The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-06-30
FIGHT AT JARAGUA.
A LINE OF BATTLE TWENTY MILES
IN LENGTH.
The American Army Achieves Great Re.
suits I'm Its Three Days March Toward
Santiago - Spsniar,is Trapped Rough
Riders In Ambukcade.

Santiago - Spsniartis Trapped Rough
Riders In AmbuKcade.
Playa, Del Este. Cuba, June 25..-
There was serious engagement
This morning near Juraga, five miles
from Santiago, which was occupied by
General Lawton's brigade.
Less than 1000 American cavalrymen
and Rough Riders fought 1000 Span
iards In the thickets, driving them back
into the city.
The American loss Is twelve or thr-
teen dead and at least fifty wounded,
including six officers.
Several Of the wounded will die.
Twelve Spaniards were found dead
in the bush. Their loss doubtless is
greater.
The Spaniards had every advantage
in numbers and position.
Among the dead are Captain A. X.
Capron, Hamilton Fish. Jr., of New
York, Privates Tillman, Dawson,
Dougherty, w. T. Erwin of the Rough
Riders, and Privates Dix, York, Be-
tork, Il. Kolbe, Berlin and Lemmock
and Corporal White, of the First and
Tenth cavalry.
washington, June 27.-Further par
ticulars of the fierce and sanguinary
struggle near the town of Jaragua,
about nine miles east OF Morro Castle.
which occurred on Friday morning,
have been received.
The 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 bat
tie, while about fifty others. including
six officers. are in the field hospital
suffering from wounds. OF these eight
or ten will probably die. 1t is believed
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 Colonel Wood, on the
top OF the plateau, and the other on the
hillsides several miles away, by the
regulars. with whom was General
Young.
Information was brought to the Am
erican army headquarters on Thursday
by Cubans that forces of Spanish SOL
diers had assembled at the place where
the battle occurred to block the march
to Santiago.
CuDans were Iardy.
General Young went there to dis
lodge them. the understanding being
that the Cubans under General Cas-
ttllo would cooperate with him: but
the latter failed to appear until the
fight was nearly finished. Then they
asked permission to chase the fleeing
Spaniards, but as the victory was all
ready won, General Young refused to
allow them to take part in the bat
tie.
General Young's 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,
30 that he could attack the Spa,.iards
on the flank, while the Rough Riders
went off to follow the trail leading over
the hill to attack them in front. This
plan was carried out completely.
Their Terrible March.
The trail was so narrow that for the
greater part of the way the men had
to proceed single file. Prickly cactus
bushes lined both sides of the trail and
the underbrush was so thick that 1t
was impossible to see ten feet on either
side. All the conditions were favorable
for a murderous ambuscade, but the
troopers kept close watch and made
as little noise as possible.
The first intimation had by Colonel
.Woods's command that there were
Spaniards in the vicinity was when
they reached a point three or four
miles back from the coast, when the
dow cuckoo calls of the Spanish SOL
dlers were heard in the bush. It was
dificult to locate the exact point from
which these sounds came. The men
were ordered to speak in whispers AMI
4requent halts were made. Finally a
place was reached about o'clock
where the trail opened into a space
covered with high grass on the right
hand side of the trail and the thickest
kind of bramble and underbrush on the
other
The dead body of Cuban was found
on the side of the road and at the same
time Captain Capron's troops covered
the outpost the heads of several Span
1ards being seen in the bushes for a
moment.
At this time the sound of firing was
heard mile or two to the right an
parently coming from the hills beyond
the thicket. 1t was the regulars reply
sng to the Spaniards. who had opened
fire on them from the thickets.
In additich to rapid fire rifles the
boom of Hotchkiss guns could be heard
Hardly two minutes elapsed before
Mauser rifles commenced to crack in
the thicket and hundred bullets whis-
tied over the heads OF the Rough Rid
ers, cutting the leaves from the trees
and sending chips flying from the fence
posts beside the men.
The Spanlards had opened and they
poured in a heavy fire which soon had
q most disastrous effect. The troops
stood their ground with the bullets
singing all around them.
Private Colby caught sight of the
Spaniards and fired the opening shot
at them.
Fish the First to Fall.
Sergeant Hamilton Fish was the first
man to fall. He was shot through the
heart and died instantly.
The Spaniards were not more than
300 yards off, but only occasional
sfimpses of them could be seen. The