The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17


! which were sent out yesterday, re-
| turned here at 10 o'clock last night
| with eighteen Spanish prisoners one of
| them an officer.
The party also captured 100 Mauser
rifles and 10000 rounds of ammuni
| ton. They report having had a series
Of engagements with Spaniards, in
| which 100 Spanish soldiers were killed
and 200 wounded. They also destroyed
| a Spanish blockhOuse and telegraph
| station, through which the Spaniards
| had been keeping Guantanamo and
| Santiago informed of the movements
| of American troops.
| ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE BAT
TIE.
| United States Camp, East Side OF
| Entrance to Guantanamo Bay, Tues
| day, June 14-8 p. m.-By the Associ-
| ated Press Boat Wanda, Via Kingston,
! ia, Wednesday, June 15.-12:30 p. NJ
| The United States marines under Lieu
| tenant Colonel Robert w. Huntington
! made their first aggressive movement
| against the Spanish guerillas today
, and completely routed the enemy.
The force of marines was under Cap
| tain Elliott, and the cooperating Gu
bans were under Colonel Laborda. The
= Ombined forces razed a Spanish camp
about five miles from the American
position, destroyed the only we'll in the
vicinity and killed about forty Span
iards.
One American marine was slightly
wounded. Two Cubans were killed and
four wounded.
1t is impossible to estimate the number
of Spaniards engaged, owing to their
guerilla methods of fighting, but it is
believed there were at least 400.
The marines behaved splendidly, their
oQrlzc 10 nch layo4
| under the severe fire Of the enemy.
The captured camp lies about five
miles southeast of the rifle pits Of the
marines and was an important base for
the enemy, as it contained the only we'll
within six or seven miles. Lieutenant
Huntington decided on the attack early
in the day and at about o'clock the
force started across the mountain The
march up and down the steep hillsides
under the glaring tropical sun was
severe test of endurance for the ma
rines, and before the battle ground was
was reached, twenty-five men had re-
ceived medical attention. All were able,
however, to reach the position before
the fighting ceased.
The marines were compelled to march
in single file following the mountain
trail. Meonwhile the Cubans darted
backward and forward to right and left
on the scout. 1t was noon when from
a hill top, the Americans caught sight
of the Spanish camp lying on a ridge
below them. 1t consisted Of one large
house the officers quarters surrounded
by numerous "shacks" and huts, all
clustering about cne precious Well.
The Americans began a cautious ad-
vance and were within 200 yards of the
enemy before the crack Of a rifle from
the Spanish Ines announced that the
Spaniards had discovered them.
The troops quickly moved into line
of battle, With the Cubans on the left
flank The enemy's bullets were whirl-
ing viciOusly over the Americans, but
the marines settled down to their work
as unconcernedly as though at target
practice.
Very few Spaniards We're in sight.
They were lying behind the huts, and
in the brush but the puffs of smoke re-
vealed their positions and enabled the
Americans to do effective work. For
twenty minutes both sides maintained
terrific fire. The Spanish shots were
generally wild and spasmodic, while
the Americans coo4ly fired away, aim
ing carefully and shooting individually
to kill. For the most part the Ameri-
cans firing was done individually but
at times the officers could direct firing
by squade, always with telling effect.
1t was beginning to look as though a
bayonet charge down the slope would
Zoe necessary to dislodge the enemy
when suddenly the latter began to
! break for a thicket 100 yards further
ON. Little groups could be seen fleeing
from the camp, separating, darting
through the brush and ZigZaging to es-
cape the bullets. 1t was then the
American fire became most deadly.
Man after man could be seen to fall in
| a vain rush for shelter; and the fire
from the Spanish became scattering
and almost ceased.
Two Cubans lay dead and four
, wounded, and Private Walker, of
company D., had to limp to the rear
with a slight wound in his ankle.
The easy victory put the command in
high spirits. The little black Cuban
warriors waved their machetes and
flowled curses at the Spanish in savage
fashion. Their firing had been wild
throughout, but they all displayed the
utmost contempt for the Spanish bull
let's apparently being absolutely with
Out fear.
AS the enemy were breaking camp.
the Dolphin, which lay out at sea, was
signaled and began pitching shells to-
ward the thicket for which the Spa
niards were making. Meanwhile Lieu
tenant Magill was seen coming with
forty men as refnforcements, and Cap
tain MaEoney was on the way with
100 more, but before either could reach
the scene the trouble was over.
AS the Spanish retreated the Ameri-
cans moved slowly forward firing as
they went and by the time the camp
was reached, the enemy had all got
away. taking their wounded and pro-
baJbly many Of their dead. Fifteen