The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-15

10 be delayed until Lawton's guns were
heard at I'll Caney and his infantry firing
showed he had become well engaged.
Difficulties Seen
1.-THE preparations were far from what
desired them to be, but We were In
sickly climate; our supplies mad 10 De
brought forward by narrow wagon road
which the rains might at any time render
,mpassable; fear was entertained that
storm might drive the vessels containing
our supplies to sea, thus parting us from
our base of supplies. and, lastly, 1t was re-
ported that General Pando, with 5000 REIN
forcements for the enemy, was en- route
from Manzanillo, and might be expected In
few days. Under these conditions de-
termined to give battle without delay.
The Action Of July1
.'Early in the morning of July LIST Law
ton was in possession around Ell Caney,
Chaffee's brigade on the right across the
Guantanamo road, Miles brigade in the
center and Ludlow's on the left. The duty
of cutting off the enemy's retreat along
the Santiago road was assigned to the lat
ter brigade. The artillery opened on the
town al 6:15 q. m. The battle here soon be-
came general and it was holly contested.
The enemy's position was naturally strong.
and was rendered more so by blockhouses,
a stone fort and intrenchments cut into
solid rock and the loopholing of solidiy
built stone church. The opposition offered
by the enemy was greater than had been
anticipated and prevented Lawton from
Joining the right of the main line during
the day, as had been intended. After the
battle had been continued for some time
Bates brigade Of two regiments reached
my headquarters from Siboney. l directed
him to move near Ell Caney, to give assist
ance IL necessary. He did so, and was put
in position between Miles and Chaffee. The
battle continued with varying intensity
during most of the day and until the place
was carried by assault about 4:30 p. m As
the Spaniards endeavored to retreat along
the Santiago road Ludlow's position enabled
him to do very effective work and practi-
sally to cut off all retreat in that direction"
A Battery Opens
after the battle at FL Caney was well
opened and the sound Of the small artillery
fire caused us to believe that Lawton was
driving the enemy before him. directed
the Grimes battery 10 open fire from the
heights of Ell Pose on the San Juan block
house, which could be seen situated in the
enemy's entertainments extending along
the crest of San Juan hill. This fire was
effective and the enemy could be seen from
Z! Poso. The fire was soon returned by the
enemy's artillery fire. They evidently had
the range of this hill and their first shells
killed and wounded several men. As the
Spaniards used smokeless powder. 1t was
very difficult to locate the position of their
pieces, while. on the contrary. the smoke
caused by our black powder plainly indi-
Gated the position Of our battery.
"At this time the cavalry division under
Gen. Sumner, which was lying concealed
in the general vicinity of the Ell Poso house,
was ordered forward. with directions to
cross the San Juan river and deploy 20 the
right on the Santiago side, while Kent's |
division was to follow closely in It's rear
and deploy TO the left.
A Slow Advance
1.-THE troops moved forward in compliance |
with orders, bu. the road was so narrow is |
to render it impracticable to retain the col |
INN of tours formation at all points, while |
the unders eowuh on either side was so dense |
as 10 preclude the possibility of deploying |
skirmishers. I. naturally resulted that the
progress made was slow and the long
range rifles of the euemy's infantry killed |
and wounded a number of our men while |
marching along this road and before there
was any opportunity to return he fire.
AT this time Gems. Kent and Sumner
were ordered to push forward with all pos
sible haste and place their troops in posi-
ton to engage the enemy. Gen. Kent, with
this end in view, forced the head of his
column alongside of the cavalry column as
far as the narrow trail permitted and thus
hurried his arrival at the San Juan river
and the formation by that stream. A few
hundred yards before reaching the San
Juan the road forks, fact that was discov-
cred by Lieut.. Col. Derby of my staff, who
had approached well to the front in war
balloon, This information he furnished to
the troops, resulting in Summers moving in
the right-hand road, while Kent was en-
abled to utilize the road to the left
"Gen. Wheeler the permanen: command
er of the cavalry division, who had been i'll,
came forward during The morning md later
returned 70 duty and renderedmost gallant
service during the remainder of the day.
after crossing the stream the cavalry
moved 10 the right. with a view of connect
ing with Lawtons left when he should
come up and with their left resting near the
Santiago road.
Death of Wikoff
I'm the meantime Kent's division, with
the exception of TWO regiments of I1aW-
kins brigade. being thus uncovered. moved
rapidly to the front from the forks pre-
yiousy mentioned in the road, utilizing both
trails, but more especially the one 20 the
left, and crossing the creek. formed for an
attack in the front of San Juan hin. Dur
ing this formation the Second brigade suf-
fered severely. While personally superin-
tending this movement. its gallant COM
mander, Colonel Wikolf. was killed. The
command of the brigade then devolved
upon Lieutenant Colonel Worth, Thirteenth
infantry, who was soon severely wounded,
and next upon Lieutenan: Colonel Liscum.
TWentyfourth infantry, who five minutes
later, also fell under the terrible fire of
the enemy, and the command of the brigade
then devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel
Ewers, Ninth cavalry.
"While the formation jus: described was
taking place Kent took measures to hurry
forward his rear brigade. The Tenth and
Second infantries We're ordered to follow
Wikoff's brigade. while the Twenty-first
was sent on the right hand road to support
the FRS; brigade under General Hawkins