From Yauco to Las Marias

Karl Stephen Herrman
From Yauco to Las Marias

The Project Gutenberg eBook, From Yauco to Las Marias, by Karl Stephen Herrman
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

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
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM YAUCO TO LAS MARIAS***
E-text prepared by Lazar Liveanu and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders

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 r��sum�� 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
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code

 / 25
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.