Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-06
THE ARMY CHEERS.
ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION OF
NEWS OF OUR NAVAL VICTORY.
SPANISH ATTACK REpULSED.
Losses of Enemy Must Have Been
FriGhtfui-Our Losses During the
Week About Eighteen Hundred
Killed and wounded.


AT THE FRONT, HEADQUARTERS
OF GENERAL SHAFTER'S ARMY, BE-
FORE SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Sunday,
July 3, via KINGSTON, July 4-Early in
the day man on the lookout had re-
ported that the Spanish fleet, under the
command of Admiral Cervera. had sailed
out of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba;
but II was not until late this afternoon
that the result was known at the front.
AS word Of the magnificent victory flew
from sentry to sentry along the firing
lines, and was shouted to the companies,
regiments. and brigades. a great cheer
swept down the line OF weary men, which
gathered force as 1t went. until the rattle
OF musketry was drowned in the roar
from glad American threats. The news
was flashed back into the underbrush,
where the reserves lay, and the men all
most stampeded in their enthusiastic de-
sire TO get to the front.
The cheering continued through the
evening, as the details of the fight came
In. The men could not have displayed
more enthusiasm had the victory been
theirs, instead of the navy's.
CHAFFEE SLIGHTLY WOUNDED.
Although the firing continued all day be-
tween the outposts. very little damage
was done on either side. General Chaffee
was wounded slightly, a rifle-bullet cut
ting through his foot but he will not be
compelled to leave the field.
The only severe firing during the day
occurred when the Spanish fleet was leav-
ing the harbor. The enemy evidently at
tempted to divert the attention of our
troops. but the Americans responded so
willingly that the fire soon ceased, and
was only resumed at intervals during the
remainder of the day.
SEVERE SPANISH DEFEAT.
Last night the only aggressive move
ment the Spaniards made resulted In their
severe defeat. At about 10 o'clock they
came out of the breaches about the city
walls in large force and dashed straight
for the American lines In one or two
places our men fell back from their po-
sition. but quickly rallied. and drove the
enemy back pell-mell into their own
bitches. The Spanish losses must have
been frightful. as they were exposed to a
terrific fire for a quarter OF an hour
The losses on the American side were
very slight. as our soldiers lay m the
rifie-pits and had every advantage.
SPANISH SHARPsHOOTING.
The most daring of the Spanish forces
are the sharpshooters. They take their
positions almost at the wall, and from the
dense tree-tops do execution with smoke
less powder. making IL difficult TO locate
them. Several times they have shot into
General Skaters tent, which is several
miles from the front, and they have in
tested the trail for ten miles between
Jurasua and the outposts.
f One of tha most hOrriblp features OF the
war is that dozens of men have been
killed as they lay in litters, and that sur
geons, wearing the emblem of the Red
Cross Society upon their arms, have been
the special object of attack.
OUR LOSSES, 1,Soo.
The number of killed and wounded for
the week reaches tonight about eighteen
hundred No effort Is apparently bein.
made by our officers to expedite the list
ing of the casualties, and not one fifth
of the total names are known, even TO
the commanding officers. Already 800
cases have been handled at the hospital
here, because of the overflow from the
hospitals at the front. All the wounded
here are recovering.
There has been only one death since
the hospital was established, that Of Pri-
vate Meyers. Of the Sixth Infantry, which
occurred to-day. He was shot through the
body.
Adjutant Wood of the Ninth Cavalry,
who was shot through the face, and who
was not expected TO recover, is improv-
ing rapidly, and will be sent TO Key West
next week.
ENTERPRISING TOPOGRAPHER.
There has been much conjecture to-day
as to whether Lieutenant NJ. A. Babon.
of the Ninth Cavalry, who is the acting
officer Of the staff. made
maps of the trails before Fridays battle.
He has been at work ever since, most OF
the time in and around the Spanish. lines.
He has almost always refused an escort
and though he has been shot at several
times, he has not been wounded. Thurs
day. while out with two men, he en-
countered a detachment of ten Spanlards
and an officer, and took all of them pri-
scners. A total Of 29o prisoners were cap
tured in battle at Caney on Friday, OF
whom forty-fiye were regular Spanish
soldiers in uniform, two officers, and
the remainder armed residents Of the
town. Nine wounded men were left IN
the block-house, attended by a native
physician The other prisoners were
brought to Juragua to-day. in charge OF
Captain Macarthur and two companies
Of the Thirty-third Michigan Regiment,
and camped along the railroad. The Gu
bans followed them in great crowds, and |
hurled epithets at the frightened captives. |
All the soldiers belonged to the Twenty
ninth Spanish Regulars, and expected to |