The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-04
THE FIGHTING At CANEY.
SPANISH HELD THEIR GROUND AND
FOUGHT WITH STU BBORNNESS.
Were Only Dtslod9ed After Hours OF
Fighting, by = Desperate Charge
Made by ChaRee's Brtxade-lag-
ntficent Work Done by Our Troops

Copyrighted. 1855 by the Associated Press
HEADQUARTERS OF GEN SHAT
TEX. Friday. July T. evening. by the Ass o.
ciased Press Dispatch Boat Cynthia via
Fort Antonio, Satucd day. ara Kingston. Sun-
Gay, July 3, e.9a 4. nl.-Hemr1ed in on s.r
sides by Gen. Lawton's division. the Span
Ism troops in the town ~ caney are to-
night practically prisoners OF war and by
| fsyhreak tomorrow Saturday Spain will
nave los. 2.sr Of hsr best soldiers kiIe3
wounded ard taken prisoners in aud around
the town. which was practically in the
hacds or the American forces ar ; o'clock
tonight This result was not obtained? how
ever, without severe fighting on the part
OF the American forces.
Gea. Lawton's division. the Second Mas
sachnsetts. nad Up TO the middle OF the day
suffered the heaviest loss, although other
ttsHnents We're more actively engaged dur
ing the afternoon. The fight for the pos
session of Caney was most obstinate. and
me ultimate victory reflects great r-e1i;
upon the American troop<
ft was a glory. too 70. Spain. though
she never had chance 10 win AT any time
during the fight Her n1eu fought In en-.
trencnmsnts. covered With ways and BLOCK
houses whiie the American forces were IN
tne open from first 10 last The SpanIsh
.us'eIs STUCK TO tneir'~ork like men, and
WEI! cause Spain 10 feel proud Of her men
Inc American soldiers attacked the ar
uehc@ments. through open ground and
from the firing OF the first shot Intl .hsv
were on the hills above Caney. they fought
,heH way forward and the Spaniards were
ufireh backwards. Ger. Chaffee's brigade
neid the right Of the line with the town -
fancy Gen Lud.ows division was In the
center and Col. Miles held the left Ths
plan OF battle was for Capt ALVIN Can
rons battery OF the First artillery. which
held position in the center. above Cen
Ludlow, TO shell the fort near the town
for Gen. Chaffee TO close in as soon as
me artillery had reduced the fortifica:ions
ana drivers the Spaniaris toward SANTA
60: Gen. Ludlow 10 lay In the road halou
the nil on which Capt Caprons battery
was stationed. and spring in on Gen CHAT
fees left. while Col. Miles brigade was TO
Keep close TO Gen. Ludlow's right and. by
a simultaneous movement. sweep the Span
iarGs in toward Caney
Gen. Lawton. who personally directed! the
operations OF his division, left his camp.
on the road from Siboney. to Santiago a:
A. n. and at o'clock was with Cant
Capron's battery up the hill above Caney.
Orders were given that the battle should
begin from the center. unless Gen. Caffee
who was the nearest 10 the enemy should
md himself attacked first
from the second section OF Capt. Capron's
battery. II struck close to the stone fort
ifications near Caney. Another shot hit the
fort fairly. The Spaniaris gave UP the
idea OF holding the stone fort proper after
1t was struck the first time, and the entire
garrison ran down the hill toward TIE
town The covered way in front of the
fort however. was held by the Spanish
troops who made an obstinate fire on our
men who We're advancing slowly through
the brush and groves, only firing an occa-
sional shot. Capt. Caprons battery opened
on the enemy at once ard tore the ground
up with shells, sending clouds Of dust high
into the air.
The battery also sent a number of shells
entirely through the forts tearing down
large sections Of the walls. This fine
craftsmanship was repeated several times,
the battery stopping he fire of the Spanish
soldiers who had opened fire repeatedly
from the covered way pits. BY O'Clock
Gen. Chaffee's brigade was pressing in
toward the town. and the hring at inter
walls was very warm.
II WAS very difficult 10 see anything OF
the battle owing 10 the rolling nature of
: the ground and the dense vegetation that
obscured the view in almost every direc-
tion made il Impossible 10 see far The
firing. AT times WAS very lively during
the morning but he Spaniards In the COW
and refused to yield an inch. Time and
again the shells from Capt Capron's hat
terry drove them TO cover but as soon a.
his fire ceased. they were up and At Il
again.
Despite the heavy firing OF the American
troops they were able 10 make hut little
apparent progress during the morning al
though eventually they steadily drew in
and enclosed the town on all sides A.
noon ii became evident that the fire from
the covered way could not be stopped by
the artillery alone and that no permanent
advance could be made until the place wac
taken, and Gen. Lawton decided 70 cap
ture Il by assault. Accordingly, he sent
messenger to Gen chaffee with instruc-
tti0ns 20 take the position by d charge.
Gen. Chaffee thereupon closed in with his
mon rapidly from the north. while Capt.
Capron maintained a heavy ire on that
fertilization keeping the Spanlards under
the covered way and putting hole after
hole into the stone walls OF the for.itica-
tons. Shortly afterwards he threw shot
from the battery which tore away the
flagstaff ringing tbs. Spanish flag TO the
ground. From that time no banner waved
above Il.
Al o'clock the advance l.ne ~ Gen.
C1affee's Skirmishers. the Seventh infant
~. began Ia appear on the edge OF the
woods below The forts and by rapid PUSHES
advanced W he hill TO the fort. No shot
WIS., fred as they swept forward and the
covered ways had evidently been sban-
a0nea and IN a few moments the AmeYi-
cans were thick asyo,ft the fort whirh
commands the north side OF the town. Tire
Spaniar,is were completely surrounded
The main par, Of the army was between
them on the other three sS5tcs They re-
tired 20 buildings behind the town and
made % gallant defense" hgr. Gen Chat
fees men took the stoaa fort and they
were lASt troops 70 Spain. Rather than
take the town ny assault without the AID
Of artillery. which must certainly result in
great loss OF FIFE GeE i&a~ton decided 70
order forward artillery Is ssnefl the town