The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-07-06
TELLS OF THE FIGHT.
Gen. Wheeler Praises the Rough
Riders I'm an Official Report of the
Battle of SibOney.

Camp Juragua, June 20 (via Kings
ton, Jamaica, July D.-Gen. Wheeler's
official report to Maj. Gen. Shafter of
what is known as the battle of Siboney
is in part as follows:
SIN Camp, Juragua, June 29.-To the ADJ
jutant General of the Fifth Army Corps
Sir: I have the honor to report that, in
obedience to the instructions of the ma
jor general commanding, given me in per-
son on June q, I proceeded to Siboney
(Juraguasito). The enemy had evacuated
the place at daylight that morning, taking
a course toward Sevilla. A body of about
100 Cubans had followed and engaged the
enemy's rear guard. About nine of them
were wounded.
''I rode out to the front and found the
enemy had halted and established them
selves at point about three miles from
Siboney. At eight o'clock that evening, the
23d, Gen. Young reached Sboney with eight
troops of Col. Woods regiment.
with the assistance of Gen. Castillo,
rough map of the country was prepared
and the position of the enemy was fully
explained, and 1 determined to make an
attack at daybreak on the 4th Col.
Woods regiment was sent by Gen. Young,
accompanied by two of his staff officers,
to approach the enemy on the left hand,
or more westerly road while Gen. Young,
NY oClI anu " W lIOOpS VI lIlc
First and Tenth cavalry, with three Hotch-
kiss mounted guns, approached the en-
envy on the regular Sevilla road.
Gen. Young and myself examined the
position of the enemy, the lines were de-
ployed, and i directed him to open fire
with the Hotchl1iss guns. The enemy re-
piled and the firing Immediately became
general.
For an hour the fight was very warm,
the enemy being very lavish in expenditure
of ammunition, most of their firing being
by volleys.
FINALLY, the enemy gave way and re-
treated rapidly, our side keeping well
closed upon them; but our men being
physically exhausted by both their exer-
lions and the great heat were incapable of
maintaining the pursuit
II cannot speak too highly of the gallant
and excellent conduct of the officers and
men throughout my command Gen.
Young deserves special commentator for
his cool, deliberate and skillful manage
ment.
"Col. Woods regiment was on the ex-
| treme left of the line and too far distant
| for me to be personal witness of the in
dividual conduct of the officers and men,
but the magnificent bravery shown by the
regiment under the lead of Col. Wood
testifes to his courage and skill and the
energy and determination of his officers.
| the First and Tenth regiment cavalry, dis
mounted, and I personally noticed their
| brave and good conduct, which will be
| especially mentioned by Gen. Young.
81 personally noticed the good conduct of
| Capts. w. H. Book, Robert P. Wainwright
and Jacob C. Galbraith, Maj. James NJ.
| Bell, Capt. Thomas T. Know and Lieut.
George E. Brown. The last three were
wounded Maj. Bell, he lay on the
| ground with broken leg, said: I only
| regret l can't go on with you further
capt. Know, though severely wounded,
continued as long as possible to exercise
his command and insisted to that he
! was not much hurt. and Lieut.. Brown also
| made light of his wound to me and con-
| tinued upon the line until he tainted.
II cannot state positively as to the size
Of the Spanish force which we engaged, or
| the extent of their casualties, further than
that the force was much greater than ours,
| and that information l have would indi-
| cate that their killed and wounded exceed
| ed those which our troops sustained, but
our estimate on this can only be verified
! when we have access to the reports of the
| Spanish commanders. 1t has given us a
/ full view of Santiago and the surrounding
country, and has enabled US to reconnoiter
| close to the Notifications Of that place.
| Very respectfully,
JOSEPH WHEELER,
Major General, U. S. ", Commanding"
THE casualties in the engagement were:
First United States volunteer cavalry,
| strength, 500; killed, s; wounded 81.
First United States regular cavalry,
strength, PA; killed. Z; wounded, s.
Tenth United States regular cavalry,
strength, 220; killed, /: wounded, TO-
Total strength, 1854; killed, 16; wound
ed, 50. Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH WHEELER,
Major General, U. s. ", Commanding"