Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-30
THE SIBONEY BATTLE
Gen. Wheelers Official Report t.
Major General Skater.
HIGH PRAISE FOR Els OFFICERS
For an Hour the Fight at Day.
light Was Very Warm.
COOL COURAGE

Copyright, $685. by the Associated Press)
Camp Juragua, Wednesday, June 20. via
Kingston. Jamaica, June 80. a.m.-Gen-
eral Wheeler's official report to Major Cen
eral Shafter Of what is known as the battle
of Siboney is as follows:
I'm Camp. Juragua. June 20.
ITO the Adjutant General Of the 5th Army
Corps:
Sir: I have the honor to report that. in
obedience to the instructions of the major
general commanding. given me in person
on June %. 1 proceeded to Siboney Gura-
guasito). The enemy had evacuated the
place at daylight that morning. taking a
course toward Sevilla. body of about
loo Cubans had followed and engaged the
enemy's rear guard. About nine of them
were wounded.
I rode out to the front and found the
enemy had halted and established them
selves at a point about three miles from
Sibeney. At night the Cubans returned to
the vicinity Of the town. At o'clock that
evening, the 23d, General Young reached
Siboney with eight troops of Colonel
Woods regiment. A, B. D, e, F, g, K and
L, 800 strong; Troops A. B. c and K, list
Cavalry, in all pa men, and Troops A, B.
E and I of the 10th Cavalry. in all go
men. making the total force 984 men, which
included nearly all Of my command which
had marched from Baiquiri.
Gen. Wheeler's Plan.
with the assistance of General Castillo,
a rough map Of tht country was prepared
and the position of the enemy was fully
explained, and 1 determined to make an
attack at daylight on the oath. Colonel
Woods regiment was sent by General
Young, accompanied by two of his staff Of
ficers. Lieutenant Tyrree. r. Rivers and
w. r. Smedburs, jr., to approach the
enemy on the left hand, more westerly
road, while General Young, myself and
about fifty troops of the 1st and 10th Cav
airy, with three Hotchkiss mountain guns,
approached the enemy on the regular Sc
villa road
General Young and myself examined the
position of the enemy, the lines were de-
ployed. and I directed HIM to open fire with
the Hotchkiss guns. The enemy replied
and the firing Immediately became general
Colonel Wood had 6eployed his right, near
ly reaching the left Of the regulars.
For an hour the fight was very warm,
the enemy being very lavish in expenditure
of ammunition, most of their firing being
by volleys.
Finally, the enemy gave way and re-
treated rapidly. We followed them over
the line. keeping close upon them; but, our
men being physically exhausted by both
their exertions and the great heat, were
incapable of maintaining the pursuit.
The Officers Praised.
Il cannot speak too highly of the gallant
and excellent conduct Of the officers and
men throughout my command. General
Young deserves special commentator for
his cool, deliberate and skillful manage
ment ~
Il also specially noticed his acting ad-
jutant general, Lieutenant A. L. Mills, who
under General Youngs direction. was at
various parts of the line. acting with en-
ergy and cool courage
THE imperative necessity Of dsembark-
ing with promptitude had impelled me to
leave most of my staff to hasten this inn
portant matter. and unfortunately I only
had with me Major W. D. Beach and Mr.,
Mostre, an acting volunteer aid, both Of
whom. during the engagement, creditably
and bravely performed their duties.
II am especially indebted to Major Beach
for his cool and good Judgment. 80
Magnificent Bravery.
"Col. Woods regiment was on the ex-
trems left of the line and too far distant
for me to be personal witness Of the in
dividual conduct of the officers and men,
but thu magnificent bravery shown by the
regiment under the lead Of Col Wood tes-
titles to his courage and skill and the en-
ergy and determination of his officers,
which has been marked from the moment
he reported to me at Tampa. and 1 have
abundant evidence of his brave and good
conduct on the field, and I recommend
him for the consideration Of the govern
ment. I must rely upon his report to do
Justice to his officers and men. I desire
personally to add all that have said re-
gardinL Col. Wood applies equally to Col.
Roosevelt.
II was Immediately with the troops Of
the LIST and 10th Regiment Cavalry, dis
mounted. and I personally noticed their
brave and good conduct, which will be
specially mentioned by General Young.
II personally noticed the good conduct
Of Captains W. H. Book. Robert p. VAIN
wright and Jacob G. Galbraith, Major Jas.
NJ Bell, Captain Thomas T. Know and
Lieutenant George E. Brown. The last
three were wounded. Major Bell, az he
lay on the ground with a broken leg, said:
I only regret I can't go on with you far
ther.'
His Rec0mnae ndatiOns.
Captain Know. though severely wound
ed. continued as long possible to exer-
else his command. and insisted to me that
he was not much hurt. and Lieutenant
Brown also made light of his wound to
me and continued upon the line until he
tainted. I recommend these officers for
the favorable consideration of the gov
eminent.
Il cannot state positively as to the size
Of the Spanish force which we engaged or
the extent of their casualties further than
that the force was much greater than ours
and that Information have would indi-
cate that their killed and wounded very
far exceeded the loss which our troops
sustained, but our estimate on these points
can only be verified when we have access
to the reports OF the Spanish commanders.
The engagement inspired our troops and
must have had a bad effect upon the spirits
of the Spanish soldiers. It also gave our
army the beautiful and well-watered coun-
try in which We have established our en-
campments. 1t has also given us a full
IExwr Co.. to-