The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-15
SHAFTER'S
REPORT.
The Michigan Soldier Tells Of
, the Fall Of Santiago.
PRAISE FOR HIS SOLDIERS.
Words Fail to Do Justice to the
Heroic Men,
GEN. MILES BARELY MENTIONED

Only Brief Paragraph Devoted to the
Commander Of the Army-The Work of
General Wheeler and Others Highly Ex-
tolled and Number of Officers Recon-
mended For Promotion, Including the
Multi-Millionaire, Lieutenant Colonel
John Jacob Astor.
. Washington, Sept 15.-General Shaf-
ter's report of the campaign which
terminated In the fall of Santiago has
been made public. He briefly recounts
the organization of the expedition and
ats embarkation and then devotes the
main body of the report to the active
operations about Santiago. General
Shafter says the expedition was un-
dertaken in compliance with telegraph
&c instructions Of May so from head
quarters Of the army. in which 1t was
stated:
Admiral Schley reports that two
cruisers and two torpedo boats have
been seen in the harbor of Santiago.
Go with your force to capture garrison
at Santiago and assist in capturing
harbor and fleet"
The report gives in detail the troops
assembled at Tampa. The cavalry was
dismounted because of lack of trans
portaton for the animals and because
dt was believed mounted cavalry could
not operate efficiently near SANTIAGO.
This. General Shafter says, was found
subsequently to be correct. After re-
citing the delay at Tampa due to in
adequate facilities, General Shafter
says that on June he received orders
to sail without delay, but not with less
than 10000 men. The expedition
sailed on June IA with S15 officers and
1902 men. General shafter briefly
covers the trip and landing, and his
first meeting with General Garcia.
adding:
During the interview General Gar
cia offered the services of his troops,
comprising about 1000 mon in the vi
cinity of Asseraderos and about 500,
under General Castillo, at the little
town of Cujababo, few miles east of
Daiquiri. ! accepted his offer, i'm
pressing 1t upon him that / could eXel-
else no military control over him ex-
Cept such as he would concede, and so
long as he served under me l would
furnish him with rations and ammuni-
tion."
After comforting with Admiral Samp-
son and General Garcia the plan Of
campaign was outlined by General
Shafter. The Decentralization was 10
ha at n,i rt !,
feints by the Cubans on Cabanns, and
by the navy at various shore points,
In order to mislead the enemy as to
fhe place Of landing.
~ u not until nearly two weeks
after the army landed that it was pos
sible to place on shore three days
supplies in excess OF those required for
the daily consumption.
''The preparations were far from
what desired them to be, but we we're
In sickly climate, our supplies had to
be brought forward by a narrow wagon
road which the rains might at any
time render impossible; fear was en-
tertained that storm might drive the
vessels containing our stores to sea,
thus separating us from our base Of
supplies, and lastly 1t was reported
that General Pando. with 5000 REIN
forcements for the enemy. was en- route
from Manzanillo and might be ex-
pected In few days. Under these con-
ditions I determined to give battle
without delay"
Then follows the story of the battles,
and the report continues:
''Great credit Is due to Brigadler
General H. S. Hawkins, who, placing
himself between his regiments, urged
them on by voice and bugle calls to
the attack so brilliantly executed.
TN this fierce encounter words fail
TO do Justice to the gallant regimental
commanders and their heroic men, for
while the generals indicated the for
nations and the points Of attack. it
was, after all. the intrepid bravery of
the subordinate officers and men that
planted our colOrs on the crest of San
Juan hill and drove the enemy from his
trenches and blockhouse, thus gain
ing position which sealed the fate of
Santiago.
Most efficient service was rendered
by Lieutenant John Fl. Parker, Thir-
teenth infantry. and the Gatling gun
uetucIlHlelll uHuer MS COl1lllldHu. Ha
6ghting continued at intervals until
nightfall, but our men held resolutely
to the position gained at the cost Of
80 much blood and toll.
II am greatly indebted to General
Wheeler, who returned from the sick
list to duty during the period. His
cheerfulness and aggressiveness made
1t sufficiently felt on this part of the
battlefield and the information he fur
nished to me at various stages of the
battle proved to be most useful
"The cessation of firing about noon
~On the Sd practically terminated the
battle Of Santiago. All that occurred.
after this time may properly be treated
under the head Of the siege which fol-
lowed. After deductins the detach-
mentsN retained at Slboney and Dali
Quiri and for other duties 1t is doubt
full if we had more than 1900 men on
the firing line on July /, when the
battle was fiercest and when the I'M
;portant and strong positions of Ell
Caney and San Juan were captured. A
few Cubans assisted in the attack at
'El Caney, and fought valiantly, but
their numbers were too small to ma
terlally change the strength as indi-
Gated above. The enemy confronted us
with numbers about equal to our own.
They fought obstinately in strong and
R.,k. AIn 10