New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-04

vicinity are for the most part readily iorddoe' e.
cept for a few hours Immediately after heaVS an"
long continued rain The roads then become aiinos'
impossible but dry up very quickly after the rams
are over. Concerning the rains. We did no' Hhn
tina: they occur with that regularity that We had
been led to expect. Several days will pass without
rain and while n great majority OF the rains do
occur in the afternoon II still does occasionally rain
in the morning and during the night
During these fret few days while We were slowly
landing our troops the enemy seemed 10 display no
activity or enterprise and base end TANKS were
securely projected ny very small guards. Dlsern-
barking stores continued. ;hankless fateful task
on June 2, our advance occupied the high ridge
OF savilla in full view OF the city OF Santiago. and
about five six miles distant from ~ iewion :
division Ghe Second IN advance Nheelers dis
mounted cavalry some distance behind Layton. and
Kenrs First Division coming up In rear 81 Wheeler
on the 9th the advance continued. tho ouiposis
having reached points within three or four mics
of the city Of Santiago the order 81 III" advance
remaining the The ligh, batteries as they
came up passed through Kent'- division into camp
near Whecicr's division about tho centre of the
entire Army as II then stood. The mounted squad
ron Of the ID Cavalry occupied p position near the
light batteries. on this date also transports CON
tanning reInforcemcnis began to arrive.
on the 18th the reinforcemerts landed and went
into camp near Sihoney. On tho 10Th General Sha'-
ter came ashore with his sah moved ont to IN"
front and there established MS neanqhhll"iS otSI'
General Iawton's General Ludlow had assumed
comma nd Of his brigade and rcconnoitrcd the com
handing ground on the left OF the road we'll be
yond FL Poso
BATTLE OF Ell CANEY.
Or the 10Th General Lawton commanding the
Second Division. accompanied by his brigade com
mandcrs and myself. made thorough feconnos-
sance OF the terrain about the village ~ FL 'aney
which lies some three miles northeast OF Santiago
and there was atterward a gathering Of general ON
GERS the afternoon OF this date at General Snaf
headquarters orders were issued for an attack
TO take place July on Fl Caney with a view 10
making turning movement. swinging Wei to orr
right and passing through the village OK II 'aney
and striking the left flank OF the enemy. perhaps
ultimately reaching to the northern side OF Santl-
ago
In order thu: troops should he IN position 70 begin
this movement early next morning they were
moved out of their camps late I'm the afternoon and
marched during the early part OF the night. bv-
ouacking near the roads. ready to take M their
positions In the battle limo at earliest dawn. II
may be worthy Of remark that the moon favored
during oil the latter part OF June and early part
Of July. enabling to use many hours of the
nigh, for movements that would not have been
possible In darkness.
y, early dawn Of July the troops Of I-awton's
division started into the position previously desg-
mated for them TO occupy. The one battery OF ar
tile-y assigned 10 duty with this division FOR tho
day occupied a position overlooking the village OF
FL CAney. two thouaand four hundred yards dis
tsnt General Chaffce's brigade took up position
east OF the village ready 10 carry the town as soon
IT should have been bombarded by the artillcry
General Ludlow's brigade took up position TO the
west OF the village In order TO cut of the retreat II
the spaniards when they should be driven on; and
attempt to retreat TO tho city OF SantiaGo. But
with soldlery instinct and admirable effect hc
closed in upon the defenders OF the village. and
his white sailor hat became 4 target for the enemy
during the hours he Rugged the blockhouscs on h.s
flank OF the wel-defended village. Colonel Miles's
brigade was held IN south OF the village.
The artillery opened nre about m. Tho bat
terry was entirely beyond the reach OF snail-arms
nrc and the enemy had no artillery. The battery
opened with shrapncl at what appeared 10 be 4
column Of cavalry moving along the road from
Fl Caney toward Santiago. then fred few shots
az tho hlockhouse. then few At hedges where tho
eneny's infantry seemed 10 be located. and then
hreI few shots into the village. At about Il
o'clock the battery stopped firing During all this
time continuous fire OF musketry. partly firing at
Will and pei tIy ~ volleys kept up H. all parts
Of the lines. Our lines were drawing closer toward
the enemy's works and the brigade IN reserve was
brought NJ on the linz. General Batcs's lndcpcn-
dent brigade rrarh d The position in The afternoon
and also into the line. all closing IA toward
the village. -1'f4
fIitlNb w mn HiDsNi| i''N
B.tv,,en and o'clock the division commando
directed the battery 81 artillery 20 concentrate -
fire uoon the stone fort. bockhouse. situated on
tho hlghes, point In tho village on the northern
side and which was tho kcypolnt 10 the village.
This fort built Of brick. with walls about a
foot thick about 45 by % fec, with sen-circular
bastions dagonaly opposite each other. Tho prac-
tice Of the artillery agains, this very effective.
knocking great holes into the fort and rendering
frFa CFt 'knf ns'aa
and Mllcs's brigades then made assault upon the
work and carried II. There were n number ~ small
blockhouscs the other side OF the village from
which a strong fire kept up for some lime
after tho stone fort had fallen. Word was sent %
tho commander Of the artillery - bring his battery
down so as 10 take these blockhous"s. bUt by tho
time the battery arrived tho fire had ceased. But
there was one bloclthouse still occupied by tho
Spaniards and AT this the battery fired four shots.
resulting in the loss Of q number Of Spaniards
killed inside the blockhouse.
Orders having reached tho division commander
IN the time Withdraw his forces COON
as possible and come into touch with the division
on hts left our troops were not moved into the
village. but ordered TO bvouac near the main
road leading into the city ~ Santiago. Vas with
General I.awton's command from ia light on July
! until about o'clock the morning Of July >.
and except when they were carrying orders for
General Lawton. or engaged IN other parts Of the
held was accompanied by Lieutenant Foote and
other members Of my staff.
BATTLE or SAN Juan.
On June 90 all the troops in camp ncar tho
Savilla FL Poso Santiago road Lawton's division
(second) In advance Wheeer's division os dsmount-
ed cavalry next. and Kents vision FirsD IN rear
None Of the troops had passed III Poso. ri Poso
Is the OF a ruined plantation about thee
miles from Santiago Tawtons division as va
have seen. turned off IN tho rQrh tho afternoon
OF juno N: AT the same time general movement
CT all the troops began. The road leading 10 san
20 scarcely moro than n wagon trail and its
condition was wretched The dense thcIot con
fined men and teams to single trail There wc.'c
several fords across the Rio Scco and other small
streams which. with the mud holes. caused long
delays for the artillery aud retarded the advance
of the infantry. The utmost confusion prevailed: