The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-07

| Hemmed IN on all sides by General
4 Lawton's division, the Spanish troops
jia-, the town of Caney are tonight
Fprisoners Of war. Spain has lost ,00O
of her best soldiers, killed, wounded
and taken prisoners in and around
the town, which was practically in
the hands of the American forces at
o'clock this afternoon.
This result was not obtained with
out severe fighting on the part of the
American forces. Although it is inn
possible at this time to give list of
dead or wounded, it is safe to say that
the loss in General Lawton's division
alone will be $50 killed or wounded.
In General Lawton's division the
Second Massachusetts, had, up to the
middle of the day, sustained the heav-
lest loss, although other regiments
were more actively engaged.
During the afternoon the fight for
the possession of Caney was obstinate,
and the ultimate victory reflects great
credit upon the American troops. 1t
was glorious, too, for Spain, though
she never had a chance to win at any
time during the day. Her men fought
in entertainments, covered ways and
blockhouses, while the American
forces were in the open from first to
last But the Spanish soldiers stuck
to their work like men.
General Chaffee's brigade held the
right Of the line with the town of
Caney. General Ludlow's division
was in the centre and Colonel Miles
held the left.
The plan of battle was for Capron's
battery of the First Artillery, which
held position in the centre above
General Ludlow, to shell the fort near
the town; for General Chaffee to close
in as soon as the artillery had reduced
the fort and driven the Spaniards
toward Santiago; for General Ludlow
to remain in the road below the hill
on which Captain Capron's battery
was stationed and swing in on Gen
eral Chaffee's left, while Colonel Miles
brigade was to keep close to General
Ludlow's right and, by a simultane
Gus movement, sweep the Spaniards
toward Caney. Captain Capron is
the father of Alvin X. Capron, who
was killed at La Quasina.
General Lawton, who personally
directed the operations of his division,
left his camp on the road from Sibo-
ney to Santiago at a. H., and at 5
O'clock was with Capron's battery, at
the hill above Caney.
The action opened at 6:45 O'Clock,
with a shot from the second section
of Captain Capron's battery. 1t
struck close to the stone fort near
Caney. Another shot hit the fort
fairly. The Spaniards gave up the
idea of holding the stone fort proper
after it was struck the first time, and
the entire garrison ran down the hill
toward the town.
The covered way in front of the
fort, however, was held by the Span
ish troops, who maintained an obsti
nate fire upon our men. The Ameri-
leans advanced slowly through the
bush and groves, only firing an occa-
sional shot.
Capron's battery opened on the en-
envy and tore the ground with shells,
sending clouds of dirt high into the
air. The battery also sent number
of shells entirely through the fort,
tearing down large sections of the
walls. This fine craftsmanship was
repeated, the battery stopping the
fire of the Spanish soldiers, who had
opened repeatedly from the covered
pits.
1t was very difficult to see anything
of the battle owing to the rolling
nature of the ground, and the dense
vegetation that obscured the view in
almost every direction.
The firing at times was heavy dur.
ing the morning, but the Spaniards
in the covered way made an obstinate
defense and refused to yield an inch
Time and again shells from Capt
Caprons battery drove them to cover
but as soon as his fire ceased they
were up and at it again.
| Despite the heavy firing of the
American troops they were able t.
make but little apparent progress
during the morning, although event
ually they steadily drew in and in
closed the town on all sides.
At noon it became evident that tn,
fire from the covered way could no
be stopped by the artillery alone anC
that no permanent advance could b.