The record-union., 1898-07-01
THE BATTLE OF sIBoNEY.
Official Report of the Engagement
From Major General Wheeler.

CAMP JURAGUA "wednesday, June
-, via Kingston, Jamaica), June 30,
a. m.-(Copynghted, 1898, by the Asso-
ciated ress.)-General Wheeler's off
cial report to Major General Shafter of
what is known as the battle of Siboney,
is as follows:
In Camp Juragua, June 29th.
ITO the Adjutant General of the Fifth
Army Corps-Sir: I have the honor to
report that, in obedience to the instruc-
tons of the Major General command
ing, given me in person on June 23d,
| proceeded to Siboney Juragua). The
enemy had evacuated the place at day
light that morning, taking course to-
ward Sevilla. A body of about 100 Gu
bans had engaged the enemy's rear
guard. About nine of them were wound
ed. T rode out to the front and found
the efrathJIHan' halted and established
themselvesss a point about three miles
from Siboney. At night the Cubans re-
turned to the vicinity of the town .it
s O'Clock that evening the Twenty
third, General Young. reached Siboney
with eight troops of Colonel Wood S
regiment, ALB, C. d.. E, F, G, K and L,
First Cavalry, in all 744 men, and
troops A, B. E and of the Tenth Cav
airy, in .alls :220 men, making the total
force 964 men, which included nearly
all of my command which had march
ed from Baiquiri. eleven miles.
with the assistance of General Cas-
tillo, rough map of the country was
prepared, and the position of the enemy
was fully explained, and / determined
to make an attack at daylight on the
24th. Colonel Woods regiment was
sent by General Young, with two of his
staff officers, Lieutenants T. r. Rivers
and w. r. Smedburg, Jr., to approach
the enemy on the left hand. or a more
westerly road, while General Young,
myself and about fifty troops of the
First and Tenth Cavalry, with three
Hotchkiss mountain guns, approached
the enemy on the regular Sevilla road
General Young and myself examine
ed the position of the enemy, the lines
We're deployed and / directed him to
open fire with the Hotchkiss guns. The
enemy replied, and the firing imme-
diately became general. Colonel Wood
had deployed his right, nearly reach
ing the left of the regulars
For an hour the fight was very
warm, the enemy being very lavish in
the expenditure of ammunition, most
of their firing being by volleys. Fin
ally the enemy gave way and retreated
rapidly. We followed them over the
line, keeping close upon them, but our
men being much physically exhausted
by both their exertions and the great
heat, We're incapable of maintaining the
pursuit.
Il cannot speak too highly of the
gallant conduct of the officers and men
throughout my command. General
Young deserves special commendation
for his cool, deliberate and fitful man
agemenf. I also specially noticed his
Acting Adjutant General, Lieutenant
A. r. Mills, who under General Young
direction. attacked various parts of the
line, acting with energy And cool cour-
age. ~
The imperative necessity for dis
em3Sarking with promptitude had i'm
PEELED me to leave most of my staff
to hasten this important matter and
unfoq tunately, 1 had with me only Ma
jor. M. j. Beach and Mr.. Mestro, an
acting volunteer aide, both Of whom
during the engagement creditably and
bravely performed their duties. I am
especially indebted to Major Beach for
his cool and good judgment.
Colonel Woods regiment was too far
distant from me to be a personal wit
ness of the individual conduct of the
officers and men. but the magnificent
bravery shown by the regiment under
the lead of Colonel Woods testities tc
his courage and skill and the energy
and determination of his officers which
has been marked from the moment he
reported to me at Tampa. and / have
abundant evidence of his brave and
good conduct on the field. and recon-