The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-22
COMBINED FORCES
ROUT TIE SPANISH.
Believe That 400 of the Err
emy We're Killed by the
Gallant Band Of Ma
rines.

United States Camp, East Side Of
Entrsnce to Gusptansmo Bay. Tues
day. June a. 8 p m.. BY the Assc
ciased Press Dispatch Boat Wanda.
Via Kingston Jamaica, Wednesday,
June Is, l2 80 p. m.-The United
States marines under Lieut.. Col.
Robert W Huntington made their
first aggressive movement against the
Spanish guerrillas to-day and COM
pieteiY routed the enemy
The force of marines was under
Capt. Elliott and the cooperating Gu.
bans we're under Col Lsborde The
combined forces razed q Spanish
camp about Eve miles from the Amer
ican position, destroyed the en!y well
10 The vicinity and killed about 10
1SpaDiards
One American marine wae slightly
wounded. Two Cubans were killed
and four wounded
1t IS impossible to estimate the
number of Spaniards engaged, ow.
ing to their gnetrilla methods of fight.
ing, but it is believed there were at
least 400
The marines behaved splendidly.
their marksuansh1p being excellent,
even under the severe fire of the
enemy
The captured camplies about five
miles southeast Of the rife pits of the
marines snd was an important base
for the enemy, as It contained the
only well within six or seven miles
Lieut. Col Huntington decided on
the attack early in the day, and at
about 8 o'clock the force started
across The line. The march up and
down the steep hillside under the
glariDg tropical sun was severe test
Of endurance for the maries. and be-
fore the battle-ground was reached %
men bad received medical attention
All wese able, however. to reach the
position befofe the fighting ceased.
The marines were compelled to
march in single file, following the
mountain train Meanwhile the Gu
bans darted backward and forward.
to right and left, ON the scout It
was noon when from hilltop the
Americans caught sight Of the Span.
ish camp lying on ridge below
them I. consisted Of one large
house, the officers quarters. surround
ed by nnmerous eshacks'' aBd huts,
all clustering abont the precious we'll.
Yhes Americans began q cautious
advance and were within 200 yards
of the enemy before the crack of a
rife from the spanish lines announced
that the Spania1ds had discovered
them.
TIE troops quickly moved into line
of battle, with the Cubans o n the left
flank. The enemy's bullets were
whirling viciocsly over the ameri-
cans, but the marines settled down
10 their work as unconcernediy as
though ct target practice.
Very few Spaniards were in eight.
They were lying behind the huts and
in the brush, but the puffs of smoke
revealed their positions and enabled
the Americans to do effective work
For 20 minutes both sides maintained
terrific FIRE. The Spanish shots
were generally wild and spasmodic.
while the Americans coolly fred
swsy, aiming carefully and shooting
TO Kill. For the most part the Ameri
can firing was done individually. but
at times the officers could direct fir
ing by squsde, always with telling
effect
1. was beginning to look as though
bayonet charge down the slope
would be necessary to dislodge the
enemy when suddenly the latter began
to break for thicket hundred
yards farther on Little groups could
be seen fleeing from the camp.
separating darting through the brush
and zigzaggiDg to escape the bullets
1t was then the American fire be-
came mos: deadly Man after man
could be seen 20 fall in vain ruah
for shelter, and the fire from the
Spanish became scattering and almost
ceased
Two Cubans lay dead and four
wounded and Private Walker Of Com.
pany D had to limp to the rear with
q slight wound in bis ankle
The easy victory put the command
in high spirits The little black ca