The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-02

ming the attack came Ine enthusiasm
of the American forces was intense and
their spirit quickly spread to the Cuban
troops. All have shared the belief of
Gen. Shafter that Santiago could be
taken by a sharp. persistent attack and
they have been impatient to advance
Rrigadier General Kent, who COM
mands the center of the general line OF
the attack, started the Twenty-first reg
lment of regulars toward AguadOreS al
the same hour Gen. LaWtOn's men ad-
vanced toward Caney. Upon these
troops fell the brunt of the battle to
the. southeast of Santiago during the
early hours Of the day.
There was desperate fighting about
Aguadores.
Acting under orders from Gen. Lin
ares, the SpaniardS at that point re-
turned the American fire with a fury
that aroused our men to the fiercest de-
termination.
They boldly faced the enemy's fire.
holding the ground tenaciously and
pressing forward whenever an Opportu-
nifty to gain an advanced footing pre-
sented itself. In their operations
about AguadOres, the Americans were
greatly encouraged by the work of the
fleet, which poured a heavy fire into
the lines of the Spaniards.
SIMPSONS Work.
Admiral Sampson ordered the New
York, Gloucester and Suwanee to at
tack the batteries recently placed to the
east of MORO. The vessels engaged the
batteries at short range and left only
the SCARED hillside to show where the
batteries had been located. The Mas
sachusetts and the New York then
opened with their big guns. plunging a
heavy. fire into the enemy'S line. Com
mon shells and reduced charges were
used for the purpose and they demorai-
lied the enemy's ranks. The shells We're
fired at a high elevation so as to clear
the towering coast ridge.
The Newark Joined the fleet this
morning q the Iowa
within one thousand yards of MORO
castle, but a few moments later, just
as the Iowa was about to open fire the
annuIling pennant was hOiSted
The Harvard arrived at Altares this
morning with 1,S00 Michigan volunteers.
They were hurried ashore and has
tened to join the American line.
AS the enemy was pressed back to-
ward Santiago both at Caney and at
Aguadores the progress of our forces
was in entire harmony with the plans of
General Shafter. Our lines thus became
more closely knit and now the Ameri-
cans and CubanS present a continuous
front from the southeast to the north of
the city.
Situation About Caney.
On the right at Caney now is Cen
eral H. w. LaWtOn with three brigades
the First under Colonel 7 / Van
Horne, commanding the Eighth Q. S.
A, and the TWenty-secOnd United
States infantry, and the Second Mas
sachusetts. Colonel z. P. Clark COM
manding.
The Second brigade is composed of the
First, Fourth and Twenty fifth United
States infantry The Third brigade
posed of the Seventh, Twelfth and Sew
enteenth United States Infantry.
General Joseph Wheeler with four
light batteries is strung out in the rear
of Lawton's division. General S. B.
M. Young is attached to General Vince
lers command This cavalry force is
dismounted and is composed of eight
troops of the First cavalry. eight troops
of the Third, eight troops of the Sixth,
eight troops of the Ninth and eight
troops of the Tenth.
On the left of Lawton, in the center
rising on the second crossing of the riv-
er Guiana, just back of Sevilla and
moving toward Aguadores is a force
composed of the First brigade, under
General H. s. Hawkins. with the Six
teenth and Sixth United States infant
ry, the Seventy-firSt New York under
Colonel Wallace Downes. The Second
brigade, Colonel Pierson commanding.
Second United States infantry, Tenth
United States infantry, Twenty-ffrst
United States infantry. Third brigade
Colonel Worth commanding, Ninth
Thirteenth and Twenty-third United
States infantry.
General Bales has the Thfrty-tbird
Michigan, Colonel Charles L. BOynton,
commanding and a battalion of the
Thirty-fourth Michigan, Colonel John
z. Peterman commanding
The News at Washington.
Washington, July 2-The profoundest
concern throughout military and official
circles marked the opening of the sec
Ond day upon which the battle of San
tiagO is being fought. The desperate
character of the fighting is now fully
known to the war department. The in
formation is in addition to the report
made by General Shafter last midnight
when he roughly estimated his casual
ties above 400 Later reports, official
and direct from the field indicate that
this estimate was too low
General Shafter had not up to II
O'Clock this morning, placed any exact
figure on the loss, but he made it clear
that his first estimate at 400 was much
short of the actual loss.
The Associated Press dispatches from
the field, giving the casualties at about
1000, is in line with General Skaters
later intimatiOn, although, as stated,
he had set no figure. The military au-
thorities were alert early in the day
despite the fact that they had been up
we'll through the night in anxious wait
ing for the latest reports. Secretary
Alger and the adjutant general of the
army, General COrbin held a confer
ence as soon as the secretary arrived.
Then Surgeon General Sternburg was
sent for and joined in the conference.
1t is understood that the surgeon gen
eraI will send large force of medical
officers. some 40 or So in addition to
those already with General Shafter's
men. All suitable appliances will be
provided. Neither the secretary nor
the adiutant general would add anv-
thing to the information given out at
midnight.
It was said, however, that the esti-
mate of killed and wounded first made
bv Gen. Shafter was more likely to be
dense growth of chaparral in which
the American troops fought, made it