Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-19

The wilderness in Virginia presented far
less difficulties TO the invading Northern
ers than did the San Juan valley to Shaf-
ters army. The greater part of ii is dense
ly covered with young timber underground,
interlaced with thorny vines, or studded
with natural abattis of cacti. palmettoes
and brambles. The roads were originally
little more than blind trails. every one of
which afforded hundred opportunities for
ambuscade.
What. an undertaking it was to deploy
line of battle at right angles to one of
these paths will perhaps be imagined. On
Friday. July l. in moving through the tim
ber toward San Juan ridge. some of Wheel
ers 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 cavalry, when he
finally approached the open space across
which the dash was made for the right of
the San Juan position, found himself sur
rounded by men of two or three different
regiments. mostly, however. of his own.
He did not hesitate. 1t was not a mo-
merit for hesitation. Mauser bullets and
shrapnel We're singing thick and fast
through the air and men We're falling on
every side. Morton put an the men near
him into line and when Major Vessels,
con manding the Third, gave the orders to
charge he leS ard ohr ba
hind the first battalion under Major Jack
son and quickly took the most advanced
position on the right, driving the Span
iarGs from a hacienda house which he
found there, back upon a battery of theirs
down under the walls of San Juan bar
racks. He held this position against su-
perior 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 might have been far less sue
cessful. 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 Off
GERS who have examined it. The utmost
advantage was taken of the conforma-
ton of the ground and each fortified point
CT angle commanded some other one. In
many places, on gaining a piece of in
uenchments. our troops found themselves
under crossfire from other portions of
the original line. And even in the posi-
hon which We held since the firing ceased
just prior to the truce, We were largely
exposed to a possible obli4ue and. in
places, even an enfilading fire from Span
ish batteries on our left To offset this
however, trayers were constructed at cer-
tain parts of our line.
The ridiculous over-confidence of our
general officers has received a severe re-
Duke while the rank and file of the arm
nave evinced a far greater degree of hero
ism than it was supposed would be re-
quired of them. Carelessness as to first
military principles characterized much of
the conduct of the campaign up to the
beginning Of the fight on July 1. Even ON
~" VI LAC ScHeIdl OlflCerS 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.
II was long after the battle had begun
that field officer congratulated General
Sumner on being the first officer of his
rank to visit the firing line. Late in the
day General Wheeler came forward from
sick bed and afterward remained in the
very front, an example. and an inspiration,
as simple and unaffected courage always
Is. to all who knew of his presence.
In contrast with the scientific accuracy
OF the Spanish lines of defense, the Slip
shod and ignorant manner in which certain
portions of our intrenchments have been
constructed would cause the veriest cadet
to smile in derision. One regiment. for
instance, dug its trenches so far below the
brow of the hill that no aim could be taken
at the enemy until he should be rish, up
in the procession. The truth is that before
and while our army was intrenchins itself
no officer of the engineer corps was on the
ground charged with the duty of directing
the work. Luckily. many OF the officers
of the line are sufficiently able in the math-
ematics of defense to have caused their
men to construct fairly respecta HE works