New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-20

/ COLONEL Bt-RR'S REPORT OF OPERATIONS
OF THE VOLUNTEER BATTALION.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 10 tSpeciaD-Coionel Ed
ward Burr commanding the battalion Of volun-
teer engineers attached to the Fifth Army
Corns has made the following report 10 Cen
eral Wilson. Chief Of Engineers L. s. a.. under
date Of July 81
have the honor 70 submit the following report Of
operations of tho Engineer Rattal ion ruin A''"'
Corps during the month OF July. ls">; l., a., ,o,
on July the battalion engaged in the con- on
struction of landing pier at Slooney, '"9 1n he
AFTERNOON OF that date orders were received from
the commanding general TO report AZ MS neacqun,
inand marched ont of siboney at s:ao P m ana re-,
ported directed at 1890 a. M Jmly = , Pn sane sane
Juan River and worked Up the seville Gad at dhSJ
point under ,s rs g. %, nah m n ns
Of that date. ,nc man being wounded The work
ing party was protected from guerilla fire by sharp
shooters thrown out on the hank -, ,...,,
Returning to corps headqnarters The nn6a ;Pn
read in that vicinity. and ENGAGE upon t mn
work until July >. when 1t proceeded 10 9inon.y nn,
pont This pier Was completed on july H. although
portions OF II had been in use FOR landns ana en-
sasnF da TSsPs Spnpes an" SICK ana WOUNDED o
The pier is rs feet long and extends depth Of
timber drifting bolted together. with substantial
decking OF heavy timbers ard plsnkins. Tn, pier
are bal LASTED W n scrap iron and stone.
BUILDING ROADS AROUND SIBONEY.
The pier invaluable to the Supply Depart
mcnt who without it's assistance would not have
been able 10 land at Sihoney thu supplies neces-
sary for the Army on account Of the surf on th'
beach which swampe1 and destroyed many small
boats and launches This surf also made the land
ing Of heavy timbers difficult and dangerous. with
The limited facilities available for the work FROM
July Y to IG the battalion engaged in improv-
ing the wagon road 4, SnOney. and To tho east
and west Of that place. particularly on the ihiec
miles east Of Sbon.y. In the absence OF stone;
corduroy or other material suitable for road
repairs. very little could ne done tor the better
sank to their hubs In the mud. and outside Of the
liberal use Of brush to form an inefficient mat Of
wns NJ hand In the medium stages OF the road
brush proved Of some yane but when The iS oad ca Sc
before a working party WAS PM upon that section,
now road. This was resorted 70 whenever me
Typographical conditions permitted ana ri, -, ,e,s
length Of road work done by the battalion was
about six miles. many parts Of this distance beihE
worked upon from day to day.
REPAIRING BRIDGES AND TREsTLEs.
From July = 10 July 20 tho battalion was on
gagged in repairing tho tresto Of tho Iuragua Iron
Cornpnnys railway NJ Afuadores. This road runs
from Fermosa and sboney the ore pier AT La
cruz one mile south Of Santiago. and ~ Aqua
dorcs sixty feet 81 a steel treste bridge had been
break was repaired by substantial timber trestles
nnd The railroad Was opened on the eoth.
on the .2d Tho battalion proceeded 10y rail 10 La
cruz with I'll it- stores and tools where II camped
and remained until July q. when b. proceeded to
ihi. point under orders to assist In the repairs or
tho furcatorii Bridge n; The point. and ~ the
Voniafn Bridge two miles north Work on the
hitter bridge is now In progress. and Is expected
10 he completed tomorrow.
I beg 20 express my satisfaction with tho OH
Gers and men 81 this battalion In their arduous
duties In the last month. under adverse china f.
conditions aud with much sickness among IN" M ~
and also TO invite special attention 10 the services
81 First Lieutenant Thomas n. Rec- who had
direct charge n the construction ~ tho pier AZ
Shoney and the repairs 20 tho railroad hrig" at
Agundcres To hts faithful efficient and able ser
Vices IA due the prompt and thorough compile
ton ~ these works