Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-11
Lieutenant Magill an opportunity to. get
in cross-fre, which was well taken adj
nta nf

H. w. Lyon, u .. N, WHICH Aad ueeh
sent along the coast to cooperate with US
If possible. was signaled to eheu the house
used as the enemys headquarters and also
the valley, but she was too far. to the front.
having mistaken the valley intended, 30
that her fire was in Lieut. MagilIs direc-
ton. driving him to the reverse side Of the
ridge.
However, this shell started the enemy
from his hiding places, which gave the
companies the opportunity to fire at them
on the move 'o
Signal was made to the Dolphin to cease
firing and Lieut. Magill was directed to
form a skirmish line, and move down the
valley in front Of him in order to rout out
the enemy, driving him toward the sea
This was defeated by renewed shell fire
from the Dolphin.
The fight, which began at II am, was
now drawing to close, being over at p. m
The enemy began a struggling retreat at
PM, getting out of the valley as best they
could
The fire of the force under my command
was at all times deliberate and aimed,
sights being adjusted and volleys were fired
when sufficiently large bodies of the enc
my could be seen to justify 1t. TWO pia-
toons of Company c, under First Lieut..
Lucas and Second Lieut. P. M. Bannon,
We're handled with the best of Judgment.
Company D overcrowded on the firing line
and men necessarily exposed themselves by
standing IN groups
First Lieut.. w. c. Neville commanding
the first platoon, did his. best with the men
in front of him. Capt. Spicer, commanding
Company D, was overcome by the sun on
the top of the hill and had to be sent on
board the Dolphin. Lieut.. Neville injured
his hip and ankle in catching his foot and
falling down the mountain side after the
fight was over These accidents left Sec
ond Lieut.. M. j. Shaw in command of
Company D, which he handled with entire
satisfaction.
Forty men left the crest of the hill at 3:15
pm. under Lieut. Lucas and destroyed the
well and burnt the house lately occupied
by the enemy.
Canteens We're taken from the men still
holding the crest and filled from water re-
quested by signal from the Dolphin
The marines fired on an average about
sixty shots each, the Cubans' belts being
reflled during the action from the belts of
the marines, each having to furnish six
clips, or thirty cartridges.
he loss to our force was one private Of
Company wounded slightly and ten or
twelve overcome by heat. These latter
were kindly taken on board the Dolphin
and cared for This ship rendered every
possible assistance to the expedition. Two
Cubans were wounded during the fight on
the hill, one being accidentally shot by Col.
Laborde by pistol. While destroying the
well the Cubans were placed up the valley
from which the enemy retreated and be-
gan a noisy and hot fight with guerrillas,
who had not been dislodged. In this fight
the Cubans lost two killed and two wound
ed. but killed five of the enemy.
The march home began at 80 o. m camp
being reached at 8 pm
From the best information since obtain
ed, which is believed to be reliable, sixty
of the enemy. among whom were two off,
GERS. were killed. The wounded were nu-
merous, but the wounds were probably
light, owing to the range of 600 or 900
yards at which distances all explosive effect
of the bullets being LOST Eighteen prison
ers, including one5 lieutenant, were cap
tured. about thirty Mauser rifles and a
quantity of ammunition Lieut.. Magill also
captured a complete heiiograph outfit and
destroyed the signal station. This had been
used ever since our arrival here and could
be seen at all times. Before closing l de-
sire to commend Lieut.. Magills good judg-
ment in coming up and the excellent man
ner in which he handled his men.
Sergt. John H. Quickcwas obliged to stand
on the open ridge under fire to signal the
Dolphin, which he did with the utmost
coelness using his rifle with equal judg-
ment while not thus engaged My only re-
gret Is that Company E. under the COM
mand of First Lieut.. Jas. c.. Mahoney
which had been sent to us from an outpost
near Camp McCallal when the heavy firing
was heard there, was unable to report to-
me until pm. Had he been an hour and
a half sooner / am satisfied that the entire
force of the enemy, which was about $40
men, would have been captured. This de-
lay was not due to any lack of zeal on his
specially, your obedient,
G. F. ELLIOTT, Captain U. S. M. c.,
Commanding Company C.
A Supplementary Report.
- Camp McCalla, Guantanamo Bay Cuba.
Headquarters LIST Marine Battalion,
Guantanamo, Cuba,
18th June, 1858.
Sir: desire to make the following sup
Elementary report: Upon leaving camp you
asked me if 1 wanted an adiutant. l de-
clined to take one, the commander being
short of officers for duty, but having been
notified that Mr.. Stephen Crane would be
allowed to accompany the expedition, re-
QteSted him to act as an aid if one should
be needed. He accepted the duty, and was
of material aid during the action, carrying
messages to fire volleys. ETC., to the differ
ent company commanders.
Very respectfully, G. F. ELLIOTT
Captain U. S. M. c., Commanding Co. c.
Commander McCnlla's Report.
U. S. S. Marblehead. Third Rate,
Guantanamo, Cuba,
June 1G, 1903.
Sir: have the honor to inform you that
On the 18th instant, at the suggestion of
Colonel Laborde, the Cuoans under the
command of himself and Lieut.. Col Thorn
as, supported by the two companies of ma
rifles under the command of Capt Spicer
and Lieut.. Elliott routed the force Of about
800 Spaniards stationed in the pass between
the marine camp and the south coast
One portion of the command advanced by
the cliffs SO far as the well and blockhouse
which is referred to in my No. SO, support
ed by the Dolphin.
The other portion diverged from the coast
line and advanced up the valley to the
southeast, the two forces eventually unit
ing the sides of the mountain in the
vicinity of the blockhouse and well.
In this vicinity the Spaniards, number
ing about 800, were encountered aud driven
from their position sustaining loss OF be-
tween forty and sixty killed and one officer
and seventeen soldiers captured.
AS the day was well advanced it was
not possible for our force to make q search
for the Spanish wounded, and / fear that
many were left on the field uncared for,
We suffered loss of two Cuban SOL
diers killed, six wounded, four of whom
were Cubans. In addition, twenty-three
marines were Frustrated by the heat, and,
with the wounded were transferred to the
Dolphin, from which ship the force was
also supplied with ammunition during the
engagement. Il
The we'll and blockhouse referred to on
the south coast were destroyed and a set of
Telegraph Instruments otaken.
The object of thes movement was for thu
purpose of relieving, the pressure On the