The firing of the Spanish riflemen and artillerists was very wild, reaching the American infantry in the hills instead of the attacking battery.  Corporal Swanson of the 3rd Wisconsin volunteers was killed by a shell which fell in the midst of the Wisconsin men, and the same missile wounded three others.

News of peace Stops A battle.

The news that peace was at hand reached Guayama on August 13 just in time to interrupt a battle.  General Brooke’s force, in three strong columns, had begun an advance toward Cayey to form a junction there with General Wilson’s division, which had been making its way along the main road from Ponce to San Juan.

Three miles out General Brooke’s troops came upon a force of Spanish occupying strong intrenchments on the top of a mountain.  Light battery B, Pennsylvania artillery, unlimbered its guns, loaded them with shells and had just received the order to commence firing when a message from General Miles announcing peace was received on the field over a military telegraph wire.  The battery immediately was signaled to cease action, to the surprise of all the men, who were keyed up for battle.  The news that the war was over spread rapidly among the soldiers, causing general disappointment, for the officers could do nothing but leave the battle unfought and withdraw their troops.  All returned to their former camp at Guayama.

The signing of the treaty of peace by the United States and Spain came too soon to suit the commanders of the invading army in Puerto Rico.  Their plans had been perfectly formed and were almost executed.  The simultaneous advance of the four divisions toward San Juan was interrupted in the very midst of the successful movement.  If it could have been carried out as contemplated it would have been an invaluable lesson to the Puerto Ricans, quelling such pro-Spanish sentiment as existed and rendering American occupation and government of the island a comparatively simple matter.

General Miles felt this and regretted that he was not permitted to complete the masterly military movement so carefully begun and so successfully carried forward.  The occupation of Puerto Rico was made with a loss to the Americans of two killed and thirty-seven wounded.

CHAPTER LII.

The surrender of Manila.

Landing of General Merritt at Manila—­The German Fleet Warned by Admiral Dewey—­The Ladrone Islands—­Fierce Battle in Darkness and Storm—­Foreign Warships Notified of the Attack—­Combined Assault by Dewey and Merritt—­The City Surrenders.

In the meantime, far away in the Philippines, Admiral Dewey was sustaining the reputation he made at the outbreak of hostilities.  After the battle of Manila there remained but three Spanish warships in Pacific waters.  One of them was in dry dock at Hongkong and the two others were in hiding in the waters of the Philippine group.  The admiral dispatched the gunboat Concord and a cruiser to locate and destroy the two Spanish vessels.  The Concord soon discovered the Argos, and after a lively battle lasting thirty minutes the Spanish ship was sunk with all on board and her colors flying.  Not a man was lost or injured on the Concord, nor did the ship sustain any damage.