Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-28
THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGNS.
IT'S extraordinary Dimcuities-Crixi.
After San Juan-Cubans Worthless.

ITS Extraordinary Dimcuities-Cri.i.
After San Juan-Cubans Worthless.
Copyright, 1885, by the Associated Press
correspondence of the Associated Press,
BEFORE SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July
lf.-Probably few European military
critics will appreciate the arduous nature
OF the campaign so successfully termi-
mated to-day by the surrender of all the
Spanish forces east Of Santiago and the
virtual abandonment of this province by
Spain. One word tells the story-roads.
The roads here are simply paths through
the dense tropical forest-paths along
which half a dozen ordinary ox-teams
haul numbering carts once a day in COM
paratively dry weather. There are no
bridges. and IN wet weather. when the
streams are raging torrents, these paths
are almost impossible to men on horse
back, and absolutely so to vehicles Of all
descriptions. Thus it was that all the
roads along which the troops were moved
had really to be built before single
wagon-train could get through. The
bridges thrown across the streams were
repeatedly swept away by high water.
Several times communication was almost
entirely interrupted, and the army had to
fall back on pack-trains. Indeed, the base
OF supplies was seriously threatened. 1t
has been fact that during the four days
before the surrender 1t was possible TO
get only one light battery of the six
brought by General Randolph TO the
front, while not single one Of the SIEGE
guns brought by General Shafter got be-
yond Siboney.
There is another vital difference In the
nature of the country itself. over the
fields of operation in the Austro -Prussian
war OF 1866 and the Franco-Prussian war
Of 1870 II was possible in almost every en-
gagement to manoeuvre an army corps
by platoons and battalions. Here the men
were obliged to advance in single hle INTO
the open, and at the famous assault on
San Juan hill one column marched out OF
the road into the open in the face OF a
murderous artillery and rife fire from the
Spanish trenches, and deployed for the
charge on open ground. No finer exhibi-
ton of nerve could be required OF SOL
dier than that charge across 400 yards OF
omen territory against an enemy en-
trenched upon the crest OF hill. But
our men never tiinched.
ASSAULT NOT CONTEMPLATED.
AS a matter of fact, 1t Is one OF the un-
written secrets of the battle OF July ISL,
that the plans made the night previous did
not contemplate an assault upon the
works of the enemy before Santiago. TWO
divisions, those Of General Wheeler ana
General Kent. were to remain In column
4 n,ott 100 n
General I.awton, whose division was to
assault FL Caney, on the extreme right,
while Grimes's Battery made a diversion
on the left But when the Spanish guns
hogan to drop shrapnel shells over the
road on which our column rested, and
when word came that General Lawton
was successful at FL Caney, 1t became
necessary for Wheeler's and kents divi-
sions either to advance, retreat or re-
main ouiet under the storm OF shell that
was bursting over their heads. In these
IL was less dangerous TO
advance and charge the enemys works
than to stay where they were, ana with
a general impulse to get where tney couid
return the enemy's fire, the advance regi-
Sixth and Sixteenth infantry
moved out The others followed.
There is q question whether any spe-
clfic general command to charge was ever
given Regimental and company COM |
manders simply led their way herolcally |
forward lid the hill. The hill was taken. |
the American flag planted on its crest, |
and the enemy driven pell-mell into his |
inner line Of entrenchments, beyond.
Our men were too much exhausted 10 |
follow I'D their victory, though 1t has
since been asserted that had the pursuit
been continued that afternoon the de-
Spanish would have surrender
ed that night.
WHEELER URGED TO WITHDRAW.
Go terrific had been the slaughter OF
our men. 80 per cent. OF whom were then
under fire for the first time. that the /
foct ,s though comparatively few knew /
n ON that. the night OF July lst, officers
~ high rank. brave soldiers. too. went
IN General Wheeler. who was In COM
nand at the front General Shafter being |
still aboard his ship, and appealed to him
IN withdraw. They expected an awful
disaster to our arms II we attempted 10
hold the position we had earned so dear
". But the intrepid old cavalry leader
II the Confederacy said NO He spoke
words TO those who came with
lire forebodings. I'VE are IN an un-
posiuoh' nc Sai" u"l tho
,naniards are more uncomfortable than
we we Pass that word down the line"
General Wheeler even sent back dis
,atch 10 General Shafter telling him OF
no pressure that was being brought 10
,ear upon him. Il presume the same
nfiuences are being brought TO bear on
on" he wrote I'm effect; but IL will not
10. American prestige would suffer ire
rievaby IL we gave in an inch. We must
'e firm.
CUBANs A DISAPPoiNTMENT.
The Cubans have proved sorry ais-
nnointmeut throughout this campaign.
ven 20 their warmest friends. They
ave been everywhere except where the
a tile ragged. but their chief and favorite
tation has been near the commissary
apartment. So persistentiy have they
ung about the supply station that they
ave come to be known and described u