The age-herald., 1898-09-15

ments reached my headquarters from Sib- oney. l directed him to move near Fl Clancy to give assistance if necessary. He did so, and was put in position between Miles and Chaffee. The battle continued with varying intensity during most of the day and until the place was carried by as- sault at 4:S0 p. m. As the Spaniards en- deaVored to retreat along the Santiago road, Ludlow's position enabled him to do very effective work and to practically cut or all retreat in that direction.
 After the battle at Fl Caney was well opened and the sound of the small arm fire caused us to believe that Lawton was driv ing the enemy before him, 1 directed Grimes battery to open fire from the heights of Fl Uoso on the San Juan block house, which could be seen situated in the enemys entrenchments extending along the crest of San Juan hill. This fire was effective, and the enemy could be seen run ming away from the block-house. The tillery fire from El Poso was soon returned by the enemy's artillery. They evidently had the range of this hill and their first shells killed and wounded several men. As the Spaniards used smokeless powder 1t was very difficult to locate the position of their pieces, while, on the contrary, the smoke caused by our black powder plainly indi- cated the position of our battery.
 At this time the cavalry division under General Sumner, which was lying concealed in the general vicinity of the Fl Poso house, was ordered forward with directions to cross the San Juan river and go to the right of the Santiago side, while Rents di- vision was to follow closely in it's Eear and depoy to the left.
 'These troops moved forward in compli- ance with orders, but the road was so mar row as to render it impractcable to retain the column of fours formation at all points, while the undergrowth on either side was so dense to preclude the possibility of depoying skirmishers. It naturally result ed that the progress made was slow and long-range rifles of the enemy's infantry killed and wounded a number of our men while marching along this road and before there was any opportunity to return this fire.
 Ordered to Push Forward
 At this time Generals Kent and Sumner were ordered to push forward with all possible haste and place their troops in position to engage the enemy. General Kent with this end in view forced the head of his column alongside of the cavalry column as far as the narrow trail permit ted and thus hurried his arrival at the San Juan but formation beyond that stream. A few hundred yards before reaching the San Juan the roads fork fact that was discovered by Lieutenant-Colonel Derby, or my staff, who had approached wei to the front in a war balloon. This information he furnished to the troops, resulting in Sumner moving the right hand road, while Kent was enabled to utilize the road to the left.
 General Wheeler, the permanent c9m- mander of the cavalry division, who had been Ill., came forward during the morning and later returned to duty and rendered most gallant and effective service during the remainder of the day.
 After crossing the stream the cavalry moved to the right with @ view of connect ing with Lawton's left when he could come up and with their left resting near the Santiago road.
 'In the meantime Rents division, with the exception of two regiments of flaw