The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-07-27
THREE MONTHS OF THE WAR.
Government officials Satisfied With Re-
sults-GeDersl Henry's Praise Of
shafter.

WASHINGTON, July 24-with the week
of the third month OF thewar with Spain,
and the responsible officials, from tn e
President down TO the lowest employe
who has had to do with shaping the course
of events, feel nothing bat satisfaction at
the progress made. An army IF lfaquarter
of q million men has been mobilized,
armed and equipped, and much of it has
seen service. The battles preceding the
capture Of Santiago have been remarka-
BILE in many respects, and in the opinion
of military experts have covered the
United States Army engaged with imper-
ishsble glory. Modern warfare of type
developed in these engagements was abb
solutely new and untried, not only to the
United States Army, but to the world.
No such charge is recorded in history as
that made upon the stone fort and the
blOckhouEe crowning the hills Of El
Caney. There have been engagements
between trained troops and savage races
in the jungies of India and on the hills
of South Africa Of late years that convey
ed in slight manner the possibilities Of
modern weapors. Butthese battles fought
by the Fifth Army Corps have been the
first in which large bodies of troops of
civilized nations of both sides have been
engaged with all the implements of mod
ern warfare, and the result is bound 10
be highly instructive 10 the military
students. and to extort admiration for the
splendid fighting qualities OF the United
States soldiers from the most unwilling
critics. Few officers in any army have
had more experience in hard fghtinge
especially in rough country, than tha,
old fighter, General Henry, SO that som
weight must be attached to the opinion of
the merits of our officers and troops ex-
pressed by him in the following personal
letter addressed to Adjutant General
COrbin, dated in front of Santiago July
18th:
I'VE had pleasant sail down, but, hav-
ing to row the men ashore, took some time
to get of. We left Siboney at P. NJ.
yesterday with the Eighth Ohio, and came
into camp here about three miles from
front. In company with Gen. Breckin-
ridge rode to the front to Gen. Wheeler's
headquarters, and a flag Of truce being
up. had an opportunity TO see the lines.
We are almost on top of them. in front
Of Wheeler being about eight hundred
yards TO them but the country is rough,
going down TO falling aud ascending,
all covered by their fire. The country all
a.. - he I
have follow roads or trails and come
under heavy fire, their position command
ing every approach. The work done by
these troops since landing, their heroism
and patience under discomforts, heat and
rain calls for the highest praise; and the
work accomplished by Shafter, and his
pertinacity and 'go-aheadstiveness' under
adverse circumstances and discomforts
is revelation to me. I doubt if there
is another officer who would have got
ten there as he did. Oar loss was most
unfortunate, but from character Of
country, could not have been avoided
if we had to get there Last night the
Eighth Ohio were almost drowned out,
and it pours t9-day; th It's the climate,
and to get out of it would be cheaper to
lose more by fighting and success than
by sickness, which is sure TO come by
staying. We have about thirty cases of
yellow fever and many Of malaria, but
the men are cheerful. Gen. Duffield and
Captain Wilcox have yellow fever they
say mild form, gotten from sleeping in
infected buildings. which are now TO be
burSt. Miss Clara Barton and Mrs. Ad-
olson Porter rode 10 the front yesterday
in an army wagon, over rough road aud
raining. They are unselfsh women. Too
much credit cannot be given the hero
ism, pertinacity, pluck, patience and en-
endurance of men who have borne the
brunt of this work"