The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-15
Infantry and the Calling gun detachment

Infantry and the Calling gun detachment
under his command.
GENERAL WHEELER AGAIN.
II am greatly indebted TO General
wheeler who as previously stated. re-
turned from tho sick list TO duty during
the afternoon Ills oheerfulness and ag-
gressiveness made itself felt on this part
OF the battlefield. and tho Information he
furnished to me at various stages OF the
battle proved 10 be most useful.
"Afy own health waS impaired by over
exertion In the sun and intense heat Of
the day before. which prevented me from
participating as actively In tho battle as
l desired. but from a high hill near my
headquarters ! had general view OF
the battlefield extending from III Canoy
on the right 10 the left OF our lines on
San Juan Hill."
General shafter follows in detail the
movements OF the troops and the en-
trenchng done during the night. He
says:
General Dunleld. with the Thirty-third
Michigan. attacked Aguadores as ordered,
but was unable 70 accomplish more than
TO detain the Spaniards in that vlcin-
II IS doubtful II we had more than p 1000
men on the firing line on July lst. when
the battle was nercest and when the i'm
portant and strong positions of ii Caney
and San Juan were captured.
CUBANs WE'RE FEW.
~ few Cubans assisted In the attack
Of III Caney and fought yaliantly. But
their numbers were too small 10 ma
terially change tho strength, as indicai'o
above The enemy confronted MS with
numbers about equal 10 our own, they
fought obstinately In strong and intrench-
cd positions. and the results obtained
clearly indicate the intrepid gailantry
of the company. officers and men, ana the
benefits derived from the careful train
ing and instruction given in the company
I'm recent years In rife practice and other
battle exercises our losses in these
battle were % officers and 2O9 men killed
and 81 officers and 1903 men wounded;
missing 79 The missing with few eX-
coptions reported later.
General Shafter says the arrival Of
General EscariO AZ Santiago was not
anticipated as General Garcia had oeen
sent 10 intercept MIN After speaking
Of Admiral Cervera sorue ano the de-
struction OF his fleet. Cen Shafter says
ne again called on the Spanish com
mander to surrender
ION the same date 7 Informed Admiral
Sampson that II he would force his way
into the harbOr the city would surrender
without any further sacrince ot ne
Commodore Watson replied that Ad-
miral Sampson was temporarily absent
but that iE his (Watson') opinion the
navy should not enter the harbOr
STRONGLY ENTRENCHED.
The strength Of the encmy's position
was such / did not wish 10 assault lt
Il could be avoided The examination
of the enemys works. made after the
surrender fully iusuhcs the wisdom or
the course adopted The entertainments
could only have been carried with very
of
July 18th. informed the Spanish com
mander that MaiOr-Gcneral Miles, COM
mander-in-chicf Of the American army,
had lust arrived IN my camp and re-
Quested him to grant us personal IN
tcrview on the following day. He re-
Piled he would be pleased 20 meet US. The
interview took place on the 18Th, ana
informed him his surrender only could be
considered and that as he was without
hope Of escape he had no right to con-
General shafter then gives the details
Of the final surrender his entry or the
city and raising OF the American flag. IN
closing. he saws:
OBSTACLES ENCOUNTERED
Before closing my report / wish TO
dwell upon the natural obstacles l had
20 encounter and whicht no foresight
could have overcome or oDViated; Inc
rocky and procipitOus coast anOrded no
sheltered landing places nhe roads We're
mere bride paths, the effect or the tfop-
ical sun and rains upon unaccllmatca
troops was deadly ana "a dread OF strange
and unknown diseases had It's effect on
the army.
'The supply Of quartermaster and COM
missary stores during the campaign was
abundant and Notwithstanding tne dlil-
culties I'm landing and transporting the
ration. the troops on the firing line were
al am tines supplied with its cOarser COM
pOnents. namely, Of bread, meat sugar
There was no lack Of transportation.
for at no time up to the surrender could
all the wagons which had be used
'In regard to the sick and wounded !
have to say that they received every at
fention that II was possible 90 give them.
The medical officers without eAcepiyh
worked night and day 10 alleviate lne
suffering, which was no greater lhah III
variably accompanies canlp",sIl ~
would have been better n we had hau
more ambulances. but as many were
taken as was thought necessary Judging
from previous campaigns.
'Trhe discipline OF the command was
superb. and | wish 10 invite attention 10
the fact that not an officer was brought
10 trial bv court martial and, as far as
7 know. no enlisted men. "This speaks
volumes for an army of this size and IN
a campaign of such duration
PROMOTIONS RECOMMENDED.
TIE General recommends for promotion
and brevets the following officers: Lieu
tenant-COlOnel T.. j. Mc'lefhdnu' L!tu-
tenantColonel George McC. Derby Lieu
tonant-Colonel J. d. Miley. Major r. II.
Noble Iieutenant-ColOnel j. j. Astor.
rfsntenant-Colonol B. II. Pope, Major $.
a. Groesbeck. IAeutcnant-ColonclC Charles
- Humphrey. Colonel John j.. Weston,
Major q. c.. Starr, Major Leon Roudiez,
Major H. j. Gallagher, Captain Brice'
Caotain T.. II. Plummer Captain j. G..
Gilmore Captain w. II. Mckiurick. Cap
tain Johnson.
Ire also mentions Dr. 6. Goodfcllow and
Ar q T. Hawkins, OF New York, for
services performed and expresses nus
warmcst thanks 10 division brigade ana
rorimental commanders. without cxccp-
ton.