The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-07-14

out my (Ommdn0, Says General
Wheeler - Instances of Individual
Bravery Noted.
General Wheeler's report TO Ma
jor General Shafter, of what is known
as the battle of :oiboney, is as folows
''In Camp, Juragua, June 2j.
ITO the Adjutant General of the Fifth
army Corps.
'.Sir: have the honor to report |
that, in obedience to the instructions
of the major general commanding,
given me in person on June 23rd, |
proceeded to Siboney, 'Juraguarsito.'
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.
II rode out to the front and found
the enemy had halted and esta blshed
themselves at a point about three
miles from Siboney. At night the
Cubans returned to the vicinity of
the town. At 8 O'Clock that evening.
the 23rd, General Young reached
Siboney with eight troops of Col.
Woods regiment, A, b, d, f, &, X,
and l., 800 strong; troops A. b, {,
and X, First Cavalry, in all PA men,
and troops A, b, f, and l, of the
Tenth Cavalry, in all 220 men, max
ing the total force 9S4 men, which in
cludcd nearly all of my command
which had marched from Baiquiri, II
miles.
with the assistance of General
Castillo, a rough map of the country
was prepared and the position of the
enemy was fully explained. Deter
mined to make an attack at daylight
on the the oath, Col. Woods regi-
ment was sent by Gen. Young, ac-
companied by two of his staff officers,
Lieutenants Tyrree r. Rivers and w.
r. Smedburg, Jr., to approach the
enemy on the left hand, or more
westerly road, while General Young,
myself and about fifty troops of the
First and Tenth Cavalry, with three
Hotchkiss guns, approached the
enemy on the regular Sevilla road.
General Young and myself ex-
amned the position of the enemy,
the lines were deployed, and l di-
rected him to open fire with the
Hotchkiss guns. The enemy replied,
but firing Immediately became gen
eral. Col. Wood had deployed his
right, nearly reaching the left Of the
regulars. For an hour the fight was
quite warm, the enemy being very
lavish in expediture Of ammunition,
most of their fighting being by
volleys. Finally, the enemy gave
way and retreated rapidly, our side
keeping we'll closed upon them; but
our men being physically exhausted
by both their exertions 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 com
mand. General Young deserves
special commendation for his cool,
deliberate and skillful management.
| also specially notice his acting Ad
iutant General, Lieutenant A. L.
. Mills, who under General 1oung's
direction, was at various parts Of the
line, acting with energy and coo
courage.
The imperative necessity of dis
! embarking with promptitude has
l impelled me to leave most of m.
5 staff to hasten this important matte
: and | had with me Ma jer w. ID. Beacl
e and Major Estro, volunteer aides
both of whom, during the engage
: ment, creditably and bravely per
I formed their duties. l am especial.
indebted to Major Beach for his coo
conduct and good judgment.
| ..Col. Woods regiment was on th
| extreme left of the line and too ia
! distant for me to be persona
witness of the individual conduct o
the officers and men, hut the mag
niticent bravery shown by the reg
iment under the lead of Col. Woo
testities to his courage and skill an
the energy and determination o
:; his officers, which has been marke
n from the moment he reported to m
;, at Tampa, and | have abundan
evidence of his brave and good con
duet on the field | recommend hil
for the consideration of the Govern
ment | must rely upon his report
do Justice to his officers and mel
Z | desire personally to add that all
W. have said regarding Col. Wood al
plies equally to Col. Roosevelt.
Il was Immediately with the trool
of the First and Tenth Regimen
Cavalry. dismounted, and | persona
" noticed their brave and good col
duet, which will be especially me
toned by General Young. pc
sonally noticed the good conduct
Captains W. ii. Book, Robert
Wainwright and Jacob q. Galbrait
Major James NJ. Bell. CAPITA
Thomas I. Know, and Lieutena
George f. Brown. The last thr
were wouned. Major Bell, as he /
on the ground with a broken lie
said; i only regret l can't go
with YOU further
Captain Know, though sereve
wounded. continued as long as pos
BILE to exercise his command and
sisted to me he was not much hu
! and Lieutenant Brown. also ma
Z light of his wound to me and &C
:wo %, tlnued upon the line until he faintt
lies | recommend those officers for
ti1n 'lS,a favorable consideration of the G(
ibls ernment.
asn .sn Il cannot state positively as
the size of the Spanish force viii