Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-11

Headquarters list Marine BattaHon,
Guantanamo Bay Cuba,
June II, 1898.
Sir:
l. 1 have the honor to make the follow
ing report: The stores of this battalion
were sent to the dock at Key West from
Camp Sampson on Sunday, June 3. We
broke camp at am. on June q and went
on board the Panther
. On June {. at 10 pm, we sai,eh from
Key West and arrived off Santiago de
Cuba on the morning of the 10Th On the
same day, at / PM, we arrived In Guanta-
namo bay. AT 2 pm. the battalion LANDED
with stores. Company was landed and
deployed up the hill near the beach, on the
right of the entrance to the harb0r. This
hill is about $50 feet high and on top was
formerly occupied by the Spanish troops,
but when the position was vacated the day
before our landing the bioekhousa on top
of the hill was burned.
8. On landing all houses and nuts latelY
occupied by the Spanish forces were burned.
4. The hill occupied by US is a faulty po-
sition, but the best to be had at this point
The ridge slopes downward ami to the
rear of the bay, the space at the top IS
very small, and all the surrounding coun-
try is covered with thick and almost i'm
penetrabIe brush. The position is COM
manded by n mountain, the ridge of which
is about /, 200 yards to the rear.
>. On the afternoon of landing tents were
pitched and outpostS established.
6. On the 18th, about 5 pm, an attack
was made upon one of the outposts, and
two privates-McCOlgan and Dunphy of
Company D-were killed. each receiving
more than eight wounds, each of which
would have caused death. These two men
were patrols. A detachment was sent out
from camp to support the outposts, and
,I,r Cot, ,f+
After nightfail fire was opened upon our
camp by small parties from different d.
rections on five different OCCASIONS. The
men turned out each time under arms with
promptitude and courage. About 1 am. a
more combined attack was made and
noisy fire from the south, S lutheast and
southwest was opened. During This at
tack Acting Assistant Surgeon John Blair
Gibbs U. s. navy, was killed. From the
best Information obtaiAable about 100 men
were engaged In this attack.
Z. On the morning of he 12th Sergeant
c. II. Smith was killed and Corpora, Glass,
PrlVates McCowan and Dalton, all of CON-
panE ID, were wounded. not dangerously.
). On the morning CT The 18th all tents
aud material were removed from the posi-
ton and taken on the bay side CT the hill,
ann 9 trench was dug ON the south from:
about forty yards across. and Il barricade
made around the position. which would
enable us 20 hold II, as | vas informed that
more troops were bsirg assembled by the
enemy II this immediate vicinity.
D. On the night of the 18th many persist
ent and trtfiing attacks were made in re-
ply 10 which we used good deal of am
munition About am Sergeant Major
Good was killed. On the 18th we were
Joined by sixty insuTgent troops, and they,
being acquainted with the country and ex-
cellent woodsmen and fearless We're of the
greatest assistance.
10. On the 18th. about 8 am fire was
opened upon the camp and subdued with
out loss OF difficulty. That night passed
quietly. About am. of the 14th a rather
smart fire was opened for a few moments
on the camp and easily repealed. About
twenty Cubars came from below the hill
at this alarm, but their help was not need
ed They opened fire.
IL, AT an, 14th, a force consisting of
Companies and ID, the native troops
above mentioacd, with about twenty-five
more from Guantanamo, all under the di-
rection of Colonel Thomas, Cuban army,
proceeded through the hills about six miles
and destroyed well, said to be the only
available water supply within nine miles.
II. From the best information / can
gather this force was opposed by four regu-
lar companies of Spanish infantry and two
companies of guerrtllas, making total OF
a little short of 900 men.
IL The engagement between these forces
lasted from about II m. until 800 p. m
Our troops drove the enemy at every point
being Obliged to make the first advance foi
owing TO the lay Of the land, they could moi
return.
IA Capt. Elliott reports that the men, in
many eases. coolly estimated distances
borrowed his field glasses to pick up parties
OF the enemy. and at a distance of LOO
Yards often inflicted damage and caused
withdrawal.
j.. Second Lieut.. MagiIl with fifty mer
and ten Cubans, joined Capt Elliott, climb
ing the mountain through the cactus ano
brush this advance was intended to cut of
the retreat OF the Spaniards. which unfor.
tunately failed OF its principal object. ow-
ing to the fact that his advance was stop.
ped by the fire of the L. S. S. Dolphin
It. Being apprehensiye for the success Of
the movement. ordered First Lieut.. Maho-
Fey to be Joined by First Lieut. Ingate
these officers each having fifty men with
them on gicket-this combined force to pro.
coed TO Capt Eliott's assistance. Lieut.
Ingate failed. unaceountably. to find his
way to Lieut.. Mahoney. and Lieut. Mano.
ney advanced alone, arriving too late te
take an active part IN the affair.
H. Our losses were two Cubans kIlet
I, and two wounded, and three private.
wourded-not dangerously. After the aft
fair, while descending the mountain. Lieut.
Neville yrenched his hip and will probabf,
be unit Tor service for q month. Abort tel