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

sumcd that the guns were dsmounted or
the gunners driven of.
Away to the left Gen. Lawton's division
with Chaffeo's men and Capron's battery
was meantime fighting ncrcsy with tho
enemy Cntrcnched in and about Cancy.
The Spaniards contested every inch of
ground bitterly and fought with unox-
pected GOODNESS and courage, but the ire
sstable onward movements Of the Amcri-
cans slowly forced them back upon and
beyond Caney.
About ii O'Clock the terrible fire from
Capt Capron's guns ana the muskcts of
the men broke the Spanish line and n re-
treat began towards the line of outer for
tifcations. The enemy took the trail
known as the main Santiago road and
Capt Grimes battery Immediately began
pitching shells in ahead of the retreating
men. while a detachment of 1900 Cubans
headed by Garcia were started to cut off
the retreat
No report has yet been received from
them. A large detachment of General
Kent's reserves was sent to aid General
Garcia in his work and it Is probable that
fierce lighting occurred.
All this time Gen. Sumner had COM
mandcd the centre. owing to Gen. Wheel
er's illness. but about 1880 Gen. Wheeler
started on the two mile journey to the
front in an ambulance. About half way
he met a number Of filters bearing wound
ed. The veteran, under protest by the
surgeons, Immediately ordered his horse,
and after personally assisting the wound
ed into the ambulance. mounted and rode
onward. The men burst into frantic
cheers, which followed the general all
along the line. BY noon, although sun
very i'll, Gen. Wheeler had established
headquarters at the extreme front AMI
centre of the line and still holds his posi-
ton.
Tho hardest lighting of the day seems
to hav" been on the right flank and heavy
casualties are reported from there.
The advance there was more rapid than
at other points on the line and Gen. Chdf-
fees brigade was the first to cross the lit
tie san Juan river close to the line of out
cr Notifications. At o'clock Cancy had
not been entered by the American troops
but they had pushed on past it and 1t was
theirs at any tima they choose to march
into It, AT that hour Gen. Shaftcr, Whose
headquarters for the day had been about
three miles to the rear went forward to
assume personal command of the opera
tons. Some surprise is expressed that he
did not wait for the siege guns before t"'-
ginning the final attack as the siege guns
are still on the beach at Baiquiri and he
decided yesterday that they were unnec-
cssary and determined to strike at once.
The only movement of the day which
Aid not meet with success was Gen. OUT
fields attempt to occupy the sen village
OF Ag'iadCres. The New York. Suwauee
and Gloucester SHIELDED the old fort and
the rife pits during the forenoon, drove
all tn" Spaniards from the vicinity and
nowlcd over the parapet from which few
the Spanish nag, but owing to tho broken
railroad bridge Gen. Duiiield's troops were
unable to get across the river which Sc
plratcd them from the little town and
lt.1 yl To- fFn
is probable that an effort will be made
tomorrow to repair the bridge and COM
plctc movement attempted.
To-day It was reported AT Jurugua that
Gen. Dufii"ld had been defeated hut this
is not true rs he did not encounter any
large body of Spaniards.
Many dramatic incidents occurred dur
ing the day. with numerous evidences Of
splendid personal bravery of the Amcrl-
can officers and men in their work Of en-
tinuoue and intense physical strain. ow-
inc to the hills and swamps and the fierce
tropical sun which hammered down uron
them the greater part of the day.
The Cubans behaved with skill and vaior
an" rendered valuable aid. Gen. Garcia
ana the other Cuban generals led the
troops in person and showed great cool
ness in tight places.
The Spanish fought stubbornly THROUGH
out and their retreat, though steady, vas
SLOWLY and coolly conducted. They con-
tested every inch cf the way and fought
with unexpected skill, their Officers hand
ling the troops with bravery and good
judgment. as in all of their fighting SO
far. however, they did most of their work
under cover, rarely showing themselves
in large bodies in the open. Al the re-
treats were towards Santiago. ana it Is
probable that by night fan the ,ntir.
force of Spanards In the province Of San
tiago Dc cuba will be with the city's
walls, with the exception q 1000 men un.
der Gen Pdndo whose attempt to r,infOrc,
Santiago is believed to have been frus
tratcd.
| This was kept up until ii0 y. m. rs
| that time Gen. Duhicld had sent mos
cage saying his troops could not cross
the stream and would return to Altares.
/ on the report that some spanish troops
were still in the gully tho New York anc
/ Gloucester shelled It once more, and tn,
Newark, which had not fired asked:
can | fire for target practice? HAY,
had no previous opportunity"
Permission was siguallcd and she llazet
! away, shooting well, her G-inch shells ey
| ploding with rcma rkabe force among n,
! rocks.
I At 2io p m. Admiral Sampson hoistct
the signal To cease firing and the flagship
returned to the hlockadlng station.
ON tho railroad n train load of troop.
had already left for Altares