The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-04

terwards he threw n shot from the
battery. which tore away the flagstaff,
bringing the Spanish nag to the
ground.
From that time no banner waved
above IT,
At 3 o'clock the advance line OF
General Chaffee's skirnishers, the Sew
enth infantry, began to appear on the
edge of the woods below the fort and
by rapid rushes advanced up the hill
to the fort. No shot was fired as they
swept forward. 1t was evident that
the covered way had been abandoned
and in a few minutes the American
troops were thick around the fort which
commands the north side of the town.
The Snanlards were completely sur
rounded. The main part of the army
was between them and Santiago, and
General Lawtons division was around
them on the other three sides. They
retired to buildings in the town and
made a gallant defence, but from the
time General Chaffee's men took the
stone fort they were lost troops TO
Spain.
ADVANCE OF THE ARTILLERY.
Rather than take the town by a
general assault, without the aid of ar
tillery, which must certainly result in
great loss of life. General Lawton de-
cided 10 order forward artillery to shell
the town at close range. Although the
road from the hill to the edge of the
town was nearly impossible for artil-
lery, Captain Capron made the effort
and by 5 o'clock had his guns in posi-
ton ready to open on the town.
For some time General Chaffee's bri-
gade held its position behind the stone
fort and then began the descent to-
ward the town, firing rapid volleys as
they advanced. General Ludlow and
Colonel Miles pressed closely on the
other sides, and at nightfall the town
was practically in the hands of the
Americans. Tomorrow morning at
daybreak General Lawtons division
will sweep past Caney on the direct
road to Santiago.
The country which General Lawton's
division fought offered great advan-
tases both To the attacking party and
to the defenders. 1t is n broad valley
fianked on the west by towering noun
tains and on the east by ridge about
200 feet high. At one time it was un-
since the opening of the war. 1t still
retains, however, signs of its former
prosperity in groves of cocoanut and
mango trees and broad fields of waving
glass, in most cases waist high. The
valleys between these ridges and the
groves were points of vantage to the
American regulars who used them to
the full with all the skill acquired on
IA lot.
open spaces were of great benefit to the
Spaniards. who were given clear
sight of the American soldiers as they
advanced. 1t was the crossing of these
places which caused the Americans
their heaviest losses.
The brigades Of Colonel Miles and
General Ludlow had more of this work
to perform than had General Chaffee's
and they. moreover. were compelled
to make their final charges on the town
across an open space through which
the Spanish fire swept with deadly
effect.
BRAVERY OF AMERICANS.
No finer work has ever been done
by soldiers than was done by the brig
AIDES of General Ludlow and Colonel
Miles and they closed in on the town.
The Spanish blazed at them with Maui
ser and machine guns, but without eff
feet. Nothing could stop them and
they pushed in closer and closer dur
ing the afternoon and by the time
General Chaffee's men were in form
Miles and Ludlow were on the skirts
OF the town. holding on with tenacity
and preventing the Spaniards from re-
tf,,rr
ter closed in on the right
The fighting for hours in front OF
Colonel Miles line, at an Hacienda,
known as Duro house, was very fierce.
The Spanish defence was exceedingly
obstinate. The house was guarded by
rife -,its and as fast as the Spaniards
were driven from one they retreated
into another and continued their fire
1t was entirely a fight with rifles, as
the Americans had only Captain Cap
rons battery of artillery and the
Spsniards had none at all.
In this part of the fighting Captain
Capron's battery was unab BILE to fire
for fear of hitting our own men. The
place was finally taken with a rush
about o'clock, the Spanish fleeing
part TO the hill and part to Caney
where they were rounded up with 9TH
er Spanish troops which had been driv-
en- by General Chaffee.
Tomorrow Saturday morning at
daybreak General Lawton's division
will sweep past Caney on the direct
road to Santiago, connecting with
General Kent's and General Wheeler
| divisions and forming the right of the
| line.
When the final closing in movement
| was begun at p. m. the town of Can
ey was taken and a large number OF
prisoners were captured. The Span
ish loss is 1000 in all.