New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-15
HOW SANTIAGO WAS TAKEN.
GENERAL SHAFTER's OFFICIAL REPORT
MADE PUBLIC.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHTING AND
THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY
THE AMEPrCAN -TE0OPS

THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED EY
THE AMERICAN Troops.
Washington Sept, 1l-General Skaters re-
port of the campaign which ended in the fall of
Santiago has been made public He briefly re-
counts the organization Of the expedition and its
embarkation ard then devo,es the main body
of the report to the active operations about SAN
tiogo General shafter says that the expedition
was undertaken IN compliance with Geographic
instructions Of May 30 from headquarters OF the
Army. In which il said
Admiral schley reports thar two cruisers and
TWO torpedo-hoats have been seen in the barber or
1 Santiago Go with your force 20 capture garrison
al Santiago and assist IN capturing harbor and
feet.
The report gives in detail the troops as
sembed at Tampa. The cavalry was dis
mounted because Of lack Of transportation for
the animals and because II was believed that
mounted cavalry could not operate efficiently
near Santiago This General Shafter says was
found to be correct After recing the delay at
! Tampa. due 10 inadequate facilities General
Shafter says that on June : he received orders
TO sail without delay bur not with less than
! ten thousand men. After some OF the transports
/ had reached the lower hay teegraphic IN
| structions were received from the Secretary OF
| War directing that the sailing Of the expedition
| be delayed. waiting further orders This delay
was occasioned by the Navy reporting that
Spanish war vessel had been sighted in tho
! Nicolas Channel The ships in the lower bay
/ were Immediately recalled The expedition
sailed on June IA, with 80 officers and 16.O'l
men General shafter briefly describes the trip
and landing and his first meeting with General
Garcia. adding.
During the interview General Garcia offered the
| npriSt ahOuf
sand men in the vicinity OF Asseraderos and about
five hundred. under General Castillo. at the little
town Of Cujsbabo. few miles east OF Baiquif,
accepted his offer. impressing IL upon him that
could exercise military control over him except
such he would conccde. and as long as ne
served under me I would furnish him ratons and
ammunition
After conferring with Admiral Sampson ana
General Garcia. the plan Of campaign was OUT
lined by General Shatter The Decentralization
10 begin on June % al Daiquri. with fe'nts
by the Cubans on Cabanas and by the Navy AZ
! various shore points in order 70 mislead me
/ enemy the place Of landing.
These movements" General Shafter says.
! committed me 70 approaching Santiago from
the q narrow road. at first In some
places not better than trail. running from
| Daiquiri through Siboney and Seva. and maxi
ing an attack from that quarter. This in my
sequent information and results confirmed my
Judgment"
THE EARLY OPERATIONS
OF tie early operations and the skirmish h
which the Rough Riders took part. tha report
| saYs
General Young's brigade passed beyond Lawton
on the night Of the 22d-2ith. thus taking the sd-
vance and on the morning Of the latter date be-
cam engaged with Spanish force intrenched IN
strong position Al La Quasina. point on the
! Santiago road about three miles from si9oney
! General Youngs force consisted Of one squadron
! OF the lst Cavalry ore OF the 10Th Cavalry and
two Of the lst United States Volunteer Cavalry
/ in all. 964 officers and The enemy made an
obstinate resistance. but driven from ;he field
with considerable loss Our own loss was ,i officer
ard Is men killed officers ard IS men wounded.
The reported losses OF the Spaniards were killed
and q wounded The engagement had an inspir-
ing effect upon men, and doubtless correspond
! ingy depressed the enemy As l. was now plainly
! demonstrated 10 them that they had a foe 70 meet
! Vho would advance upon them under heavy
fire delivered from intrenchments. General wheel
! Ell division commander present during the
| engagemenr. ard reports that our troops officers
| AMI men, fought With the greatest gallartry This
! engagement gave Us a wsll-watered country fur-
thor 10 the front Oh which TO encamp our troops.
The report continues
It was not until nearly TWO weeks after the
pbSSlv.c
three DAYS supplies Of those required for
| the daily consumption.
on June 81 reconroitred the country about SAN
tiago and made my plan Of attack From high
| hill from which the city was in plain view could
! see the San Juan Hill and the country about FL
! CAncy The roads very poor. and, indeed.
little better than bride-paths. until the San Juan
River and FL caney were reached
THE BATTLE OF Ell CANET
General Shafter explained his plan Of battle at
a meeting OF Generals as follows
Iavton's division assisted by Caprons light bat
to,v was ordered 20 move during the after
noon toward Fl Caney. 10 begin the attack there
carly the next morning After carrying FL Caney
Lawton was TO move By the Caney road toward
Santiago and take nos tion on the right OF the
line Wheeler's division of d.smounted cavalry ard
Ken,s division of infantry were erected on tno
Santiago road the head OF the column resting
near FL Poso, toward which heights Griniess pat
terry moved on the afternoon OF the oOth with or
ders 10 take position there early the ne"' morning
and al the proper time prepare the way for tho
advance of Wheeler and Kent on SAN Juan Hi.
The attack al this point 10 be delayed until
Iawtons guns were heard al I'll Caney and his
infantry fire showed ne had become well engaged
The preparations were far from what desired
them 10 be but We in a slckly climate. our
sunn,es had TO be brought forward by narrow
wagon road which the rains might NJ any time
render impossible, fear was entertained that a
storm might drive the vessels containing our stores
10 sea thus separating US from our base Of sup
plies and. lastly. IL was reported that General
Pando with eight thousand re!nforcements for tho
enemy was en- route from Nanzan.llo, and might
be expected in a few days Under these conditions
determined 70 give battle without delay.
Early on the morning Of July Lawton was In
position around FL Carey ChaIes brigade on the
right across the Guantanamo road, Miless brit
gade in the centre and Ludlow's the left. The
duty Of cutting of the enemys retreat along the
Santiago road was assigned TO the latter brigade.