The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-10-16

PED the vitality ana energy or the SOi-
diers, and they We're not by any means
in a condition to do their best imTnedi
ately on reaching the field of action.
This is no discredit to the mettle Of the
soldiers. Human nature has it's limits.
Had it been possible for the army to
dlsembark and spread itself out over
good camping grounds with good
supply of water and facilities for bath
ing, cooking, exercising and drilling,
with good air, for two or three days
even, the effects of the voyage might
have cut no figure in the condition Of
the troops. But the camping grounds
where they landed at Siboney and Dali
quiri We're very unfit. Troops began
spreading out toward the heads Of the
streams passing through the camps
near the shore. In a short time the
water became foul The whole region
was congested with troops and the i'm
pedimenta and the situation was such,
in brief, that the army had no time
to take breath, or, as the saying u.s.
pull itself together" for the hustling
campaign which followed
All of this has a most important
bearing upon the conduct of the sol
diers and their efficiency at the time Of
extreme trial in front of the Spanish
blockhouses and trenches around Santi-
ago. Amy account of the Santiago cam
paign which starts with the assump-
ton that Skaters army was in the
normal condition of an army when it
set out along blind trails and through
the dense jungies which interviewed be-
tween the seashore and the nights
about the city will convey no adequate
idea of the sufferings, the hardships,
the persfstency under difficulties, as
we'll as of the glorious achievements
and unparalleled courage Of the heroes
of, Santiago. AS is already known,
General Shafter went on shore and con-
ferred with General Garcia, the Cuban,
at point held by the insurgents,
eighteen miles west of Moro Castle.
From Garcia and from former residents
of Santiago, who were with him on
board the transports, he learned the
situation east Of Santiago harbor and
city, and decided to land the army for
operations in that region. To mislead
the enemy with regard to his inten-
tons he secured the cooperation Of
our navy in bombarding several points
at once
1t was. of prime necessity to keep the
army under cover of gunboat fire while
| 1T was landing and for some time after
ward, or at least until the forces were
we'll in hand on land and outposts es-
tablished for defense. There is but one
| road running into Santiago from the
east which communicates with good
landing places on the coast Accounts
of the condition, of this road vary. Gen
eral Shafter says that it was very mar
| row, and in many places not better
than trail. Other officers, particular
ly those connected with the artillery
| and transport department. speak of it
as an execrable roadway. Statements
to the contrary have been published,
claiming that it is a fair country road
over which, a farmer would run no risk
with full load of hay; that some one
in authority had a hobby for pack
mules, and for that reason wagon
transportation was neglected.
The landing was effected at Daiquiri
and Siboney between June 22d and
Goth. AS a rule the troops disem-
barked while the transports were from
one mile and a half to two miles off,
shore. Some idea of the confusion at
tending the landing may be gained
from the experience of Lieutenant
ker had an order from Shafter to land
at once and get his outfit to the front.
That was on the evening of June 22d.
The Cherokee, upon which the battery
made the trip from Tampa, was warped
along the iron pier at Daiquiri, and
Parker seized a Government pontoon
to use in transferring his outfit to
shore. He was stopped by young Of
ficer, who claimed to control the pom
ICONS, and who said that In spite Of
Skaters order that the Gatlngs get
to the front at once his pontoon should
mot be smashed in doing it." While
this parley was going on general off,
Ger rode up and ordered the Cherokee
to put TO sea again so that some other
ships might come up to the pier For
another day the Cherokee, with Par
ker's guns on board, lay in the off1ng.
1t is said that at that timeI the steamer
Alamo had on board an entire cargo of
pontoons, which had not been landed.
On the 25th the Cuttings were taken
off the Cherokee by light draft steam
err and We're put upon the shore where
| Lieutenant Parker was warned by the
engineers that the roads to the front
were impossible. A little later it was
demonstrated that Parkers Gatlings
We're as effective as anything in the
whole fighting outfit.
AS the cavalry brigade Of General
Young took the lead of the real adj
| vance on Santiago and first felt the
teeth of the Spanish tiger a clear view
of the opening events of the actual
campaign is best gained by following
it's movements. The brigade landed at
Daiouiri on the evening Of the 22d and
the morning of the 23d Of June. 1t
was composed of two squadrons each Of
the First and Tenth (colored) Regular
Cavalry and First Volunteers, or Rough
Riders. all dismounted.
General Young's orders were to take
position on the left Of Lawton's in
fantry division, which had already
landed. The troopers had no rations.
During the voyage they had exhausted
! the three days, travel rations supplied
| them. Soon after landing part Of the
command received ordinary rations,
which the men placed in their blanket
| rolls, as the cavalrymen carried no
| haversacks
| After landing his command General
Young sent an aid on board the