Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-14
FIRST LAND BATTLE.
THE sPAvIARDs AT CABANAs.
TWELVE SPANIARDS KILLED.
No Killed or wounded ON the Side of
the Americans-A Landing at
First Abandoned, but Finally
Made Successfully.

OFF CABANAS. May 12. via KEY
| WEST. FLA, May BIN an effort to
! land Companies Il and G., Of the First
| United States Infantry, in Pinar del Rio
this afternoon with go rifles, 5000 rounds
of ammunition and some food supplies
| for the insurgents, the first land fight OF
| the war occurred.
Each side may claim the result as
victory for itself and a defeat for the
other. for If the Spaniards frustrated the
effort to connect with the insurgents, the
| Americans got decidedly the better Of
the battle. shooting twelve or more of
the enemy and on the own part suffer
ing not a wound.
After dark last evening the old-fash-
oned siJe-wheel steamer Gussie, of the
Morgan Line, with the troops and cargo
mentioned, started for the Cuban coast.
All night she allowed the tug to pilot her,
and al sunrise fell in with the gunboat
Vicksburg on the blockade off Habana.
Other blockading vessels coming up, the
converted revenue cutter Captain VIII
liam NJ Munger was detailed to convoy
the Gussie. and three abreast the steam
ers moved along the coast. No doubt
Moro Castle observed the stranger yes
sci and sent an alarm ahead.
The Spanish soldiers were seen grouped
on shore near Mariel, and Mannings
guns were trained on them, suspecting a
masked battery
GRINDING THEIR MACHINES.
No shots were fired and the Cuban
guides on the Gussie took their machetes
to a grindstone on the hurricane deck.
Our soldiers gathered around to see
them sharpening their long knives, but
only one could be induced TO test the
edge OF these barbarOus instruments with
his thumb. They were soldiers who had
fought Indians, and such weapons sug-
gested an unhappy analogy.
So they Withdrew aft To play craps,
until body OF cavalry on a hill west Of
Marel brought them to their rifles. For
some minutes the cavalry watched US
then galloped over the hin in the direc-
ton i'm which we were headed. From the
duned walls OF stone house further
on, where Spanish soldiers were gather
ed, several shots We're fired by the gun
boat Manning and presently no troops
were visible. 1t had been decided to
land near here, but the depth of water
was not favorable. Just off Port Caba- |
mas harbor the Gusse anchored, the Man
ming covering the landing place with her |
guns, and the torpedo-boat Wasp came |
up eager to assist.
LIEUT.. GRAFTON FIRST TO LAND. |
The first American soldier to step on |
the Cuban shore from this expedition was |
Lieutenant Grafton, Captain O'Counor |
with the first load having gone a longer |
route. \ reef near the beach threw the |
men out and they stumbled through the |
water up to their breasts. When they |
reached dry land they Immediately went |
into the bush 10 form picket line.
Two horses had been led 10 swim to |
land, when suddenly a rihe-shOt. followed |
by continuous sharp firing warned the |
men that the enemy had been i'm waiting.
The cap;Iin of the transport signaled !,
TO the warship, and the Manning fired |
into the woods beyond our picket line
Missed through the air like hot |
iron plunged in water. The Wasp opened
with her small guns. The caHnOnade be-
gan at 3l5 +. VI. and lasted "A quarter Of
an hour; then our pickets appeared The
ships circled round. and being told by |
Captain OConnor. who had come from
shore with the clothing torn from one
leg. where the Spanards were. 100 shots |
more were fired in that direction.
Anybody hurt2' hailed your corre-
spOndent
TWELVE SPANIARDS SHOT.
None of our men. but we shot twelve
5paniards." he shouted back
The soldiers ON board the GuSsie heard
he news without a word. but hearing
where the enemy was situated. gathered
ift on the upper deck and sent several
'Olleys into tho spot. The pickets re-
urned TO the bush. Several crept along
he beach, but the Spaniards had drawn
lack. II was decided that the soldiers
hOuld re-embark on the Gussie. and that
he guides should take the horses and |
eek the insurgents and make a new ap-
,Ointment. They rode Off TO the west
yard and disappeared around a point.
Say" shouted a man from Company
!. after them, you forgot your grind
tone"