The times., 1898-09-15
would furnish him rations and ammuni-


ton.
Ever since the receipt of my orders I
had made a study of the terrain sur
rounding Santiago. gathering information
mainly from former residents of the city,
several of whom were on the transports
with me. At this interview all the possi-
BILE points of attack were for the last
time carefully weighed, and then, for
the information and guidance of Admiral
Sampson and Gen. Garcia, i outlined the
plan OF campaign, which was as follows:
With the assistance of the small boats
of the navy, the Decentralization was to
commence on the morning of the 22d at
Daiquiri; on the 2lst 500 insurgent troops
were to be transferred from Aserraderos
to Cujababo, increasing the force already
there to ], 600 men. This force, under
Gen. Castillo, was to attack the Spanish
force at Daiquiri in the rear at the time
of Decentralization. This movement was
successfully made. To mislead the enemy
as to the real point of our intended land
ing, l requested Gen. Garcia to send a
small force tabout 500 mem, under Gen.
Rabi, to attack the little town of Caba-
mis-, situated on the coast a few miles
to the west of the entrance to Santiago
Harbor. and where ii was reported the
enemy had several thousand men in
trenched, and from which trail leads
around the west side of the bay to San
tiago.
/ I also requested Admiral Sampson to
send several of his warships, with a num-
Der of my transports, opposite this town
for the purpose of making a show of dis
+ embarkins there.
/ In addition. l asked the admiral to
cause a bombardment to be made at
Cabanis, and also at the forts around
the MORO and at the towns of Aqua
dOres. Siboney and Daiquiri. The troops
under Gen. Garcia remaining at Aserra-
deros were to be transferred TO Daiquri
or Siboney on the 24th. This was sue
cessfully accomplished at Siboney.
These movements committed me to ap-
preaching Santiago from the east over
narrow road, at first in some places not
better than a trail running from Dali
Guiri through Siboney and Sevilla, and
making attack from that quarter. This,
my judgment, was the only feasible
plan, and subsequent information and
results confirmed my judgment.
On the morning of the 22d the army
commenced to disembark at Daiquiri.
The following general order indicates the
manner-in-wnich the troops left the
transports and the amount of supplies
carried Immediately with them:
sf-- General Orders No. Isl
4 Headquarters Fifth Amy Corps,
On board S. 5. SeguEanca,
At Sea, June 20, 1895.
I Extract
I l. Under instructions TO be communicated TO
the proper commanders troops viii disombArk in
the following order:
First. The Second Division, Fifth Army Corps
Q-awton's)- The Gatling gun detachment will
accompany this division
Second. Gen. Bates's brigade. This brigade
/ will form Us reserve to the Second Division,
/ Fifth Corps.
Fourth The First Division, Fifth Corps
/ (htnt's)
Fifth The squadron of the Second Cavalry
! Sixth II the enemy, in force vigorously re-
ssts the landing, the light artillery, or part
I OF it, viii be disembarked by the battalion clm>
mander and brought To the assistance Of the
troops engaged. Ii serious opposition be Of
fered this artillery will be unlcaded after the
mounted squadron
, All troops Will carry the pers the
/ blanket roll with shelter tent and poncho),
three DAYS field rations with coffee groundJ.
canteens filed and 100 rounds of ammunition
per man. Additional ammunition, already Is
Z sued TO the troops. tentage, baggage, and COM
pany cCOf ing utensils viii be left under charge
4 cf the regimental quarteImaster, with one non
commissioned officer and two privates from each
company.
3 All persons not Immediately duty with,
! and constituting a pat OF, the organizations
mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs viii re-
I main aboard ship until the landing be accom-
plished, and until notihed they can land.
will control all small boats and will distribute
them to the best advantage TO disembark the
troops in the order indicated in paragraph !.
5. The ordnance ofticer-SecCnd Lieut.. Brooke
Fourth Infantry-will put on shore at once l0l
rounds of ammunition per man, and have IL
ready for distribution the firing line.
6. The commanding general wishes TO impress
officers and men with the crushing effect we'll
directed fire will lave upon the Spanish troops
All officers concerned will rigidly enforce IRE
discipline and will caution their men 10 fire
only when they. can see the enemy
By command of Maj. Cen shafter:
E. J. McCLERNAND,
Assistant Adjutant General.
The small boats belonging to the navy
and the transports, together with mum
Der of steam launches furnished by th'
Navy. were brought alongside and loaded
with troops, as prescribed IN the ofdel
lust quoted When Gen. Lawtons divi
sion was fairly loaded in the small boat!
the latter were towed in long lines by th'
{ steam launches toward the shore. Int
sea was somewhat rough, but by the eX
ercise of caution and good judgment tn
beach was reached and the troops disem
barked satisfactorily. AS precauto!
against a possible attack upon the par
OF any Spaniards who might have beel
hidden in the adjacent blockhouses ant
woods, the navy opened a furious can
nonade on these places while the troop
were moving toward the shore 1t wa
learned afterwards that the Spanish gar
rison had retired in the direction of 81
honey soon after daylight. BY nigh
about 5000 troops were on shore. Gen
Lawton was ordered to push down
{ strong force to seize and hold Siboney.
On the 23d the Decentralization was con
5 tinued and about 5000 more men landed
Early on this date Gen. Lawtons ad
vance reached Siboney, the Spanish gar
rison of about COO men retiring as b
= came up and offering no opposition ex
cept few scattering shots at lon
range Some OF the Cuban troops pur
sued the retreating Spaniards and siir
: mished with them. During the afternoo
of this date the Decentralization of Kent
7 division was commenced at Siboney
which enabled me to establish bas
eight miles nearer Santiago and to con
: tinue--the--u of troops and sup
: plies at both points.
e The Decentralization was continue
I throughout the night of the 23d an
/ 24th, and by the evening of the 24th tn
Decentralization of my command wa
practically completed.
Taking Up Position.
The orders for June "a contemplate
/, Gen Lawton's division taking a stron
defensive position a short distance fror
Siboney, on the road to Santiago; Kent
division was to be held near Santiago
> where he disembarked; Bates's brigad
was to take position in support of Law
ton, while Wheeler's division was to b
somewhat to the rear on the road fror
Siboney to Daiquiri. 1t was intended I
maintain this situation until the troop
! and transportation were disembarked an
: a reasonable quantity of necessary sur
plies landed. Gen. Young's brigade, how
ever nased beyond Tawton on the nisrI