not one head that did not droop, and their eyes were
without spirit. The change in men and beasts had come quickly, but until
after it was known that hostilities were over the Troopers had been too
busy to notice the change in one another.
Each day the horses had to be herded, and the tidings that an animal had
broken away and must be pursued was always hailed with delight, as the
chase was a welcome break in the slow camp life.
As there was a splendid beach about three miles from the camp at
Guayama, and about the same distance from Arroyo, Captain Groome issued
orders to the City Troopers for one platoon to bathe in the morning,
each day, and a second platoon in the afternoon. At the beach the trees
and foliage extended clear to the water's edge. In some places the water
was deep right from the tree line, but there were three or four sand
bars that extended way out, so that a bather could walk as far out in
the water at some points as at Atlantic City. There was always a heavy
surf at the beach, that made bathing a good sport.
It was also great fun to take the horses into the surf. At first the
greys did not take kindly to surf bathing, but under the wise guidance
of their riders they soon were taught that waves would not hurt them,
and in some of the deep water places they quickly learned to take long
swims with the Troopers.
In all their manoeuvres in Puerto Rico, the City Troopers were divided
into four platoons. No drills were held, but, as a matter of record, the
Roster of the Troop at this period of the campaign is here given,
passing from right to left in the line:
Captain, John C. Groome.
First Lieutenant, Edward Browning.
Second Lieutenant, J. Frank McFadden.
FIRST PLATOON.
_Right Squad._--Sergeant, Frederic Thibault; Privates, Frank Bower,
Alfred Pardee, Alfred Bright, Thomas Cadwalader, H. Percy
Glendinning, Thomas Robb, Jr., Henry J. Wetherill, T. Wallis
Huidekoper, Edward Gregg; Corporal, J. Houston Merrill.
_Left Squad._--Privates, Edward E. Stetson, Charles Wheeler, Edward
Rawle, William I. Forbes, William West, Williams Biddle Cadwalader,
Charles C. Brinton, Frank A. Janney, James De Kay, Edward Cann;
Corporal, Adolph G. Rosengarten.
SECOND PLATOON.
_Right Squad._--Sergeant, William H. Hart; Privates, Robert Fell,
William Farr, Samuel K. Reeves, Thomas J. Orbison, Samuel Goodman,
Jr., Henry S. Godfrey, Clifford Pemberton, Jr., Maitland Armstrong,
George Wilson; Corporal, Gustav A. Heckscher.
_Left Squad._--Privates, N. B. Warden, Stuart Wheeler, M. G.
Rosengarten, J. Warren Coulston, Jr., Charles Coates, James M.
Rhodes, Jr., Francis C. Green, John Conygham Stevens, John
Zimmerman, Norman Risley; Corporal, Samuel Chew.
THIRD PLATOON.
_Right Squad._--Sergeant, William E. Bates; Privates, Edward Lord,
Henry G. Woodman, C. King Lennig, Trenchard Newbold, Thomas Ridgway,
Benjamin B. Reath, Carroll Smyth, James Starr, Edward Brooke;
Corporal, George C. Thayer.
_Left Squad._--Privates, John Strawbridge, William E. Goodman, Jr.,
William G. Warden, Jr., George L. Farnum, J. Clifford Rosengarten;
Hospital Steward, William H. Cornell; Privates, S. Frederick Mills,
Francis Rawle, Edward B. Cornell; Corporal, Henry C. Butcher, Jr.
FOURTH PLATOON.
_Right Squad._--Sergeant, Charles H. Smith; Privates, George H.
McFadden, Jr., Harry C. Barclay, Reginald H. Shober, Francis L.
Cramp, Carroll Hodge, H. Austin Smith, Ward Brinton, Edward Rogers,
Charles B. Lewis; Corporal, Francis A. Thibault.
_Left Squad._--Privates, Herman A. Denckla, Henry Drinker Riley,
Edward C. Taylor, W. B. Duncan Smith, Bromley Wharton, Lightner
Witmer, Frederick B. Neilson, Douglas H. Jacobs; Commissary
Corporal, A. Mercer Biddle; Corporal, Alexander W. Wister, Jr.
Private Ranson, Farrier.
Private Newlin, Cook.
Private Kirk, Cook.
Private Gibbons, Saddler.
Private Halbustadt, Wagoner.
Private Nilon, Blacksmith.
Trumpeter, Brossman.
Trumpeter, R. Singer.
Stable Sergeant, John Wagner, Jr.
Ordnance Sergeant, Robert E. Glendinning.
Quartermaster-Sergeant, Dr. William C. Lott.
First Sergeant, J. Willis Martin.
While the Troopers were in camp at Guayama, under orders from General
Brooke, they changed their old style of camp life a little by using a
number of large hospital tents, loaned by General Brooke's headquarters,
which were occupied by six or seven men each, instead of the little dog
tents intended for two men. The larger tents made life more bearable
during the heavy rains, and were greatly appreciated by all.
Although each duty was taken up with uniform cheerfulness, and nothing
was slighted, it soon became evident that for the first time there was a
unanimous desire on the part of the City Troopers, now that peace was
assured, to get home as quickly as possible. So there was great
rejoicing when, on Thursday morning, August 25th, Captain Groome
received orders to proceed at once to Ponce with the Troop, there to
take passage for New York. Just before this order came, a detachment of
Troopers had gone from camp on a hunt after Spanish guerrillas. They
were promptly recalled by General Brooke's command.
The packing of saddles and stowing away of tents was attended to with a
will, and on Friday morning the march of thirty-seven miles to Ponce was
begun. This distance was to be made in two stages, as marching was slow
at the best with skirmishers out, and the weather was so sultry that for
most of the distance the men trudged along on foot, leading their
horses.
Although buoyed up by the prospect of soon seeing home and friends
again, the Troopers found the first day's march the hardest work they
had undertaken since enlistment. Spaniards could be seen in the hills
all about, and a close outlook had to be kept. The march led through
deep cuts in the road, where there was not a breath of air stirring,
where the terrific heat seemed determined to beat to the ground all
living things that ventured to brave its fury. Rain--hot, steam-like
rain--alternated with the blazing sun, and uniforms were one hour
drenched with rain, the next hour dried by the sun, and a few moments
later soaking wet with perspiration.
At midday a halt was made at the same plantation visited on the way out.
There was a grove of what the Troopers styled "United States trees," and
in its shade they lay around and ate canned stuff and dried their
clothes. Then the tramp was resumed with all its fatigue, and at night a
camp fire was built on another sugar plantation. Three of the men living
there spoke English, and the first use of it they made was to notify
Captain Groome that a number of the laborers were sick with small pox,
and that the spot selected for a camp was particularly infected.
The Captain had quite a consultation with various people before
selecting the final camping ground, and the weary Troopers had no sooner
attended to their horses than they dropped off to sleep. Like dead men
they lay in their blankets, totally oblivious of the swarms of
mosquitoes which gathered about them, or of the land crabs, little
snakes and other queer creatures that all night long crawled over their
bodies in a familiarly inquiring manner.
[Illustration: RETURN ALONG THE ROAD FROM GUAYAMA TO PONCE.]
The second day began with a cool shower, which left the atmosphere in
a splendid condition, and the advance was more rapid. While all the men
had been supplied with Khaiki uniforms, it was noticeable that on this
last day's march in the enemy's country a majority clung to the blue. A
short rest was taken at midday. Late in the afternoon the heavens began
to let loose a flood of rain, and streams sprang up beneath the feet of
the cavalrymen. Twenty minutes after the Troopers passed the bridge
leading to Playa de Ponce, the structure was swept away by a raging
torrent one hundred feet wide. At nightfall the City Troopers had just
put up their small tents and gone into camp for the night, when, at 9.30
P. M., the signal service sent word to Captain Groome that the tents
would have to come up and the men get away quickly, as a river would
soon be rolling over the spot where the Troopers were preparing to turn
in. Indeed, by the time the warning came, trickling streams innumerable
were sweeping through the field below the camp. Assembly was sounded,
and in forty-five minutes tents were struck, bags packed, horses
saddled, four wagons loaded, and the Troop moved out. When the tents
were first pitched, it was the intention of the Troopers to name the
camp after Hugh Craig, Jr., but this idea was given up after the
message from the signal corps, and the name "_Mala Aqua_"--wicked
water--substituted. Mr. Craig's name was afterward bestowed upon the
last camp occupied by the Troopers on foreign soil.
No sheltered spot could be found that night after the retreat from the
oncoming river, so the Troopers philosophically wrapped themselves in
their blankets and lay down in the streets of Playa, unmindful of the
beating rain. Despite the downpour there were soon a number of fires
burning about the camp, for the Philadelphia men had become experts in
the art of getting a cheery blaze out of wet wood, and damp matches no
longer possessed any terrors.
While the men slept on the pavement, their horses were tied to logs
along the curb. Some of the Troopers induced their mounts to lie down
and be used as pillows. It was a strange sight, more picturesque than it
was comfortable for the men who made up the tableau. If any one incident
in the campaign could be said to illustrate better than another the
clean grit which actuated every move of the Troopers, this night spent
in the streets of Playa, amid drenching rain, would probably be selected
by a historian.
In the morning Captain Groome marched the Troopers into "Dolorales"
lumber yard, where the sheds, roofed over with galvanized iron, looked
extremely inviting to the rain-soaked men. Blankets were spread on the
top of lumber piles, under the roof, and perched up there the Troopers
were sheltered from the alternate sun and showers.
For one week there was a hard struggle to kill time. There was nothing
to do but look after the horses, and no place to go. Several times
members of the Troop took carriage rides about the city, and had all the
points of interest explained by guides. Hope was high in the hearts of
officers and men alike that a start for Philadelphia could be made by
September 1st, but the first came and still no orders. Relief was close
at hand, however, for on Friday, September 2d, orders came to turn the
Troop's horses and equipments over to the headquarter officers at Ponce,
and to embark the Troopers upon the transport "Mississippi," which was
lying a half mile out in the harbor.
Before turning over the horses to other hands, the old greys were given
a careful rub down, and then a thorough cleaning was bestowed upon
halters, bridles, carbines, scabbards, sabers, pistols and holsters. The
Troopers were complimented upon the condition of their mounts, for they
came out of the campaign much the best of any other horses, although
admittedly they had been given the hardest work to do.
While there was naturally much regret expressed by the cavalrymen at
parting with the horses and equipments, which had formed so close a part
of their lives during the summer, yet there was a bright side to the
matter, inasmuch as the Troopers on their homeward trip were saved most
of their hard work. No longer were they obliged to feed and water their
horses twice a day, and do stable duty each morning; they were also rid
of all the tugging on and off of lighters, transports and trains of
saddles and equipments, and they were through spending their spare
moments polishing up the numerous small belongings of a Trooper. In the
turning over of all these things there was a great relief.
All day Friday A and C Troops, of New York; the Governor's and Sheridan
Troops, of Pennsylvania; and Pennsylvania A Battery, loaded the
transport with their horses. Finally at six o'clock in the afternoon,
the City Troop, their canvas and commissary having been lightered to the
ship, fell in and marched to the dock. At eight o'clock Captain Groome
ordered them on a big lighter, and drawn by the tug "Sarah," of
Philadelphia, they went out in the harbor to the "Mississippi." There,
with blanket rolls over one shoulder, and haversacks and saddlebags
over the other, they tumbled up the ladder to the deck of the slow, but
comparatively commodious transport. Not until midnight did General
Wilson's headquarter horses get aboard, and the vessel was soon
afterward steering for New York. No demonstration was made during the
embarking of the troops. The cavalrymen were too tired to do any
cheering themselves, even at the thought of home. The natives about the
dock did some cheering, but as they were always ready to hurrah over
anything, their yells did not particularly inspire the departing
soldiers.
The City Troop had its quarters forward on the "Mississippi," with A
Battery alongside and A Troop on the deck below. This was pleasant all
around, as the New York and Philadelphia Troopers were the best of
friends, and in addition the Troopers had many friends in the
Philadelphia battery.
For this ocean trip of one thousand, three hundred and ninety miles the
City Troopers were better prepared than on their voyage to Ponce. Of
course, there were great hardships to be endured, but the commissary had
laid in a supply of ice, so that the drinking water could be kept at a
reasonable temperature, and the men had gained enough experience to
hustle for good sleeping places on deck and not bother with the
hammocks.
The old transport averaged about two hundred miles a day, which seemed
particularly slow to the impatient Troopers. At the time the
"Mississippi" had been forty-eight hours out, it became clear that the
sea voyage was doing all the cavalrymen a vast deal of good; the
unhealthy pallor, induced by tropical weather, began to wear off, and
the men felt that they would be in good condition to receive the welcome
which they knew was awaiting them.
Daily routine aboard ship was established as follows: Reveille at 6
o'clock, stables at 6.30, mess at 7, sick at 8, fatigue at 8.30, guard
mount at 9, mess at 12, and again at 6, tattoo at 9, and taps at 9.30.
Fair weather remained with the "Mississippi" throughout the entire trip.
Guidons of each troop aboard were affixed to the foremast head.
[Illustration: HACIENDA CARMEN.]