Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-07-02

BATTLE OF LA QUASINA n
A DESPERATE AFFAIR
Colonel Wood and His Rough Riders
Rush Into a Perfectly
Planned A~mbuscade.
SIXTEEN AMERICANS ARE KILLED
Nothing But Pluck and Good Amer
icen Nerve Averted a
Slaughter.
SIXTEEN AMERICANS ARE KILLED
DESCRIPTION OF The COUNTRY
In Some Places Conditions Are Per-
feet For Ambuscadcs and Fa-
tai Surprises---iicvised
List of Casualties.

List OF
PLAYA del Este, Cuba, June 2S.--There
has been wal in the province OF Santl-
ago since last Wednesday, and how
busy our troops have be@l and how
great their progress can only be known
with some knowledge of the country
through which they have passed and
must pass before they reach the city
OF Santiago.
Along the coast Of Cuba from Cape
Maysi to Santiago dc Cuba !" a range
of mountains called the Sierre Macs
ira. At Baquiri, where the troops
landed and sixteen miles from Santi-
ago, these mountains are four miles
from the sea, and Immediately next TO
them is a range of foothills, the lana
along the coast being broken and roll
ing. H..
When General Lawton left Baiquirl
he followed the only road across Inc
hills. it first runs substantially north
to what is called the Baiquiri house.
This was the farm house Of the Bal
uuiri farm before il was Abandoned as
such.
From the Baiquiri house the road
trends to the west 10 DemajaNho, near
" two miles distant. This, like most
Of the places on the map Of Cuba, rs
simply a name and is represented by a
wayside store or tienda, n feature OF
the country roads in Santiago prov
fnce. From Demajayho the road trends
to the west TO Juragua Grandc, which
Is simply a farm house. Before you
reach Juragua Grandc the road passes
through a large coCoanut swamp, ana
from there on TO Juraguasito the land
is alluvial, and in the time Of rains the
road is bad.
General Lawton reached this point
Thursday after having n few brushes
with the enemy, but Colonel Woods
rough riders did not leave Baiquiri un-
til 3 o'clock Thursday, and arrived at
Lawton's camp, having Travelled a frac-
ton over half the distance 10 Santiago.
,Juraguasito was the country resi-
dencc OF DIR. Joaquin Castillo, now
General Castillo of the Cuban army.
Between Juragua Grande and Jura-
guasito, n distance Of two miles, is the
Juragua river, and just beyond .Ju-
~raguasito towards Santiago runs Car
pentero river. From here you immc-
diately begin to ascend upon the high
land again.
From the Carpentero river to Sevilla,
n distance OF some six or seven miles,
the country is high and rolling and the
road dry. When you arrive at Seyilla
the road dips abruptly down the to a
fat, alluvial country, densely covered
by chapperals and extending ONE five
miles to the base of the ridge upon
which Santiago is situated.
1t was a point two miles from Sc
villa that the S]paniards made their
stand. The Americans learning this,
troops were started from Juraguasito
to dislodgc them early Friday morning
n part of the men following 4 trail
along the base of the hills leading
away from the coast, while the others,
including the rough riders, followed
the trail over the hill direct to the en-
cmy's camp, which was in the edge of
the extensive chapparal, which from
there extend almost to Santiago.
Four troops of the Tenth cavalry,
four troops of the First battery and
eight troops of rough riders had been
sent in advance of the army and il was
this detached force that the Spanish
engaged. Against our 1000 men they
pittcd 1000. They were strongly in
trenched behind the bushes and had
every advantage in position as well as
numbers. Despite this fact they were
ingloriously rcpulscd by the inferior
force long before the second dctach-
ment of American troops arrived upon
the scene.
Colonel Roosevelt's men, who had
pushed their way toward SCVilla, re-
sumed their march soon after sunrise.
They were joined by a detachment of
Cubans under General Castillo. who
guided them over the steep hills along
winding paths. Constant watch was
kept for the enemy, but none seemed
to be lurking in the thick ~underbrush
that lined the narrow roadway.
1t began to seem as if the enemy had
r]etreatcd into Sevilla and the men
were advancing in quick order when
the crack of Mauser rifles suddenly
was heard. Bullets whizZed ovcr the
heads of the rough riders. The fire
came from behind a thick undcrbruSh
and the Cubans were ordered to reply.
Colonel Wood, after ordering his men
to lie down, quickly surveyed the stu
alton. His men had been caught in
an ambush.
The firing at once became furious.
From several sides the enemy's bull
let's came whistling toward our men
and the engagement had barely begun
when several of the rough riders rolled
over On the ground dead. The Spanish
could not be definitely located. They
were well screened by the underbrush
and their positions could he Judged
only from the direction of the fire.
Don't Swear, But shoot.
General Castillo's men began firing
more rapidly and tho rough riders
made ready to join in the shooting.
Provoked by their inability to see the
enemy, the men began to curse. Don't
swear" Colonel Wood shouted.
shoot" They did. They joined with
the Cubans in pouring IA terrific fire