The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-04
! CAPTURE Of H GANEY.
Fort Knocked Out by CaprOf'S
Hot Fire.
TROOPS HEN IN THE TOWN.
Two Thousand SpaniardS in the
Trap.
DEFENSE Was DESPERATE.
Fight Of the Americans As Brave
As Ever Put Up.

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.
Headquarters of Gen. Shafter, Friday,
July l (evening) by the Associated Press
Dispatch Boat Cynthia. via Port Antonio,
Saturday, and Kingston, Sunday, July 3,
2.SO a m.-Hemmed in on all sides by
Gen. Lawton's division, the Spanish
troops in the town of Caney are tonight
practically prisoners of war, and by day
break tomorrow Saturday Spain will
have lost 1000 of her best soldiers killed,
wounded and taken prisoners in ard
around the town, which was practically
in the hands of the American forces at
o'clock tonight
This result was not obtained, however,
without severe fighting on the part of the
American forces, and although 1t is I'M
possible at this time TO give a list Of the
dead or wounded. it is safe to say that
the loss in Gen. Lawton's division alone
will be $50 killed or wounded.
Among the officers wounded are;
Col Carpenter, commanding the Sew
enth Infantry.
Lieut.. Col. Patterson, commanding the
Twenty-second Infantry; will probably re-
cover.
Lieut.. Besard, adjutant of the Seventh
Infantry, wounded twice
Mai Corllsh of the Seventh Infantry.
Capt. Jackson of Company G, Seventh
Infantry, shot in the left breast
Lieut.. Charles E. Field Second Massa-
chusetts. shot through the forehead
Gen. Ludows horse was killed under
him
In Gen. Lawton's division, the Second
Massachusetts had up to the middle Of
the day, sustained the heaviest loss. al
though other regiments were more actively
engaged.
During the afternoon the fight for the
possession of Caney was most obstinate,
and the ultimate victory reflects great
credit upon the American troops.
It was a glory, too, for Spain, though
she never had a chance to win at any
time during the day. Her men fought in
Entertainments, covered ways and block
houses, while the American forces were in
the open first to last.
The Spanish soldiers stuck to their work
like men, and this the first land fight,
may well cause Spain to feel proud OF her
soldiers.
The American soldiers attacked the en-
trenchments through open ground. and
from the firing of the first shot until they
were on the hills above Caney, they fought
their way forward and the Spanish were
driven backward.
Gen. Chaffee's brigade held the right of
the line, with the town of Caney.
Gen. Ludlow's division was in the center.
and Col. Miles held the left
The plan of battle was for Capt Allyn
Caprons battery of the First Artillery
which held position In the center above
Gen. Ludlow, TO shell the fort near the
town, for Gen. Chaffee to close in as soon
as the artillery had reduced the fort, and
driven the Spaniards toward Santiago
Gen. Ludlow to lay in the road below the
hill on which Capt. Capron's battery was
stationed and swing in on Gen. Chaffee' 5
left, while Col. Miles brigade was TO keep
close to Gen. Ludlow's right and, by a sim
Infamous movement, sweep the Spaniards
in toward Caney.
Gen. Law ton, who personally directed the
operations Of his division, left his camp, on
the road from Siboney to Santiago at 4
a. m, and at o'clock was with Capt.
Capron 5 battery on the hin above Caney.
Orders We're given that the battle should
begin from the center, unless Gen. Chaffee.
who was nearest to the enemy, should find
himself attacked first. The action opened
at 6:45 with shot from the second section
of Capt Capron's battery. 1t struck close
TO the stone fort near Caney. 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. and the
entire garrison ran down the hill toward
the town.
The covered way in front of the fort
however. was held by the Spanish troops
who maintained an obstinate fire upon our
men, who were advancing slowly through
the bush and groves, only firing an occa-
siona shot.
Capt Capron's battery opened on the
enemy at once and tore the ground up with
shells. sending clouds of dirt high into the
air. The battery also sent a number of
shells entirely through the fort, tearing
down large sections of the walls. This fine
craftsmanship was repeated several times,
the battery stopping the fire of the Span
ish soldiers who had opened repeatedly
from the covered way pits
BY s o'clock, Gen. Chanee's brigade was
pressing in toward the town and the firing
at intervals was very warm. 1t was very
difficult to see anything Of the battle ow-
ing to the rolling nature of The ground.
and the dense vegetation that obscured the
view in almost every direction made it i'm
possible 10 see far.
The firing, at times, was very heavy
during the morning, but the spanlards