After the brilliant and important victory gained at El Caney, Lawton started his tried troops, who had been fighting all day and marching much of the night before, to connect with the right of the cavalry division. Night came on before this movement could be accomplished. In the darkness the enemy’s pickets were encountered, and the division commander, being uncertain of the ground and as to what might be in his front, halted his command and reported the situation to me. This information was received about 12:30 a. m., and I directed Gen. Lawton to return by my headquarters and the El Pozo house as the only certain way of gaining his new position.
This was done, and the division took position on the right of the cavalry early next morning; Chaffee’s Brigade arriving first, about half-past seven, and the other brigades before noon.
On the night of July 1st, I ordered Gen. Duffield, at Siboney, to send forward the 34th Michigan and the 9th Massachusetts. Both of which had just arrived from the United States. These regiments reached the front the next morning. The 34th was placed in rear of Kent, and the 9th was assigned to Bates, who placed it on his left.
Soon after daylight on July 2d the enemy opened battle, but because of the intrenchments made during the night, the approach of Lawton’s Division, and the presence of Bates’ Brigade, which had taken position during the night on Kent’s left, little apprehension was felt as to our ability to repel the Spaniards.
It is proper here to state that Gen. Bates and his brigade had performed most arduous and efficient service, having marched much of the night of June 30th-July 1st, and a good part of the latter day, during which he also participated in the battle of El Caney, after which he proceeded, by way of El Pozo, to the left of the line at San Juan, reaching his new position about midnight.
All day on the 2d the battle raged with more or less fury, but such of our troops as were in position at daylight held their ground, and Lawton gained a strong and commanding position on the right.
About 10 p. m. the enemy made a vigorous assault to break through my lines, but he was repulsed at all points.
SUMMONING THE ENEMY TO SURRENDER.
On the morning of the 3d the battle was renewed, but the enemy seemed to have expended his energy in the assault of the previous night, and the firing along the lines was desultory until stopped by my sending the following letter within the Spanish lines:
“Headquarters U. S. Forces, near San Juan River,
“July 3, 1898—8:30 a. m.