Evening star., 1898-11-11

great skill fortitude and tenacity, with re-
suits which have hddeh a new chapter of
glopy e To- TO their cpuntry's history. Even
Wnen their own generals I'm several cases
were temporarily disabled the troops fought
On with the same heroic spirit until sue
cess was finally achieved In many in
stances the offieefs placed themselves in
front of their con9manas and under their
direct and skilifu1; leadership the trained
troops of braFeaarInv were driven from
the thickets and jlingies of an almost mac
troops e open fled the
carried and captuGed fortified works with
an UNSURPASSED daring and disregard OF
death By gaining Commanding ground
able for the Spsais ish feet, and practically
drove IT out to speedy destruction by the
American navy. a. 4
While enduring the h.trdships and priva-,
ously shared their scanty food with, the
6,no cuban patriots In arms and the suf
fering people who had fled from the be-
s1esed city. With the twenty-four regi-
ments and four batteries, the flower of the
United States army were also three volun-
teer regiments. These, though unskilled in
warfare. yet inspired with the same spirit,
contributed to the victory. suffered hard
ships and made sacrifices with the rest.
Where all did so we'll 1t is impossible. by
special mention, to do justice to those who
bore conspicuous part. But Of certain un-
usual features mention cannot be omitted.
and storming works as infantry, and reg
iment of coiored troops, who having shared
equally in the heroism as well as the sac
rinces, is now voluntarily engaged In Eurs-
Ing yei1eW fever patients and buryfng- the
dead. The gallantry patriotism and sac
rifices of the American army. as illustrated
In this brief campaign. will be fully appre-
ciated by a grateful country. and the he
roic deeds of those who have fought and
fallen in the cause of freedom will ever be
cherished in sacred memory and be an in
spiration to the living.
By command of Mai Gen. Miles:
j. C. GILMORE.
Brigadier General United States Vols.
The Porto Rico Campaign.
II was anxious to proceed as quickly as
possible to the Island of Porto Rico, and so
telegraphed the authorities in Washington.
After some delay authority was granted,
and 1 started from Guantanamo on July
p with 3,415 infantry and artillery, to-
gether with two companies of engineers
and one company of the Signal Corps, on
nine transports. conveyed by Captain Hlg-
ginson's fleet, consisting of the battle ship
Massachusetts fagship) and two smaller
vessels. The Yale and Columbia were
armed ships, but being loaded with troops.
transports. The above number includes the
men who were sick. of which there were
nearly a hundred which reduced our efec-
tive force to about $500 men, and with
Porto Rico at that time occupied by S,233
Spanish regulars and 9.1O7 volunteers.
For several days / had been anXiously
looking for the arrival Of tugs. launches
and lighters that had been ordered from
Santiago, Washington and Tampa, but
none arrived prior to our departure, al
though l still hoped to meet them as we
moved north through the WfndWard pas
sage. AS all cabegrams concerning our
landing place had passed over foreign ca
bles. and as it was important to deceive
the enemy (whO l afterward learned. were
marching to and intrenching the ground
we were expected to occupy, at the very
time We were taking possession of the
southern coast of Porto Rico), and nom
ton of successfully disembarking the
command became somewhat serious; and,
after all hope of receiving any appliances
of this kind had disappeared, 1 considered
the advisability Of finding a safe harbor
and capturing necessary appliances from
the enemy. 1 therefore wrote the follow
ing letter to Captain Higginson while at
sea.
ON BOARD L. S. S. YALE.
En- route to Porto Rico, July o. 1898.
Sir: Our objective point has been Port
Fajardo or Cape San Juan, but so much
time has occurred since. the movement was
decided in that direction and such pub
licity has been given the enterprise that
the enemy has undoubtedly, become ap-
prised of our purpose. While it Is advisa-
bic to make a demonstration near the har
bor of San Juan near Port Fajardo, or
Port Figueroa, | am not decided to the
advisablity of landingbat either of these
places, as we may find them well occupied
by strong Spanish, forces. If we draw
them to that vicinity, we might find it
judicious to quickly nave to Porto Guani-
ca, where there Is deep water near the
facilities for landing. We can move from
Cape San Juan to that point in twelve
hours Zone night, and it would be impossi
BILE for the Spanish to concentrate their
hafOrp
l am also informed that there are a large
number of strong lighters in the harbors at
Ponce and Guanica, as well as several sail
ing vessels, which would be useful AS 1T is
always advisable not to do what your enemy
expects you to do, think it advisable, af-
ter going around the northeast corner of
Porto Rico to go Immediately to Guanica
and land this force and move on Ponce,
which is the largest city in Porto Rico.
After, or before, this is accomplished We
will receive large relnforcements, which
will enable US to move in any direction or
occupy any portion of the Island of Porto
Rico.
Your strong vessels can cover our landing
and capture any vessels in the harbor of
Ponce Guanica, or the ports on the south
ern coast; one light vessel remain at
Cape San Juan to notify transports that
will arrive where We have landed, and an
other could scout off the northwest corner
of Porto Rico to intercept others and di
rect them where to find us. Very respect
fully, NELSON A. MILES,
Major General, CoLl!nd!iuins Z. .. ATlny.
Capt Francis J. Higginson, Commanding
United States Naval Convoy.
THE following messages will further eX-
plain the circumstances and the final deci-
sion to change our course:
(Flag message for Capt. Higginson)
Headquarters of the Army,
On Board U. S. S. Yale, July "a, 1898
Cen Miles desires, If possible, you send
in advance any naval vessel you can spare
to the Port Guanica, reported to be without
fortifications or torpedoes. If secured, hold
and report quickly to US, Cape San Juan.
1t is more important to land at Guanica
than at Cape San Juan. If we can land
there, he has troops enough to take the
harbor of Ponce and let your fleet into that
port.
Possibly all of this can be accomplished
by going by the south side Can send Capt.
Whitney, who was at Ponce in June, to
YOU if desired. Answer.
(Signal from Massachusetts,, July a, 1881