Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-06
SPANISH FLEET DESTROYED CERVERA CAPTURED

OInHLuH VAI OuIS'
Captain Capron, father of the Cap
tain Capron who was killed at the
battle of La Quasina. At $40 Cap
tain Capron fired the first shot into
Ell Caney, where the Spaniards were
collected in force. Between El Caney
and Capron's battery, there were some
Spaniards at Ell Paso. The cavalry
attacked these and drove them to FL
Caney. Then Captain Grimes's bat
terry advanced to Ell Paso, and both
batteries continued the fire against Ell
Caney, until the Spaniards, having no
artillery, were forced to retire. The
town was surrounded with wire fences
and rough earthworks; but it was no
longer a matter of Importance, and in
stead of occupying it General Lawton
began to devote his attention to the
outer fortifications of Santiago, open
ing upon them with both batteries.
The cannonading was continued for
20 minutes before there was any reply
from the Spaniards; but when the re-
ply did come, it was with appalling
accuracy. The third shell from the
enemy broke over Captain Grimes's
battery, killing two men and wounding
several others. 1t was here that the
English, French and German military
attaches were viewing the battle.
Shells fell around them thick and fast.
A dozen or more Cubans were in a
sugar warehouse watching the fight.
A shell struck the house and demol'
ished it, killing and wounding several.
The Spanish and American batteries
were about two miles apart; but as
the Spaniards used smokeless powder,
| it was difficult to locate them, while
the Americans, using ordinary black
powder, were an easy target.
Up to about o'clock the infantry
fire on both sides had been rather de-
sultory; but about that time Kent's
division began breaking through the
underbrush in sight of the Spanish
trenches. The Spaniards met them
with a murderous hail of rifle bullets,
knocking down the Americans right
and left. The firing was so effective
that it looked as if Kent would have
to fall back. Instead, however, his
men went down on their breasts, and at
a range so close that the opposing lines
could see the whites of the enemy's
eyes, volley after volley was fired.
Captain Grimes got his battery in po-
sition and commenced second artil-
lery duel, as the result Of which he
finally succeeded in silencing the op-
posing battery.
But the Spaniards still held the
trenches, and it was necessary to dis
lodge them. This could only be ac-
complished by means of a charge.
The enemy was in position at the top
of the slope, with wire fences guarding
their trenches. General Hawkins's
brigade and a division of dismounted
cavalry prepared to run them out.
At the command the men started for
ward with shout. They were met
by a whitening fire that seemed too
much for human endurance. In the
face of it they commenced a double
quick. Men were knocked right and
left. Then the lire staggered and
threw itself to the ground and COM
menced firing. Up again the line
sprang and went forward to the very
trenches. There ensued fierce hand
to hand encounter; but it did moi last
long Up to this time the Spaniards
had fought with surprising courage.
They could stand it no longer. BY
common consent they broke and ran
toward Santiago. The American in
fantry aud dismounted cavalry popped
it to them from behind, and Bates's
battery, which had in the meantime
gotten on the flank, sent murderous
enfilading fire down the entrench-
ments. The Americans held the crest
of the hills, Friday night, and in the
entertainments they found hundreds
of Spanish dead.
A no less heroic charge was made on
the heights of San Juan. General
Young was sick, and Colonel Wood
the brigade in his stead.
The heights of San Juan were held by
l 900 of the $4,000 Spanish troops who
we're defending Santiago. The taking
of the heights was one of the principal
objects of the battle. They command
ed the city of Santiago and the har-
Dor. The position was well fortified
with artillery from Cervera's ships,
including machine guns. To take
them meant an uphill charge of 900
yards over comparatively open ground
and through wire fences. There were
also in the way several block houses,
defended by artillery. The work of
the position fell upon theI