The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-07-06
from GENERAL WHEELER.
A Number of officers and Men Under
His Command Praised.
ENEMY QUICKLY FALLS BACK.
No word OF the expected Engagement
between Opposing Armies Around
Santiago Has Been Received
by the omoiaIs as
washinEton.


eral wheeIer's official report to Major
General Shafter of what is known as
the battle of Siboney. dated in camp,
Juragua. June 20. is as follows:
Slr-I have the honor TO report that. In
obedience TO the Instructions OF the major
general commanding gwen me In person
on June %. proceeded TO Siboney CJura-
gunl.
daylight that morning, taking course to-
wards SeviIla. body of about 1000 Gu
bans had followed aud engaged the enc
my's rear guard About nine or them We're
wounded.
rode out to the front and found the
enemy had halted and established them.
selves Mt point about three miles from
to the vicinity of the town. At 8 o'clock
that evening, the 23d. General YotnE
reached SIboney with eight troops OF Col
onel Woods regiment, A, b. ID, y. +. -,
First cavalry, in all 2f4 men, ana troops
A. Il. e and OF the Tenth cavalry. IN an
22O men, making the total force So4 men,
which included nearly all OF my eotninahn,
which had marched from Baiduirls II
With the assistance of General Castillo.
n rough map OF the country was prepared
and the position OF the enemy was fully
explained, and determined TO make an
attack ut daylight on the 24th-
Colonel Moods regiment was sent by
General Young accompanied by two OF
bIs stan oaiccrs. Iicutenants Tyrree II.
Rivers and w. Il. Smedburg, Jr-, to ap-
nroach the enemy the left hand, or more
westerly road. while General Young, my
self and about 500 troops OF the Tenth
cavalry, with three Botchkiss mountain
guns. approached the enemy on the reEulnF
Sevilla road.
General Young and myself examined the
position of the enemy, the lines were de-
ployed and directed him to open hre Win WIN
the Hotchklss guns. The enemy replied
and the fring Immediately became general
Colonel Wood had deplOyed his right, near
~ reaching the left of the regulars.
For an hour the nght was very warm
the enemy being very lavish In expendl-
ture of ammunition most OF their nrink
being in volleys.
Finally the enemy gave way and retreat
ed rapidly. We followed them over the
line keeping close upon them; but our
men being physically exhausted By both
their excrtIons ana the great heat were
Incapable of maintaining the pursuit
l can not speak too highly OF the gallant
and excellent conduct OF the ohcers ana
men throughout my command GeneEat
Young deserves special commendation Tor
his cool. deliberate and skillfnl manage
ment.
tant general, A. L. Mills, who, under Gem
eraT Young'g direction. WIS nt Ynriopg
parts of the line, acting with energy ana
cool courage.
The imperative necessity Of disembark--
ing with promptltiude had impelled me To
leuve most OF my STAN to hnsten this I'm
matter.
had with me Major w. ID. Beach and M
Megtro. an acting volunteer aide, both OF
whom during the engagement. cr1dlta1ly
and bravely performed their duties. am
especially indebted to Major Beach
Colonel Woods regiment was on the ex-
treme left OF the line and too far distant
for me to be n personal witness Of the In
dIvIduaI conduct OF the otileers ana mem
but the magnificent bravery shown ~ the
regiment under the lead OF Colonel Wood
testifies to his courage and skill and the
energy nnd determination of his ofheers,
which has been marked from the moment
he reported to me Mt Tampa, and recon-
mend him for the consideration OF the gov
ernment must rely upon his report 70
do fusfIce 10 his officers aud men. i desire
personally TO add all that have said re-
gardtng Colonel Wood npplics equally 70
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt
was Immediately with the troops Of
the First and Tenth regiments OF cavalry
dismOunted, and personally noticed their
brave and good condIct, which win be spe-
cIally mentioned by Genernl Young
personally noticed the good conduct OF
Captains w H Book. Robert p. VAIN
wright and Jacob G. GaIbraith, 4alor
James J. Bell Captain Thomas II Know
and Lieutenant George r. Brown. Ehe
last three were wounded.
Major Bell, ms he lay ON the ground with
q broken leg. said; - only regret can
not go on with you further"
Captain Know. severely wounded. con-
tinued as long - possible TO exercise his
command, and insisted TO me that he was
not much hurt. and Lieutenant Brown also
made light of his wound 10 me and con-
tinned upon the line until he tainted,
recommend those officers for the favorable
consideration or the government.
not state POSITIVELY as to the size
of the Spanish force which we engaged.
or TIE extent Of their casualties, further
than that the force was mneb greater tban
our, and that Information haTe would
Indicate that their Killed and wounded
very far exceeded the loss which our
troops snstained.
Tne engagement inspired our troops and
must have had a bad effect upon tke spirits
of the Spanish soldiers,
Il also gave our command the beautlful
and well w44ered country In which we
have established our eneampments. II has
also given us a full view Of Santiago and
the surrounding country, and has enabled
US 10 reconnotter close to the fortifleations
Of that place.
The casualties in the engagement were.
First United States volunteer eaTairy,
strength 5O0-killed. 8. wounded. a.
First United States regular cavairv
strength killed, - wounded, 8
Tenth United States regular cavaIry
strength 220-kiiIed. 4. wounded, 10
Total strength SeEkilled. 10. wounded
81 RespeeffuiIy submitted.