The record-union., 1898-06-26
They Gained a Most Signal Victory
Over the Enemy.
After a Sharp and Bloody Engagement
Lasting an Hour, the Americans Hold
a Position Only a Few Miles
From Spanish Stronghold.

RAGUA, CUBA, Friday, June n, Z
p m. (per dispatch boat Wanda to Port
Antonio, Jamaica, June %, a. m, via
Kingston, Jamaica, June %, 1:3O p.
m)-(Copyright, 1898, by the Associ-.
alrymen forced their way over the
rough mountain trail this morning and
encountered the Spanish infantry in a
dense thicket on high plateau almost
overlooking the city Of Santiago de
Cuba, and routed them after sharp
battle lasting one hour. This after
noon, strongly reinforced by the ar
rival Of additional forces, the cavalry
men held a position a little more than
five miles from the Spanish stronghold
in Southeastern Cuba, preparing for
general movement on that city
To-day's victory was not gained
without the shedding of American
blood, and one officer and twelve of the
troops lie under the ground on the field
of battle, while about fifty others, in
Guiding six officers, are in the field hos
pital, suffering from wounds. Oe these
eight or ten probably will die. 1t is be-
lieved that the enemy's loss was at least
fifty dead, besides many wounded
Practically two battles were fought
at the same time, one by the Rough
Riders, under the immediate command
of Colonel Wood, on the top of the plat
eau, and the other on the hillside, sew
eral miles away by the regulars with
whom was General Young.
The expedition started from Juragua
marked on some Cuban maps as AL
tares-a small town on the coast nine
miles east of MORO Castle, which was
the first place occupied by the troops
at their landing at Baiquiri last We'd
nesday
Information was brought to the Amer
lean army headquarters by Cubans on
Thursday that forces of Spanish SOL
diers had assembled at the place where
the battle occurred to block the march
on Santiago. General Young went
there to dislodge them, the understand
ing being that the Cubans under Cen
eral Castillo would cooperate with
him, but the latter failed to appear un-
til the fight was nearly finished Then
they asked permission to chase the flee
ing Spaniards, but as the victory was
already won, General Young refused to
allow them to take part in the fight.
General Youngs plans contemplated
the movement of half of his command
along the trail at the base Of the range
of hills leading back from the coast, so
that he could attack the Spaniards on
the flank, while the Rough Riders went
hill, to attack them in front. This plan
was carried out completely. The troops
left Juragua at daybreak. The route
of General Young and the regulars was
comparatively level and easy of travel.
Three Hotchkiss guns We're taken with
this command.
The first part of the journey of the
Rough Riders was over steep hills, sew
eral hundred feet high. The men car
ried 200 rounds of ammunition, and
heavy camp equipment Although this
was done easily in the early morning,
the sun beat down upon the cowboys
and Eastern athletes as they toiled up
the grade with their heavy packs, and
frequent rests We're necessary The
trail was so narrow for the greater part
Of the way that the men had to pro-
ceed single file. Prickly cactus brush
lines both sides of the trail, and the
underbrush was so thick that it was
impossible to see ten feet on either
side. All the conditions were favor
able for a murderous ambuscade. but
the troops kept a close watch, and made
as little noise as possible.
The Rough Riders entered into tha
spirit of the occasion with the great
est enthusiasm. 1t was their first op-
portunity for a fight, and every man
was eager for it. The weather grew
swelteringly hot, and one by one the
men threw away blankets and tent
rolls and emptied their eanteens.
The first intimation had by Colonel
Woods command that there We're Span
iards in the vicinity was when they
reached point three or four miles back
from the coast, where the low cuckoo
calls of the Spanish soldiers were heard
in the bush. 1t was difficult to locate
the exact point from which those
to speak in whispers. and frequent halts