Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-03

ty minutes OF fearfully hot work silencet
the Spanish batteries. Ten shots wer'
sent into them after they ceased firing
but there was no response. and 1t Is pre-
sumed that the guns were dismounted OF
the gunners driven of.
THE ENEMY RETREATS
Away to the left General Lawton's d.
vision, with Chaffee's men and Caprons
Battery, was mean time fighting fiercely
with the enemy entrenched in and about
Caney. The Spaniards contested every
inch of ground bitterly, and fought with
unexpected GOODNESS and courage. but the
Irresistible onward movement of the
| Americans forced them to rereat.
At II o'clock the terrible fire from Cap
the men, broke the Spanish line, and a
retreat began toward the line of outer
known as the main Santiago road. and
Captain Grimes Battery Immediately
| pitching shells in ahead of the retreating
men. while a detachment of 1000 Cubans,
headed by Garcia, started to cut off the
| retreat
| No report has yet been received from
them. A large detachment of General
Kent's reserves was sent to aid General
Garcia in this work, and 1t is probable
that fierce fighting occurred.
BRAVE OLD WHEELER.
All this time General Sumner had COM
manded the centre, owing to General
Wheeler's illness, but about 30 General
Wheeler started on the two-miles' jour
ney to the front in an ambulance. About
half way to the front he met a number
of filters bearing the wounded. The vete-
ran, under protest by the surgeons. i'm
mediately ordered his horse, and after
personally assisting the wounded into the
ambulance, mounted and rode onward.
The men burst into frantic cheers. which
followed the General all along The line. BY
noon. although still very i'll. General
Wheeler had established headquarters at
the extreme front and centre of the line,
and still holds his position.
The hardest fighting of the day seems
90 ox I, ;cht a., ~
casualties are reported from there. The
advance there was more rapid than at
other points on the lines. and General
Chaffee's brigade was the first to cross
the little San Juan river. close to the
line of outer Notifications. At 2 o'clock
Caney had not been entered by the Ameri-
can troops, but they had pushed on past
1t. and 1t was theirs at any time they
chose to march into II. At that hour
General Shafter. whose headquarters for
the day had been three miles to the rear.
went forward to assume personal COM
mand of the operations. Some surprise
is expressed that he did not walt for the
siege guns before beginning the final at
tack, as these guns are still on the beach
at Baquiri. He decided yesterday that
they were unnecessary, and determined
to strike at once.
CHECKED BY THE RIVER.
The only movement of the day which
did not meet with success was General
Dufeld's attempt to occupy the sea viii
lage of Aguadores. The New York.
Suwanee, and Gloucester shelled the old |
fort, and the rifle pits during the fore |
noon. drove all the Spaniards from the |
and bowled over the parapet |
from which flew the Spanish flag, but |
owing to the broken railroad bridge, Gene
raj Dufiields troops were unable to get |
across the river which separated them
from the little town, and were compelled
to go back to Juragua. 1t is probable
hat an effort will be made Tomorrow to
repair the bridge and a complete move
nent attempted.
To-day it was reported at Juragua that
General Dufield had been defeated, but
his is not true, as he did not encounter
my large body of Spaniards.
DRAMATIC INCIDENTS.
Many dramatic Incidents occurred du-
ing the day, with numerous evidences
# splendid personal bravery of the
american officers and men in their work
4 continuous and intense physical strain,
wing to the hills and swamps, and the
cree tropical sun, which hammered upon
hem the greater part of the day.
The Cubans behaved with skill and !
alor. and rendered valuable aid. General
;arcia and the other Cuban generals led |
he troops in person, and showed great
oolness in tight places.
THE DONS RETREAT.
The Spanish fought stubbornly through
ut, and the retreat. though steady, was
owly and coolly conducted. They con-
,sted every inch of the way and fought
I'd I'LL l.At~