The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-09-15
SHAFTER'S
REPORT.
The Michigan Soldier Tells Of
the Fall of Santiago.
PRAISE FOR HIS SOLDIERS.
Words Fail to Do Justice to the
Heroic Men,"
GEN. MILES BARELY MENTIONED

Only a Brief Paragraph Devoted to the
Commander of the Army-The Work of
General Wheeler and Others Highly Ex-
tolled and a Number of officers Recon-
mended For Promotion, Including the
Multi-Millionaire, Lieutenant Colonel |
John Jacob Astor.
Washington, Sept. 15.-General Shat
ter's report of the campaign which
terminated In the fall of Santiago has
been made public He briefly recounts
the organization of the expedition and
its embarkation and then devotes the
main body of the report to the active
operations about Santiago. General
Shafter says the expedition was un-
dertaken in compliance with telegraph
ic instructions of May 30 from head
quarters of the army, in which 1t was
stated:
Admiral Schley reports that two
cruisers and two torpedo boats have
been seen in the harbor of Santiago.
Go with your force to capture garrison
at Santiago and assist In capturing
harbor and fleet"
The report gives in detail the troops
assembled at Tampa. The cavalry was
dismounted because of lack of trans
portation for the animals and because
it was believed mounted cavalry could
not operate efficiently near Santiago
This, General Shafter says, was found
subsequently to be correct. After re-
ola al 4, 90 IN,
adequate facilities. General Shafter
says that on June he received orders
to sail without delay, but not with less
than 10000 men. The expedition
sailed on June ID with Sl5 officers and
1902 men. General Shafter briefly
covers the trip and landing, and his
first meeting with General Garcia,
adding:
During the interview General Gar
cia offered the services of his troops,
comprising about 1000 men in the vi
cinity of Asseraderos and about 500,
under General Castillo, at the little
town of Cujababo, few niles east Of
| Daiquiri. l accepted his offer, i'm
| pressing II upon him that could exer-
| else no military control over him ex-
cept such as he would concede. and 80
long as he served under me I would
furnish him with rations and ammuni-
ton"
After comforting with Admiral Samp-
son and General Garcia the plan of
campaign was outlined by General
Shafter. The Decentralization was to
commence on the 22d at Daiquiri, with
feints by the Cubans on Cabanas and
by the navy at various shore points,
in order to mislead the enemy as to
the place Of landing.
1T was not until nearly two weeks
after the army landed that II was pos
sible 10 place on shore three days
supplies in excess OF those required for
the daily consumption.
THE preparations were far from
what desired them 10 be- but we were
in sickly climate, our supplies had to
be brought forward by a narrow wagon
road which the rains might at any
time render impassable; fear was en-
: tertained that a storm might drive the
vessels containing our stores to sea,
thus separating us from our base of
supplies, and lastly 1t was reported
that General Pando, with 5000 rein
forcements for the enemy, was en- route
from Manzanillo and might be eX-
pected in a few days. Under these con'
ditions determined to give battle
without delay"
Then follows the story Of the battles
and the report continues:
Great credit is due to BrlgadieI
, General II. S. Hawkins, who, placing
, himself between his regiments, urged
. them on by voice and bugle calls tc
the attack so brilliantly executed.
I'm this fierce encounter words fai
70 do Justice to the gallant regimenta
G commanders and their heroic men, fol
n while the generals indicated the for
nations and the points of attack. 4
4 was, after all, the intrepid bravery o
"a the subordinate officers and men tina
planted our cOlors on the crest of SaI
Juan hill and drove the enemy from hi
trenches and blockhouse, thus gain
ing a position which sealed the fate o
Santiago.
Most efficient service was rendered
by Lieutenant John II. Parker, Thir
u teenth infantry, and the Calling gui
II detachment under his command. TIL
J. fighting continued at intervals unit
is nightfall, but our men held resolutel
to the position gained at the cost o
so much blood and toll.
~ "I am greatly indebted TO Genera
"a Wheeler, who returned from the sic
n, llSt 10 uuly curing the peIlou. III
cheerfulness and aggressiveness mad
1t sufficiently felt on this part OF tn
battlefield and the information he fur
r nished to me at various stages OF tn
J. battle proved to be most useful.
A. "The cessation OF firing about moo
on the Sd practically terminated tn
battle of Santiago All that occurre
after this time may properly be treate
~ under the head of the siege which fo
+ lowed. After deducting the detacf
o. ments retained at Slboney and Da
quiri and for other duties 1t is doubt
full IL we had more than 1000 men o
n the firing line on July l. when III
"A battle was fierCest and when the In
a. portant and strong positions of
Caney and San Juan We're captured.
few Cubans assisted in the attack {
- Ei SEney, and fought valiantly, bl
their numbers were too small to ms
terially change the strength as ind
10 Gated above. The enemy confronted I
with numbers about equal to our ow
n They fought obstinately in strong an
- Intranchad nOSitinns and the result