The record-union., 1898-08-06

H. Dorst. Major w. A. Beach, Captain
Joseph E. Dickman and Lieutenant M.
F. Steel. I desire also to say that Lieu
tenants James H. Reeves and Joseph
Wheeler, Jr., Captain William Astor
Chanler, Major b. A. Darlington, Au-
relius Mestre and Corporal John Lund-
mark also deserve high commendation
for courage and good conduct.
Major West, my Quartermaster, de-
serves special commentator for his
energy and good conduct during the
campaign, and Major Valerei Howard
and Leonard Wilson have also done
their full duty.
Captain Hardie and First Lieutenant
P. j., Koester, with Troop G. Third Cav
airy, were detailed at headquthers and
conducted themselves handsomely un-
der fire. The superb courage displayed
by the officers and men will be specially
mentioned in the reports Of subordinate
commanders.
Our losses We're as follows:
First Brigade, Third Cavalry, kill
ed, 3 men; wounded. officers and IL
men; strength, officers -, men 240.
Sixth Cavalry, killed, men; wound
ed, officers and 80 men; strength, l6
officers. 427 men,
Ninth Cavalry, killed, 2 officers and
2 men; wounded, 2 officers and Ii men,
strength, II officers and 207 men.
Second Brigade, First Cavalry, kill
ed, l officer and II men; wounded. l
officer and AZ men; missing, 1 man;
strength, p officers and sol men.
Tenth Cavalry, killed, 2 officers and
men; wounded, 9 officers and 63 men
missing, 4 men; strength, % officers
and 450 men.
First Volunteer Cavalry, killed, ]
officer and II men; wounded, 5 officers
and II men; missing, 1 man; strength
% officers and 517 men.
General Kent's report of casualties
has been forwarded. There were:
Killed II officers and 81 men; wound
ed, 36 officers and 561 men; missing, g.
men.
The strength given in the statement
above is the aggregate strength Of the
command, but as there We're many de-
tails the above figures are about 10 per
cent. greater than the forces actually
engaged in battle. General kent's
force on July 1st was about 1000 Tha
commands has been active in strength
! ening their positions, and commanders
and their staffs have thoroughly in
formed themselves as to the topograph-
ical features of the country and the
situation of the enemy. Very respect
fully, JOSEPH WHEELER,
'Major General Volunteers"
Accompanying the report is copy OF
the dispatches which We're sent to Gen
| eral Shafter by General Wheeler, be-
ginning June 25th and ending July ID
| On July 1st, at $50 p. m, General
Wheeler, writing from San Juan, has
| the following to say about withdrawing
from the positions We had Won:
Il examined the line in front OF
Woods brigade, and gave the mer
shovels and picks and insisted on then
going right to work. l also sent WORD
to General Kent to come and get in
| trenching tools, and saw General Haw-
kins in person. and told him the same
thing. They all promised to do their
best. but said the earth is very difficult
to handle, as great part Of it is rocky
THE positions our men carried were
very strong and the intrenchments Were
strong. Anumber of officers have appeal
ed to me to have the line withdraw
ana take up strong position laTlHel
back, and 1 expect they will appeal t
you. / have positively discountenanceG
| this, as it would cost US much pres
| tige
The lines are very thin, as SO many
men have gone to the rear with wounds
and so many are exhausted, but L hops
| these men can be got up tonight. and
with our line intrenched and Lawton or
our right we ought to hold tomorrow
but fear it will be a severe day. If we
can get through tomorrow all right
we can make our breastworks very
strong the next night.
You can hardly realize the exhaust
ed condition of the troops. The Thirc
and Sixth Infantry and other troops
were up marching and halted on the
road all last night, and have fought foi
twelve hours to-day, and those that are
not on the line will be digging trenches
tonight.
II was on the extreme front line. The
men were lying down and reported tbs
Spaniards not more than 300 yards in
their front"