The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-15

The preparations were far from what i
desired them to be- but were in a siclSly
climate; our supplies had TO be brought
forward by a narrow wagon road, which
the rains might at any time render i'm
passable; fear was entertained that a storm
might drive the vessels containing our
stores to sea, thus separating US from our
base of supplies, and lastly, it was reported
that General Pando. with 5000 reinforce
ments for the enemy. was en- route from
Manzanillo and might be expected in a few
days. Under these conditions l determined
to give battle without delay.
EARLY on the morning of July l Lawton
was in position around FL Caney, Chaffee's
brigade on the right across the Guantanamo
road, Miless brigade in the center and Lud-
lows on the left. The duty of cutting off
the enemys retreat along the Santiago road
was assigned to the latter brigade. The
artillery opened on the town at els a. m.
The battle here soon became general and
was hotly contested. The enemys position
was naturally strong and was rendered more
so by blockhouses, a stone fort and in
trenchments cut in solid rock and the loop
holing of a solidly built stone church. The
opposition offered by the enemy was greater
than had been anticipated and prevented
Lawton from joining the right or the main
line during the day, as had been intended.
After the battle had continued for some
time Batess brigade of two regiments
reached my headquarters from Siboney.
directed him to move near Ell Caney to give
assistance, if necessary. He did so and was
put in position between Miles and Chaffee.
The battle continued with varying intensity
during most of the day and until the place
was carried by assault about 4:30 p M AS
the Spaniards endeavored to retreat along
the Santiago road Ludlow's position enabled
him to do very effective work and to prac-
ticaly cut off all retreat in that direction"
ENEMY USED SNOKELESS POWDER.
After the battle at Ell Caney was well
opened, and the sound of the smal-arm
fire caused us to believe that Lawton was
driving the enemy before him, l directed
Grimes's battery to open fire from the
heights of El Pozo on the San Juan block
house, which could be seen situated in the
enemys intrenchments extending along the
crest of San Juan hill. This fire was eff
fective and the enemy could be seen run
ming away from the vicinity of the block
house. The artillery fire from FL Pozo was
soon returned by the enemy's artillery.
They evidently had the range of this hill,
and their first shells killed and wounded
several men. AS the Spanards used smoke
less powder it was very difficult to locate
the position of their pieces, while, on the
contrary, the smoke caused by our black
powder plainly indicated the position of ouS
battery.
''At this time the cavalry division, under
General Sumner, which was lying concealed
in the general vicinity Of the Ell Pozo house,
was ordered forward. with directions to
cross the San Juan river and depoy to the
right the Santiago side, while Kent's di-
vision was to follow closely in its rear and
deploy to the left. These troops moved for
ward in compliance with orders, but the
road was so narrow as to render it imprac-
ticable to retain the column of fours for
nation at all points, while the underground
on either side was so dense as to preclude
the possibility Of deploying skirmishers 1t
naturally resulted that the progress made
was slow. and the long-range rifles of the
enemy S infantry killed and wounded a num-
Der of our men while marching along this
road and before there was any opportunity
to return this fire. At this time Gen erals
Kent and Sumner were ordered to push for
ward with all possible haste and place their
troops in position to engage the enemy
General Eent, with this end in view, forced
the head of his column alongside of the
cavalry column far the narrow trail
permitted. and thus hurried his arrival at
the San Juan and the formation beyond
that stream. A few hundred yards before
reaching the San Juan the road forks a
fact that discovered by Lieutenant
Colonel Derby, Of my staff, who had ap-
preached we'll to the front in a war balloon
This information he furnished to the troops
resulting in Sumner moving on the right
hand road. while Kent was enabled to
utilize the road to the left.
General Wheeler, the permanent COM
mander of the cavalry division, who had
been i'll, came forward during the morning
and later returned to duty and rendered
most gallant and efficient service during
the remainder of the day. After crossing
the stream the cavalry moved to the right
with view of connecting with Lawton's
left when he could move up and with their
left resting near the Santiago road.
SECOND BRIGADE SUFFERED.
I'm the meantime Kent's division, with
the exception of two regiments of Haw-
kins's brigade being thus uncovered, moved
rapidly to the front from the forks pre-
viously mentioned in the road utilizing
both trails but more especially the one to
the left, and, crossing the creek, formed
for attack in the front of San Juan HILL
During this formation the Second Brigade
suffered severely. While personally super
intending this movement it's gallant COM
mander, Colonel Wikoff, was killed. The
command Of the brigade then devolved
upon Lieut.. Col. Worth, Thirteenth In
fantry, who vas soon severely wounded
and next upon Lieut.. Col. Lscum, Twenty
fourth Infantry, who, five minutes later
also fell under the terrible fire of the
enemy, and the command of the brigade
then devolved upon Lieut.. Col. Ewers,
Ninth Infantry.
while the formation thus described was
taking place General Kent took measures to
hurry forward his rear brigade. The Tenth
and Second Infantry were ordered to fol-
low WikOff's brigade, while the Twenty-first
was sent to the right hand road to support
the First Brigade, under General Hawkins,
who had crossed the stream and formed
on the right Of the division. The Second
and Tenth Infantry, Col T.. z. Pearson
commanding, moved forward in good order
on the left of the division, passed over a
geen knoll and drove the enemy back to-
wards his trenches.
After completing their formation under
destructive fire and advancing a short
distance. both divisions found in their front
a wide bottom in which had been placed
a barbed wire ENHANCEMENT, and beyond
which there high hill, along the crest
of which the enemy strongly posted
Nothing daunted. these gallant men pushed