Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1898 — TELLS OF THE FIGHT. [ARTICLE]

TELLS OF THE FIGHT.

Gen. Wheeler’s Official Report of the Battle of Siboney. HOW THE BRAVE ROUGH RIDERS FELL The Engagement Was Result of a Deliberate Finn, and the Americans Were Not Ambushed —Bravery of Officers and Men. •> Camp Juragua, June 29 (via Kingston Jamaica, July 1.). —Gen. Wheeler’s official report to Maj. Gen. Shafter of what is known as the battle of Siboney is as follows: "In Camp, Juragua, June 29.—T0 the Adjutant General of the Fifth Army Corps—, Sir: I have the honor to report that, In obedience to the instructions of the major general commanding, given me In person on June 23, I proceeded to Siboney (Juraguaslto). The enemy had evacuated the place at daylight that morning, taking a course towards Sevilla. A body of about 100 Cubans had followed and engaged the enemy's rear guard. About nine of them •were wounded. "I rode out to the front and found the enemy had halted and established them■elves at a point about three miles rrom 81boney. At night the Cubans returned to the vicinity of the town. At eight o’clock that evening, the 23d, Gen. Young reached Siboney with eight troops of Cot Wood's regiment, A. B, D, E. F, G, K unrl L, 500 strong; troops A. B, C and K, Firsi cavalry, In all 244 men, and troops A, B, E and I, of the Tenth cavalry, In all 220 men. making the total force 964 men, which included nearly all of my command which had marched from Baiquiri, 11 miles. Determined on an Attack. "With the assistance Gen. Castillo, a rough map of the country was prepared and the position of the enemy was fully explained, and I determined to make an attack at daybreak on the 24th. Col. Wood’s regiment was sent by Gen. Young, accompanied by two of his staff officers, Lieuts. Tyrree B. Klvers and W. Ri Smedburg, Jr., to approach the enemy on the left hand, or more westerly road, while Gen. Young, myself and about 50 i?) troops of the First and Tenth cavalry, with three Hotchkiss mountain guns, approached the enemy on the regular Sirvilla road. "Gen. Young and myself' examined the position of the enemy, the lines were deployed, and I directed him to open fire with the Hotchkiss guns. The enemy replied and the firing immediately became general. Col. Wood had deployed his right, nearly reaching the left of the regulars. "For an nour the fight was very warm, the enemy oeing very lavish tn expenditure of ammunition, most of their firing being by volleys. Couldn't Maintain the Pursuit. "Finally, the enemy gave way and retreated rapidly, our side keeping well closed upon them; but our men being physically exhausted by both their exertions and the great heat were Incapable of maintaining the pursuit. "1 cannot speak too highly of the gallant and excellent conduct of the officers and men throughout my command. Gen. Young deserves special commendation for his cool, deliberate and skillful management. "I also especially noticed his acting adjutant general, Lieut. A. L. Mills, who, under Gen. Young’s direction, was at various parts of the line, acting with energy and cool courage. "The Imperative necessity of disembarking with promptitude nad iiriDeUed me to leave most of my staff, to Hasten this important matter, and unfortunately 1 only had with tie Maj. M. J. fleach and Mr. Mesiro, an acting volunteer uide. both of whom during the engagement credibly and bravely performed ilicir duties. ‘1 am especially indebted to Maj. Beach for his coot and good judgment. Praise for Col. Wood. "Col. Wood’s regiment was on the extreme left of the line and too far distant for me to be a personal witness of the ln--61 vidua' conduct of the officers and men, but tne magnificent bravery shown by the regiment under the iead of Col. Wood testifies to his courage and skill and the energy and determination of his officers, which has been marked from the moment be reported to me at Tampa, and I have abundant evidence of his brave and good conduct on the field, and I recommend him for the consideration of the government. I must rely upon his report to do Justice to his officers and men. 1 desire personally to add all that 1 have said regarding Col. Wood applies equally to Lieut Col. Roosevelt. ”1 was immediately with the troops ox the First and Tenth regiment cavalry, dismounted, and I personally noticed their orave and good conduct, which will be especially mentioned by Gen. Young. Bravery of the Wounded. “I personally noticed the good cowUueto! Capts. W. H. Bock, Robert P. Wainwrlght and Jacob C. Galbraith, Maj. James M. Bell, Capt, Thomas T. Know and Lieut. George E. Brown. The last three were wounded. Maj. Bell, as he lay on the ground with a broken leg, said: ’i onlyregret I can’t go on with you further.’ "Capt. Know, though severely wounded, continued as long us possible to exercise his command and insisted to me that he was not much hurt, and Lieut. Brown also made light of his wound to me and continued upon the line until he fainted. I recommend these officers for the favorable consideration of the government. "1 cannot state positively us to the slxe of the Spanish force which we engaged, ot the exteut of their casualties, further than that the force was much greater than ours, and that Information 1 have wuulJ Indicate that their killed and wounded exceeded those which our troops sustained, bu' our estimate on this can only be verified when we have access to the reports of the Spanish commanders The engagement Inspired our troops and must have had n bad effect upon the spirits of the Spaniards. It also gave our army the beautiful and well-wutered country In which we him established our encampments It has elan glvtn us a full view of Santiago and the surrounding country, and hus enabled u» to reconnolter close to thc-fortlficatlons of that place. Very respectfully, "JOSEPH WHEELER, "Mujor General, U. 8. V., Commanding ” The Casualties. "The casualties In the engagement were; "First United Mtates volunteer cavalry, strength, S<JO; killed, 8; wounded, 34 "First United States regular cavalry, strength, 244: killed, 7; wound.d. 8. "Tenth United States regular cavalry, stregth, 22u; killed, 1; wounded, IU. “Total strength, !M; killed, 1C; wound•d. 52. ? * "Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH WHEELER. "Major General United States Volunteers, commanding."