Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-07

drive the Spaniards towards Santiago
Gen Ludlow TO lie in the road below the
hill on which Capt Capron's battery was
stationed and swing in on Gen. Chaffccg
left while Col. Miles brigade was to keep
close to Gen. Ludlow's right and by "a ST.
multaneous movement sweep the Span
iards in toward Cancy.
fcn. Lawton who personally directed
the operations of his division, left his
camp on the road from Siboney to San
tiago at a. m, and at ) o'clock was with
Capt. Capron's battery on the hill above
Caney.
orders were given that the battle should
begin from the centre unless Gen. Chat
fee, who was nearest to the enemy should
find himself attacked first.
The action opened at Gas with a shot
from the second section of Capt. Capron $
battery. 1t struck close to the stone fort
near Canoy. Another shot hit the fort
fairly. The Spaniards gave up the idea of
holding the stone fort proper after it was
struck the first time ana
the entire garrison ran down
tho Hill toward the town. Tho
covered way in front of the fort. however,
was held by the Spanish troops who main
tained an obstinate fire upon our men
who were advancing slowly through tho
bush and groves only firing an occasional
shot.
capt. CnproE's battery opened on tho
enemy al once and tore the ground with
shells sending clouds Of dirt high into the
air The battery also sent a number of
shells entirely through tho fort tearing
down large sections of the walls. This
line workmanship was repeated several
times the battery stopping the fire of the
Spanish soldiers who had opened repeated
~ from the covered way pits.
by o'clock Gen. Chaffcc's brigade was
pressing toward the town and the firing at
intervals was very warm.
1t was very difficult to see anything of
the battle. owing to the rolling nature
OF the ground and the dense vegetation
obscured the view in almost every dircc-
ton.
Tho firing at times was very heavy dur
ing the morning. but the Spanards in the
covered way made q most obstinate de-
fonse and refused to yield an inch. Time
ana again shells from Capt. Cupron's bat
terry drove them TO cover. but as soon as
his fire ceased they were up and at 1t
again. Despite the heavy firing of the
American troops they were able to make
but little apparent progress during the
morning, although eventually they stead
lily drew in and enclosed the town or all
sides
At noon 1t became evident that the fire
from the covered way could not he stop
ped by the artillery alone and that no
permanent advance could be made until
the place was taken, and Gen. I.awton
decided to capture 1t by assault. Accord
ingy he sent a messenger to Gen Chaffee
with instructions to take the position by
charge. Gen. Chaffee thereupon closed
In with his men rapidly from the north,
while Capt. Capron maintained "A heavy
fire on the fort, keeping the Spaniards in
the covered way and putting hole after
hole into the stone walls of the fort.
G1a..tst .,.I.- H..
the battery which tore away tho flagstaff
and bringing the Spanish flag to the
ground. From that time no banner waved
above It.
At o'clock the advance line of Gen.
Chafec's skirmshers, the seventh infan-
try, began to appear on the edge of the
woods below the fort and by rapid rusheS
advanced up the hill to the fort No sh3
was fired as they swept forward and II
Was evident that the covered way had
been abandoned In a few minutes the
American troops were thick around the
fort, which commands the north side OF
the town. The Spaniards were completely
surrounded. The main part OF the army
was between Thorn and Santiago and Gen.
Lawtons division was around them on
the other three sides. They retired TO the
buildings in the town ana made gallant
defense but from the time Gen. Chaifee's
men took the stone fort they were lost
troops to Spain.
Rather than take the town by general
assault without the aid of artillery,
which must certainly result in great loss
of life, Gen. l.aWton decided to order for
ward the artillery 20 shell the town at
close range. Although tho road from the
hill to the edge of the town was nearly
impossible for artillery. Capt. Capron
made the effort and by o'clock had his
guns in position ready to open on the
town.
For some time Gen. Chaffee's brigade
held It's position behind the stone fort and
;hcn began the descent toward the town,
firing rapid volleys as they advanced Gen.
Ludlow and Col, Miles pressed closely on
the other side and at night fall the town
was practically In the hands of the AM
orleans.
Tomorrow morning at daybreak Gen.
Lawton's division will sweep past Caney
on the direct road to Santiago.
The brigades of Col. Miles and Gen. Lud-
low had more Of the work Of advancing
across the ridge to perform than had Gen.
Chaffccs, and they, moreover, were com
PEELED to make their final charge on the
town across an open space through which
the Spanish fire swept with deadly effect.
No finer work has over been done by SOL
diers than was done by the brigades Of
Gen. Ludlow and Col. Miles as they closed
in on the town. The Spanish soldiers blaz-
ed Mt them with Mausers and machine
guns but without effect, Nothing could
stop them and they pushed in closer and
closer during the afternoon and by the
time Gen, Chaffee's men were in form
Miles and Ludlow were on the skirts of
the town holding on with tenacity and
preventing the Spaniards from retreating
towards Santiago while Chafree closed in
op the right.
The hghtipg for hours in front of Col.
Miles line at hacienda known as Duero
House Gas very fierce. The Spanish de-
fence was exceedingly obstinate, The
house was guarded by rifle pits and as
fast as the Spaniards were driven from
one they retreated into another and con-
tinued their FIRE II was entirely hsht
with rifles, as the Americans had only
Capt. Capron's battery of artillery and
the Spaniards had none at all.
In this part of the fight Capt Capron's
battery was unable to fire for fear Of hit