The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-07-06

was practically in the hands of tie
THE BATTLEFIELD.
The country over which Gen. Law
tons division fought offered great
both to the attacking
party and to the defenders. 1t is 8
broad valley, Aanked on the west by
towering mountains and Oh the east
by ridge about two hundred feet
high. At one time it was under cul-
tivation, but has been neglected since
the opening OF the war. 1t still re-
tains, however, signs CT its former
prosperity in groves Of cocoanut and.
mango trees and broad fields of way
ing grass, in most cases waist high.
Several ridges inte.sect it but none
of them is over fifty feet high. The
valleys between those ridges and the
groves were points Of advantage to the
American regulars, who used them
to the full with all the skill acquired
on the western plains Of America.
The open spaces were Of great bene-
fit to the Spsniards, who were given
a clear sight of the American soldiers
as they advanced. 1t was the crossing
Of these places which caused the
Americans their heaviest losses.
The brigades Of Col. Miles and
Gen. Ludlow had more of this work
to perform than had Gen. Chaffee's
and they were compelled to maxi
their final charges on the town
across an open space through which
the Spanish fire swept with deadly
effect.
SPLENDID WORK.
No finer work has ever been done
by soldiers than was done by the
brigades of Gen. Ludlow and COL
Miles as they closed in On the town.
The Spanish blazed away at them
with Mausers and machine guns, but
without effect. Nothing could stop
them and they pushed in closer and
closer during the afternoon and by
the time Gen. Chafee's men were in
front, Miles and Ludlow were on the
skirts of the town, holding on with
tenacity and preventing the Span
iards from retreating toward Santi-
ago, while Chaffee closed in on tie
right.
FIERCE FOR HOURS.
The fighting for hours in front Of
Col. Miles line at a hacienda known
as Duero house, was very fierce.
The Spanish defense was exceedingly
obstinate. The house was guarded
by rife pits and as fast as the Span
iards were driven from one they re-
treated into another and continued
their fire. 1t was entirely a fight
with rifles, as the Americans had
only Capt. Capron's battery of artil'
lery and the Spaniards had none at
all.
TAKEN FINALLY WITH \ RUSH
In this part Of the fight Capt. Cap
ron's battery was unable to fire fer
fear of hitting our own men. The
place was finally taken with a rush
about o'clock, the Spanish fleeing,
part to the kills and part to Caney,
where they were rounded up with
the other Spanish troops which had
been driven in by Gen. Chafee.
SPANISH LOSS 1900 IN ALL.
Tomorrow Saturday morning at
daybreak Gen. Lawton's division will
sweep past Caney on the direct road
to Santiago, connecting with Gen.
Wheeler's divisions and forming the
right Of the line.
When the inal closing in move
mert was begun at 6 p. N the town
of Caney was taken and a large num-
ber of prisoners were captured. The
Spanish loss is 1890, as reported by
them but believed to be much heavier.
The American loss is estimated at
about l SEQ killed and wounded.
One of the most horrible features
of the war is that dozens of men have
been killed as they lay in lit:ers
and that surgeons wearing the en-
blem of the Red Gloss society upon
their arms have been special objects
Of attack.
200 prisoners were captured in the
battle at Caney, of whom IS were
regular Spanish soldiers ill uniforms,