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July 31, 1898

Mass at 6.15 am. One of the wounded men died today. The 4th Expedition arrived at 3 p.m. At 11.30 pm. we were called to arms which we achieved in 5 minutes and 18 seconds; we were quickly on the march to support the Pennsylvanians in the trenches. The Spaniards had made flank attacks on our trenches and they were repulsed several times with terrible loss of life. When we arrived in the trenches about 12.30 pm. the Pennsylvanians had only two rounds of ammunition left each and had fixed their bayonets ready to charge. Our cheers coming in the rear helped to check the Spaniards until we had an opportunity to check them with lead. Terrible fire was kept up for about three hours and then it eased off. Their sharpshooters kept up a fire all night, with a few volleys now and then from our side. ‘A’ Company was the first in the trenches. Sergeant Justh was shot in the abdomen about fifty yards in the rear of the trenches. I was a couple of yards away from him when he dropped. Edwards was shot through the shoulder and Captain Richter. ‘I’ Company, was shot in the head. We remained in the trenches until next morning at 10 am. Our casualties totalled six men killed and sixteen wounded. We experienced another typhoon and suffered very much from the wet and the cold, as we were wet to the skin in two minutes and were up to our knees in mud and slush. I was feeling pretty sick early in the night and took 20 grains of quinine. I thought the hardship would finish me if a bullet didn’t, but I got over it all right and felt fine afterwards, thank God.