The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-06-29
The First Land Fight.

The First Land Fight.
Compiled From Reports.
Juraeua, Cuba, June 24-Dls:
mounted American cavalrymen forced
their way over the rough mountain
t all this n ovnirg and Ell countered the
Spanish infantry in dense thlcket
on a high plateau almost overlooking
the CITY of Santiago de Cuba, and
routed them after sharp battle,
lasting one hour,
This afternoon, strongly reinforced d
bv the arrival of additional forces
the cavalrymen held position ht-
tie more than five miles from the
Spanish stronghold in Southeas
Cuba, preparing for general move
ment on that city. ;,
Today's victory was not gained
without the shedding of American
blood. :.
The initial fight of Colonel Woods
Rough Riders and the troopers OF
the ist and 10th regular cavalry will
be known in history as the battle OF
La Ouasina. That it did not end IN
the complete slaughter Of the Amer,
cans was not due TO any mlscalcula-
tions in the plan Of the Spaniards,
for as perfect an ambuscade as was
ever formed in the brain OF an
Apache Indian was prepared, and
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt and
his men walked squarely into 1t
For an hour and a half they held
their ground under perfect storm
of bullets from the front and sides,
and then Colonel Wood at the right
and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt at
the left, led a charge which turned
the tide of battle and sent the enemy
Ayine over the hills toward Santiago.
It is now definitely known that l6
men on the American side were kill
ed. while 60 were wounded or are
reported to be missing. 1t is lm-
possible to calculate the Spanish
losses, but it is known that they
were far heavier than those OF the
Americans, at least as regards actual
loss of life. Already 81 dead Span
ish soldiers have been found and
buried, while many others are un-
doubtedly lying in the thick under
brush on the side OF the gully, and
and on the slope of the hill, where
the main body of the enemy was
located. The wounded were all re-
moved.
THE AMBUsCADE
That the Spaniards were thorough
" posted as TO the route to be taken
by the Americans in their movement
toward Sevilla was evident, as shown
by the careful preparations they had
made. The main body of the Span
iards was posted on a hill, on the
heavily wooded slopes on which hao
been erected two block houses, flank
ed by irregular entertainments ol
stones and fallen trees. At the bot
tom of these hills run two roads
along which Lieutenant Colone
Rooseyelt's men and eight troops o
the 1st and 10th cavalry, with bat
terry of four Howitzers advanced
These roads are but little more thar
gullies, rough and narrow, and al
places almost impossible. In these
trails the fight occurred. Nearly
half mile separated Roosevelts mel
from the regulars, and between then
and on both sides of the road in The
thick underbrush was concealed
force of SpaDiards that must have
been large, Judging from the terrific
and constant fire they poured in OF
the Americans.
GEN. YOUNG OPENED THE FIGHT.
The fight was opened by the Is
and 10th cavalry under Genera
Young. A force of Spaniards was
known to be in the vicinity of La
Quasina and early in the morning
Lieutenant Colonel Rooseyelts mel
started off up the p,ecipitous bluff
back of Slboney to attack the Span
iards on their right flank, Genera
Young st the same time taking the
road at the foot of the hill. About
two and half miles out from Sibo
pey some Cubans, breathless and ex
cited, rushed into the Spaniards
who were strongly entrenched
Quickly the Hotcbkiss guns cut
in the front were brought tc
the rear, while a strong scouting
line was thrown out. Then
cautiously and in silence the troops
moved forward until bend in the
road disclosed a hill where tie Span
iards were located. The guns were
again brought to the front and placed
in position, while the men crouched
down in the road, waiting impa-
tiently to give Roosevelt,s 5 men, who
were toilipg over the little trail along
the crest of the ridge, time to get up.
sPAN1ARDs FOUGHT LIKE MEN.
At 7:30 a. m. General Young gave
the command to the men at the
Hotchkiss guns to open fire. The
command was the sisual for a fight
that for stubbornness has seldom
been equalled. The instant the
Hotchkiss guns were fired from the
hillsides commanding the rosd came
volley after yolley from the Mausers
of the Spaniards.
HARD TO OBEY.
Don't shoot until you see somel
thing to shoot at yelled Genera
Young, and the men, with set jaws
and cleaning eyes, obeyed the order.
~ So fhN ron,Q