The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-06-29
DoNs WE'RE FULLY PREPARED.
How They Were Posted to Meet the Amer
lean Advance.

That the Spaniards were thoroughly
posted as to the route to be taken by
the Americans in their movement to-
wards Sevilla was evident, as shown by
the careful preparations they had made
The main body of the Spaniards was
posted on a hill on the heavily wooded
slopes Of which had been erected two
blockhouses, fianked by irregular in
trenchments Of stone and fallen trees.
At the bottom of these hills run two
roads along which Lieutenant Colonel
Roosevelt's men ard eight troops OF the
First and Tenth cavalry, with a bat
terry Of four howitZers, advanced. These
roads are but l,ttle more than cullies.
rough and narrow, enc at places almost
impossible. In these trails the fight
occurred. Nearly half a mile separated
RooseVelt's men from the regulars, and
between them and on both sides Of the
road in the thick underbrush was con-
cealed large force of Spaniards
The fight was opened by the First and
Tenth cavalry under General Young. A
force OF Spaniards was known TO be in
the vicinity Of La Quasina. and early in
the morning Lieutenant Colonel Roose-
velt's men started off up the precipitous
bluff back of Siboney TO attack the
Spaniards on their right flank. General
Young at the same time taxing the road
at the foot Of the hill About two and
a half miles out from Siboney some Gu
bans, breathless and excited. rushed into
camp with the announcement that the
Spaniards were but little way in front,
and were strongly entrenched. Quickly
the Hotchkiss guns out in the front
were brought TO the rear, while a strong
scouting line was thrown out
Then cautiously and in silence the
troops moved forward until a bend in
the road disclosed a hill where the
Spaniards were located. The guns were
again brought to the front and placed
in position while the men couched down
in the road waiting TO give Roosevelt's
men, who were toiing over the little
trail along the crest of the ridge. time
to get up. At 1880 am General Young
gave the command 10 the men at the
Fotchkiss guns to open fire. The in
slant the Hotchkiss guns were fired the
hillsdes commanding the road gave
forth volley after voley from the Maui
sers Of the Spaniards. Don't shoot un-
til you see something TO shoot at"
yelled General Youns, and the men
obeyed the order.
In the meantime, away off TO the left,
could be heard the crack OF the rifles OF
Colonel Woods men, and the regular,
deeper-tOned volley firing of the Span
ish. over there the American losses
were the greatest. Colonel Woods men,
with an advance guard well out in
front and two Cuban guides before
them, but apparently with no fankers.
went squarely into the trap set for
them by the Spaniards. Troop L. the
advance guard under the unfortunate
Captain Capron, was almost surrounded,
and but for the achievements hurried
ly sent forward every man would prob
ably have been killed or wounded.
There must have been nearly 1900
Spaniards i'm front and To the sides Of
us" said Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt
when discussing the fight. They held
the ridges with rifle pits and machine
guns, and had a body Of men in am
bush i'm the thick jungle at the sides Of
the road over which we were advanc-
ing. our advance guard struck the men
in ambush and drove them out. But
they lost Captain Capron. Lieutenant
Thomas and about fifteen men killed or
wounded. The Spanish firing was ac-
curate-so accurate, indeed that II sur
prised me; and their firing was fearful
ly heavy"
81 want TO say a word for our men,"
continued Lieutenant Colonel Roose-
welt Every officer and man did his
duty up to the handle. Not man