not experienced it can appreciate. You then
disembarked, amidst dangerous surroundings; and on landing
were for the first time on hostile ground. You marched,
under a tropical sun, carrying blanket-roll, three days'
rations, and one hundred rounds of ammunition, through rain
and mud, part of the time at night, sleeping on the wet
ground without shelter, living part of the time on scant
rations, even, of bacon, hard bread and coffee, until on
July 1 you arrived at El Caney. Here you took the battle
formation and advanced to the stone fort, more like veterans
than troops who had never been under fire. You again
marched, day and night, halting only to dig four lines of
intrenchments, the last being the nearest point to the enemy
reached by any organization, when, still holding your
rifles, within these intrenchments, notice was received that
Santiago and the Spanish army had surrendered.

But commendable as the record cited may be, the brightest
hours of your lives were on the afternoon of July 1. Formed
in battle array, you advanced to the stone fort against
volleys therefrom, and rifle-pits in front, and against a
galling fire from blockhouses, the church tower and the
village on your left. You continued to advance, skilfully
and bravely directed by the officers in immediate command,
halting and delivering such a cool and well-directed fire
that the enemy was compelled to wave the white flag in token
of surrender.

Seldom have troops been called upon to face a severer fire,
and never have they acquitted themselves better.

The regimental reserve was called upon to try its nerve, by
lying quiet under a galling fire, without the privilege of
returning it, where men were killed and wounded. This is a
test of nerve which the firing line cannot realize, and
requires the highest qualities of bravery and endurance.

You may well return to the United States proud of your
accomplishments; and if any one asks you what you have done,
point him to El Caney.

But in the midst of the joy of going home, we mourn the loss
of those we leave behind. The genial, generous-hearted
McCorkle fell at his post of duty, bravely directing his men
in the advance on the stone fort. He died as the soldier
dies, and received a soldier's burial. H