The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-03
Battle Was Fought Near San Juan
Nights.
FOES POWDER SMOKELESS.
Our Common Powder Made Good
Target for Enemy,

New York, July "A special dispatch to
the Evening World, dated lei Paso, Cuba,
near Santiago, noon, by way of Playa del
Este, July l, says: THE first artillery
fight of the campaign has just been ended
by the silencing of Spanish battery.
1.-THE wounded are still being picked up
as this dispatch is hurried away.
Gen. Lawton's division bivouacked near
Ell Caney last night without fires.
"At Z o'clock this morning there was a
sullen boom 1t was the first shot from
Capron's battery, fired to avenge the kill
ing of his son.
Promptly the Spanish began to answer
the challenge from their forts and
trenches. At tbs Grimes battery opened
on the Spanish troops to the right of the
San Juan bfeGkhouse.
THE common powder used by our troops
smoked, and was a fine target for the
Spanish field battery, which probably was
served by Admiral Cervera's marines,
judging by the accuracy of the aim.
while our smoke gave the enemy our
range, Grimes could not locate the enemy's
guns. which used smokeless powder, ex-
cept approximately, But satisfied as to
the Spanish position, our men worked like
mad.
"The Spanish fire gradually slackened
and In less than an hour 1t ceased alto
gether.
Battery A of the, Second Artillery de-
serves great credit for the victory for it
was a case of blindness against sight.
1.-THE battery loss, the officers state. was
as follows
Kiled-Underwood and Helm, both pri-
Yates.
wounded-Heary. George c.. first SER
geant; Sergt. Yeite. Sergt. Cornfod. Corpl.
Keene.
1.-The battery was supported by the Rough
Riders, about 100 Cubans with a Hotch-
kiss gun, a detachment Of the Tenth Cav
airy and a squad from Company of the
Second Cavalry.
Most Of the Spanish shells flew low
over the crest of the batterys position
and exploded. Through them the Rough
Riders had about ten men wounded, among
them Champlain, whose left elbow was
smashed.
THE Cuban leader, Gonzales, reports
that the Cubans lost twenty killed and
wounded
'"The details of Gen. Lawton's losses
have not arrived.
Heavy volley firing has been heard for
three hours. 1t seems to indicate
strong American advance.
There is no artillery firing from Ell
sIo
from San Juan which has a slope of fir
teen feet in the hundred. Both divisions
really are in battle.
THE day is clear and a moderate breeze
is blowing, but there is a strong heat
The troops are in good condition.
Capt. Grimes and CorpI. Mclean, who
were overcome by the heat, are recover
ing.
The battery shot 100 rounds two-thirds
shell and the balance shrapnel.
The military balloons used by the sig
nal corps for the purpose of obtaining
accurate information of the location of
the enemy and the character Of their de,
lenses, proved of lnesdmable service in
yesterdays engagement. The balloon sent
up yesterday hoated just over the tree
tops and was easily guided along ithree
miles of the road toward the lines OF the
enemy.
Whenever 1t halted for the purpose OF
taking a photograph of the Qualifications
below the Spanlards seized the occasion
for taking shots at the mid-aid monster
At one time the big balloon hung over
San Juan, not over 500 yards from the
enemy, and for five minutes the Spaniards
below tried in yain to puncture 1t.
In the fighting at San Juan Spanish
she'll two and half inches in diameter
burst in the midst of Capt. Purifiers bat
terry in the First Artillery, wounding sew
eral.
Among those injured was Private Sam
uel Barr.
Rooseveit's Rough Riders were also in
this fight, and they bore themselves with
as much credit as in the last Fridays
battle In the bush.
Several of the Rough Riders were
wounded, among them: S. G. Devore, ser
geant Troop K; w. A. Armstrong, cor
poral Troop j; McSparron. corporal Troop
G.; Ash, private. Troop G.; w. Freeman,
private Troop f; B. A. Long, private
Troop K; Mason Mitchell, private Troop
X. V. d. Horton. corporal Troop ], Thira
United States Cavalry, was also wounded.
--~-as--s-
"A private letter from Manila tells of
this interesting Incident, says an exchange
When Capt Charles v. Gridley, who com
manded the Olympia in the engagement, left
for home-to die on the way-the men who
scrambled out on the mooring boom and