Infantry were directed during the battle of El Caney, Cuba,
July 1, 1898.

In reply I have the honor to officially state that about
noon July 1, 1898, the regiment moved from the mango grove,
near the Ducro House, toward a stone fort located on a hill,
near the town of El Caney.

It arrived at about one of the afternoon at a point about
eight hundred yards to the south and east of the fort;
immediately deployed, and the First Battalion, under command
of Captain Walter S. Scott, and of which I was adjutant,
designated as the attacking line. Presently, after advancing
a few yards, we were subjected to a galling fire from the
stone fort, the trenches in its front and from a blockhouse
on its right. The line steadily moved forward, directing its
fire at the stone fort and the trenches surrounding it. When
within about one hundred and fifty yards from the fort the
line was halted, and several sharpshooters, directed by
their company officers to fire at the loopholes. Finally,
when the men had regained their wind, a rush was made, part
of the line going through a cornfield. At the foot the line
was again halted, and after a few moments' rest charged up
the hill, and the fort surrendered.

I went to the fort and found a Spanish lieutenant and seven
enlisted men whom I passed out and were taken charge of by
an officer of the 12th Infantry. This was about 3.50 P.M.

* * * * *

Note.--Since the above was written, General Daggett
served with great distinction in the Philippines and in
China, and was retired as a brigadier-general--a hero
of four wars. A bill is now before Congress to make him
a major-general, an honor to which he is most justly
entitled.

* * * * *

As soon as the line reached the top of the hill it was
fired on from the town, which had before been masked by the
hill; the fire was of course returned, and this was the
first fire from the battalion directed at the town. About
five o'clock firing had ceased, the battalion was assembled
and marched away.

(Sd) H.W. FRENCH,
First Lieutenant, 17th Infantry (late Second Lieutenant 25th
Infantry).

A true copy:

H.G. LEARNARD,
Capt. and Adj. 14th Infantry.