GENERAL BROOKE'S MOVEMENTS. 413 they hadhoisted the Stars and Stripes. On the night of the Qth they were attacked in the darkness by a Spanish column. It would have ffone hard with them had not the Cincinnati and two other warships lying off the cape turned on their searchlights and driven back the Spaniards with a shower of shells from their quick-firers. Next day, so as to avoid useless risks, the little post was withdrawn to the ships.

then shelled, and the Spaniards soon abandoned them, but when the Americans pushed on in pursuit it was found that they had only retired to occupy another position, from which their two guns reopened fire. The commander of the American battery then reported that he had very few shells left, and the situation was looking awkward. The infantry were forming for the attack and expecting the order to advance, when they saw a staff officer riding forward towards the Spaniards with a flag of truce. He took a message from General Wilson to the Spanish commander, informing him that negotiations were all but concluded,and By the nth, Brooke from Guayama and Miles from Coamo were closing in upon the Aibonito position. Brooke's mission was to capture Cayey, held by a Spanish detachment, which was entrenched in a strong position,and then co-operate withMiles's front attack, which was to be entrusted to Wilson's brigade. On the 12th Wilson pushed forward to a point on the military road five miles north of Coamo. Further advance wasbarred by a Spanish force holding severallines of trenches on the hillside, and with two guns in an earthwork. Wilson brought his artillery into action against them, the 3rd Wisconsin being placed on the flank of the guns, lying down on the crest of a ridge to act as escort to the artillery. For some time there was a sharp exchange of shrapnel, the Spanish infantry also joining in with their Mausers. In twohours the Americans had lost one killed and half a dozen wounded,most of the casualties being the result of one shrapnel bursting over a company of the Wisconsin regiment. By that time the Spanish guns had ceased firing and retired. The trenches were urging that he should avoid useless loss by surrendering what was deseribed as an untenable on. The Spanish colonel asked for a suson of hostilities 111 order to communicate with General Machias at San Juan,saying he had no information, and could not act on news supplied by the enemy. In the eveningGeneral Miles's headquarters received a telegram from Washington announcing that the preliminaries ofpeacehad.actually beensigned. TheSpaniards count this inconclusive engagement on the Aibonito road a victory.

The next morning General Brooke, whei had not yet received the news, advanced on the Spanish position before Cayey. His men were actually in line before the Spanish trenches. The Pennsylvania volunteer battery had unlimbered. The first gun was just loaded, and a gunner stood waiting for the order to sire. " Suddenly,'' wrote one of the correspondents