The Boys of '98 Part 42

_July 29._ The advance guard of General Henry's division, which landed at Guanica on Tuesday, arrived at Ponce, taking en route the cities of Yauco, Tallaboa, Sabana, Grande, and Penuelas.

Attempts by the Spaniards to blow up bridges and otherwise destroy the railroad between Yauco and Ponce failed, only a few flat cars being burned. At Yauco the Americans were welcomed in an address made by the alcalde, and a public proclamation was issued, dated "Yauco, Porto Rico, United States of America, July 27th."

_July 31._ In General Miles's despatches to the War Department, the following statements are made regarding the condition of affairs on the island:

"Volunteers are surrendering themselves with arms and ammunition.

Four-fifths of the people are overjoyed at the arrival of the army. Two thousand from one place have volunteered to serve with it. They are bringing in transportation, beef, and other needed supplies.

"The custom-house has already yielded fourteen thousand dollars. As soon as all the troops are disembarked they will be in readiness to move."

Colonel Hulings, with ten companies of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania, occupied Juan Diaz, about eight miles northeast of Ponce, on the road to San Juan. The American flag was raised, and greeted with great enthusiasm by the populace.

_August 1._ The American scouts were within six miles of Coamo, and the Spanish rear guard was retiring fast. The Spanish had fled toward Aibonito, thirty miles from Ponce, and the place was being fortified.

There the road winds around among the mountains, and the artillery commanding it rendered the position impregnable. Detours were to be made by the Americans from Coamo through Arroyo and Guayamo, thus avoiding the main road, which had been mined for three miles. Captain Confields of the engineers went ahead to kill these mines. The Fifth Signal Corps men in advance of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania sent word to General Stone that it had reconnoitred the road to Adjuntas. A signal-station was established, and the stars and stripes run up at Santa Isabel amid great enthusiasm.

Yabricoa, Patillas, Arroyo, Guayanillo, Penuelas, Adjuntas, Guayamo, and Salinas had all surrendered.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MAJOR-GENERAL BROOKE.]

The Spaniards hurried from these towns towards San Juan before an attack was made. The second fleet of transports arrived safely at Fort Ponce, the _Roumanian_ bringing the cavalry detachment, and the _Indiana_ and _Missouri_ the batteries. Generals Brooke, Schwan, and Haines, with their staffs, were on board. The troops carried included the Thirteenth Illinois, Seventh Ohio, Fourth Pennsylvania, Nineteenth Regulars, and Troops A and C of the New York volunteer cavalry.

There were also one thousand animals, thirty days' rations for thirty thousand men, a signal corps detachment, and an ambulance corps. The whole force, as well as the ammunition and quartermaster's stores, was landed, and the men were camping on the outskirts of the town.

_August 2._ San Juan blockaded by the _New Orleans_, _Puritan_, _Prairie_, _Dixie_, and _Gloucester_, which kept out of range of the masked batteries ash.o.r.e.

The railroad from Ponce to Yauco in possession of U. S. troops. Spanish volunteers continued to come into the American lines and give themselves up.

_August 4._ A portion of General Grant's brigade, on the transport _Hudson_, sailed from Newport News.

A correspondent for the a.s.sociated Press, with the invading army, thus wrote under date of August 4th:

"The Americans have taken peaceful possession of the eastern portion of the island.

"Small parties of marines have been landed, who have lighted the lamps in the lighthouse at Cape San Juan, and in other lighthouses along the coast.

They met with no resistance.

"Indeed, at Cape San Juan, deputations of citizens came out to meet them.

"The war-s.h.i.+ps now in this vicinity are the _Montgomery_, the _Annapolis_, the _Puritan_, and the _Amphitrite_. The two former are looking for the transports with troops which left the United States and have scattered all about the island.

"The _Annapolis_ rounded up the _Whitney_, the _Florida_, and the _Raleigh_, yesterday, and they are now at Cape San Juan. There seems to have been a serious mistake as to the rendezvous, for no two s.h.i.+ps go to the same place, and it will take several days to overtake them and get them to Ponce, where General Miles is waiting.

"Off San Juan the cruiser _New Orleans_ alone maintains the blockade. The city is grim and silent, but back of her yellow walls there will be plenty of determination to fight when the Americans fire.

"Captain-General Macias has issued a proclamation, in the course of which he says:

"'Spain has not sued for peace, and I can drive off the American boats now as I did Sampson's attempt before.'

"The daughter of the captain-general is helping to drill the gunners in the fort. Altogether there are ninety-five hundred Spanish regulars in the city. The troops of the enemy, who are retreating from Ponce and the other towns on the south coast occupied by the Americans, have not yet arrived."

_August 5._ General Haines, with the Fourth Ohio and the Third Illinois, left Arroyo for the Spanish stronghold of Guayama. The Fourth Ohio was placed in the lead, and when only three miles from Arroyo its skirmish-lines were attacked by the Spaniards from ambush. There was a hot running fight from this time on until the American troops reached and captured Guayama, which is about six miles from Arroyo. The Americans lost three wounded, and the enemy, one killed and two wounded.

_August 6._ The foreign consuls at San Juan de Porto Rico advised the Spanish authorities to surrender the island to the American troops. The Spaniards, however, in reply, announced that they had resolved to fight; thereupon the consuls notified the Spanish commander, Captain-General Macias, that they would establish a neutral zone between Bayamon and Rio Piedra.s.s, in which to gather the foreign residents and their portable properties in order to ensure their safety in the event of a bombardment of the place by the American forces. The consul sent a similar notification to General Miles.

_August 7._ A general advance of the American forces. The custom-house in the village of Farjardo was seized.

_August 8._ The town of Coamo was taken by the Sixteenth Pennsylvania and the Second and Third Wisconsin. Artillery was used on an outlying blockhouse, and under cover of this fire the advance was made.

Two hundred Spaniards were captured and twenty killed, including the commander, Rafael Igleseas, and three other officers.

Five Americans were wounded.

_August 9._ Gen. Fred Grant, his staff, and six companies of the First Kentucky regiment sailed for Porto Rico from Newport News on the transport _Alamo_.

"PONCE, August 9.

"_Secretary of War, Was.h.i.+ngton_:-The following received from General Wilson:

"'General Ernst's brigade captured Coamo 8.30 this morning. Sixteenth Pennsylvania, Colonel Hulings commanding, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Biddle, of my staff, having made a turning movement through the mountains, striking the Aibonito road half a mile beyond town, captured the entire garrison of Coamo, about 150 men.

"'Spanish commander, Igleseas, and Captain Lopez killed. Our loss reported six wounded, only one severely. Men and officers behaving excellently.'

"Colonel Hulings and Colonel Biddle are especially to be commended. This is a very important capture, and well executed. Names of wounded as soon as received here.

(Signed) "MILES."

Troop C, of New York, pursued a party of fleeing Spanish engineers, after the capture of Coamo, a distance of four miles along the road to Aibonito.

The Americans were checked at the Cuyon River, where the Spaniards had blown up the bridge, and were sh.e.l.led from a Spanish battery on the crest of Asoniante Mountain. The dismounted cavalry returned the fire, receiving no damage, and holding the position. A battalion of the Third Wisconsin Volunteers went to their support.

_August 11._

"PONCE, VIA BERMUDA, August 11.

"_Secretary of War, Was.h.i.+ngton_:-The following message received from Schwan: