Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-07-07
THE v AR
CeVG1a's Fleet Destroyed.
SANTIAGO SURROUNDED.

BLOODY WORK-HARD FIGHT
ING-STORY OF THE BATTLE
TROOPS AND SUPPLIES HAVE
REACHED DEWEY.
. &C., &c., sc.
This has been a week of bloody work.
The troops at Santiago have been
fighting every day and blood has been
flowing from morning till night. 1t
is estimated that our losses have been
over 1000 in killed and wounded.
The first artillery fight Of the CAM
paign began on the LIST Of July and
ended by the silencing of a Spanish
battery.
Gen. Lawton's Division bivouacked
that night near Ell Caney without fire.
At o'clock the next morning there
was sullen boom" 1t was the first
shot from Capron's Battery, fired to
avenge the killing of his son. Prompt
ly the Spanish began to answer the
challenge from their their forts and
trenches. At the same time Grimes
Battery opened fire on the Spanish
troops to the right of the San Juan
block house.
The common powder used by our
80 --1t
for the Spanish field battery, which
was probably served by Admiral
Cervera's marines. judging by the
accuracy of the aim.
While our smoke gave the enemy
our range, Grimes could only approx
mately locate the Spanish guns, which
used smokeless powder, but satisfied
as to the Don's position, the Ameri-
cans worked like mad.
The Spanish fire gradually slacken-
ed, and in less than an hour it ceased
altogether.
Battery A, of the Second Artillery,
deserves great credit for the victory,
for it was a case of blindness against
sight. The battery was supported by
the Rough Rides, about 100 Cubans
with a Hotchkiss gun, detachment
of the 10th Cavalry, and a squad from
Company G of the I'd Cavalry.
Most of the Spanish shells flew low
over the crest of the battery's position
and exploded. Through these missives
the Rough Riders had about ten
wounded and the Cubans reported
twenty killed and wounded.
The details of Gen. Lawton's losses
have not arrived.
A military ballon was used by the
Signal Corps for the purpose of OBJ
tanning accurate information as to the
location of the enemy and the charac'
ter Of their defences, and proved of in
estimable value in the engagement
The balloon fioated just over the tree
tops, and was easily guided along
three miles of the road toward the
lines of the enemy.
Whenever it halted for the purpose
of taking photograph of the fortiti
cations below. the Spaniards seized tbs
occasion for taking shots at the
mid air monster. AT one time the big
balloon hung over San Juan, not over
500 yards from the enemy, and for five
minutes the Spaniards tried in vain to
puncture it.
A bombardment of MORO Castle took
place Saturday morning, beginning at
5:46 O'Clock, The battlements OF the
old castle ara said to have been knock
ed to pieces. One of the Oregon's
thirteen inch guns cut down the Span.
ish flag on the castle.
SN7lday.-Santiago's fall is imminent
General Skaters men, after fighting
their way through such line of de
lenses as brave soldiers seldom have
had to contend with are within half a
mile Of it.
This splendid prospect, in which
American and Cuban forces are glory
Ing, has been made possible only by
terrible losses, but the troops are now
occupying themselves only with the
future.
In making possible the great victory
SO soon expected nobody of General
Skaters troops has been more potent
than the Seventy-irst N. Y. Regiment.
These gallant New Workers have shar
ed with the Rough Riders" as terrible
an experience as have come to any OF
the invading troops.
There was fierce fighting everywhere
yesterday and today, but at no point lid
the Spanish make a more desperate
resistance than in defending the
heights Of San Juan. 1t was against
this all important defense that the
men of the Seventy-first went. They
formed the centre Of the attacking col
umn, and were subjected to Calling
artillery fire from both right and left.
Great damage was done to our troops,
but they never faltered.
With the Seventy first in this attack
were the Sixth and Sixteenth regulars.
After the attacking columns had
driven the enemy back from point to
point they suddenly found themselves
caught in a triangle. They were hem
med in by the enemy and theyShad to
face terrific infantry fire.
Just as the fighting was becoming
critical our men were reinforced by the
divisions of General Lawton and Gen
eral Chaffee. All of the American
forces then threw themselves forward.
They charged against the enemy with
such valor that they swept all before
them. The Spaniards fled from their
Gefenses and San Juan afteward was
in the possession of our troops.
MONDAY.
The fighting began at o'clock in the
morning again. The Spaniards open
ed the day with a desperate attempt
TO fecapCuro san j uan. Our lire Wilt
ed them. They fell fell back in disor
der. Again and again they rallied,
and again and again they assaulted
that hill. AS often as they came on
they were driven back with awful
losses. Our Hotchkiss guns moved
them down by platoons. Our men
drove them until they were back into
their third line of intrenchments
There their sharpshooters were too
strong for US. The Americans tried to
plant battery to dislodge them, but
the fire was too hot. Many of our men
went down. Among the wounded was
the major of the Second Artillery.
at last we were forced to admit the
hopelessness of the attempt. The bat
terry was planted in safer pos ton,
but one in which great damage could
be done. The battery Immediately
opened fire on the San Juan block
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