The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-25
THE ACTION NEAR YAUCO|
GENERAL GARRETS0N'S OFFICIAL REPORT
NOW MADE PUBLIC.
A Dashing Advances Against Strongly Posted
Enemy, Driven Back as Usual by In
domitable American Pluck.

uomitaDle AMERICAN TUCK
Washington, Sept. 24.--The War De-
partment tonight made public the official
report of Brigadier General G. y. Gar
retson ON tn, action ON the Nouco road,
i'm Porto Rico, July 26 last, in which his
brigade was engaged After n detailed
description of the battle-ground ana sur
roundings and the disposition OF ms
forces, General Garrctsou goes on To SnS
"Frcm the rooorts of the outplstS, the
enemy was supposed TO be IN the leld 10
the right of the road To Nhuco' i"ckS
were thrown off, and the command FORM
ed for attack. The company OF TIE
Sixth Illinois remained on the MI on
which the house of Ventura Quinones Is
situated and protected our right hahk.
Then remaining companies were collect'
ed two us support and three as reserves,
After advancing to within 200 yards of
the plain of the Hacienda Santa Decd
era the advance guard of our attacking
force was discovered by the enemy. who
opened fire from II position ON the hill
to the west. The north and east SttppcS
of this hill intercept each other, forming
II solid angle. II was along this angle
that the enemy was posted. Their re-
serve posted in road leading from the
haciendca to the east also opened Il strong
fire on the road. \ body of the enemy
moved against the company on our right,
Company G., Sixth Illinois, stationed on
the Hill of Ventura Quinones. This COM
pany had entered itself during the night,
and fter repulSing the attacking force,
directed its fire against the enemy on the
hill TO the west.
The conformation of the ground was
such that the fire of the enemy's reserves
and party on the left was effective in the
seeming hollow in which our reserves
were posted. The heavy volume of fire,
the noise of shots striking the trees and
on the ground and the wounding of two
men among the reserves, caused mo-
mentary confusion among the troops.
They were quickly rallied and placed UNI
der cover. The fire OF the advance party
and supports was directed against the
party of the enemy on the hill and tenn
porarily silenced its fire from that direc-
ton.
Our advance guard of two companies.
ignoring the enemy on the hill. then de-
ployed mainly to the right of the road,
and was with quick and accurate mill
tary Judgment and great personal gal
fentry led by Lieutenant Laughrone,
First Cavalry a, against the reserves of
the enemy. The supports and one com
pany of the reserves under the direction
of Captain l.. G. Berry charged against
the party ON the west of the hill,
through the barbed wire fence and chap
parel. The reserves were deployed along
the barbed wire fence running at right
angles to the road. conducted through
the fence and brought up in the rear and
to the left of the attacking party. con
Quoted by Lieutenant r. Ames of the
Sixth Massachusetts. The enemy was
driven from the Hill and retired to the
valley. disappearing behind the hacien-
da. The reserves of the enemy ceased
firing and retired. 1t was supposed that
they had retired to the hacienda, as
this house was surrounded on the sides
presented to our view with loop-holed
walls. The troops on the hill were ell
Iected along the road. A reserve Of
three companies WAS established at the
intersection of the road to Yauco. The
two companies in advance which deploy-
ed, wheeled to the left and advanced
to the hacienda, envelOping it on the
left 1t was then discovered that the
enemy had retired from the hacienda
in the direction of Yauco along cleverly
concealed lines of retreat.
''As the object of the expedition was
considered accomplished, and in obed-
fence to instructions received from Maj
or GeneFal Miles, no further pursuit was
undertaken"