The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-15
NO UNNECESSARY SUFFERING
SICK AND WOUNDED WE'RE GIVEN
ALL POSSIBLE ATTENTION,
And Troops on the Firing Line Had
Impassable ROads--Brave officers.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-General Shaf-
ters report of the campaign which termi-
mated in the fall of Santiago has been made
public. He briefly recounts the organiza-
tion of the expedition and its embarkation,
and then devotes the main body of the re-
port to the active operations about San
tiago. General Shafter says the expedition
was undertaken in compliance with tele-
graphic instructions of May 30 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 as
sembled at Tampa. The cavalry was Gis-
mounted because of lack of transportation
for the animals and because it was believed
mounted cavalry could not operate eff
ciently near Santiago. This General Shat
ter says, was found subsequently to be cor
rect. After reciting the delay at Tampa,
due to inadequate facilities, General Shaf-
ter says that on June he received orders
to sail without delay, but not with less than
/
had already reached the lower bay, tele-
graphic instructions were received from the
secretary Of war directing that the sailing
of the expedition be delayed waiting fur
ther orders. This delay was occasioned by
the navy reporting that Spanish war YES
sci had been sighted in the Nicholas chan
mel The ships in the lower bay were i'm
mediately recalled The expedition sailed
on June IA, with S15 officers end 16,072 men.
General Shafter briefly covers the trip and
landing and his first meeting with General
Garcia, adding:
During the interview General Garcia Of
fered the services of his troops, comprising
about 1000 men in the vicinity of Acerra-
deros and about five hundred under General
Castillo at the little town of Cujababo.
few miles east of Baiquiri. I accepted his
offer, impressing it on him that I could ex-
ercise no military ccntrol over him except
such as he would concede, and as long as
he served under me 1 would furnish him
rations and ammunition"
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
After comforting with Admiral Sampson
and General Garcia the plan of campaign
was outlined by General Shafter. The dis
embarkation was to commence the 22d
at Baiquiri, with feints by the Cubans
Cabanis, and by the navy various short
points in order to mislead the enemy as to
the place of landing. General Shafter says:
'These movements committed me to ap-
preaching Santiago from the east over a
narrow road at first in some places not
better than a trail, running from Baiquiri
through Sboney and Sevlla, and making
attack from that quarter. This. in my
judgment, was the only feasible plan, and
subsequent information and results con-
frmed my judgment"
Of the early operations and the skirmish
in which the Rough Riders participated the
report says: General Young's brigade
passed beyond Lawton on the night Of the
23d-24th, thus taking the advance. and on
the morning Of the latter date became en-
gagged with a Spanish force intrenched in
a strong position at La Quasima, point
on the Santiago road about three miles
from Siboney. General Young's force con-
sisted Of one squadron of the First Cavalry
one of the Tenth Cavalry and two of the
First United States Volunteer Cavalry, in
all 964 officers and men. The enemy made
an obstinate resistance, but were driven
from the field with considerable loss. Our
own loss was one officer and fifteen men
killed. six officers and forty-six men wound
ed. The reported losses of the Spaniards
were nine killed and twenty-seven wounded.
The engagement had an inspiring effect
upon our men, and, doubtless correspond
ingly depressed the enemy, as it was now
plainly demonstrated to them that they had
a foe to meet who would advance upon
them under a heavy fire delivered from in
trenchments. General Wheeler, division
commander. was present during the engage
ment, and reports that our troops, officers
and men, fought with the greatest gall
IaC pno inf ne
watered country farther to the front on
which to encamp our troops"
The report continues: 1T was not until
nearly two weeks after the army landed
that it was possible to place on shore three
days supplies in excess of those required
for the daily consumption. on June
30 1 reconnoitered the country about San
tiago and made my plan of attack. From
a high hill from which the city was in
plain view. 1 could see the San Juan hill
and the country about FL Caney. The roads
were very poor and, indeed, little better
than bride paths until the San Juan river
and FL Caney were reached"
PLAN OF BATTLE.
General Shafter explained, at a meeting
of generals, his plan of battle as follows:
"Lawton's division. assisted by Caprons
light battery, was ordered TO move out dur
ing the afternoon toward I'll Caney, to be-
gin the attack there early the next morn
ing. After carrying Ell Caney, Lawton was
to move by the Caney road toward San
tiago and take position on the right of the
line Wheeler's division of dismounteu cav
airy and Kents division of infantry were
directed on the Santiago road. the head of
the column resting near Ell Pozo, toward
which heights Grmes's battery moved on
the afternoon of the Both, with orders TO
take position thereon early the next morn
ing, and at the proper time prepare the