The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-08-31
DOCUMENT.
cong5assu;atory Farewell Address
From Spaniards.
ADDRESSED OUR SOLDIERS
The President Was Impressed by
the Remarkable Document
and Made il Public
at Once.
at Once.

\ document entirely unique in the
annals Of warfare was cabled last week
to the war department by Gen. Shafter.
1t is in the form Of congratulatory
farewell address Issued to the soldiers
of the American army by Pedro de
Castillo, private Spanish soldier, on
behalf Of 1000 Spanish soldiers. No
similar document perhaps was ever be-
fore issued to victorious army by a
vanquished enemy.
The President was much impressed
BY the address, and after reading it
carefully, authorized its publication.
Following is the text Of the address: as
cabled by Gen. Shafter:
Santiago, Aug. %, 1898.
H. c. Corbin, Adjutant General, U. S.
A.: Washington:
The following address has just been
received from the soldiers now en-
barking for Spain;
To Maj. Gen. Shafter, commanding the
American army in Cuba.
Sir: The Spanish soldiers who ca
pitulated in this place on the 18th Of
July last, recognizing your high and
just position, pray that through you
all the courageous and noble soldiers
under your command may receive our
good wishes and farewell which we send
them on embarking for our beloved
Spain. For this favor, which we have
no doubt you will grant, you will gain
the everlasting gratitude and considera-
tion of II, 900 Spanish soldiers who are
your most humble servants,
Pedro Lopez de Castillo,
Private Of Infantry.
Also the following letter addressed
to the soldiers of the American army:
Soldiers Of the American Army:
We would not be fulfilling our duty
as well-born men, in whose breasts
there live gratitute and courtesy, should
we embark for our beloved Spain with
out sending to you our most cordial and
sincere good wishes and farewell. We
fought you with ardor, with all Of our
strength, endeavoring to gain the VIC
tory, but without the slightest rancor
or hate toward the American nation.
We have been vanquished by you $50
our generals and chiefs judged in sign
ing the capitulation), but our surrender
and the bloody battles preceding it have
left in our souls no place for resentment
against the men who fought 50 nobly
and vnliantiy.
You fought and acted in compliance
with the same call Of duty as we, for we
all represent the power Of ourrespective
states. You fought US as men, face to
face, and with great courage, as before
stated, quality which we had uot met
with during the three years we have car
ried on this war against a people with
out religion, without morals, without
conscience and of doubtful origin, who
could not confront the enemy, but
hidden, spot their noble victims from
ambush and then Immediately fed.
This was the kind Of warfare we had to
sustain in this unfortunate land. You
have complied exactly with all the laws
and usages of war as recognized by the
armies Of the most civilized nations Of
the world; have given honorable burial
to the dead and the vanquished; have
cured their wounded with great human
ity; have respected and cared for your
prisoners and their comfort and to rs,
whose condition was terrible, you have
given freely of food, Of your stock Of
medicines and you have honored US
with distinction and courtesy, for, after
the fighting, the two armies mingled
with the greatest harmony. With this
high sentiment Of appreciation from US
all there remains but to express our
farewell, and with the greatestsincerity
we wish you all happiness and healthin
this land which no longer belong to our
dear Spain, but will be yours, who have
conquered by force and watered it with
your blood as your conscience called for
under the demand Of civilization and
humanity, but the descendants of the
Congo and the Guinea mingled with
the blood of unscrupulous Spanish and
Of traitors and adventurers; these peo-
pie are notable to exercise or enjoy
their liberty, for they 'will find it a
burden to comply with the laws which
govern civilized communities.
From II, 600 Spanish soldiers.
Pedro Lopez de Castillo,
Soldier Of Infantry.
Santiago de Cuba, Aug 21st, 1898.
Shafter,