The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-01
Gen. Wheeler Makes His Official Re-
port of the Battle.
ATTACK WAS PRECONCERTED.
The Behavior OF Officers and Men Was
ExceIlent-Several Officers Special
ly Commended for Their Cool
ness and Gailantry.

bdAAie 1T SlboHtgt - 10 lOiAoWS.
"In Camp Juragua, June %.
ITO the Acknowledgement OF the Fifth
Army Corps
Sir,--I have the honor 10 report that
in obedience to the instructions of the
major-general commanding given me in
person on June sd, 1 proceeded TO
Siboney. Ouraguasito). The enemy had
evacuated the place at daylight that
morning, taking a course toward Sevilla.
A body Of about one hundred Cubans had
followed and engaged the enemys rear
guard. About nine of them We're wound
ed
THE ENEMY ENTRENCEHD.
81 rode out TO the front and found the
enemy had halted and established them
selves at point about three miles from
SibOney.
At night the Cubans returned TO TIE
vicinity Of the town. At o'clock that
evening. the 23d. General Young reached
Siboney with eight troops Of Colonel
Woods regiments. A. h, ID. T.. +. G., X
and L. FIVE hundred strong: troops a. b.
c and *. First Cavalry. I'm all PA men.
md troops A. b. r and T. OF the Tenth
Cavalry I'm all about 300 men, making
the total force o4 men. which included
nearly all OF my command. which had
marched from Baiquiri. eleven miles
DETERMINED TO ATTACK.
with the assistance Of General Cas-
tillo. a rough map Of the country was
prepared and the position Of the enemy
was fully explained and 7 determined
10 make an attack at daylight on the
9th. Colonel Woods regiment was sent
by General Young. accompanied by two
OF his STAFF oficers-Lieutenants Tyrree
Il. Rivers and W r. Smedburg. Jr..
10 approach the enemy on the left hand.
or more westerly roads. while General
Young myself and about fifty (?) troops
OF the First and Tenth Cavalry with three
potchkiss mountain guns approached
tho enemy on the regular Sevilla road.
General Young and myself examined
the position Of the enemy. the lines were
feployed and I directed dhim 70 open
( re with the Hotcikiss guns. The enemy
'eplied and the firing Immediately be-
came geenral. Colonel Wood had de-
ployed his right. nearly reaching the
left Of the regulars.
A WARM FIGHT.
For an hour the fight was very warm
the enemy being very lavish In eXpenGi-
ture Of ammunition, most Of their firing
being by vollcys
Finally. the enemy gave way and re-
treated rapidly. our side keeping well
closed upon them: but our men being
physically exhausted by both their eXer-
lions and the great heat We're Incapable
Of maintaining the pursuit.
BEHAVED GALLANTRY.
Il cannot speak too highly Of the gal
lantry and excellent conduct Of the Of
Gcers and mon throughout my command.
General Young deserves special common
dalton for his cool, deliberate and skill
tul management
Il also specially noticed his acting adj
jutant general, Lieutenant A. l.. Mills,
who, under General Young's direction,
was at various parts Of the line. acting
with energy and cool courage.
The imperative necessity Of disem-
barking with promptitude had impelled
me to leave most Of my staff 10 hasten
this important matter, and unfortunate
~ I only had with me Major w. d.
Beach and Mr.. Mestro, an acting volun-
teer aide. both of whom, during the en-
gagement crehtably and Dravely per-
formed their duties.
MAJOR BEACH COMMENDED
81 am especially indebted 20 Major
Beach for his GOODNESS and good judg-
meht
Colonel Woods regiment was on the
extreme left OF the line, and too far dis
tant FOR me 20 be a personal witness Of
the individual conduct OF the officers and
men. but the magnificent bravery shown
by the regiment under the lead of Colonel
WOOD testihes to his courage and skill
and the energy and determination of his
officers. which has been marked from the
moment he reported 10 me at Tampa,
and 1 have abundant evidence Of his
brave and gOod conduct on the field. and
recommend him for the consideration
Of the government. 1 must rely upon his
report TO do justice TO his officers and
men. / desire personally TO add that all
I have said regarding Colonel Wood ap-
plies equally TO Colonel Roosevelt.
WAS PRESENT IN PERSON.
II was Immediately with the troops
OF the First and Tenth regiment, caval-
~, dismounted and / personally noticed
their brave and good conduct. which Will
be especially mentioned by General
Young.
Il personally noticed the good conduct
OF Captains w. II. Book, Robert p. VAIN
wright ana Jacob G. Galbraith. Major
James VI. Bell Captain Thomas T. Know
and Lieutenant George T.. Brown. The
last three were wounded. Major Bell, as
he lay on the ground with a broken leg
said: 4 only regret that l can't 80 on
with you further
FOUGHT THOUGH WOUNDED.
Captain Know, though severely wound
cd continued as long az possible TO ex-
orcise his command and insisted 10 me
Brown also made light OF his wound 10
me and continued upon the limo until he
tainted. / recommend those officers
Tor the favorable consideration OF the
government.
II cannot state positively as n the
size Of the Spanish force which we en-
gagged or the extent OF their casualties
further than that the force was much
greater than ours and that Information
/ have would indicate that their killed
and wounded very far exceeded the loss
which our troops sustained. but our esti-
when we have access to the reports OF
the Spanish commanders.
VICTORY RAISED THEIR SPIRITS.
"The engagement inspired our troops
and must have had bad effect upon the
spirits OF the Spanish soldiers. 1t also
gave our army the beautiful and well
watered country I'm which we have es-
tablshed our encampments. II has also
given us a full view OF Santiago and the
surrounding country and has enabled us
to reconnoitre close TO the Notifications
of that place.
VERY respectfully.
JOSEPH WHEELER,
Major General United States Volunteers,
Commanding.
The casualties in the engagement were:
First United States Volunteer Cavalry
strength! 50. kfled S; wounded. "a.
First United States Regular Cavalry
strength pa: killed. Z; wounded s.
Tenth United States Regular Cavalry
strength. 30; killed. /; wounded. TO-
Total strength, 964; killed. To- wounded,
L, fuI submitted