Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-10-13

wheeler was LQS CulGL WILuGoS eA-
amined by the war investigating COM
mission Tuesday. The veteran war
rior under oath gave some interesting
testimony. Gen. Wheeler stated that
he left Tampa for Cuba June IA, but
that he had no knowledge OF the plan
of campaign before going aboard the
transport. He then told of the Voy-
age. On June q Gen. Shafter ordered
him to disembark the next day, which
he did with portion OF his command.
He rode into the country four miles
that day and the next moved his
troops to Jaguaracita. He told Of the
first battle at La Quasima. Speaking
of the proceedings after the first bat
tie, he explained that he had been re-
ported sick and there was some
movements just prior to the battle at
Ell Caney with which he was not
familiar.
Il was not sick" he said, but | had
been on the 10th and Goth. Still had
not gone on the sick list. l had
fever, but | appreciated the situation,
took medicine and came out all right"
and expressed his opinion that more
men had been killed in the formation
of the line than afterWard. He told
of the necessity of Wading the San
juan river, saying that the water was
about waist deep.
Il ought to say that it was magniti-
cent to see officers OF high rank ashore
witt Chelr packs on their backs &C
cepting all the fortunes of war with
their men. They slept on the ground
with the soldiers. None of us were
mounted and we were without tents
for several days"
The rains had not been very severe
up to that time. &c roads were mar
row, but equal to the demands. The
supplies, he considered sufficient eX-
cept in a few instances and in those
instances the deficiency was only tenn
pCrary. Gen. Shafter," he said, de
serves great credit for the zeal he dis
played in this respect. He devoted
himself to this task, and l think there
is no doubt that he succeed. We used
pack trains and there was compare
lively little suffering because of the
shortness of quartermaster's sup
plies"
Gen. Wheeler said in response to a
question that Ceryeras fleet was the
objective of the campaign. There was
no reason why the Spanish troops
should not have made d SOrtie from
Santiago and he had asked Gen. Toral
after the surrender why he had not at
tackled. The latter replied that the
failure to do SO was because his men
were foot-sore. Yet Gen. Wheeler
could not accept this objection for the
Spanish soldiers were not foot-sore.
Gen. Wheelers opinion was that the
Spanish commander was not able to
face the Americans in the open.
After recess the general devoted
his testimony chiefly to his experience
at Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point. The
president, on giving him command
there, had ordered him to spare no
pains or expense to make the men
comfortable. He made an eXamina-
ton of the camp and found it neces-
sary to undertake much preparation
to care for the men properly, to bore
wells, lay water pipes, build laundries
and disinfecting plants, set floors for
tents, erect hospitals, etc The sur
geons at the presidents request made
list of special articles to be pur-
chased for the sick. The list included
fish, ice, canned peas, prunes, soups,
pickles, lemons, oranges, eggs, tea,
milk and many other articles in addi-
ton to the regular rations. Good
hospitals were erected but there was
a scarcity of nurses. He Immediately
wired for nurses and within five or six
days there was an abundance. He
summoned the surgeons for a consul
tation each morning, and would order
Immediately by wire any article need
ed Visiting ladies made frequent
complaints to him Of specific cases, in
which sick men were not properly
cared for, but he found upon investi-
cation in each case that the physicians
said the ladies were mistaken.
Returning to the Santiago campaign
20 said that only two regiments had
reported a shortage of rations, and he
had Immediately telephoned to the
rear and the shortage which was due
to accident had been adjusted. There
was suffering when the men were
compelled to lie on the breastworks
The spirit of the army was such, he
said, that there was no disposition to
complain. They were all proud to be
there and willing to undergo hard
ships"
Replying to a question Of Col. Den
by. Gen. Wheeler said the regulars
had shown greater ability to take
care Of themselves than the volun-
teers.
The meat was poor and they had nc
bread, but bareback. They were
forced to live in the sun and water
alternately and necessarily there was
much sickness. While they had the
full quota of doctors and nurses he
thought that if more had been fur.
nished the men would have been bet.
ter cared for. AS for rations, three
days supply was generally issued
Whenever the troops went into actor
they would throw their food away a:
we'll as their packs and they often die
not recover them.
Gen. Wheeler revealed the fact tina
he had felt somewhat hurt that hi!
command had been the fourth ordered
to land when he thought his rank en-
titled him to the first landing. Gen
Shafter had given the order whicl
thus affected him
Speaking Of the sleeping apartment