The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-05
NO TRAP FOR OUR BOYS
EVERY DETAIL SEEMS TO HAVE
BEEN CAREFULLY PLANNED.
AND CARRIED OUT AS IT WAS PLANNED
General Wheeler Speaks in the Most Glowing
Terms Of the GaIIantry Displayed by
the Officers and Men Engaged.
In The Battle.

Camp Juragua. Wednesday, June -,
VIA Kingston, Jamaica, June 3O-S Il. III.
-GeneraIWheclcr's official report to
Major General Shaftcr, as what IS
known as the battle of Siboney, is as
follows:
In Camp Juragua, June -.
The AdjutdHt General of the Fifth
Army Corps, Sir: | have the honor to
report that. i'll obedience to the instruc-
tons OF the major general commanding,
Given me i'll person on June %, | pro-
cccdcd to Siboney, (~JuraguasltOL The
enemy had evacuated the place at day
light that morning, taking Il course to-
ward Scyilla. y body Of about one
hundred Cubans had followed and en-
gagged the enemy's rear guard. About
nine of the were wounded.
L rode out to the front and found
the enemy had halted and established
themselves ut Il point about three miles
from Siboney. At night the Cubans re
turned to the vicinity of the town. At
< o'clock that evening. the BIRD, General
Young reached Siboney with eight troops
of Colonel Woods regiment. A, b. i.
j., +, G., II and l.. five hundred strong;
troops \, Il, { and X. First cavalry, in
con- 1 ~ ti'N 49, - IN a Va
the Tenth cavalry. in all 30 men, max
ing the total force 964 men, which in
cluded nearly all of my command, which
had marched from Baiquiri, eleven
miles.
with the assistance Of General
Castillo, a rough map Of the country
was prepared and the position of the
enemy was fully explained, and | deter
mined to make an attack at daylight on
the 9th. Colonel Woods regiment was
sent by General Young. accompanied by
two of his staff officers, Lieutenants
Iyree, -. Rivers, and w. II. Smedburg.
Jr., to approach the enemy on the left
hand, or more westerly road, while
Genera! Young. myself and about fifty
troops of the First and Tenth cavalry,
with three Hotchkiss mountain guns,
approached the enemy Oh the regular
Sevilla road.
General Young and myself examined
the position Of the enemy, the lines were
uepIoyed and directed INN to open fire
with the Hotchkiss guns The enemy re-
piled and the firing immediately became
general.
or in hour the fight was very
warm, the enemy being very lavish in
expenditure of ammunition, most Of their
hrlng being by volleys.
"tinally the enemy gave way and re-
treated rapidly, our side keeping well
close upon them; but our men being
physically exhausted by both their eXer-
tons and the great heat, We're incd-
pable of maintaining the pursuit.
Il Cannot speak too highly of the
gallant and excellent conduct of officers
and men throughout my comand. Gen
eral Young deserves special commenda-
ton for his cool, deliberate and skillful
mana cement.
Il also specially noticed his acting ad-
jutant general, Lieutenant \. J.. Mills,
who, under General Young's direction,
WAS at various parts of the line, acting
with energy and cool courage.
The imperative necessity of disem-
barking with promptitude had impelled
me to leave most of my staff to hasten
Is important matter. and unfortunately
! only had with me Major w. ID. Beach.
and Mr.. MeStro. an acting volunteer
aide. both of whom. during the engage
ment creditably and bravely performed
their duties.
1 am especially inedbted to Major
Beach for his cool and good Judgment.
col. Woods regiment was on the
extreme left of the line and too far
distant for me to be 4 personal witness
"l the individual conduct of the officers
ami men, but the magnificent bravery
shown by the regiment under the lead
. colonel Wood testified to his cour-
age and Skill and the energy and de
termination of his officers, which has
"eeh marked from the moment he repOrt-
ed to me at Tampa, II have abund-
ant evidence of his brave and GOOD
conduct on the field and | recommend
MN Tor the consideration of the yov-
| must rely upon his report
to ito Justice to his officers and men,
desire personally to add that all | have
said regarding Colonel Wood applics
equally to Colonel Roosevelt.
Il was Immediately with the troops Of
the First and Tenth regiment cavalry.
dismounted, and | personally noticed
their brave and good conduct. which
will be especially mentioned by Genera!
Young.
Il personally noticed the good con-
duct of Captains w. II. Book, Robert
7. Wainwright and Jacob G.. Gal
hraith. Major James NJ. Bell. Captain
thomas T. Know and Lieutenant
George +. Brown. The last three were
wounded. Major Bell. as he lay on TIE
ground with n broken leg, said: 81 only
regret | can't go on with you
further"
captain know. though severely
"Poided continued as long as possible
10 exercise his command and insisted
10 me That he was not much hurt. and
Lieutenant Brown, also made light of
ms wound to me. and continued upDn
the line until he tainted. | recommend
those officers for the favorable consia-
Grafton of the government
/ cannot state positively as TO size Of
me Spanish force which we engaged or
me extent OF their casualties further
nan 'hal the force was much greater
man ours ana that information | have
would indicate that their killed and
wounded very far cXceede the loss which
our troops sustained. but our estimate
on these points can only be verified whom
we nave access to the reports of the