Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-07-07
TELLS OF THE FIGHT.
Gen. Wheeler Praises the Rough
Riders I'm an Omcial Report of the
Battle OF siboney.

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Camp Juragua, June 90 (via Kings
ton, Jamaica, July D.--Gen. Wheeler's
official report to Maj. Gen. Shafter of
what is known as the battle of Siboney
is in part as follows:
.In Camp, Juragua, June 29.-To the Ad-
jutant General of the Fifth Army Corps
Sir: / have the honor to report that, IL
obedience to the instructions of the ma
jor general commanding, given me in per-
son on June g. / proceeded to Siboney
(Juraguasito). The enemy had evacuated
the place at daylight that morning, taking
a course toward Sevilla. body of about
100 Cubans had followed and engaged the
enemy's rear guard. About nine of them
were wounded.
II rode out to the front and found the
enemy had halted and established them
selves at a point about three miles from
Siboney. At eight o'clock that evening, the
23d, Gen. Young reached Siboney with eight
troops of col. Woods regiment.
with the assistance of Gen. Castillo,
a rough map of the country was prepared
and the position of the enemy was fully
explained, and determined to make an
attack at daybreak on the oath. Col.
Woods regiment was sent by Gen. Young,
accompanied by two of his staff officers,
to approach the enemy on the left hand,
or more westerly road, while Gen. Young,
my sell anu ABOUT W lIOOpS VI tilS
First and Tenth cavalry, with three Hotch-
kiss mounted guns, approached the en-
envy on the regular Sevlla road.
Gen. Young and myself examined the
position of the enemy, the lines were de-
ployed, and / directed him to open fire
with the Hotchkiss guns. The enemy re-
piled and the firing Immediately became
general
For an hour the fight was very warm,
the enemy being very lavish in expenditure
of ammunition, most of their firing being
by volleys
Finally, the enemy gave way and re-
treated rapidly, our side keeping well
closed upon them; but our men being
physically exhausted by both their exer-
lions and the great heat were incapable of
maintaining the pursuit.
II cannot speak too highly of the gallant
and excellent conduct of the officers and
men throughout my command. Gen.
Young deserves special commentator for
his cool, deliberate and skillful manage
ment.
"Col. Woods regiment was on the ex-
IRENE left of the line and too far distant
for me to be a personal witness of the in
dividual conduct of the officers and men,
but the magnificent bravery shown by the
regiment under the lead of Col Wood
testifes to his courage and skill and the
energy and determination of his officers.
II was Immediately with the troops of
the First and Tenth regiment cavalry, dis
mounted, and l personally noticed their
brave and good conduct, which will be
especially mentioned by Gen. Young.
II personally noticed the good conduct of
Capts W. H. Book, Robert p. Wainwright
and Jacob G. Galbraith, Maj James NJ.
Bell, Capt. Thomas T. Know and Lieut..
George e. Brown. The last three were
wounded. Maj. Bell, as he lay on the
ground with broken leg, said: L only
regret can't go on with you further
Capt Know, though severely wounded,
continued as long as possible to exercise
his command and insisted to me that he
was not much hurt and Lieut.. Brown also
made light of his wound to me and con-
tinued upon the line until he tainted.
II cannot state positively as to the size
of the Spanish force which we engaged, or
the extent of their casualties, further than
that the force was much greater than ours,
and that information 1 have would indi-
cate that their killed and wounded exceed
ed those which our troops sustained, but
our estimate on this can only be verified
when We have access to the reports of the
Spanish commanders. 1t has given us a
full view of Santiago and the surrounding
country, and has enabled us to reconnoiter
close to the Notifications of that place.
Very respectfully.
JOSEPH WHEELER,
Major General, U. S. ", Commanding"
THE casualties in the engagement were:
First United States volunteer cavalry,
strength, 500; killed, s.; wounded, "a.
First United States regular cavalry,
strength, 244: killed, Z; wounded, s.
Tenth United States regular cavalry,
strength. 220; killed, l; wounded TO-
Total strength, 1854; killed, 16; wound
ed, 80. Respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH WHEELER,
Major General U. s. ", Commanding"