Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-09-24

This offer was made and accepted.
These officers, as well as several OF
the wounded Spanish privates, twen-
ty-seven in all, were sent to their lines
under escor of some of our mounted
cavalry. Our troops were received
with honors, and / have every reason
to believe the return of the Spanish
prisoners produced a good impression
on their comrades.
"The cessation Of firing about noon
on the Sd practically terminated the
battle of Santiago; all that occurred
after this time may properly be treat
ed under the head of the scenes which
followed. After deducting the de-
tachments retained at Siboney and
Daiquiri to render those depots Sc
cure from attack, organizations held
to protect our TANKS, etc., II Is Goubt-
full if we had more than $4,000 men on
the firing line on July /, when the bat
tie was f~iercest and when the impor-
tant and strong positions of El Caney
and San Juan were captured.
Cubnns Gave Little Aid.
"a few Cubans assisted in the attack at
FL Caney and fought valiantly. but their
numbers were too small to materially
change the strength az Indicated above.
The enemy confronted us with numbers
about equal to our own; they fought OBJ
stinately in strong and intrenched posi-
tons and the results obtained clearly In
dictate the intrepid gallantry OF the com.
pany officers and men, the benefits derived
from the careful training and instruction
given I'm the companies in recent years In
rifle practice and other battle exercises.
"Our losses In these battles were p OFF,
GERS and POS men killed and 81 officers and
1,203 men wounded; missing, ~. The miss
ing with a few exceptions reported later
General Shafter says the arrival OF Cen
eral Escario at Santiago was not antici-
pated. as General Garcia with between
1900 and 5000 Cubans was entrusted with
the duty OF watching for and intercepting
the reinforcements expected, which, how
ever, he failed to do.
After speaking Of Admira CeEvera's sor-
tie and the destruction OF his feet, General
Shafter says he again called on the Span
ish commander to surrender. He says:
"On the same date ] informed Admiral
Sampson that II he would force his way
INTO the harbor the city would surrender
without any further sacrifice of life. Com;
modore Watson replied that Admiral
Sampson was temporarily absent, but
that in his CWatson's) opinion the navy
should not enter the harboT.'
1.-The strength Of the enemys position
was such / did not wish TO assault IL II
could be avoided. An examination of the
enemy's works. made after the surrender,
fully justified the wisdom Of the course
adopted The entertainments could only
ave been carried with great loss of life"
General Shafter gives the varying efforts
toward securing o surrender, and his re-
opening the engagement on the 10th, when
the truce ended. on the 18th the surren-
der was again demanded.
"By this date the sickness In the army
was increasing very rapidly, as a result Of
exposure In the trenches to the intense
heat Of the sun and the heavy rains. /
was anxious to bring the siege to an end,
of the army I did not think an assault
would be .justihable, especially as the en-
envy seemed to be acting I'm good faith I'm
the preliminary proposition 10 surren-
July 70 ! informed the Spanish COM
mander that Major General Miles, COM
mander in chief Of the American army,
had just arrived In camp and requested
him to grant'us a personal interview on
the following day. He replied he would be
pleased to meet US. The interview took
place on the 18th and | Informed him his
surrender only could be considered, and
that as he was without hope of escape he
had no right to continue the fight"
Obstacles That Were Encountered
General shafter then gives the details OF
the final surrender. his entry into the city
and the raising OF the American flag. In
closing he says:
Before closing my report / wish to
dwell upon the natural obstacles ] had to
encounter and which no foresight could
have overcome or obviated. The rocky.
preCipitous coast afforded 30 sheltered
landing place the roads were mere bride
| DhlllSs III tll'NN VI .ll' lDliNa sun dIll
rains upon unacclimatcd troops was dead
~ and a dread of strange and unknown
diseases had it's effect on the army.
AT DaiquiTi the landing OF the troops
and stores was made at a small wooden
wharf which the Spaniards tried to burn,
but unsICcesSfully, and the animals were
pushed into the water and waded TO a
sandy beach about 200 yards I'm extent. At
Siboney the landing was made on the
beach and at a small wharf erected by the
engineers.
~ ia noitbo, tho tin,o NOR tho J, 20
spare to construct permanent wharveS. In
spite of the fact that | had nearly 1000
men continuously at work on the roads,
they were at times impossible for wag-
ons.
1.-The San Juan and A~guadores rivers
would often suddenly rise so as to prevent
the passage OF wagons and then the eight
pack trains with the command had to be
depended upon for the vlctualing of my
army as well as the 1000 refugees who
could not in the interests of humanity be
left to starve while we had rations.
"Oftcn for days nothing could be moved
except on pack trains. After the great
physical strain and the exposure of July
] and 9. malarial and other fevers began
TO rapidly advance throughout the COM
mands, and on July 4 the yellow fever APP
pearcd i'm SibOncy. All efforts were made
to keep this fact from the army. but'it be-
"The supply Of quartermaster and COM
missary stores for the campaign was not
abundant, and Notwithstanding the diff
! tUllltS III ldllllIB ana lIdllSIOIl lDk lit u
tons, the troops on the line were at all
times supplied with It's coarseT compon-
ents. namely, bread, meat, sugar and cof-
fee.
There was no lack Of transportation,
for ut no time up to the surrender could
all the wagons be used.
Sick and Wounded Well Cared For
I'm reference to the sick and wounded.
| rave to say that they received every at
tention that il was possible to give them.
| The medical officers. without execution,
worked night and day TO alleviate the SUI
fering, which was no greater than invari-
have been better If we had more ambu-
lanCes, but as many had been taken as
was thought necessary, Judging from pre-
Vious campaigns.
perb and | wish to invite attention to the
fact that not an officer was brought to
trial by court martial, and as far as |
know no enlisted man. This speaks vol
umeS for an army of this size and In a
campaign of such duration.
I'm conclusion / desire to express to the
members of my STAFF my thanks for their
efficient performance of all the duties re-
CURED OF them, and the good judgment
and bravery displayed on all occasions
when demanded
General Shafter recommends for promo
ton and brevets the following officers:
Lieutenant Colonel Il. j. McClernand,
Lieutenant Colonel George Nj. Derby,
Lieutenant Colonel j. ID, Miley, Major r.
Lieutenant Colonel h. +. Pope, Major S.
w. Groesbeck, Lieutenant Colonel Charles
+. Humphrey. Colonel John +. Weston;
Major c. G.. Starr, Major Leon RIudez,
Major II. j. Gallagher. Captain Brice,
Captain II. III. Plummer, Captain J. c.
Gilmore. jr., Captain w. III. McKittrick.
He also mentions DIR. g. Goodfellow and
G.. f. Hawkins of New York for services
performed, and expresses his warmest
thanks to division. brigade and regimental
commanders without exception.
The reports OF division commanders,
which are attached, have been already
published.
Kindness to n Mule,