The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-26
HOW VOLUNTEERS FOUGHT.
The Skirmish on the Yauco
Road.

c,arretson's Story of the Fight-Ltveiy
While 1t Lasted.
Washington, September 24.-The war
department tonight made pubic the
official report of Brigadier General u. A.
Garretson, of the action on Yauco road in
Porto Rico, July 26 last, in which his
brigade was engaged. The report is as
follows:
The brigade arrived at Guanica on
.July IS at about /, to l2-a. IN. During
the afternoon of that day L made recon-
noisance with TWO of my staff officers and
Major W. C. Hays, Of the first Ohio cav
airy. of the roads and trails leading out
of the valley in which the camp was sit
uated. This valley runs nearly north
and south aud is about mile wide.
There are mountains on either side about
400 feet high. About three miles from
the camp is a long range of hills varying
from 80 to 100 feet high, running at
right angles with the valley. Narrow
valleys debouoh to the northwest and
west. Along The latter runs the road to
Sabann Grande and Sgerman. Along
the northeastern valley runs the road to
Yauoo.
As the enemy was reported at these
places by the Inhabitants OF the valley,
the roads were carefully reconnoltered
and the body of the enemy was discovered
at the Hacienda Santa Decidora of An
tonic Mariana at about p. IN. This
81 Tod lv in c1ntQr
of level about one mile by one and a
half miles in diameter. surroundered for
the most part by low hills and separat-
ed by the hills above mentioned from the
valley of Guanica. The distance between
the two plains mentioned measured
through the base of the mountain is about
400 yards.
The Yauco river runs through the plain
of Hacienda, the valley of Guaniea and
through the narrow valley connecting
them. This narrow valley, constituting
q detile, was the scene of the early action.
A banana field lies on the east side OF
the road and the hill is covered with
chappareI to the west. The SIN all hill on
which the house of Ventura .Quinones is
situated affords view OF the hacienda.
Along the road, outposts consisting OF
one company of the 9th Illinois was post
ed. About 6 p. m. a report was sent from
this outpost that the enemy in consid-
cradle numbers had been observed. l
sent out two companies of the 9th Massa-
chusetts as a reserve. During the night
the
ENEMY OPENED FIRE
ON the outposts and their commander
sent in report which arrived at camp
at a. M, July 6, that an attack on the
outposts was expected. At q. NJ, l
with my staff and Major W. G. Hayes.
1st Ohio cavalry, and five companies of
the 9th Massachusetts, left camp for the
outposts on Yauco road The command
arrived there shortly before daylight, at
about 430 O'Clock. From the reports OF
the outposts the enemy were supposed to
be in field to the right of the road to
Yauco. Packs were thrown off and the
command formed for attack. The COM
pany of the sixth Illinois remained on the
hill on which the house of Ventura
Ouinones is situated and protected our
right flank. The remaining companies
were collected, two as support and three
as reserves. After advancing to within
Santa Deoidera, the advance guard of our
attacking force was discovered by the
enemy, opened fire from position on the
bill to the west. The north and east
slopes of this hill intersect each other,
orming solid angle: 1t was along this
angle that the enemy was posted. Their
reserve, posted in road leading from
the hacienda to the east, also opened a
strong fire.. A body of the enemy moved
against the company on our right, Com
pany g, 9th Illinois. stationed on the hill
of Ventura Quinones This company
had entrenched themselves during the
night and after repulsing the attacking
force directed their fire against the enc.
my on the hill to the west.
The conformation of the ground was
such that the fire of the enemy's reserves
party on the left was effective in the
seemingly secure hollow in which our re-
serves were posted. The heavy volume of
fire.
THE NOISE OF SHOTS
striking the trees aud on the ground and
the wounding of two men among the re-
serves. caused momentary confusion
among the troops. They were quickly
rallied and placed under cover. The tire
of thu advance party and supports was
directed against the party of the enemy
on the hill and temporarily silenced their
firing from that direction. Our advance
guard of two companies, ignoring the enc
my Oh the hilI then deployed mainly to
the right of the road and were, with
quick and accurate military Judgment
and great personal gailantry, led by
Lieut.. Langhorne. LIST cavalry, against
the reserves of the enemy. The supports
and one company of the reserve under
the direction OF Capt. I.G. Berry, charged
against the party on the west OF thu hill.
hr ough the barbed wire fence and chap
parel.
The reserves were deployed along the
of ri ht an01pS