A Recent Campaign in Puerto Rico

by Karl Stephen Herrmann

Layout 2

A

Recent Campaign

in Puerto Rico

By the

Independent Regular Brigade

under the command of

BRIG. GENERAL SCHWAN

BY

KARL STEPHEN HERRMAN

E. H. BACON & CO.

Boston, Massachusetts, U. S. A.

1907

CONTENTS

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

13

CHAPTER I

The Independent Regular Brigade ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

17

Place of meeting — Forces comprised by the command — Why we were not like the Volunteers — Characteristics of the professional soldier — Sketches of the more important officers — What we were ordered to do.

CHAPTER II

The First Day's March ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

24

Disposition of our column — The road to Sabana Grande — The infantrymen's burden — Wayside hospitality — Hard tack and repartee — Into camp and under blankets — Arrival of Macomb's troop — A smoke-talk.

CHAPTER III

The People of Puerto Rico ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

31

Their attitude toward the invading Americans — The proclamation of General Miles — Justice and the private soldier — Depravity of the native masses — Men and women of the better class — Local attributes of life — A hint to the weary.

CHAPTER IV

The Second Day Begins ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

39

We march to San German — Removal of the sick from the ambulances — An approaching Spanish force — Our scouts and their leader — Concerning Señor Fijardo — Visible effects of imminent battle — Something about the town of San German.

CHAPTER V

The Engagement at Hormigueros ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

47

Topography of the battlefield — Macomb's cavalry fired into by Spanish skirmishers — Our advance-guard comes into contact with the foe — General Schwan reaches the firing line — The main body arrives and joins in the fray — Subsequent manoeuvres of our column — The Spanish retreat — A computation of losses.

CHAPTER VI

The Second Day Ends ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

58

A personal résumé of the fight — Lack of melodramatic accompaniments — A lost chance of glory — Another neglected opportunity — A glimpse of the flag — Once more into camp.

CHAPTER VII

The Occupation of Mayaguez ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

67

We enter the city in triumph — An enthusiastic reception — A pretty girl and the star-spangled banner — Other memorable incidents — Our rags and tatters — A description of Mayaguez — We pitch our tents in a swamp — The First Kentucky Volunteers.

CHAPTER VIII

The Engagement at Las Marias ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

75

Difficulties encountered in locating the retreating enemy — Final determination upon pursuit — Lieutenant-Colonel Burke sets forth — Discovery of Spanish troops near Las Marias — A one-sided encounter — Unwelcome notification of truce — The rest of the brigade comes up — Feeding the prisoners — Our disappointment.

CHAPTER IX

The Territory Won ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

84

General Schwan returns to Mayaguez — Business and pleasure — A custom we abolished — Extent of the district captured by our brigade — Aguadilla — Facilities for transportation — Labor and the laborer — The cost of living — Rents and real estate — Skilled workmen — A word about investments.

CHAPTER X

The End of the Campaign ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

93

Arrival of the mail-steamer — The soldier-boy and his letters — The greater part of the brigade is quartered in Mayaguez — Agriculture in Puerto Rico — Material result of our campaign — A farewell order — General Schwan departs for the United States.

A Brief Sketch of the Life of Brigadier-General Schwan ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

101

Appendix ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

103