The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-04

Detailed Story of Fridays Desperate Battle The Spaniards as Well
- Americans Displayed Magnificent Courage Terrific Fighting
at the Enemys Covered way"-Storms of Shot and Shell.

eral ChafYee's skirmishers. the 7th in
fantry. began to appear on the Edge OF
the woods below the fort and by rapid
rushes advanced up the hill to the fort.
No shot was fired as they swept for
ward. The covered way had evidently
been abandoned and in a few moments
the Americans were thick about the
fort. which commands the north side
of the town. The Spaniards were COM
pletely surrounded. The main part OF
the army was between them OF the
other three sides. They retired TO build
ings behind the town and made a gal
liant defense, but from the time General
Chaffee's men took the stone fort they
were lost troops to Spain. Rather than
take the town by an assault without the
aid of artillery, which must certainly
result in great loss of life. General Law
ton decided to order WI artillery
TO shell the town at close range. Al
though the road from the hill to the edge
Of the town was nearly impossible for
artillery, Captain Capron made the ef-
fort, and by 5 o'clock had his guns In
position ready to open on the town. Fol
some time General Chaffee's brigade
held its position in the stone fort ana
then began the descent toward the town,
firing rapid volleys they ad-
vanced.
General Ludlow and Colonel Mills
DTtSStu CltEtlN hn lht ~ GA1NS oHN
at nightfall the town is practically in
the hands OF the Americans. To-mor-
row morning at daybreak General Law
toms division will sweep past Caney on
the direct road TO Santiago.
The country In which General Law
toms division fought offered great ad-
vantages both TO the attacking party
and TO the defenders. Ii is in a broad
valley. thanked on the west by towering
mountains and on the east by a ridge
about 200 feet high. At n time 1t was
| under cultivation. but has been neglect
ed since the opening of the war. IL sun
retains, however. signs OF Its FORMER
prosperity in groves of cocoanut ana
trees and broad fields of wav-
ing grass. in most cases waist high;
The valleys between these ridges ana
| the groves were points Of vantage to the
American regulars who used them to the
fullest extent. The open spaces were
OF great benefit TO the Spaniards. who
I were given a clear sight OF the Ameri-
can soldiers as they advanced. 1t was
the crossing Of the open places hat
caused the heaviest American loss. The
brigades Of Colonel Miles and General
Ludlow had more OF his work 10 per-
form than had General Chanee's and
they, moreover, were compelled TO make
their fnal charges on the town across
an open space through which the Span
/ lsh fire swept with deadly effect.
No nner work has ever been done by
soldiers han was lone by the brigades
% General Ludlow and Colonel Miles as
they closed IN on the town. The Span
ish blazed at them with Aausers and
machine guns. but without enect. Moth
ing could stop them n they pushed in
closs- snd closer during the afternoon
2 by the time General Chanee's men
were IN form Colonel Miles n General
Ludlow were on n outskirts Of the
town and preventing tbs Spaniards re-
treating towards Santiago, while Chaf-
Zee closed IN on the right.
The fighting for hours in front Of
Colonel Miles lire al the hacienda
known az Duero house was very fierce.
The Spanish defense was exceedingly
obstinate. The house was guarded by
rife pits, and as the ~Spaniards were
driven from one TO the other they con-
tlnued their Ere. Il was entirely a fight
with rifles. as the Americans had only
Captain Capron's battery OF artillery,
and the Spaniards had none al all.
In this part Of the fight Captain
Capron's battery was Unable TO IRE for
fear Of hitting our men. The place was
finally taken with a rush about 3
o'clock. the Spanish fleeing, part TO the
hills and part to Caney, where they were
rounded up with the other spanish
troops which had been driven there by
General Chaffee.
Tomorrow Sunday morning. at day
light, General Lawton's division will
sweep past Caney on the direct road 70
Santiago. connecting with General
Kents and General wheeler's divisions
and forming the right of the line. Wher
the final closing in movement was be-
gun at 6 y. IN. the town Of Caney wa:
taken and a large number of prisoners
were captured. The Spanish loss is 2.0O'