Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-18
Shafter information of the territory In the
neighborhood of Santiago.
CHARLES M. PEPPER.

Shafter information of the territory In the
neighborhood of Santiago
CHARLES M. PEPPER.
AFTER THE BATTLE.
Some of the Sterling Qualities of the
American Soldier.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
Copyright. 1893, by Charles NJ. Pepper.)
SANTIAGO OUTWORKS, July H. 1893.
Campaigning in foreign country Is
bringing out the qualities Of the American
soldier. They are sterling. The traits that
have heretofore commanded admiration
have been brought out in a strong light
and new ones have been developed From
the time of the landing at Daiquiri and ST.
honey their qualities of endurance have
been put to the test. They have been hun
cry. Most of them were started on the
march from the seacoast toward Santiago
before the commissary department was in
working order. Rations for three days, in
many Instances, consisted of a few hard
tack. 1t is said the appetite for these
crackers is cultivated one. Cases of spon-
taneous liking for them are rare. With
bacon they make fair meal, but on the
first marches the bacon was lacking. There
was nothing in the country on which to
forage. Nevertheless they made out the
best they could, not uncomplainingly, be-
cause to the soldier the privilege of grum-
bling is one Of the compensations for hard
ship. But by it's free exercise they went
through the first days of the campaign,
and when the regular supply of rations
vas received they displayed a bountiful
hospitality.
Hard Work to Keep Dry.
1 have seen stacks of pamphlets, sugges-
tons and hints to the soldiers about the
best way of preserving their health while
in Cuba. Since they were to be here during
the rainy season the Importance Of keep
ing dry was impressed upon them. Keep
ing dry is no easy matter, but when in
camp 1t is possible to crawl in the shelter
tents, and with the corner Of rubber
blanket wait until the sun comes out and
dries the grass. That is matter for the
individual. On the march it Is different. 1t
Is a pity that in all the elaborate instruc
tons and suggestions about health the i'm
portance of keeping the men dry was not
made plain to commanding officers. This
mountainous country is cut up by beds of
creeks and streams. Though dry at some
time during the day they are certain to be
filled after the daily rain. In a single
march half-a-doZen of them may need to be
waded. 1t would be the simplest thing in
the world to fell tree at each one and let
the troops pass over dry shod. l have not
yet seen this done. Instead they have been
compelled to wade the swollen creeks and
to endure serious discomfort, which also
taxed their physical energies. / do not
know just what the share of the engineer
ing corps is in this war, but presumably
bridge building is part of it. While throw
ing a log across a creek may not involve
any profound problem of military engineer
ing it could have been done with great ad-
vantage in the present campaign. No one
from the commanding general down to the
staff officers seems to have thought of SO
plain a proposition.
Lessons of the First Days Fight.
These are minor annoyances, forgotten
in the actual battle. 1t was there that the
most splendid heroism was shown. Here,
in the presence of it all, we are just be-
ginning TO realize what the troops faced
in the fighting, which began the morning
of July 1 and continued for two days A
thousand wounded men in the field hos
number is not yet known, for the roll call
of the missing has not been taken. We
know now that the Spaniards were In
trenched far more strongly than the re-
ports indicated; that the American infan-
try took positions by storm which should
have been left to the artillery, though
month longer had been required to mount
the heavy siege guns. We know also that
the SDaniards from their Qualifications in
Santiago had the correct range and that
smokeless powder enabled them to keep
dropping shells from two batteries which
could not be located. 1t was under this
dripping shrapnel that some Of the most
gallant advances were made by Kent and
Wheelers divisions. 1t is more than a CO.
incidence that two irresistible assaults of
similar character carried the outlying
defenses of Santiago. One was beyond
Poso, on the extreme left, when Hawkins
brigade carried the blockhouse San Juan,
which covered the outer intrenchment at
Santiago. The other was at Capey, when
the regiments of Lawton's division carried
the stone fort and with 1t all the out
lying defenses in that direction. 1t was
these two assaults that caused the heaviest
losses in dead and wounded that Friday
but the sides of the triangle of which
Santiago Is the point and Poso and Caney
the extremes were open lane Of death
that came IL hidden form and oftenest
from unseen foes Saturday the fighting
tween Poso and Santiago. Some damage
was done by the Spanish artillery and by
their sharpshooters but 1t was not great
In comparison with the previous day The
lines of the American troops had been
drawn in from Caney. with Poso as the
center, and extending west toward Aqua
dores. Though in the morning the guns
were obliged to shift their ground, ulti-
mately a strong position, commanding the
Santiago Notifications, was obtained. The
Spanish firing was mainly on the right flank
and was repulsed. At night when the Span
ish troops left their intrenchments and tried
a fnak movement they were badly cut UP
and suffered heavy losses. Sunday morning
there was only desultory firing when Gen.
Shafter sent the white flag into the city
demanding its surrender. Then the news
came that Admiral Sampson had destroyed
the Spanish fleet. At this writing the only
question is whether the destruction has
satisfied the Spanish authorities that they
must yield the city or whether final as
sault must be made on its intrenchments
by the land forces.
The Gallant 18th Infantry.
II such an assault has to come probably
v1yil M ho,