After the artillery fire had ceased the regiment
moved right past the sugar mills and proceeded in
rear of the town on the road toward Santiago. The
movement was delayed as we approached the San Juan
river and the regiment came within range of fire
about half a mile from the crossing. Upon reaching
the river I found that the Seventy-first N. Y.
Volunteers were at the crossing and that the
regiment preceding mine had moved to the right.
The Tenth Cavalry was here subject to and
confronting radically an infantry fire from the
three block houses and intrenchments in front and
the works farther to the left and nearer Santiago.
The fire was probably drawn by a balloon which
preceded the regiment to a point near the ford
where it was held. I was directed to take a
position to the right behind the river, however,
for protection moving to this position and while
there the regiment suffered considerable loss.
After an interval of 20 to 30 minutes I was
directed to form line of battle in a particularly
open field facing toward the blockhouse and strong
intrenchments to the north occupied by the enemy.
Much difficulty was found on account of the dense
undergrowth crossed in several directions by wire
fences. As a part of the cavalry division under
General Sumner, the regiment was formed on two
lines. The first squadron under Major S. T.
Norvall consisting of troops A, E, B and I
leading. The second line under Major T. J. Wint
consisting of troops C, F and G. Troop D having
crossed further down the river attached itself to
a command of infantry and moved with that command
on the two blockhouses. The regiment advanced in
this formation under a heavy fire from the enemy's
position proceeding but a short distance when the
two lines were reunited into one. The advance was
rapidly continued in an irregular line toward the
blockhouses and intrenchments to the right front.
During this advance the lines passed some troops
of the first cavalry which I think had been
previously formed on our right. Several losses