Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
THE FIGHT FOR CANEY
Nothing Could Stop the Fierce Rush
of Our Troops.
SPAINARDS GALLANT DEFENSE
But They Never Had a Chance to
Win During the Day.
GALLANT DEFENSE
ENEMY LOST 1000 MEN

2:30 am --Hemmed in on all sides by Gen.
Lawton's division. the Spanish troops In
the town Of Caney are tonight practically
prisoners Of war and by daybreak tomor-
row Saturday Spain will have lost two
thousand of her best soldiers, killed,
wounded and taken prisoners in and around
the town, which was practically in the
hands of the American forces at o'clock
tonight.
This result was not obtained, however,
without severe fighting on the part of the
American forces and although 1t is impos-
sible at this time to give a list of the dead
or wounded. it is safe to say that the loss
in Gen. Lawton's division alone will be $50
killed or wounded. Among the officers
wounded are:
Col. Carpenter, commanding the It'll In
fantry.
Lieut.. Col. Patterson, commanding the
22d Infantry; will probably recover.
Lieut.. Besard, adjutant of the It'll Infan-
try, wounded twice.
Maj. Corlish of the eth Infantry
Capt. Jackson of Company G, 18th Infan-
try. shot in the left breast.
Lieut.. Charles z. Field, I'd Massachusetts,
shot through the forehead.
Gen. Ludlow's horse was killed under
him.
The Heaviest Loss.
In Gen. Lawtons division the I'd Massa-
chusetts had, up to the middle of the day,
sustained the heaviest loss, although other
regiments We're more actively engaged
During the afternoon the fight for the pos
session of Caney was most obstinate and
the ultimate victory reflects great credit
upon the American troops. 1t was a glory,
too, for Spain, though she never had a
chance to win at any time during the day.
Her men fought in intrenchments, covered
ways and block houses, while the American
forces were in the open from first to last.
The Spanish soldiers stuck to their work
like men, and this, the first land fight Of
the war, may well cause Spain to feel proud
of her men.
The American soldiers attacked the in
trenchments through open ground, and
from the firing of the first shot until they
were on the hills above Caney. they fought
their way forward and the Spanish were
driven backward. Gen. Chaffee's brigade
held the right of the line with the town of
Caney. Gen Ludlows division was in the
center and Col Miles held the left
The plan of battle was for Captain Allyn
Caprons battery of the 1st Artillery, which
held a position in the center above Gen
Ludlow. to shell the fort near the town
artillery had reduced the fort and driven
the Spaniards toward Santiago, Gen. Lud-
low to lay in the road below the hill on
which Captain Capron's battery was sta
toned and swing in on Gen. Chaffee's left,
while Col. Miles brigade was to keep close
to Gen. Ladlow's right and by a stimuli
taneous movement sweep the Spaniards in
toward Caney.
Orders for Battle.
Gen. Lawton, who personally directed the
operations of his division, left his camp
On the road from Siboney to Santiago at
am and at o'clock was with Captain
Capron's battery on the hill above Caney.
Orders were given that the battle should
begin from the center unless Gen. ChafYee,
who was nearest to the enemy, should find
himself attacked first.
The action opened at Gas with a shot
from the second section OF Captain Ca
prons battery. 1t struck close to the
stone fort near Caney. Another shot hit
the fort fairly. The Spaniards gave up the
IDEA or holding the stone fort proper after
1t was struck the first time, and the entire
garrison ran down the hilF toward the town.
The covered way in front of the fort how
ever, was held by the Spanish troops who
maintained an obstinate fire upon our men,
who were advancing slowly through the
push and groves, only firing an occasional
shot.
Captain Capron's battery opened on the
envy at once and tore the ground UP wi
smells, sending clouds Of dirt high into the
air. The battery also sent number of
shells entirely through the fort, tearing
down large sections of the walls This fine
craftsmanship was repeated several times,
the battery stopping the fire of the Span
ish soldiers. who had opened repeatedly
from the covered way pits.
By o'clock Gen. Chaffee's brigade was
pressing in toward the town and the firing
at intervals was very warm. 1t was very
difncult to see anything of the battle, ow-
ing 10 the rolling nature of the ground and
the dense vegetation that obscured the
view In almost every direction made II i'm
possible to see far.
An Obstinate Defense,
The firing at times was yery heavy dur-
ing the morning, but the Spaniards In the
covered way made most obstinate de-
tense. and refused to yield an inch. Time
and again the shells from Capt Capron's
battery drove them to cover, but as soon
as his fire ceased they were I'D and at II
again.
Despite the heavy firing Of the American
troops they were able to make but little
apparent progress during the morning, al
though eventually they steadily drew in and
enclosed the town on all Sides
At noon 1t became evident that the fire
from the covered way could not be stopped
by the artillery alone. and that no perma-
nent advance could be made until the place
" a. tohcii, SSH- LaWtCn decided to
capture II by assault. Accordingly, he sent
a messenger to Gen. Chaffee with instruc-
tons 10 take the position by a charge Gen.
Chance thereupon closed in with his men
rapidly from the north, while Capt Capron
maintained a heavy fire on that fort, keep
ing the Spaniards in the covered way and
putting hole after hole into the stone walls
on the fort. Shortly afterward he threw
a shot from the battery which tore away
the Flagstaff, bringing the Spanish flag to
the ground.
From that time on no banner waved
above 1t.
At o'clock the advanced line of Gen.
Chaffee's skirmishers, the 9TH Infantry, be-
gan to appear on the edge of the woods be-
low the fort. and by rapid rushes advanced
UP the hill to the fort. No shot was fired
as they swept forward. 1t was evident that
the covered way had been abandoned and
In few minutes the American troops were
thick around the fort, which commands
the north side of the town.
The Spaniards were completely surround
ed. The main part of the army was be-
tween them and Santiago, and Gen. Law
tons division was around them on the
other three sides. They retired to buildings
In the town and made gallant defense but
flom the time Gen. Chaffees men took
the stone fort they were lost troops to
Spain.
Rather than take The town by a general
assault, without the aid of artillery which
70 KalN