From Appomattox to Germany; Pictures of the Great Events in a Wonderful Half Century (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 Excerpt: ...the fleet had withdrawn showed that no lives were lost on the American side and none of the vessels were seriously injured. The Spanish ship Reina Mercedes was sunk in the harbor, she being the only ship of the enemy's fleet which had ventured within range of the American guns. But with all these triumphs of our navy, no American soldier had yet set foot on Cuban soil; and, as if our sailor boys had not already won glory sufficient, it was a party of marines who first made a landing, and a gallant exploit it was. About two hundred miles east of Santiago is Guantanamo Bay, and it was determined to land there a party of marines from the Panther, under Colonel Huntington. In the whole story of the war there are few more thrilling episodes than the landing of this gallant band. The place of landing was at the foot of a precipitous hill the sides and brow of which were covered with tangled jungle. On the very crest of the hill was a little clearing, and here an advance post of the Spanish army was encamped. As the marines scrambled up the hill the Spaniards retreated into the thicket and the marines were soon occupying the cleared space which the fleeing enemy had abandoned. Scarcely were they well settled in their camp when a weatherbeaten old insurgent came rushing along the road leading from the valley over to another group of hills three miles distant. Breathlessly he panted out his errand, to the consternation of the marines. The retreat of the outpost Spaniards had been only a ruse to draw the Americans into a trap. The Spanish skirmish-line was already advancing toward them. The old Cuban was THB Wreck Of The "reina Mercedes" not a minute too soon, for scarcely had he gasped out his warning when a rifle bullet whizzed past him from the thicket. ...