The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-07-05


from Gen. Shafter, dated at Siboney:
"Had a heavy engagement to-day
which lasted from a. m. till sundoWn.
We have carried the outer works ana
are in possession of them. There Is
now three-quarters of mile between
my lines and the city, By morning
troops will be entrenched and consid-
cradle augmentation Of forces VIII De
there. Gen. Lawton's division and
Gen Bates brigade, which have been
engaged all day, is carrying Ell Caney,
which was accomplished at p m.
Will be in line and in front of Santl-
ago during the night | regret to say
that our casualties will be above 400.
Of these not many killed"
Washington, July BIN a high dip
lomatic quarter it was stated that
word had been received indirectly,
but in such a manner as to receive
credit in this quarter, that the Ameri-
can forces had taken Santiago There
lis, of course, no means of verifying
this statement, but it is given in view
Iof the fact that the diplomatic sources
who credit the report usually are in
position to have accurate information.
The fact that their information is indl-
rect must be further taken into ac-
count.
story of the Battle.
With the American Army Before
Santiago, via Playa del Este, July s.
Mai Gen. Shafter yesterday morning
began with great vigor the attack on
the outer defenses Of Santiago. From
three directions the American forces
advanced toward the doomed city.
While Gen. Lawton and Gen. Wheeler
were attacking Caney, northeast of
Santiago, Gen. Kent was advancing
toward Aguadores. Gen Garcia, with
his Cuban troops, at the same time APP
preached Caney from the southeast.
and the other divisions of the Amerl-
can army pressed toward Santiago
from the east, our forces thus present
ing solid front from the coast to Gen.
Linares northern defenses.
-Four members of the twenty-frs
regiment (regulars) were killed in the
fight between Sevilla and Aguadores,
while sixteen other Americans, all
members of the Twenty-first, were
wounded Both the American and
Spanish fleets Joined in the battle.
While SIMPSONS men were reducing
the recently emplaced batteries at
Aguadores, Admiral Cervera's fleet
was hurting shells in the direction of
the American and Cuban lines. Two
batteries Of light artillery, acting un-
der orders from Maj. Gen. Shafter,
who went to the front at the head OF
the troops. began the battle of Santi-
ago by attacking Caney. From this
village a direct road leads into Sant1-
ago. and the advance of our forces
will be irresistible when they gain
possession Of this road. Gen. Wheeler,
with a detachment of his cavalry COM
mand, and Gen. Garcia, with his Gu
ban troops, quickly Joined Gen. Law
toms men in the advance upon Caney.
The Spaniards for time
Fought Desperately
to prevent Caney from falling into the
hands of our forces. 1t was vain eff
fort Before the fighting had been
long under way the American and Gu
ban forces gained advanced ground.
Foot by foot the enemy was driven
back into the village. 1t was evident
after the first hours fighting that Gen.
Skaters accuracy had gagged the
strength of the enemy and that he
would be able to drive the Spaniards
lulO Sdul1dSO DIT II was
with difficulty that the commanding
officers restrained the ardor of our
troops until the hour for beginning the
attack came The enthusiasm of the
American forces was intense and
their spirit quickly spread to the Gu
ban troops. All have shared the be-
lief of Gen. Shafter that Santiago
could be taken by sharp, persistent
attack. and they have been impatient
to advance. Gen. Kent. who COM
mands the center of the general line
of attack, started the Twenty-first reg
ulars toward Aguadores at the same
hour Gen. Lawton's men advanced
toward Caney Upon these troops fell
the brunt of the battle to the south
east of Santiago during the early hours
of the day AS l write this dispatch
this division of Gen. Kent'S force has
sustained the heaviest loss in the en-
gagement thus far. There was desper-
ate fighting about Aguadores. Acting
under orders from Gen. LinareS the
Spaniards at that point returned the
American fire with fury that aroused
in our men the fiercest determination.
They boldly faced the enemy's fire,
holding their ground tenaciously and
Pressing Forward
whenever an opportunity tc gain an
advanced footing presented itself. In
the operations about Aguadores the
Americans, encouraged by the work