The record-union., 1898-08-22

food to the army, which, being extended
to the right around Santiago, increased
the distance from the coast every day
and made the task more difficult.
However the results and the subse-
quent sickness that has broken out in
the army showed the great wisdom Of
General Shafter in moving forward to
make an attack while his men were in
vigor. 1t was a movement bordering
on audacity, but it succeeded, and the
persistence of the attack, l have no
doubt, greatly disheartened the Span
iards. The result was one of the great
est victories for the men engaged of
modern warfare. The number of pris-
oners taken exceeded the attacking
force by nearly two to one. When yell
low fever broke out and the fever list
increased into the thousands, it was for
a time supposed that it was principally
yellow fever. The bringing of troops
north at once after the surrender, un-
der such conditions would have been
certain death to a vast number, but up
on inquiry it was ascertained that a
very few of these cases comparatively
We're yellow fever, when it was at once
decided to bring the army home as
speedily as possible. Everything that
human ingenuity could devise has been
done to succor the army, not the inge
nuity of the Secretary of War but the
result of the combined council of those
who have hal lifelong experience in
the field. Some men have been neglect
ed en- transports coming home there
is no doubt, all against positive orders,
due perhaps to carelessnesS and negli-
gence, but largely on account of not
having the medical fof ce to spare
(many of whom were sick) from the
camp ait Santiago. Many medical Off
GERS sent with the transports We're
taken i'll on the way home. To give
you a little idea of the work that has
been done, append the following:
The work of the Adjutant Generals
Department has been to muster and or
der to their stations, to be precise. 21O,-
400 volunteers and 24,900 of the reg
ular army. This, with reduced force.
as many Of the staff officers from all
the departments had been promoted
and ordered to the field. The chief Of
engineers reports an expenditure of
So,S3O,G00 for harbor defenses, building
emplacements for heavy guns, mortar
batteries and mines.
The Surgeon General has had the
foremost work of fitting up hospitals,
organizing the medical corps, employ
ing male and female nurses, contract
surgeons, being surgeons who are EN-,
ployed in civil life: besides those
commissioned as corps, division and
brigade surgeons, furnishing medical
supplies, and answering demands from
all over the country, and at camps at
Santiago, Porto Rico and Manila. The
work done in this line is almost beyond
comprehension. The Commissary Cen
eral had purchased and distributed up
to August 1st, 110907 ,245 pounds of
ratlons which have been TRANSPORTED
and distributed to all armies in the
field here and at Santiago, Porto Rico
and Manila, besides the large quantity
distributed among the destitute Cubans
The Quartermaster Geners sa's report is
too long to even give an approximate
idea OF his work in the way of trans
portation. To Honolulu, Manila, Santiago
and Porto Rico, and return home there
have been sent 80, ,63S men with mill
tary equipment and supplies. BY train
IN this country there have been trans
ported 300 officers, 233. 1862 enlisted
men, also 5S2 animals. besides thous-
ands of wagons, artillery and other
quartermasters commisary ordnance
ordnance and signal service stores.
The total number of articles of clothing
and camp equipments distributed to the
army by the Quartermaster's Depart
ment has been 6,214, 1856, of which | can
mention a few articles, as follows:
Blankets 2SS, 139; blouses 2S3. .762
trousers 406, ,423 hats 334, JOG, canvas
field uniforms $1,000, shoes 5I1.37S
pairs, undershirts 736, $50, tents 49,
142 ETC., etc.
The total weight of food and forage
distributed daily to the army is ap-
proximately 800 tons Added to this is
the large fleet of transports chartered
and purchased, the management of the
same IN conveying troops, supplies and
ammunition. The Paymaster has
promptly paid the army, and is deserv-
ing OF very great credit for his work.
Inc signal corps has provided most
elhcient service, furnishing cable. tele-
graph, telephone and signal service to
the different commands in the field
IL You had a day or two to SPARE
would like TO sandwich in a little work
Tor you | would like to send YOU these
statements in detail which T think
would bewiider you if anything can.
sincerely yours, r. A. ALGER.