The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-19

Wheeler's regiments became seriously
mixed up, owing to the utter impossibility
of moving straight forward at anything like
regular intervals. Captain Charles Morton,
commanding a battalion of the Third Cav
airy, when he finally approached the open
space across which the dash was made for
the right of the San Juan position, found
himself surrounded by men of two or three
different regiments, mostly, however, or ms
own. He did not hesitate. 1t was not a
moment for hesitation Mauser bullets and
shrapnel were singing thick and fast
through the air and men were falling on
every side Morton put all the f.u men near
handing the Third, gave the order TO
charge, he led them forward obliquely be-
hind the first battalion, under Major jack
son, and quickly took the most advanced
position on the right, driving the Spaniards
from a hacienda house which he found
there, back upon a battery of theirs down
under the walls of San Juan barracks. He
held this position against superior odds for
a long time before relief was sent him. Had
he waited to separate his men from those
Of other regiments who had become mixed
up with them in the scramble through the
brush this movement would have been far
less successful, as every moment Of delay
In the advance meant loss.
Secondly, the artificial strengthening OF
the Spanish line OF defense showed the very
highest order of engineering skill. This is
the verdict of all competent officers who
have examined It. The utmost advantage
ground, and each fortified point or angle
commanded some other one In many
places on gaining a piece of intrenchments,
fire from other portions of the original line.
And, even in the position which we held
since the firing ceased, just prior to the
truce, we were largely exposed to possible
obliQue and in places even an enfilading
fire from Spanish batteries on our left. To
offset this, however, travers were construct
ed at certain parts of our line.
The ridiculous OVercOnfidence of our gen.
eral officers has received a severe rebuke,
while the rank and file of the army have
evinced a far greater degree of herosm
than it was supposed would be required of
them. Carelessness as to first military
principles characterized much Of the con-
duct of the campaign up to the beginning OF
the fight on July l. Even on that day few
of the general officers seemed to think it
incumbent upon them to show themselves
to their soldiers at the front or to examine
the situation with their own eyes. 1t was
long after the battle had begun that field
officer congratulated General Sumner on be-
ing the first officer of his rank to visit the
firing line. Late in the day General Wheel
err came forward from a sick bed and after
wards remained in the very 'front.' an eX-
ample and an inspiration, as simple and UNI
| affected courage always is to all who knew
of his presence.
In contrast with the scientific accuracy of
the Spanish lines of defense, the slipshod
and ignorant manner in which certain .por-
tons of our intrenchments have been con-
Structed would cause the VerleSt cadet TO
smile in derision. One regiment, for in
stance, dug its trenches so far below the
at the enemy until he should be right up
in the procession. The truth is that before
and while our army was lntrench1ng Itself
an officer of the engineer corps was on the
ground charged with the duty of directing
the work. Luckily, many of the officers of
line are sufficiently able in the mathematics
of defense to have caused their men to
construct fairly respectable works.