About 1 o'clock in the afternoon on the 30th, the officers
of the regiment were assembled at headquarters and were
notified that there would be an attack on the Spanish
position the next morning. About 4 o'clock the regiment
started for its position, arriving after 10 o'clock, having
covered a distance of less than three miles. The route was
over an excuse for a road, but was crowded with some of the
troops of almost every organization of the army, causing
numberless halts, but worse than all, breaking the
much-needed rest of the troops. On one part of this route I
heard men asking, "What regiment is this?" and heard various
responses, as follows: "The W.W.W.'s, the 1st Cavalry, the
4th Infantry, the 10th Cavalry," etc. Some one asked, "What
are the W.W.W.'s?" and some one replied, "Wood's Weary
Walkers." I do not know who is responsible for that
condition of affairs. Had we had an enterprising enemy in
our front, disaster certainly would have followed. Here were
a number of organizations scattered along a narrow, muddy
trail, at the mercy of an active foe. All this was only
three or four miles from the Spanish works. The men were
cheerful, and few if any realized that there might be
danger.

Most of the men were up and moving about before daylight the
next morning. Shortly after, the regiment started in the
direction of El Caney. At 9 A.M. we halted in a mango grove
near the Ducureau mansion. Shortly before noon a mounted
orderly appeared with a message for the brigade commander. A
few minutes later the march towards El Caney was taken up.
Heavy musketry fire had been heard in that direction since
shortly before 7 o'clock. A march of little more than a mile
and the regiment was formed for battle, Companies G and H in
the firing line, C and D in support, the remaining four
companies in reserve.

For two hours or perhaps more the firing was very heavy,
especially during the second hour. Attention is called to
report of Colonel A.S. Daggett, pages 387 and 388, "Report
of the War Department, 1898, Vol. I," and endorsement on
same by Major-General A.R. Chaffee. He says: "This stone
fort was practically in the possession of the 12th Infantry
at about 2 P.M. July 1." I cannot reconcile this statement
with the fact that betwe