The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-15
MET BY THE SPANIARDS
BATTLE FOLLOWS IN WHICH
BOTH MAY CLAIM VICTORY.
OUR BOYS COULD NOT REACH INSURGENTS
But While they Killed Twelve of the Enemy
They Lost not Man.-The Span
iards Withdraw and Our
Men Re embark.
Men Re embark.

New York. May 13.-The Evening
Post prints the following:
off Cabanas, Cuba, May II, via Key
West. May 13.-In an effort to ilho
Comnanies Il and G of the First United
States Infantry ON the shore OF Finaf
del Rio this afternoon with QUO rlhes'
six thousand rounds of ammunition ana
some other supplies for the insurgents,
the first land fight of the war took place.
Each side may claIm victory, for IL
the Spaniards frustrated the effort to
connect with the insurgents the Amerl-
cans got decidedly the better of the bat
lie. killing twelve or more of the enemy,
and on their own part suffering not
wound.
After darkness came on the old-fash-
toned side-wheel steamer Gussle. OF the
Morgan Line, with the troops and cargo
mentioned, started for the Cuban coast.
All night she allowed the tug on which
was your correspondent, to pilot her.
At sunrise she fell in with the gunboat
Nicksburg on the blockade off Havana
Other blockading vessels came M also
The converted revenue cutter Manning.
Captain w. M. Munger, was detailed
to convoy the Gussie.
No doubt MORO Castles defenders OBJ
served the strange vessel and sent the
alarm ahead Spanish soldiers were
seen grouped on the shore near Mariel.
and the Manning's guns were trained
upon them, suspecting masked bat
terry. No shots were fired, however.
BY the ruined walls of an old stone
house further on Spanish troops were
gathered. Several shots were fired by
the gunboat Manning and presently no
troops were visible. 1t had been decided
to land near here. but the depth of water
was not favorable.
Just west of Port Cabanas harbor the
Gussie anchored. the Manning covering
the landing place with her guns, and the
torpedo boat Wasp came up, eager to
assist.
The first American soldier to step on
the Cuban shore from this expedition
was Lieutenant Crofton. Captain OCon-
nor. with the first boat load, having gone
Il longer route. A reef near the beach
threw the men out, and they stumbled
through the water up to their breasts.
When they reached dry land they inn
mediately went into the bush to form Il
picket line Two horses had been led to
swim TO land when suddenly a rifle shot.
followed by continuous sharp firing.
warned the men that the enemy had
been in waiting.
The captain of the transport signalled
to the war ships. and the Manning fired
into the woods beyond our picket line.
Shrapnel Kissed through the air like
hot iron plunged in water.
The Wasp opened with her small
guns. The cannonade began ut 3;sJ and
lasted a quarter of an hour; then our
pickets appeared, the ships circled around
and, being told by Captain O'Connoi
who had come from shore with the
clothing torn from one leg, where the
Spaniards were. 100 shots more were
fired in that direction.
Anybody hurt, Captain" hailed your
correspondent.
None of our men. but we shot twelve
Spaniards." he shouted back.
The soldiers on board the Gussie
heard the news without n word, bur
hearing where the enemy was situated
gathered aft on the upper deck ano
sent several yolIeys into the spot
The pickets returned to the bush.
Several crept along the beach, but the
Spaniards had drawn back.
1t was decided that the soldiers should
re-embark on the Gussie and that the
guides should take the horses and@seek
the insurgents and make new appoint
ment. They rode off to the westward
and disappeared around Il point