Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-30
A BUSY WEEK F!
The Latest News from the Seat
Of War;.
FIGHT OF THE ROUGH RIDERS
MORE TROOPS FOR CUBA-A
SQUADRON TO BE SENT TO
THE COAST OF SPAIN.


quarters has been a busy one. Gen.
Shafter has been landing his forces on
Cuban soil, difficult task when it is
taken into consideration that he had
no port of entry and no wharf or dock
upon which to land his horses and
heavy artillery, stores, sc. But he &C
complished 1t all with the loss of only
two lives and few supplies. The
horses and mules were made to jump
into the ocean and were towed ashore.
His troops had scarcely landed when
fighting began. The country around
Baiquiri is billy and heavily wooded,
and bushwhacking has been carried
on to a great extent. On Friday last
the Rough Riders allowed enthusiasm
to lead them into a Spanish ambush,
where an engagement occurred.
This exploit is said to have
been undertaken without the knowl-
edge of the commanding general.
There is talk of court martialing the
responsible officers, but no official basis
for this has been given.
While the eyes of the rough riders
were riveted on this engagement, from
the right flash came from the chap
arral thicket on the mesa, barely 200
yards ahead. A score OF Mauser bull
let's whistled over the heads of those
in the foremost rank. This unexpect-
ed attack quickly gave the rough
riders an affair of their own to attend
to.
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt was
riding near the head of the column.
The rough riders were marching along
trail SO narrow that they could ad-
vance only in single file. In this po-
sition the fire of the enemy was doubly
dangerous.
"Deploy! !" "Lie down." Col. Wood
commanded. Troop L, which formed
the advance line, scattered. quickly
sending a return volley in the direc
came. This fire did not check the
enemy, who advanced to the attack
with great bravery, emptying their
rifles as they came. Their fire was
delivered with too great rapidity for
accuracy. Most Of the bullets flew
high.
From the reports it is believed that
the Spanish used explosive bullets.
! The sound of the bullets cutting
through the chaparral affected the
nerves of the rough riders. A few men
showed signs Of panic. But the cool
| demeanor OF Col. Wood and Lieut..
Col. Roosevelt soon restored confidence
and every man settled down to work.
| Troop l. was reinforced by Troop G,
| but still. the enemy pressed forward.
| Col. Woods men yielded their ground
| slowly. Meanwhile the sound of firing
warned the other troops at the rear
that their comrades were engaged.
The enemy was temporarily check
ed, but presently outfianked Col.
Woods men, who were forced to fall
back. They retired slowly, fighting
| fiercely as they went. Private Whit
ney of Troop L, staggered along,
bleeding profusely from three wounds.
| Private Islade, supported between two
slightly wounded companions, also
made his way to the rear. He had
continued to fire after he had been
struck by three bullets, and retired
only after fourth had hit him.
BY 10 o'clock the enemy had been
tenth and twenty second. The fight
for an hour in the burning sun. The
men had no water in their canteens
and the Threats of the officers became
so parched that they could only whis
per their commands. Rifles became
almost too hot to hold. Many men
took their canteens to give the dearly
priced water to their wounded and ex-
hausted companions. The mules who
were carrying the ammunition, fell
exhausted and could not rise.
Our men were surprised at the deter
mination and bravery of the Spanish.
They now realize that Santiago can be
taken only after the hottest kind of
fighting.
While the rough riders were giving
and taking hard knocks on the high
ground the firing became general in
the valley to the north, where Gen.
Lawton-the Cuban skirmish line hav
ing been driven back-checked the
advance of a strong Spanish force and
eventually compelled them to retreat
Gen. Lawton succeeded in bringing a
section of a mountain battery into
action. This kept the road clear of
Spaniards, while our troops quickly
formed and moved forward. At noon
Gen. Lawton had pressed the enemy
pack across j uraguaSlCO creek.
An attempt Of the enemy to execute
flank movement on our troops on the
mesa was checked by the Wompatuck
and the New Orleans, which shelled
the chaparral just beneath the top of
the ridge.
While our troops were engaged
about Sevilla Gen. Gracia attacked
Hermitano, 5 miles west of Zocapa
Castle and only 8 miles from Santiago.
There is a small Spanish fort at Her
nitano. with some field guns, sup
ported by a garrison. Gen. Garcia
sent 1000 Cubans against this fort, the
attack being designed to prevent Gen.
Linares from sending troops to check |
the advance of the main army. The |
Cubans attacked so spirited, however. |
that they are reported to have taken |,
&. part Of the intrenchments. The |
Spanish fell back i'll defenses around |
e.,