Santiago. About 9 o'clock there was a
report that the enemy were in our front. The regiment was
immediately formed for battle, and reconnoitering parties
sent forward; after about thirty minutes' delay the supposed
enemy proved to be the large leaves of some tropical trees
being moved by the wind, giving them the appearance of
persons in motion. Our route was over a narrow trail,
through a dense wilderness; water was scarce and the heat
was intense. About noon we arrived at Siboney, where we
bivouacked for the night. Before daylight next morning the
troops in our rear were heard passing on the trail by our
camp. Shortly after daylight Captain Capron's battery of
four guns passed, and the men lined up along the road and
cheered lustily. About an hour later, musketry fire and the
occasional discharge of a Hotchkiss gun could be plainly
heard towards Santiago. About three-quarters of an hour
later we received orders to march. By mistake, the wrong
trail was taken, and after marching fourteen hours we
returned to our camp of the previous night, all fagged out.
A great many men of the brigade were overcome with heat
during this long, tiresome and fruitless ramble. I cannot
say how many of these were of the 25th Infantry, but in my
own company (B) there was not a man out of the ranks when
the camp was reached. (I have called the above-mentioned
place "Siboney." There is probably some other name for it,
as the Cubans have one for every hamlet. It is not far from
Siboney, and not knowing the name, have called it Siboney.)

On the morning of the 25th we got rations from the transport
and all enjoyed a hearty breakfast. At 1 P.M. we broke camp
and marched to Sevilla, about six miles. Here we remained
until the morning of the 27th, part of the regiment being
out on picket duty. June 27th, the regiment marched three
miles towards Santiago and bivouacked on the banks of a
small creek. Bathing was forbidden, as the creek was the
only water supply for the army. The troops remained at this
place until the afternoon of June 30th. The camp was in the
valley of the creek, the ground is low and flat, and with
the heavy rainfall every one was uncomfortable. Rations had
to be brought from Siboney over a trail and did not arrive
regularly.