| Show CEH GEN WHEELERS OFFICIAL REPORT Rev recounts the experiences of the troops before Santi santiago agri fi when the men reached the heights of san juan the retreat vas was precipitate but our men were too exhausted to follow up the victory lawton tried to aid wheeler on july but was driven back washington aug 6 the following report to major general joseph wheeler I 1 on the operations before santiago de cuba has become available t batore santiago da do caba cuba july 7 1898 I 1 to adjutant general fifth army corpa corps sir Sin after the engagement of june 24 I 1 pushed forward my command through the valley lawtons lawtonw Law tons and kents commands occupying the hilla hills in the vicinity ol 01 that place after two days rest lawton was ordered forward and instructions were given riven by major general shatter to that officer to attack cabael Cab aey while the cavalry division aad and kents division were ordered to move forward on the regular santiago road the movement commenced on the morning of july I 1 the cavalry division advanced and formed its line with its left near the santiago kents division formed its line with the right joining the tile left of the cavalry division I 1 col mcclarnand McCIer ernand nand of gen Sh shatters staff directed me to give instructions to F gen kent which I 1 complied with in in person a at the same time personally d di I 1 teching gen sumner to move forward the men were all compelled to wade the san juan river to get into line this was done under very heavy leavy fire of both infantry and artillery our balloon having baving been sent up right by the main road was made a mark ot of by the enemy it was ei evident that we were as much under fire in forming the line as we would be by an advance and 1 I therefore pressed the command forward from tb the covering under which it was formed merged into open space in full view of the enemy who occupied breastworks and batteries on the crest of bills hills which overlooks santiago officers and men inen I 1 falling at every step the troops advanced gallantly eoon reached the foot of the hill and ascended driving the enemy from their works and occupying them ou oti the crest of the hill to r accomplish this required courage and Je determination on the part of officers and aen nen of a high order and the losses were very severe too much credit cannot be given to gen sumner and gen igen kent and their gallant brigades col wood and col carroll gen ham allton hawking Haw kine commanding first brigade kents division and col pearson Pea reon commanding the second brigade col barroll 40 arroll and major were enabled to return and resume command gen commanding kents third brigade was killed at 1210 col worth took command and was wounded at 12 1215 then took command and was wounded at 1220 and the command then devolved upon lieutenant colonel one E ewers were ninth infantry upon rea reaching ebing the crest I 1 ordered breastworks to be constructed and sent to the rear for shovels eb ovela picks spades and axes the retreat from tho ridge was precipitate but our men we were re so exhausted that it was impossible for them to fullow their shoes were soaked I 1 with water by wading the san juan i river they bad had become drenched with ram rain and when they reached the cres crest t they were absolutely unable to proceed further notwithstanding this condition these exhausted men labored duri ing log toe the night to erect breastworks fur ur nish details to banry the dead and carry ca r ry the wounded back in improvised lighters I 1 cent word along the be line that reinforcements for cements would s soon n reach us and that lawton would join our regiment aid nd that gen bate would come op UP I 1 and ind strengthen our left alter after reaching the crest of the ridge gen worth sent the lath regu regulars lara to in strengthening our right at midnight gen bates reported and I 1 placed him in a tt po position eillon on the left of or rint ns ien gen lawton had bad attempted tempted pt to join Is from caney but when very belr ear lines be was fired upon by SN spaniards alardo and turned back but it loira by a cir Us next day at noon grottle yr a ottle te during all the day on jul 2 r UiT cavalry division n kento division and bates brigade were engaged with the enemy being subject to a fierce fire and later in the day law tons division became engaged during the entire engagement my staff perfected their duties with courage judgment and ability our coores were as follows fol lowe first brigade third cavalry killed 3 men wounded 6 officers 47 men strength officers 22 men sixth cavalry cava IrN killed 4 men wounded 4 officers 50 meril men strength 16 officers men ninth cavalry killed 2 officer 2 men wounded 2 officers and 17 men strength 12 officers men second brigade First of officer licer twelve men wounded one officer forty seven men missing one man strength twenty one officers men tenth cavalry killed two officers five men wounded nine officers offic erB sixty three men missing four men strength twenty two officers men first volunteer cai cavalry alry killed killea ona one officer twelve men wounded five officers seventy two men missing one man strength twenty five officers and men buffalo N Y aug 5 A special to the news says that fire broke out in the chapel of niagara university a catholic institution near niagara falls early today the chapel was almost completely destroyed the loss is estimated at the fire is attributed to an incendiary cen con diary new york aug 5 the employee emp loyes of syracuse rapid transit company numbering struck today no afo cars are running |
