With their glasses, from the commanding eminence of El Poso Hill, crowned with the ruined buildings of an abandoned plantation, the American officers could distinctly see the Spaniards at work on their intrenchments a mile and a half away, and note the ever-lengthening lines of freshly excavated earth.
But for six days the army waited, and its artillery, which was expected to seriously impair, if not utterly destroy the effectiveness of those ever-growing earthworks, still reposed peacefully on board the ships that had brought it to Cuba.

Only two light batteries had been landed, and on the sixth day after Las Guasimas these reached the front.

At the same time came word that General Pando with 5000 Spanish reinforcements was nearing the besieged city from the north.

In that direction, and only three miles from Santiago, lay the fortified village of Caney, held by a strong force of Spanish troops.

If it were captured, Pando's advance might be cut off.