Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-02

city.
WASHINGTON, u. c., July 1.-The bat
lie tss begun. just two months after the
battle Of Manila, and on the first day OF
the month, like that glorious engage
msnt began the first set battle Of the
war In this hemisphere
mi. startling news was conveyed in
m. following brief dispatch received
from General shafter at 10 o'clock this
morning:
Secretary OF War. Washington:
"Camp Near Scyilla, Cuba.-Action now
gonc on. The firing only light and de-
sutorg Began ON the right, near Caney.
IawtOn's Division. lie will move on the
be!,h.as, part of the town OF Santiago
Tn keep you continually advised of
IrogIoss
"SHAFTER. Mai or-General."
EVERYBODY THRILLED.
Brief as it was. it told the whole story
that the first shots Of the long-cXpected
clash Of arms had been exchanged, and
that probably The first great land en-
Fagmeat Of The war was under way.
il sent a thrill through official circles.
from the highest TO the lowest. Secretary
Algcr was the first to read it. He passed
IL % General Corbn, acknowledgement OF
ihe army and directed him TO take it at
once 20 the White House. General Cor
bin went 20 the President. carrying the
original dispatch He was back shortly,
and then a bulletin was posted giving the
dispatch verbatim. Until then only the
higher officials had known that the de-
c,sye hour was at hand. The news spread
through The corridors. and wave of
ave-Ike agitation and expectancy took
hold OF every one. A great crowd OF
correspondents struggled about the bulle-
tin-boarl; messenger boys dashed off
with dispatches; the clerks. men and
women, turned from their desks and
gathered at the doorways.
SPIRITS OF OUR MEN HIGH.
General Miles, commanding the<armv
received q copy OF the dispatch soon
after 10 arrived. lie had anticipated IT,
iQr only "a few hours before dispatch
came 10 him from General Breckenridge.
inslec;or-gcncral Of the army, stating
thar the spirits of the troops were high,
and iba. they were eager and expectant
Of action.
General Miles also received another die
patch sent quite early this morning from
Skaters headquarters. saying that the
big military balloon was now high in the
'Ir and was giving opportunity for OBJ
'arvau0n over great sweep of country.
This IN Itself was Of incalculable value
10 our troops.
TIE TROOPS THAT BEGAN IT.
According 20 General Skaters repor.,
he attack on Santiago was begun ov
be Second Division Of the Fifth Army
.ops' commanded by Brlgadier- General
q v. Lawton This division consists Of
hree brigades, made up as. follows: Flrs,
'risade, commanded by Colonel j. J.
.anhorn-Eighth United States Infantry.
.wenty-second United States Infantry
Ind Second Massachusetts Infantry; Sc
ond Brigade, commanding officer I'M
nown, but supposed TO be Colonel Bates
lrst United States Infantry, Fourth
'nited States Infantry. and Twenty-hfth
-nited States Infantry; Third Brigade
ommanded by Brigadier-General A. r.
hanee-Seyenth United States Infantry.
'wcltth United States Infantry, AMI
seventeenth United States Infantry.
10 this appears that the entire division
which opened the hostlities OF the day
vas composed entirely of regular troops,
easoned and experienced in battle. with
he exception OF the Second Massachu-
et's Volunteer Infantry, which is re-
arded as one OF the best volunteer or
anizations of the army.
CONFIDENCE IN sHAFTER.
Never before since the declaration Of
var has there been such feeling of in
ense interest an anxiety manifested. The
mcals here are confident that they
lave done everything possible 10
Uengthen Skaters hands for the great
onilict he Is waging. and they have an
confidence IN his discretion, MS
'ayery. and his energy. The attack to-
ay several days before the public mind
HsI
hergy as well as 10 his judgment. ac-
0roing 10 the present lights. for he un-
oaoIedly found II necessary to crush the
oe IN detail, following Napoleon's favor
70 maxim. instead OF allowing him 10
onSolida;e and outnumber him.
AZ The day wore along without bring
NJ any news. the anxiety increased, ana