From Yauco to Las Marias

ꋨFrom Yauco to Las Marias

The Project Gutenberg eBook, From Yauco to Las Marias, by Karl Stephen Herrman
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Title: From Yauco to Las Marias
Author: Karl Stephen Herrman
Release Date: December 12, 2003 [eBook #10439]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8858-1
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FROM YAUCO TO LAS MARIAS
A Recent Campaign in Puerto Rico by the Independent Regular Brigade under the command of BRIG. GENERAL SCHWAN
by
KARL STEPHEN HERRMAN

[Illustration: Theodore Schwan, Brigadier-General U.S. Volunteers.]

TO ROBERT SMITH COBB
MY BROTHER LORD IN CERTAIN ISLES OF FRIENDSHIP AND OWNER OF PRECIOUS CARGO IN MY SHIP OF DREAMS

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I
The Independent Regular Brigade
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
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
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
We march to San German--Removal of the sick from the ambulances--An approaching Spanish force--Our scouts and their leader--Concerning Se?or Fijardo--Visible effects of imminent battle--Something about the town of San German.

CHAPTER V
The Engagement at Hormigueros
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
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
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
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
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
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
APPENDIX
THE ILLUSTRATIONS
Theodore Schwan, Brigadier-General U.S. Volunteers Statue of Columbus, Mayaguez American Cavalry entering Mayaguez on the 11th of August The Public Fountain in Aguadilla, a Favorite Rendezvous for Runaway Lovers Plaza Principal, Mayaguez. Town Hall in Background Spanish Prisoners who were brought from Las Marias to Mayaguez Plaza Principal, Mayaguez. A Public Celebration of the New Flag's Advent, under the Auspices of the Local School-teachers and their Pupils The Plaza of San German on Market-day Lower Quarter of Mayaguez A Mid-section of the Calle Mendez-Vigo, Mayaguez Positions occupied by Spanish Soldiers in the Skirmish at Hormigueros Railroad from Mayaguez to Aguadilla The Theatre, Mayaguez Custom-house at Mayaguez occupied by General Schwan as Brigade Headquarters Road from Mayaguez to A?asco Lower End of the Calle de Mendez-Vigo, Mayaguez Guenar Bridge, Mayaguez Upper End of the Calle Mendez-Vigo, Mayaguez The Town of Sabana Grande Witch River, near Cabo Rojo American Camp at Mayaguez Plaza Mercado, Mayaguez Mouth of the Mayaguez River A Bit of Yauco Wooden Dock at Mayaguez. In the Offing can be seen the German Man-of-war "Geier" "Eleventh of August" Street The Officers of the Alphonso XIII Regiment of Cazadores, taken a few days before the Fight with the American Troops at Hormigueros The Military Hospital, Mayaguez Part of the Village of Maricao Infantry Barracks, Mayaguez The Rosario River, near Hormigueros A Street in San German Tobacco Plantation (cutting leaves), Mayaguez The Plaza Principal in Mayaguez looking toward the Church A Ruined Church along our Line of March A Puerto Rican Laundry Watering the Artillery Horses at Yauco A Native Bull-team On the Road to Lares The Best Outfit in our Wagon Train "Promenade of the Fleas" in Yauco When only One Man gets a Letter The "Weary Travellers' Spring," near A?asco A Crude Sugar Mill near Las Marias A very Popular Spot Two Knights and a Pawn

INTRODUCTION
I have ventured to set down in this place