Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-05

" heller on the operations before Santiago
de Cuba has been made public:
BEFORE SANTIAGO, Cuba
July I, 1893.
| To Adjutant General, 9Th Army Corps:
! Sir: After the engagement of June 2i 1
pushed forward my command through the
valley Lawton's and kents commands oc-
cupyng the hills in the vicinity of that
place. After two days rest Lawton was
| ordered forward, and on the night Of the
sOth Instructions were given by Maj Gen.
Shafter to this officer to attack Caney
| while the cavalry division and Kent's d.
vision We're ordered to move forward on
the regular Santiago road. The movement
| commenced on the morning of July l. The
cavalry division advanced and formed its
lire with it's left near the Santiago read
while Kent's division formed it's line with.
the right joining the left of the cavalry
division.
Col McClernand of Gen Skaters staff
din ected me to give instructions to Ger
Kent. which l complied with in person, al
the same time personally directing Gen.
Sumner to move forward. The men were
all compelled to wade the San Juan river
TO get into line. This was done under very
heavy fire of both infantry and artillery
Our balloon having been sent up right by
the main road, was made a mark of by the
enemy. 1t was evident that we were as
much under fire in forming the line as we
would be by an advance. and l therefore
pressed the command forward from .he
covering under which it was formed 1t
merged into open space in full view of the
enemy, who occupied breastworks and bat
teries on the crest of the hill which over
looks Santiago, officers and men falling at
every step.
Troops Advanced CALAMITY
The troops advanced calamity, soon
| reached the foot of the hill and ascended,
dri wing he
occupying them on the crest of the hill To
accomplish this required courage and de-
termination on the part of the officers and
men of high order and the losses were
very severe. Too much credit cannot be
given to Gen. SumLer and Gen. Kent and
I Inelr gallant brigade commanders, Col.
Wood and Col. Carroll of the cavalry, Gen
Hamilton S. Hawkins, commanding lst Bri-
gaze, Kent's Division, and Col Pearson.
commanding I'd Brigade Col. Carroll and
MAJ. Vessels were both wounded during
the charge, but Maj. Vessels was enabled
to return and resume command. Gen Wick
or. commanding kents Sd Brigade was
killed lea at IL l21o: Lieut. Co, Worth took COM
Col Liscum then took command and was
wounded at 1920, and the command then
GeVolVed upon Lieut.. Col. Ewers 9th In
fantry.
Upon reaching the crest / ordered breast
works to be constructed and sent to the
rear for shovels, picks, spades and axes
me enemy's retreat from the ridge was
precipitate but our men were Sc thorough
ly exhausted that it was Impossible for
them to follow. Their shoes were soaked
with water by wading the San Juan river.
lney had become orenched with rain and
when they reached the crest they were abb
soiuteiy unable to proceed further.
Raised BreastworIxs Mt Night.
Notwithstanding this condition, these ex-
hausted men labored during the night TO
erect breastworks, furnish details to bury
the dead and carry the wounded back in
lmproVlsed filters / sent word along the
line that reinforcements would soon reach
Us and that Lawton would join our right
and that Gen. Bates would come I'D and
strengthen our left. After reaching the
crest OF the ridge Gen. Kent sent the 18th
Regulars to assist in strengi hening our
right. AT midnight Gen. Bates reported
and placed him in strong position on the
left of our line. Gen. Lawton had at
tempted to join US from Caney, but when
very near our lines he was fired upon by
the Spaniards and turned back, but joined
US next day at noon by a circuitous route
During all the day on July the cavalry
division, kents division and Bates brigade
We're engaged with the enemy being sub
lected TO herce fire and mourning many
casualties, and later in the day Lawton's
DIVISION also became engaged.
Deserving Praise.
During the entire engagement my staff
ment and ability. Special credit is due to
Lieut.. Col. j. H. Dorst. Maj. William d.
Beach, Capt. Joseph E. Dickman and Lieut..
M. F. Steele 1 desire also to say that
Lieuts. James H. Reeves and Joseph
Wheeler, Jr., Capt. VIM. Aston Chandler
Maj. b. A Darlington, Mr.. Aurelius Mestre
ana Corporal John Landmark also deserve
hlgh commendat ton for courage and good
conduct Maj. West, my quartermaster
deserves special commentator for his
energy and good conduct during the cam
paign and Maj. Valery Hazard and Mr.
Leonard Wilson have also done their full
duty. Capt. Hardie and First Lieut. p j.
Rooster, with Troop G, Sd Cavalry, were
detailed with headquarters and conducted
themselves handsomely under fire. The
superb courage displayed by the officers and
men will be specially mentioned in the re-
ports OF subordinate commanders.
Losses.
Our losses were as follows:
First Brigade: Sd Cavalry-Kiled-Me
.. Wounded-Ofiicers. 6; men, Al. Strength
Officers, 3d. men, 400.
Sixth Cavalry: Killed-Men, 4. Wound
ed-Ofilcers, 4; men, 80. Strength-Officers,
10; men, 427
Ninth Cavalry: Killed-Ofiicers 2; men.
2 Manufacturers 2; men, II. Strength
Officers, u; men, POI
second brigade tattached): LIST Cavalry
killed-Oficers. l; men, II. Wounded-Of-
Ilcefs' - men, II. Strength-Omcers, III
men, SOL; missing l.
Tenth Cavalry: Killed-Oficers, q men,
.. Wounded-Otticers, 81 men, g. Missing
Men, L. Strength-O GERS, -; men, 400.
First Volunteer Cavalry: Kiled-officers,
] men, II Wounded--Officers, 5; men, r.
Missing-Men, 1. Strength-Officers, 70;
men, SIT. II
The fol1wing is list of the officers killed
ana wounded in the cavalr ydivision:
Officers killed-LieutnCol Jas NJ Hamil-
ton 9th Cavalry: Major Albert g. Forse,
ISL cavalry, Captain WHO. O'Neil, list
United States Volunteer Cavalry; First
Lieut. VIM: E. shipp.. 10th Cavalry; First
Lieut.. W. H. Smith. 10th Cavalry; Acting
Assistant Surgeon H W. e Danforth, 9th
Cavalry.
Officers wounded-Lieu'. Col. Henry Car
ron, 9TH Cavalry Commanding 1st Brigade;
Major Henry w VESSELS, jr.. Sd Cavalry;
Major I; J; Whit. 10th Cavalry; Major and
assistant Surgeon II. La Motto, 1st United
states Volunteer Cavalry Major w. c.
Hayes LIST Ohio Volunteer Cavalry; Cap
tam D. Il. Kerr. 9th Cavalry; Captain Geo.
x. Hunter, Sd Cavalryt Captain C. w. Tay-
lor, 9TH Cavalry; Captain A! P. Bocksamo
Il a1,.,..