The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-11
MARINES AT GUANTANAMO.
OF COZ. HUNTINGTON AND
COMMANDER MCALIA.

a.Ilant Action Of the Marines I'm Capturing
and Holding Their Position in Guam
tnnnroo Bay-Commnnder 1IoCRIR Calls
Attention to Good Work of Cubans.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1o.-The Navy Depart
ment to-day made public the lonR-delayed re-
ports on the operations OF the marines at Guam
tanamo Bay. where they landed in advance Of
Skaters army. These reports have been with
held from publication because Of their meagre-
ness Of details and their generally unsatisfao-
tory character as showing the gallant work per-
formed by the soldier-sailors. II Ia understood
that Col. Huntington has been asked to forward
amore detailed report. which will be published
when received.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST MARINE BATTALION
GUANTANAMO BAY. Cuba. June IL. 1893.
"S1R: / have the honor to make the following
report: The stores Of this battalion were sent
10 the dock at Key West from Camp Sampson
on Sunday. June 5. We broke camp at "a. NJ.
On June 9 and went on board the Panther.
On June z, at 7:10 p. NJ. we sailed from Key
West. and arrived off Santiago de Cuba on the
morning OF the 10th. On the same day. att
P. NJ. we arrived in Guantanamo Bay. At 2
I. NJ. the battalion landed with stores. Com
pany C was landed and deployed up the hill
near the beach on the right OF the entrance to
the harbor. This hill is about $50 feet high.
and on top was formerly occupied by the Span
ish troops. but when the position was vacated
the day before our landing the blockhouse on
tor OF the hill was burned. On landing all
houses and huts lately occupied by the Spanish
forces we're burned.
1.-THE hill occupied by us is q faulty position.
but the best to be had at this point. The ridge
slopes downward and to the rear from the bay.
the space at the top is very small. and all the
surrounding country is covered with thick and
almost impenetrable brush. The position is
-....lod hr n p,onptain fha ria0a ~ pvhioh
ia about ]. 200 yards to the rear. On the after
noon OF landing tents we're pitched and out
posts established.
"On the 18th. about 8 p. NJ. an attack was
made upon one OF the outposts. and two p~rivates.
Michigan and Dunphy. OF Company D were
killed, each receiving more than eight wounds,
each Of which would have caused death.
These two men were patrols. A detachment
was sent out from camp to support the outpost,
and we found only faint traces Of the enemy.
After nightfall FIRE was opened upon our camp
by small parties from different directions on
Ave different occasions. The men turned out
each time under arms with promptitude and
courage. About l A.. NJ. a moro combined at
tack was made, and a noisy fire from south.
southeast and southwest was opened. During
this attack acting Assistant Surgeon John Blair
Gibbs, u. 8. N, was killed. From the best in
formation attainable about 100 men were en-
gagged in this attack.
"on the morning Of the 18th sergt. O. n.
Smith was killed. and Corporal Glass. Privates
McGowan and Dalton. all OF Company D. we're
wounded not dangerously.
On the morning Of the 18th all tents and
material were removed from the position and
taken on the hay side Of the hill. and a trench
was dug on the south front about forty yards
across and a barricade made around the posi-
ton, which would enable us to hold 1t. as ! was
informed that more troops were being as
sembled by the enemy in this immediate
vicinity.
On the night OF the 18th. many persistent
and trining attacks were made. in reply to
which we used a good deal Of ammunition,
About 2 A. NJ. Sergeant-Ma Henry Good
was killed. On the 18th we were Joined by
sixty insurGent troops. and they being 40.
Quainted with the country and excellent woods
men. and fearless. were Of the greatest assis.
lance.
"On the 18th. about 8 A. M. fire was opened
gnon the camp and ,subdued, without loss OF
s s'hiif%q H. III The Hsa' 1 9tEAs 4 P rasSsr q s%arl nr ae Sss
s SnSHRsd re tOs g few xb %Sps sWens Sn t ths Sn@p ea anne
help was not needed efs . The, They OPENED FIRE :, oom
toned. with about twenty-five more from
Guantanamo. all under the direction Of Col
hills about six miles and destroyed a well. said
TO he the only available water supply within
gather this force was SO opposed pese by four reGuIal
companies OF Spanish infantry and two com-
pSS SaIffs Sc Of az SEpe maI T making anSoS q total Of bs e little
until $3.50 P. N. Our troops drove the enemy
at every point, being Obliged to make the
first advance for about twenty minutes. under
fire which. owing TO the lay OF the land. they
could not return. Capt. Elliott reports that the
men. in many cases. coolly estimated distances,
borrowed his field glass to pick up parties Of
often inflicted damage and caused withdrawal
cn6 SeSo9 id,LL1 Lieut. TN MaggiiiIii; , With nm, fttty men and ter
tain GdiRttRRG ro SGSae Ga SsGs' and aldil0SfS r:G ssihm0 TRis sh sd %SneI
was intended to cut of the retreat of the Span
iSrds, which unfortunateiy failed Of its principa
S SSspTs; H BY The a Are ree Of tn The tP1 5. & 81 Do oHSahce ~a'
m nBSing aPprehensivee t for The SUCCESS Of II,
each having hlity men with them on picket
assistance, Lieut.. ingate failed, unaccounta
PIsu to I f1d his way to Lieut.; Mah9ney: anc
late 70 take an active part In the affair.
u losses were two Cubans killed and w
wounded Sern n and three priyates w93gnTded, not dan
the mountain, Lieut.; Neville wrenched his hi
and will probably be unfit for service for
mohth, About ten or twelve of our men ant
two Cubans, were overcome by the heat.
whirrEbon received from prisoners
the spanish, force were killed and something
more than $50 wounded. and one Lieutenan
ana seventeen privates were captured. TIL
forces returned to camp at 4 P. NJ, exhauste,
by the long. hard march through this noun
famous and tropical country.
This affair was planned by the Cubans, bu
100 much praise cannot be awarded TO the cool
pessi SKIN and bravery Of our officers and mer
Dy winch alone its success WIS achieved. Cap
Ellott's cool advance up a rocky, steep, noun
TAN path. under fire for twenty minutes, with
out being able to return 1t. and the gallantr
and skill displayed by him throughout this afHai
We're essential to the, great success attained b
the expedition. and are worthy. and / earn
estly recommend, that he be advanced in ran
phe grade. Can't. Elliott mentions in terms c
nigh praise the conduct of First Lieuts. Luca
and Neville and Second Lieuts. Magil an
ramon. Your attention Is called TO a repol
made by Capt. Elliott attached hereto. Yer
respectfully r. W.. HUNTINGDON,
rLieutenant-Co Colonel. u. 3. N. O.,
49, Commanding First Battalion.
Col Comdt. Charles Haywood, u 8. III. 8
Headquarters Washington. d. O."
COMMANDER M'cALLAs ENDORSEMENT.
First Endorsement.
~ G q