Cummings’ Encyclopedia. A487
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utposts fell, and the invincible American army closedsteadily on Santiago. THREE Days Ficut. The Spanish had advantageouspositions on the heights of El Caney and San Jaun.To take these strongholds our army had uphill work.Fighting began on Friday morning, July 1, and at theclose of eleven hours of desperate fighting, the enemyretired from El Caney toward Santiago. San Juanmade stronger resistance, but it too, soon fell before thefearful charge of the Americans. The Spanish contestedevery point with commendable bravery, but the superbgallantry and superior skill of the Americans won theday. Fighting was resumed on Sunday but soon everyoutpost of the enemy had fallen, and Santiago lay with-in gunshot of our army. During the progress of the battle the Spanish fleet,then in the harbor of Santiago, inflicted much damageon our lines, on the other hand, the co-operation ofSampson’s fleet did effective service. During these three days of fighting, Shafter’s aids,Generals Wheeler, Lawton, Sumner, Kent, Duffield,Chaffee, Wood and Bates, all won fresh laurels, engag-ing personal y in the thickest of the fight. The intrepiddash of Colonels Downs and Roosevelt at the head oftheir brave men, as well as the charge of Captains Ca-pron, Clarke and Rafferty, were no less heroic than thecharge at Balaklava. Gen. Linares, commanding the Spanish, was se-verely wounded as was his successor, Gen. Del Rey,who was succeeded by Gen. Toral. Gen. Shafter’s en-tire army numbered 23,000. The American loss was;killed, 231; wounded, 1283; missing, 81. Tur Sea Figut. On Sunday July 3d, AdmiralCervera made a bold dash for liberty. In less than one
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