the Spaniards at Las Guasimas, an action
in which material aid was rendered by Cubans, and which resulted in the
Spaniards being driven back a mile or more. By June 25 the Americans
were on the Ridge of Sevilla, looking down upon Santiago, only six miles
away, and two days later their outposts were within three miles of the
city. There followed on July 1 a desperate contest at the fortified
village of El Caney, resulting in the capture of that place by storm,
with great slaughter of the Spanish, who held their ground with stubborn
valor. Simultaneously an attack was made by another part of the American
forces upon Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill, where heavy losses were
sustained on both sides. The climax of this engagement was a charge of
Wheeler's division, the Tenth Cavalry, against the Spanish entrenched
lines. The van of this division was occupied by the "Rough Riders"
regiment, an organization recruited chiefly among western plainsmen and
"cowboys" by Theodore Roosevelt, who had resigned the Assistant
Secretaryship of the Navy thus to engage in active service. The charge
was led by Colonel Roosevelt in person, though he was in fact second in
command of the regiment, the chief command of which he had declined in
favor of his friend Leonard Wood, who was destined to play one of the
greatest parts in the establishment of Cuban independence. In this hot
engagement the Americans were also completely victorious.

[Illustration: THEODORE ROOSEVELT]

General Pando was now rushing 8,000 Spanish troops from the west to
reinforce General Linares at Santiago, and Calixto Garcia with his Cuban
forces undertook to hold him in check, though he was greatly outnumbered
by the Spanish. On July 2 fighting was resumed, the Spanish assuming the
aggressive, and before the day was done the Americans, greatly
outnumbered and exhausted by the incessant fighting and the heat of the
weather, began seriously considering withdrawal from positions which
they feared they would not be able to hold. General Shafter urged
Admiral Sampson to aid him by making an attack upon the city with his
fleet, but the latter demurred on account of the danger of entering a
mined harbor. It was arranged that the two commanders should meet again
for another council of war on the morning of July 3, and Admiral Sampson
actually started up the coast toward Siboney for that purpose, when a
dramatic event in a twinkling transformed the whole situation.

[Illustration