From Yauco to Las Marias

Hard marching, makeshift camps and hurried artillery movements shape Karl Stephen Herrman's account of an American brigade in Puerto Rico in 1898. He follows the Independent Regular Brigade under Brigadier-General Theodore Schwan, beginning with its assembly at Yauco and tracing a campaign through the island's western towns. The contents cover the road to Sabana Grande, the fighting at Hormigueros, the occupation of Mayaguez and the encounter near Las Marias.

Herrman writes as an artilleryman who knows the daily burdens of service. His descriptions of professional soldiers mix loyalty with teasing criticism, while his recollection of battle includes confused impressions and a hurried dash to rejoin his section. Alongside troop movements, the book offers observations on local life, transport and agriculture. Readers interested in the Spanish-American War can use it to examine how a participant turns military events, discomfort and personal embarrassment into a compact campaign narrative.