The battle opened at dawn and lasted until dark.

When our troops reached the point from which they were to make the attack, the Spanish lines of entrenched soldiers could not be seen.
[Illustration: CORPORAL BROWN.

(Who was killed at a Hotchkiss gun while shelling the Spanish block-house to save the Rough Riders.)] The only thing indicating their position was the block-house situated on the highest point of a very steep hill.

The undergrowth was so dense that one could not see, on a line, more than fifty yards ahead.
The Spaniards, from their advantageous position in the block-house and trenches on the hill top, had located the American forces in the bushes and opened a fusillade upon them.

The Americans replied with great vigor, being ordered to fire at the block-house and to the right and left of it, steadily advancing as they fired.