regulars and
two hundred volunteers, took part in the engagement. We drove enemy from
his position, and it is believed inflicted heavy loss.

"'A wounded Spanish lieutenant was found in the field and brought into our
line. Conduct of officers and men was beyond all praise. I propose to
continue my march on Mayaguez at early hour to-morrow.

"'SCHWAN.'

(Signed) "MILES."

_August 12._ General Wilson moved one Lancaster battery out to the front
for the purpose of shelling the Spanish position on the crest of the
mountain at the head of the pass through which the road winds.

The enemy occupied a position of great natural strength, protected by
seven lines of entrenchments, and a battery of two howitzers.

The Spaniards were eager for the fray, and early in the day had fired upon
Colonel Biddle of the engineer corps, who, with a platoon of Troop C, of
New York, was reconnoitring on their right flank.

As the American battery rounded a curve in the road, two thousand yards
away, the enemy opened an artillery and infantry fire. Four companies of
the Third Wisconsin, which were posted on the bluff to the right of the
road, were not permitted to respond.

The guns advanced at a gallop in the face of a terrific fire, were
unlimbered, and were soon hurling common shell and shrapnel at the enemy
at a lively rate, striking the emplacements, batteries, and entrenchments
with the rhythmic regularity of a triphammer.

[Illustration: GENERAL BROOKE RECEIVING THE NEWS OF THE PROTOCOL.]

The enemy soon abandoned one gun, but continued to serve the other at
intervals for over an hour. They had the range, and their shrapnel burst
repeatedly over the Americans.

In about two hours the enemy abandoned the other gun, and the men began to
flee from the entrenchments toward a banana growth near the gorge. Then
the guns shelled them as they ran. One gun was ordered to advance a
position a quarter of a mile farther on. It had just reached the new
position when Spanish infantry reinforcements filed into the trenches and
began a deadly fire upon the Americans, compelling the battery to retire
at a gallop. Then both the enemy's howitzers reopened, the shrapnel
screamed, and Mausers sang. Another gun galloped from the rear, but the
American ammunition was exhausted.

Colonel Bliss of General Wilso