The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1898-09-22


ion. The army was landed withou
tho aid of harbor and the transfe
of supplies to tho shore and to til,
troops was SO difficult that tw.
weeks elapsed before ratIons fo
three days ahead were available
Meantime, the transports were ex
posed to the possibility nf Yves
Indian hurricane which would hav,
driven them out to sea for an indefi
mite time, it nothing worse had hap
tened. What calamity may resul
from storm in those lalitudes ma,
be seen Ill the destruction of lift
and of ships u few days ago at the
British island of St. Vincent. a hur-
rican would have cut off our Sauti
ago army from its base. The trail;
around the city were few and poor
the sickly season was ut its height
and re-cnfOrcements for the Spanish
garrison were approaching. Though
| the preparations were far from what
Gen. Shatter desired, he decided to
attack at once, a course which led to
an extraordinary victory. That the
same issue could have been reached
by slower and more cautious adj
vance can never be more than a sup.
position.
Another and the most prominent
feature Of the campaign, as reported
by its commanding General, was the
irrepressible valOr Of our army.
Practically without the aid Of artill-
cry it stOrmed strongly fortified
army on the crests of series of hills
Mt intervals along the lines Of eartl,
works aud rifle pits cut in the rocks
were blockhouses, a stone fort aud a
stone church loopholed far defense.
Our army closed in upon the position
by successive advances, yielding no
ground at any point AT the end OF
nine hours of fighting the final
charges were make. All the outer
works of Santiago fell into our hands
and the city was within range of our
light artillery. The whole position
was won by successive storming
dashes. Our formations throughout
the day, rendered extremely difficult
by tine narrow trails aud often I'M
penetrabie uudergrowil,, were made
under a destructive fire. One brig
ade lost three commanders, but never
wavere,l and reached the top of San
Juan hill led by Il Lieutenant Colo
mel. The battle of July at Santiago
was an all day infantry charge against
a fortified enemy. 1t was 9 singular
ly brilliant engagement, not as yet
fully appreciated, but certain TO oc-
cupy IL place of its own iu the history
Of military achievements.
Gen. Shafter received orders for
the expedition May 80, or eleven
days after Cevera arrived i'll the har-
bor Of Santiago. His Instructions
were TO "capturc the garrison at
Santiago and assist in capturing the
harbor aud fleet" They were full
filled to the letter. Ills army trans
ports were ready to sail June Z, but
were delayed week by false re-
ports Of Spanish ships lurking about
the intended route. Gen. Shafter is
unable TO say That he received any
material assistance from Gnrcia's
forces Only a few Cubans were
under fire at Santiago. and Garcia
tailde to impede the march and entry
Of the Spanish ents,
though numerically their equal. Ser
ious sickness appeared ia the Ameri-
can army soon after the heavy fight
ing and increased rapidly rs the re-
suit of exposure to the intense heat
bv day and frequent floods of rain.
But, as Gen. Shafter says, "the dis
cipliue of the command was superb
1t completed its work to the amplest
extent and the historian of the fu-
turc will do justice to the splendid
triumrh.-G-D.