The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-04
The Battle Opens
Capron's Battery


shot.
Capron's Battery
Captain Capron's battery opsued or the
's,nemy at once and tors the ground up with
sheis, sending clouds Of 6us. high into the
air.
The batteIv also sent a number Of shells
entirely through the fort, tearing down large
sections of the walls. This fine marksman-
ship was repeated several times, the battery
stopping the fire Of 'he Spanish soldiers,
who had opened fire repeatedly from the
covered way pits. By o'clock General
Chaffee's bridge was pressing In toward
the town, and the firing az intervals was
very warm. II was difficult to see anything
of the battle, owing to the rolling nature OF
the ground and the dense vegetation that
obscured the view in almost every direction
made it impossible to see far.
The firing at times was very heavy during
the morning. but the Spanlards in the COW
cred way made most obstinate defense and
refused to yield an inch. Tina and again
the shells from Captain Capron's battery
drove them to cover, but as soon as his fire
ceased they were up and at it again.
Despite the heavy firing of the American
troops they were able to make but little APP
parent progress during the morning, al
though eventually they steadily drew in and
enclosed the town on all sides.
An Order to Assault
At noon it became evident that the fire
from the covered way could not be stopped
by the artillery alone. and that no perma-
nenr advance could be had until the place
was taken. and General Lawton decided TO
~ l,1-aa 11. IL
4 messenger to General Chaffee with in
structions to take the position by charge
General Chaffee thereupon closed in with
his men rapidly from the north, while Cap
tain Capron maintained heavy fire on the
fort, keeping the Spaniards in the covered
way and putting hole after hole into the
stone walls of the fort. Shortly afterwards
he threw a shot from the battery which tore
away the Flagstaff, bringing the Spanish
flag to the ground. From that time no BAN
ner waved above it.
Dashed Up the Hill
AT o'clock the advance line OF General
Chaffee's sklrmishers, the Seventh infan-
try, began to appear a the endge Of the
doods below the fort, and by rapid rushes
advanced up the hill to the fort. No shot
was fired as they swept forward. 1t was
evident that the covered way had been
abandoned and in few minutes the Amer
lean troops were thick around the fort, which
commands the north side OF the town. The
Epaniards were completely surrounded. The
main part of the army was between them
on the other three sides. They retired to
building in the town, and made a gallant
defense, but from the time General Chat
fees men took the stone fort they were lost
troops to Spain.
Smelling the Town
Rather than take the town by general
assault without the aid of artillery which
must certainly result in great loss of life,
Gen. Lawton decided to order forward ar
tillery to shell the town at close range.
Although the road from the hill to the edge
of the town was nearly impossible for ar
tillery, Capt. Capron made the effort, and
by o'clock had his guns in position, ready
TO open on the town. For some time General
Chaffee's brigade held its position behind
the stone fort, and then began the ascent
toward the town, firing rapid volleys as
they advanced. Gen. Ludlow and Col.
Miles pressed closely on the other sides,
and at nightfall the town is practically in
the hands of the Americans. Tomorrow
morning, at daybreak, Gen. Lawton's di-
vision will sweep past Caney on the direct
road to Santiago.
Enemy's Advantage
The country in which Gen. Lawton's d.
vision fought offered great advantages
both to the attacking party and to the de-
tenders 1t is broad valley, flanked on
the west by towering mountains and on the
east by ridge about 200 feet high. At one
time 1t was under cultivation, but has been
neglected since the opening of the war. 1t
still retains, however signs of its former
prosperity in groves of cocoanut and man.
grove trees and broad fields Of waving
grain, In most cases waist high. Several
ridges intersect it. but none of them is
over 50 feet high. The valleys between
these ridges and the groves were points CT
vantage to the American regulars, who
used them to the fullest extent.
The open spaces were Of great benefit to
the Spaniards, who were given clear sight