Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-09-17


Washington, Sept. 15.-In the report
submitted to the war department Of the
movement against Santiago, General
Shatter describes the embarkation,
preparation for battle and the conclu-
sion of hostiities, and says:
1T was not until nearly two weeks
after the army landed" says the gen
eral, that il was possible to place on
shore three days supplies in excess of
those required Tor the daily consump-
ton. On June 80, l reconnotered the
country about Santiago and made N.Y.
plan of attack. The preparations were
far from what l desired them to be,
but we were in sickiy climate; our
supplies had to be brought forward by
a narrow wagon-road which the rains
might at any time render impossible;
fear was entertained that IL storm might
drive the vessels containing our stores
to sea, thus separating us from our
base Of supplies, ANA lastly 1t was re-
ported that General Pando. with 5000
reInfUlrements for the enemy. was en-
expected in a few days. Under these
circumstances, | determined to give
battle without delay.
After the battle at Ell Caney was
well opened and the fire of the small
arms led us to believe that Lawton was
driving back the enemy before him. l
directed Grimes battery to open fire
from the heights Of FL Poso on the San
Juan blockhouse. This fire was effec
tive. and the enemy could be seen run
ming away from the vicinity of the
blockhouse. The artillery fire from EIi
Poso was soon returned by the enemy's
artillery. They evidently had the
range Of this hill, and Their first shell
killed and wounded several men. AS
the Spanialds used smOkeless powder.
it was very difficult to locate the posi-
ton of their pieces, WHILE on the con
tray. the smoke caused by our black
powder plainly indicated the position of
our battery.
AT this time the cavalry division
under General Sumner which was lying
concealed in the general vicinity of FL
Poso, was ordered forward with di
rections to cross the San Juan river and
deploy to the right on the Santiago side.
While Kcnts division was to folio:.'
closely in it's rear and depo tn the
left These troops moved forward in
compliance with orders but the road
was so narrow as To render it imprac-
ticahie to retain tn" column of fourS
formation at all, while the underground
on either side was 50 dense as to pic.
cludc the poss blity Of deploying Skin
msllerS. 1t natural y resulted that the
progress made was SOW. and the long
ra,gr rifles of the eneiiy's infantry
killed and wounded Il number of our
men While marching along this road
and before there was an opportunity to
return this fire. AT this time General
Kent and General summer were ordered
to push forward with all possible haste
and place their troops in position t.
engage the enemy.
Great credit is due to Brigadier Gen
eral II. $. Hawkins, who, placing him
self between his regiments, urged them
on by voice and bugle calls to the at
tack so brilliantly executed. In this
fierce encounter. words fail to do justice
to the gallant regimental commanders
and their heroic men. for lille the 4 n
erals indicated the formal ,ons and tn.
points of attack, it was, after all the
intrepid bravery of the suboidinat"
officers and the men that painted our
colors on the crest of San Juan hill ana
drove the enemy from his trenches and
blockliouse, thus gaining position
which, sealea the fate of Santiago.
Il am greatly indebted to General
Wheeler. who returned from the sick
list during the afternoon. His cheer
fulness and aggressiveness made itself
felt on this part of the battlefield, and
the information he furnished to me at
various stages of the battle proved To
he most useful. My own health was
impaired hy over-eXertion in the sun
and the intense heat Of the day before.
which prevented me from participating
as actively in the bate a.; l desired
but from Il high hill near my headquar-
tiers | had II general view of the battle
field. extending from Il! Caney on the
right to the left of our lines on San
Juan hill.
"a few Cubans assisted in the at
tack at FL Caney, and fought valiantly,
but their numbers We're too small "
materially change the strength indi-
Gated above. The enemy confronted
lis with numbers about equal to our
own; they fought obstinately in strong
and irtrenched positions, and the result
obtained clearly indicated the intrepid
gallantry If the company officers and
men. and tire benefits derived from the
careful troining and instructions given
in the army in recent years in rifle
practice ana other battle exercises.
Our losses in these battles were 22 Off
GERS and .US men killed. and 81 officers
and 1903 men wounded, with 70 missing.
The missing. with few exceptions, re-
ported later"
In closing, Shaftcr says: Before clos
ing my report | wish to dwell upon the
natural obstacles had to encounter and
which no fore ight could have overcome
or obviated. The rocky and precipitous
coast afforded no sheltered Harding
places, the roads We're mere bride paths.
the effect of the tropical sun and rains
upon unacclimated troops was deadly,
and the dread of strange ard unknown
disc asses had its effect on the army. At
Daiquiri. the landing of the troops and
Says Mistress Was Drowned.
New York, Sept. 1.-THE mysterious
disappearance of Louise King from a
bath house at Coney Island has been eX-