The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-15
.SHAF TER'S REPORT
Its Main Part Deals With 0p-
erations Before Santiago.
SHAF TER AND GARCIA
GEN. SHAFTER OUTLINES HIS
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
GREATLY INDEBTED TO GEN. WHEELER
Skaters Plan of Battle Which Resulted in the
Capture of Heights Of San Juan. Words
of Ardent Praise for The
Officers and Men.


Washington, Sept 14.-General Shat
ter's report of the campaign which ter
minated in the fall of Santiago, has been
made public. He recounts the organiz@-
ton of the expedition and its embarfa-
ton and then devotes the main body OF
the report to the active operations about
Santiago. General Shafter says the eX-
pedition was undertaken i'll compliance
with telegraphic instructions of May
Both from headquarters of the army, III
which it was stated:
Admiral Schley reports that two
cruisers and two torpedo boats have
been seen in the harbor of Santiago. TO
with your force to capture garrison III
Santiago, and assist i'll capturing harbor
and fleet"
General Shafter gives in detail the
troops assembled at Tampa and ALSO tells
of the embarkation, delay in getting away
and final departure. The report br1ef!y
covers the trip and landing and Shafter
first meeting with General Garcia, add
ing:
During the interview General Garcia
offered the service of his troops, com
prising about 1000 men in the vicinity
of Asseraderos, and about 800, under
General Castillo, at the little town II
Cujababo. n few miles east of Daiquiri.
] accepted this offer impressing it upon
him that / could exercise no military
control over him except such as he would
concede, and as long as he served under
me | would furnish him rations and lB1-
munition."
After comforting with Admiral S3AA
son and General Garcia, the plan of
campaign was outlined by General Shaf-
ter The Decentralization was 10 COM
mence on the 22nd at Daiquiri, with
RENTS by the Cuban. s. on Cabanas, and
by the navy at various shore points. IN
order to mislead the enemy as ~ the
place of landing.
"These movements" General Shafter
says, committed me to approaching
Santiago from the east over Il narrow
road, at first in some places not better
than trail, running from DaiQmri
through Siboney and Sevila, and ma king
attacks from that quarter. This, III my
Judgment, was the only feasible plan, and
subsequent information and results con
firmed my judgment"
The engagement in which the Rough
Riders participated is described as hav-
4llS ltAb an liSpiAllt- CiltNl hpOll wa
men, and, doubtless, correspondingy de-
pressed the enemy, as it was now plain
ly demonstrated to them that !ney had
a foe to meet who would advance upon
them under a heavy fire delivered from
intrenchments. General Wheeler. divi-
sion commander, was present during the
| engagement, and reports that our troops
officers and men, fought with the great
est gallantry. This engagement gave us
a well watered country farther to the
front on which to encamp our troops"
The report continues:
1T was not until nearly two weeks
after the army landed that it WAS pos
sible to place on shore three days sup
plies in excess of those required for the
daily consumption. On
June Both, / reconnOitered the country
about Santiago and made my plaza of Mt
tack. From a high hill from which the
city was i'll plain view, | could sec the
San Juan hill. and the country about
El Caney. The roads were very poor,
and, indeed little better than bride
| paths until the San Juan river and Ell
! Caney We're reached"
General Shafter explained, at a meet
| ing of generals, his plan of battle as fol-
| lows:
"Lawton's division, assisted by Cap
| ron's light battery, was ordered To move
out during the afternoon toward El
! Caney, to begin the attack there early
the next morning. After car. wing El
| Caney, LaWtOn was to move by the El
| Caney road toward Santiago, and take
| position on the right of the line. Wheel
er's division of dismounted cavalr", ard
kent's division of infantry, were direct
ed to move on the Santiago road. the
head of the column resting near El Pozc,
! toward which heights Grimes battery
moved on the afternoon of the 30th. with
orders to take position there early the
next morning, and at the proper time
| prepare the way for the advance of
| Wheeler and Kent, on San Jua hill. The
| attack at this point was to be delayed
until LawtOns guns were heard at El
Caney and his infantry fire showed he
had become well engaged"
! THE preparations were far from what
| | desired them to be, but we were in It
| sickly 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 storm might drive the vessels con-
! tanning our stores to sea, thus separating
| us from our base of supplies, and lastly
! it was reported that General Pando,
| with 5000 reinfOrcements for the enemy
| was en- route from Manzanillo, and
might be expected in a few days. Under
! these conditions determined to give bat
; tie without delay"
/ General Shafter here gives descrlp-