The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-27

sixty men, anu lUelT camp was plICH6Q near
the site of the burning village, "a supply
camp under the guard of twenty marines
having also been placed there.
With darkness began the bitterest night
OF the week for the Americans. Exhausted
by their unwonted exeItions without sleep
for forty-eight hours, and worn with intense
excitement, they were in no condition for
hard fight. The Spaniards had evidently
determined that the camp was to be re-
O'Clock with heavy firing from their favorite
position, on the ridge to the eastward. For
an hour they poured their shot from that
quently under the heavy fire of the marines.
The latter fired as coolly and deliberately
as though at target practice. After an hour
and half the fire from their field pieces
and rifles dislodged the enemy, but with the
interval of scarcely half hour the Mauser
ington's men, this time from the north.
The steady work from the hilltop again
silenced the Spaniards, and another inter
val of rest succeeded
The next attack was from the ridge close
to the water and to the seward from the
American position. The enemy crept right
down to the beach, firing up the hill at
the camp, out over the bay at the fleet,
and along. the shore at the supply camp,
and the CubanS beyond. The Cubans re-
piled wildly and without regard to the lit
tie detachment guarding the supplies and
the men caught between the firing lines
were driven into the bay and compelled to
swim to the boats. That none was lost is
little short of miraculous. A company of
marines was sent to the brow of the hill
with orders to drive the enemy from the
beach and thirty minutes work cleared the
vicinity of the enemy. Thus shifting and
attacking the Spaniards spent the night, the
American camp being almost continuously
under fire; During one. of the volleys brave
Sergeant Major Goode lost his life. He had
left the shelter of rife pit to issue an
order and with the word of command on
his lips fell shot through the heart
The greater part of the Spanish firing was
done from the hills east, and as a result
hundreds of bullets fell in the harbor among
the. ships of the fleet The Dandy lay
half mile off shore and the same distance
south of the camp, but despite the apparent
STfsry OF afr position c h o be 0Sb
Several bullets struck her. three piercing
the pilot house. And scores could be heard
the fleet were used at times but We're of
little value as the danger of dropping shells
N the nc. American camp was very great at
night but two deaths resulted and only one
man was seriously wounded. Had the
Spaniards been as clever with their rifles
as they were in their methods of attack
and retreat the American loss would have
been frightful.
GOOD WORK BY CUBANS
With Monday morning came relief from
active work very few shots being fired
during the day. But the men were grow
ing restless and were inclined to criticise
the policy which kept them in so warm a
place without what they considered good
reasons. They did not object to fighting, but
they wanted to sleep. During the day it
was decided to put the Cubans on skirmish
duty at night and the little black warriors
soon proved their worth So we'll did they
keep the brush beaten that not shot was
fired Monday night, the Spanish being un-
able to approach without detection. The
nights rest which resulted put the men in
better spirits and Tuesday Colonel Hunt
ington decided on an aggressive movement:
Five miles to the eastward lay the principal
camp of the guerrillas, little village of
shacks built around, a large WELL the only
and therefore of the highest Importance.
Already a well near the coast had been de-
stroyed by a a. shell h from the Dolphin. ,,
bred marines started for the Spanish
rendezvous, accompanied by fifty Cubans
under Col. La Borda. Company c, under
Capt. Elliott, and company under Capt.
Spicer comprised the marine attachment,
Captain Elliott being in command NINA The
over two hills and along the seashore, sharp
rocks and barren patches alternating with
The sun beating viciously down on the lit
tie command was almost as much to be
feared as the Spanish and before the bat
tie ground was reached twenty-five men
had fallen affected by the heat The sur
geon in attendance was able to get them
all on their feet and not man missed the
finish. The Spanish lay on the side of a
ridge, facing, and not more than mile
from the sea. 1t was noon when, from the
caught sight of the place on the ridge below
him. The men were quickly formed in line
of battle, the Cubans on the left flank,
and a stealthy approach through the thick
underbruSh began
The Americans were within $50 yards of
the camp when startled Spanish sentry
yelled out a warning, fired his rifle and
disappeared behind shack. A moment
later a volley burst from behind the huts
and trees, and, dropping on their knees, the
marines opened fire AS steadily as through
a drill they settled themselves to their work.
Their aim was deliberate and their firing
deadly. The sun came fiercely down upon
their heads, cacti pierced their clothes and
pierced their hands, and Spanish bullets
sang continuously above them, but not
hand trembled and not a man finched. 1t
was a splendid exhibition of cool bravery,
and it had its effect upon the enemy.
and wild, and after twenty minutes steady
exchange they began to break from cover
retreat being conducted in true guerrilla
fashion. In groups of three and four they
jumped from cover and darted zigzagging
up the hillside towards a dense thicket
which offered shelter. Through it all the
Cubans on the American flank were blindly
banging away with their rifles, bowling
curses at the Spaniards and waving their
machetes. Their contempt for Spanish and
their absolute fearlessness was amply
proved; but their marksmanshp had little e. to
and the marines swept down the hillside the
insurgents went almost mad with delight.
While the Americans stopped to burn the
camp and destroy the we'll with rocks and
earth the Cubans rushed on into the thicket
searching for the fleeing foe. Fifteen dead
thicket, and estimates on the total dead
range from forty to seventy-hve Eleven
prisoners were taken and sent aboard the
Marblehead. Two Cubans were killed and
four wounded, but not an American was
hurt with the exception of Private walker,
whose finger was blistered by. bullet Two
attachments Of marine reinforcements UNI
der Captain Mahoney and Lieutenant Magill
arrived after the fighting was over. Cap
tain Elliott believes there were about three
hundred Spaniards engaged. Last night and
to-day have been quiet. A few shots have
been exchanged but no Americans hurt.
Estimates as to the total number of Span
iards about Camp McCalla vary wildly, but
as nearly as can be learned from Cuban
scouts about two thousand men have been
engaged in the attacks. Had they been in
any way equal to the Americans who OPP
posed them they would long since have re-
captured the camp. and driven the Ameri-
cans back TO the ships. The fact that six
Americans have been killed and only three
wounded is a peculiar one, the usual per
centage of course being the other way.
Every one of those killed died al almost in
wounded men are out of danger and will
return to active duty shortly.