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Manajanabo 143
most magnificent target conceivable — one that
would make an American marksman's trigger finger
quiver up to his elbow. As usual, the Spaniards
made in every respect the least possible advantage
of their natural surroundings.
The men of the escolta were now at a distance
from the enemy, varying between two hundred and
two hundred and fifty yards. Our other two troops
were already scattering into the palm grove, and the
impedimenta was safe away among the hills. Gomez'
two trumpeters struck up a merry quickstep, and
the shooting began on our side.
The Cubans say that if you are not wounded in
the first volley, you will not be at all unless Providence
so expressly desires ; therefore, I waited to see the
rifles go up with interest. A sparkle of moving steel
ran along the bluish-gray line, then the line wavered
in a thin mist of exploding, smokeless powder, and
a crash came like the swift tearing of a giant strip of
carpet. Another crash ! and another! Five distinct
crashes; and the five cartridges that each Spanish
rifle carried in its magazine were expended. The
popping of our men, who shot from their saddles,
seemed slight and puny.
The Spanish volleys now came irregularly, swelling to a rah ! rah ! rah ! sound, like a confused succession of college cheers. The sun caught on the
waving blades of the officers, who were threatening
and slapping the soldiers to preserve the alignment.
Our shots must have told, for the Spanish line
wavered like cane swayed by the wind ; they were
shoulder to shoulder, the front rank apparently
kneeling with the butts of their pieces on the ground.
| Title | Marching with Gomez |
| Creator | Flint, Grover |
| Publisher | Lamson, Wolffe and company |
| Place of Publication | Boston, New York [etc.] |
| Date | 1898 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000186 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | Manajanabo 143 most magnificent target conceivable — one that would make an American marksman's trigger finger quiver up to his elbow. As usual, the Spaniards made in every respect the least possible advantage of their natural surroundings. The men of the escolta were now at a distance from the enemy, varying between two hundred and two hundred and fifty yards. Our other two troops were already scattering into the palm grove, and the impedimenta was safe away among the hills. Gomez' two trumpeters struck up a merry quickstep, and the shooting began on our side. The Cubans say that if you are not wounded in the first volley, you will not be at all unless Providence so expressly desires ; therefore, I waited to see the rifles go up with interest. A sparkle of moving steel ran along the bluish-gray line, then the line wavered in a thin mist of exploding, smokeless powder, and a crash came like the swift tearing of a giant strip of carpet. Another crash ! and another! Five distinct crashes; and the five cartridges that each Spanish rifle carried in its magazine were expended. The popping of our men, who shot from their saddles, seemed slight and puny. The Spanish volleys now came irregularly, swelling to a rah ! rah ! rah ! sound, like a confused succession of college cheers. The sun caught on the waving blades of the officers, who were threatening and slapping the soldiers to preserve the alignment. Our shots must have told, for the Spanish line wavered like cane swayed by the wind ; they were shoulder to shoulder, the front rank apparently kneeling with the butts of their pieces on the ground. |
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