Feb

More African-American Heroics during the Spanish-American War

By Guest Writer · February 24, 2010

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This article is a guest post by Pat Garland. If you’re interested in posting on EiH, contact me for more details.

Days after the Medal of Honor actions cited previously, during the Battle of El Caney, another black regiment, the 25th US Infantry, was honored:

The American assault began at dawn, as the artillery opened fire. The earth trembled as the explosive shells landed in and around the Spanish positions. Huge sections of earth were tossed every which way as the defenders tried to find cover. Whistles screeched and bugles blared, signaling for the American troops to advance. They moved forward, in skirmish lines; the uphill climb was over ground of various types, from plowed fields, to rock strewn areas of dense brush, often with barbed wire entanglements. It was not a “walk in the park” by any stretch of the imagination. The assault force, and the Spanish defenders, increased their volume of rifle fire. Soldiers could be seen dropping to the ground; some were falling to get away from the gunfire, but others were suffering with wounds. Orders could be heard prompting the men to continue on. A depression, or sunken road, offered a place of safety for several soldiers of the 7th Infantry. The exhausted troops were reluctant to advance through the storm of enemy fire. Officers were frantically trying to get them up and moving forward again.

The Capture of El Caney

Despite the lack of machine guns and artillery, and being denied promised reinforcements, General Vara del Rey and his soldiers held over eight thousand Americans from their position for nearly twelve hours, preventing them from sweeping through and overwhelming the defenders of San Juan Hill. It had been thought that Lawton’s Second Division would take El Caney in a short time, and move on to San Juan Hill. The assault division consisted of the 7th, 12th, and 17th Infantry Regiments, with Miles’ Brigade in reserve.

With bullets and shells flying through the air, the noise was deafening; this in addition to the cries of the wounded. The smell of death, the acrid odors from the shellfire, combined with the blood lost by those wounded and killed, was disconcerting to many. To the rear of the American lines, the field guns were belching out great clouds of smoke, and the Gatling guns kept up a staccato rhythm. Early in the fight, Major Augustus W. Corliss, 7th Infantry Regimental Adjutant, was wounded and removed from the field of battle. Harry Bandholtz was ordered to fill the post, which he performed with great bravery. He wanted to perform well, knowing many of the soldiers in his regiment were much more experienced in warfare. A few of the “old-timers” saw skirmishes during the Indian Wars. Others, of foreign birth, had experienced battles with the armies of their native lands. In a letter written at the time, Captain George S. Young, Harry’s immediate supervisor wrote, “his (Bandholtz) conduct on that occasion was conspicuous for bravery and fearlessly exposing himself under heavy fire.” For his actions on this day, Harry was brevetted a Captain. Years later, he would be recognized for his valor, through the award of a Silver Star Citation. Unfortunately this award was made posthumously. Two other 7TH Infantry soldiers, Sergeant Major Samuel W. Shaffer, and Corporal Frank P. McMurphy received the Distinguished Service Cross.

A fellow officer in the 7th Infantry, Captain George Wilcox McIver, Company B, writes in his memoirs that the 7th Infantry led the movement to El Caney. The American Battle Line advanced across open ground, while the Spanish defenders were concealed in houses, behind walls, in blockhouses, and a stone fort called El Viso. Casualties were heavy, but elements of the 12th Infantry, were able to capture the stone fort. With its capture the Spanish firing seemed to subside.

However, the New York Times, on July 18, 1898, in an article entitled “Battle of El Caney,” credits the 25th Infantry Regiment, a negro unit, of actually capturing the stone fort, describing in some detail the heroics of the soldiers of that regiment. The 12th Infantry is also mentioned as taking part in that particular action.

Charge of the 24th and 25th Colored Infantry at San Juan Hill,July 2, 1898

The story relates Colonel Miles’ Brigade, being held as reserve, was ordered forward, with the 4th and 25th Infantry Regiments in the lead. The 4th was soon under extreme fire, and pinned down. Sending forward reserve companies to protect their flank, the 25th continued the advance. These fresh troops passed through the battle weary 7th and 12th Regiments, and stormed forward. The men of the 25th, followed by several companies of the 4th and 12th, forced their way through the Spanish lines, then rushed into the fort. The Spaniards fled in disarray, and the battle ended shortly thereafter.

The 25th Infantry Regiment was organized at Jackson Barracks, Louisiana in April 1868 from African American recruits who had served in the US Army during the Civil War. Colored Regiments were typically and almost without exceptions officered entirely by white officers, however the non-commissioned officers were drawn from the ranks. It is an accepted fact that the long serving sergeants of the black regiments were professional soldiers of the highest quality.

To this day the 12th is credited with capturing the blockhouse, even making it part of their unit insignia. This was done even under official protest from Lieutenant Colonel A. S. Daggett, the commander of the 25th at the Battle of El Caney. However, the Fortress of Al Caney is also depicted on the unit insignia of the 25th.

Sergeant Major Frank Pullen, of the 25th, recalled the events of the day, “Finally, late in the afternoon, our brave Lieutenant Kinnison said to another officer: “We cannot take the trenches without charging them.” Just as he was about to give the order for the bugler to sound “the charge,” he was wounded and carried to the rear. The men were then fighting like demons. Without a word of command, though led by that gallant and intrepid Second Lieutenant James A. Moss, 25th Infantry, some one gave a yell and the 25th Infantry was off, alone to the charge. The 4th U.S. Infantry, fighting on the left, halted when those dusky heroes made the dash with a yell that would have done credit to a Comanche Indian. No one knows who started the charge; one thing is certain, at the time it was made excitement was running high; each man was a captain for himself and fighting accordingly.

It has been reported that the 12th U.S. Infantry made the charge, assisted by the 25th Infantry, but it is a recorded fact that the 25th Infantry fought the battle alone, the 12th Infantry coming up after the firing had nearly ceased. Private T. C. Butler, Company H, 25th Infantry, was the first man to enter the blockhouse at El Caney, and took possession of the Spanish flag for his regiment. An officer of the 12th Infantry came up while Butler was in the house and ordered him to give up the flag, which he was compelled to do, but not until he had torn a piece off the flag to substantiate his report to his Colonel of the injustice which had been done to him. Thus, by using the authority given him by his shoulder-straps, this officer took for his regiment that which had been won by the hearts’ blood of some of the bravest, though black, soldiers of Shafter’s army.

Pat Garland is a retired military criminal investigator trained in forensic ballistics. He has a passion for military and law enforcement subjects and is the author of the book, A Forgotten Soldier-The Life and Times of Major General Harry Hill Bandholtz.