The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-29

IN the foremost eC0elOQ at San Juan Wsao
Col Jose BaQuero, Of the Simancas reRl-
ment Of infantry, who had come from Guam
tau8mO with a message, ana cculd not re-
turn on account Of the strong blockade. ms
echelon was two companies strong, ana
before the Americans opened nre IL was
reinforced by another company. IL Is mere
that Colonel Ord0nez was, with the RAPID
ire division, the position being defended by
SEQ infantry and two guns.
THE echelon nearest San Juan consisted
Of three companies of TalaverO, one COM
uany with General Linares to the right or
the PoZo road, forming an angle, in order 70
prevent a surrounding movement on the
Juan; another at the angle Of the two
roads referred 10, and a third at Veguita
toward FL Caney. crossing their fire with
that Of the forces at Sueno.
In view Of the small numbers OF our
forces and the ever-increasing numbers or
those Of the Americans and their war ma
terial. we reinforced our positions by some
trenches under shelter Of which we might
be able to prolong the fight for a longer
time.
THE cavalry formed the third line at the
fort Of Canosa, protected by a small bill
After the cannonade of the morning, in
which our guns, with accurate aim, sue
ceeded in causing the enemy many casual
ties and silencing the fire OF one Of his bat
teries erected at Pozo, and when the Amer
leans had brought together considerable
forces Of infantry, they attacked about noon
with cannon, machine-gun and musket nre.
THE situation of the line commanded by
Baquero was critical. %olOnel Ordonez and
the commander of the Puerto Rico battalion,
Mr.. Lamadrid, had been wounded. One-half
OF the officers had also fallen under the
action of the lead that was pouring down
upon the line The enemy was advancing IN
large and compact masses, firmly resolved
to take the positions, but Baquero, the
brave soldier, who had distinguished MINI
self so highly in the campaign, was there,
froops' almost annihilated by hunger and
fatigue. and decimated by the clouds OF Dull
lets and grapeshot
ordered to advance rapidly in order to pro-
tect the retreat of Colonel Baquero,s forces
and save the artillery, If possible. Lleuten-
ant Colonel Sierra FASTENED to carry out the
order, as Commander Arriz had done be-
fore him at San Juan.
1.-The line which General Linares COM
manded personally now formed the van
guard. With his assistance the generals
aids and his chief Of staff had to organize
the remnants Of the first line.
WOUNDING OF LINARES.
TT was necessary to maintain that posi-
tion at any cost, for it's loss would give the
enemy free entrance into the city. The
brave men of the first line were retreating.
Colonel Baquero had disappeared, killed, no
doubt when he led that retreat under the
hail Of grapeshot and lead. The enemy was
advancing in compact masses, and rushing
upon what was now the first line. Fortu-
nately the fire of our infantry, accurately
aimed. compelled the Americans TO recede,
and they retreated behind the positions of
san Juan. At that moment General llnareS
and the brave commander of infantry, Ar
TaiZ, fell wounded; the latter officer. who
had already shed his blood at Cacarajcara.
was one of the most beautiful examples OF
the army.
While these cruel battles of FL Caney
and San Juan were carried on the enemy
sent forces against our whole line, for the
purpose, doubt of haraSSing us and
making the attack more general
THE San Juan forces tried once more to
recover themselves. Others came to their
assistance among them the company of
marines which had been stationed at the
Plaza de TOrOS with Captain Bustamente;
but the enemy was already strongly occupy
ing the position. our forces were scant, and
success was impossible. Our artillery was
steadily firing at many points of the line,
loading the guns (Old ones, as has been
stated) without any protection, but the fire
was extremely slow and therefore of little
'At $3.50 p. m I went toward the Campo
de Marie, impatient to learn what had hap
pened. At the Plaza de Dolores met Gen.
Idnares His arm, which had been seri-
Ously wounded in the first trenches, as
stated had been dressed at the military hos
pital. and he was now being taken to his
house on stretcher, escorted by few
hoTsemen.
when arrived at the end of Enramadas
street and was only a few feet from
trench of the third line, covered by a sec
ton of volunteers, / saw a part of the
battlefield. The musket fire was very slow,
and although Santa Ursula Fort, situated
to the right and somewhat In the rear of
the trenches referred to. was firing as rap
It will be easily understood that there was
no new attack that day.
Il then went to the headquarters of the
cavalry, at the entrance of FL Caney road
where a section of the cavalrymen We're
ready to hasten wherever they might be or
1T may be said that the battle was at an
end and many commanders and officers were
arriving, all tired out and almost dying
from thirst Among others, / saw Com
mander Irles of the general staff. who had
had either one or. two horses killed under
him. and there / learned that the number
of commanders and officers wounded rad
been comparatively very large Mr. Moins,
lieutenant colonel of the civil guard, arrived
and said that Commander Bustamente, OF
the navy, had been seriously wounded, and
was being carried on a stretcher. NV con-
sternatfon may be imagined. [ hurried out
TO meet him and found him few minutes
later. In spite of the heat he had been
wearing his blue-cloth suit in the fight, by
which he could be easily distinguished from
all others. He was covered with blood pale
and disigured his eyes closed. and without
his saber and revolver, l learned that Pc
fore he was wounded his horse vas Billed
under him and his hat shot through. ac-
companied him to the military hospital. In
spite of his tnSgniaS of Il commander no
body paid much attention to him. This can
he readily understood, for that day, IN a
short time over 500 wounded had been re-
ceived and they were sill coming. II was
difficult TO find beds and the attendant 1 er-
sonnet. although increasing, was not SUM-
Cient 10 look after all.
II succeeded in finding Antonio Canaz.
the surgeon of marine. whom know ana
fn whom L have unlimited commence, ana.
thanks to him, the wounded mar was placed
ON a bed and his clothes taken off. They
had 10 be cut with scissors. The wound
was I'm the right side of the abdomen: his
legs were covered with blood. The positICn
of the bullet. the aspect of the wounded
man and above all. the look with which
Or Canaz answered mine, left me no doubt
i knew that he had only few moments to
live and / left the hospital deeply auected.
u will add that. the hospital was sit
mated I'm the sector attacked by the enemy
and near the trenches. being OUTSIDE the
CITY musket balls were falling In great
quantities in the court and on the rcot;
later on shells were flying over 1t in all al
LAS has been seen. two battle ships from
Aglladores were throwing projecues upon
the CITY and the bay. causing victims among
4he inhabitants and damage to the build
fngs As I went TO the captalncy or the
mort in the morning when the firing COM
1nenced i saw at the ambulance lmproVlSed
at the BOttino pharmacy woman VINO
was having her head dressed. which had
been struck by a fragment of shell. The
wound although not deep, was wide, and
hooked as though made by a razor,
AT nightfan the firing ceased along the
whole line.
serious by reason Of the blood that had
been shed. as well as by their results.
LOSSES AND RESULTS.
with the loss Of III Caney we lost the
line which it had been SO imperative for us
TO keep. and also the aqueduct and the
region under cultivation-that is, provisions