The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-25
FIGHT BEFORE YAUCO
AMERICAN TROOPS COMMENDED
FOR BRAVERY UNDER A
CALLING FIRE
GEN. GARRETsoNs REPORT
Road, in Porto Rico, Where the
Spaniards Were Put to Flight
After a Sharp Engagement-Of-
That Occasion.


department tonight made public the
official report of Brig. Gen. Garretson,
on the action of Yauco road. in Porto
Rico, on July 20 last. in which his bril-
gade was engaged. The report is as
follows:
The brigade landed at Guanion on
July 20, at about IL to II q. m. During
the afternoon of that day I made O.
reconnaissance with two of my stair
officers and Maj. w. c. Hayes, of the
First Ohio cavalry of the roads and
trails leading out Of the valley in which
the camp was situated. This valley
runs nearly north and south and is
about a mile wide. There are noun
tains on either side about 400 feet
high About three miles from the
camp is q low range of hills, varying
from 80 to 100 feet high, running at
right angles with the valley. Narrow
valleys debouch to the northeast and
west Along the latter runs the road
to Sabana Grande and S. German.
Along the northeastern valley runs the
road to Yauco. AS the enemy was re-
ported at these places by the inhabl-
tants of the valley, the roads were
carefully recOnnoitered, and the BODY
of the enemy was discovered at the
hacienda Santa Decidera, of Antonio
Marine, about .. m. This hacienda
Is situated nearly in the center of an
oval plain, about one mile by one mile
and a half in dimensions, surrounded
for the most part by low hills, and sep
arated by the hill above mentioned
from the valley. The distance between
the two places mentioned measured
through the base of the mountain is
about l 400 yards. The Yauco river
runs through the plain of the hacienda,
the valley of Guanaca, and through
the narrow valley connecting them
This narrow valley constituting de-
file, was the scene of the early action.
A banana field lies on the east side of
the road and the hill covered with
chaparral to the west. The small hill
or which the house Of Ventura Quino-
mes is situated affords a view of the
hacienda. Here and along the road
outposts consisting Of one company,
@, Sixth Illinois, were posted. At about
6 o. m. word was sent In from this
outpost that the enemy in considera-
BILE numbers had been observed. I sent
out two companies of the Sixth Massa-
chusetts as a reserve. During the
night the enemy opened fire on the
outposts and their commander sent in
a report which arrived at camp at 2
a m. July 20 that an attack on the out
posts was expected. AT a. m. l, With
my staff and Maj. w. G. Hayes, First
Ohio cavalry, and five companies of
for the outpost on the Yauco road.
The command arrived there shortly be-
fore daylight, at about 4:30 o'clock.
From the reports Of the outpoSts the
enemy was supposed to be in the field
to the right Of the road to Yauco.
Packs were thrown off and the COM
mand formed for attack. The company
OF the Sixth Illinois remained on the
hill on which the house of Ventura
Quinones is situated, and protected our
right flank. The remaining companies
were collected, two as support and
three as reserve.
BATTLE BEGINS.
after advancing to within 200 yards
of the plain Of the Hacienda de Ciedera,
the advance guard of our force was
discovered by the enemy, who opened
fire from a position on the hill to the
west. The north and east slopes of
this hill intersect each other, forming
a solid angle. It was along this angle
that the enemy was posted. Their re-
serve, in a road leading from the haci-
enda to the east, also opened a strong
fire on the road. A body of the enemy
right, Company G., Sixth Illinois, sta
toned on the hill Ventura Quinones.
This company had entrenched them
selves during the night and after re-
pulsing the attacking force directed
their fire against the enemy on the hill
on the left. The conformation of the
ground was such that the fire of the
enemy's reserve and a party on the
left was effective in the seemingly Sc
cure hollow in which our reserves were
posted. The heavy volume of fire, the
noise Of shots striking the trees and
on the ground, the wounding OF two
men among the reserves caused a mo-
hn
They were quickly rallied and placed
under cover. The fire Of the advance
party and supports was directed
against the party of the enemy on the
hill and temporarily silenced their fire
from that direction.
Our advance guard of two COM
panies, ignoring the enemy on the HILL
deployed mainly to the right Of the
road and was led with accurate and
quick military judgment and great per-
sonal gallantry by Lieut. Laughirne,
First cavalry A, against the reserves
Of the enemy. The supports and one
company Of the reserves, under the d.
rection of Capt L. G. Berry, charged
against the party on the west of the
hill through the barbed wire fence and
chapparel. The reserves were deplOyed
along the barbed wire fence running
at right angles to the road, conducted
through the fence and brought up in
VIC iCe.l " C1e 1epl o1 the attacking
party by Lieut.. Ames, of the Sixth
MASSACHUSETTS. The enemy were driven
to the rear of the hill, disappearing
behind the hacienda. The reserves of
the enemy ceased firing and retired. It
was supposed they had retired to the
hacienda, as this house was surround
ed on the sides presented to our view
by loopholeS. Our force was collected
along the road. A reserve of three
companies was established at the in
tersection of the road to Yauco.
The companies in advance, which
were deployed, wheeled to the left and
advanced through the corn field on our
right The remainder Of the command
deployed and advanced to the hacienda.
covering 1t on the left. It was then
discovered that the enemy had retired
from the hacienda IN the direction Of
Yauco. along cleverly concealed lines Of
retreat.
ENEMY ROUTED.
CAS- the object of the expedition was
considered accomplished, and in obedi-
ence to instructions received from Mai.
Gen. Miles, no further pursuit was I'M
dertaken.
1.-THE battalion Of recruits of the regu-
lar army, under Capt. Hubert report
ed for orders, having heard the firing,
but were not needed and were return
ed to camp.
"rThe force of the enemy engaged in
the battle consisted of Battalion rs
Patria. of the Spanish army, and some
volunteers, in all about 600 or 700 men.
1.-The casualties ON our side were four
slightly wounded. After the occupation
OF Yauco the casualties of the enemy