The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-15

zanillo and might be expected in few
days. Under these conditions / deter
mined to give battle without delay.
"Eariy on the morning Of JulV Law
ton was In a position around I'll Caney,
Chaffee's brigade on the right, across
the Guantanamo road, Miles brigade In
the centre and Ludlow's on the left. The
duty Of cutting of the enemH's retreat
along the Santiago road was assigned
to the latter brigade The artillery
opened on the town at 6:l5 a. m. The
battle here soon became general, and
was hotly contested. The enemy's posi-
tlon was naturally strong and was ren-
dered more so By block houses, a stone
fort and entertainments cut In solid
rock and the loop-hollng Of solidly
built stone church. The opposition Of
fered by the enemy was greater than
had been anticipated and prevented
Lawton from Joining the right OF the
main line during the day, as had been
Intended After the battle had contln-
ued for some time Bates brigade Of two
regiments reached my headquarters
from sIboney. I dlFected him to move
near FL Caney, to give assistance IL nee
essary. He did 20 and was put in posi-
tIon between Miles and Chaifee. The
battle continued with varying intensity
during most OF the day and until the
place was carried by assault about $3.50
.. m. As the SpanlardB endeavored to
retreat along the Santiago road. Lud-
lows position enabled him to do very
effective work and to practically cut on
all retreat in that direction.
AFTER the battle Of Fl Caney was
well opened and the sound OF the small
arm fire caused US to believe that Law
ion was driving the enemy before him,
directed Grimes battery to open fire
from the heights Of FL Poso on the San
Juan blockhouse, which could be seen
situated in the enemy's entrenchments
extending along the crest Of San Juan
hill.
Effective Fire.
The FIRE was effective and the enemy
could be seen running away from the
vicinity OF the block house. The artll-
lery Gre from FL Poso was soon return
ed by the enemy's artillery. Theyseyi-
IDENTIFY had the range OF this hill and
thelr first shells killed and wounded
several men. AS the Spanlards used
smokeless powder It was very difficult
10 locate the position OF their pieces,
while, on the contrary, the smoke caus-
ed by our black powder, plainly lndica-
ted the position OF our battery
"At this time the cavalry division, I'M
der General Sumner, which was lying
concealed IN the general vicinity or the
FL Poso house, was ordered forward
with directions to cross the San Juan
! river and deploy to the right on the
Santiago side, while Rent'R division was
| TO follow closely in Its rear and deploB
TO the left.
"These troops moved forward In COM
| plIance with orders. but the road was
80 narrow az to render It lmpracticable
10 retain the column OF fours forma-
| lion Mt all points while the underground
on either side was so dense ms to pre-
cludc the possibility OF deDloving sklr-
mlsherS. 1t naturally resulted that the
| progress made was SLOW and the long
range rifles OF the enemy's infantry
killed and wounded number OF our
| men while marching along this road
and before there was any opportunity
TO return this fire. At this time Gener-
ais Kent and Sumner were ordered 10
push forward with oil possible haste
| and place their troops In position to en-
gage the enemy. General Kent, with
| this end In view. forced the head OF his
column alongside OF the cavalry col
umn as far as the narrow tran permit
ted and thus hurried his arrival at the
San Juan and the formation beyond
that stream. A few hundred yards be-
fore reaching the San Juan, the road
forks, q fact that was discovered by
lieutenant Colonel Derby, Of my stan,
who had approached well to the front In
a war balloon This information he
furnished to the troops, resulting In
Sumner moving on the right hand road.
while Kent was enabled to utilize the
road to the left,
WhsNIsF Takes Command.
general Wheeler, the permanent
commander Of the cavalry dIvIsion,w who
had been III, came forward during the
morning and later returned to duty and
rendered most gallant and efficient SER
vice during the remainder Of the dag.
',After crossing the stream, the cav.
| aIrV moved to the right with view OF
connecting with Lawton's left when ne
| could come IN and with their left rest
| ing near the Santiago road.
I'm the meantime Kents division,
with the exception OF two regiments OF
HaWItlns brigade being thus uncovered,
rnoved rapidly 10 the front from the
| forks previously mentioned In the road,
utilizing both trails, but more especlhl-
Iv Inc one to the left and. crossing the
creek. formed for attack In the front OF
san Juan hill. During this formation
| the second brigade suffered severely
while personally experimenting this
movement. It's gallant commander, Col.
WIkoT. was killed The command OF
tbe brieade then devOlved upon Lieu
| tenant Colonel Worth, Thirteenth In
fantry. who was soon severely wound
ed. and next upon Lieutenant Colonel
Liscum, twenty fourth Infantry, who'
five minutes later also fell under the
terrible Are OF the enemy and the COM
nnnd Of the brigade then devolved up
on Lieutenant Colonel Ewers, Ninth in-
"Whlle the formation Just described
was taking place, General Kent TOOK
measures to hurry forward hts rcnr
"The Tenth and Second infantry
were ordered to follow Wlkofrs brig
nde, while the Twenty-nrst was sent on
tic rlght hand road 10 support the hrst
brigade under General Hawkins. VINO
mad eroaesd the stream and formed on
the right Of the division. The second
ana Tenth Infantry. Colonel II. p. Pear
SON, commanding. moved forward In
good order on the left of the division
missed over green knoll and drove tha
onemy back toward his trenches.
HAfer contpieting their formation