The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-09-01
Gen. Skaters Story.

| look upon tho campaign Just closed as
successful one in the highest degree,
not only in regard to the military opera
tions, but more especially IN regard to the
great results achieved. When we decided
to attack Santiago We looked for nothing
more as the immediate fruit OF victory
than the capture of the city. What has
been achieved is the capiluatOn Of the
entire eastern part of the province from II
line at Jibari TO the south coast, together
with the enemy's forces, amounting to
almost y 1000 men. Surely that was II
notable achievement of the campaign,
bearing in mind the fierce opposition we
encountered and the comparatively small
loss OF our own forces.
From military point of view perhaps
took steps which might not be deemed
justihabie under other circumstances, but
1 knew the temper and capabilities OF my
soldiers and the moral effect of our grad
ually coping up the enemy within his own |
lines. My engineers were very apprehen-
siye that the Spaoiards might break |
through on my lett and cut oh SibOney |
This, from II purely military standpoint,
might have been truthfully correct, but
personally had not for a moment any
fear on that score. The result has, think,
proved the correctness of my conclusions.
Our primary object was to drive Cervera
out, and next to take the town. We had
gradually driven the Spapiards back on
their lines, circling the city, and slowly
advancing day 10y day. The enemy began
losing spirit AS soon as our guns had been
placed in a position TO cover the town.
l,at l.If la cit ftn
changed The town was at my mercy, ana
had given the order Tor direct assault
il would have been taken within four
hours. believe that with the forces then
At my command, reinforced as they had
been, | was in Il position to take the city {
BY force. but if | had taken a step OF {
such a character what would have been ,
he result? | estimate that our casualties |
would have been 5000 men, and the action
took has had more brilliant real results c
without so heavy loss of valuable lives.
The town itself is admirably suited Tor
License, and the fight would have been
ong and bloody one. Every house is
trongly constructed of stone and entirely S
ifferent from the ordinary frame build I
ngs. Every house was little fortress in
Iself. Had the Spaniards, forced by des- !,
GRAFTON. fought the battle out in the J
treets cur loss would have been enormous.
tut from the moment Gen. Toral made
ropOsitiOn for a conference | knew he
as determined to give up, and | acted
ccOrdingy. Personal reflections have
cen cast upon me because | was not on
le fighting line. That was not the place .
Or general in command of an army. Ii
ust he remembered that was connected
y telephone with the officers at the front
nd was better able to direct operations
ON the position | had taken. Save for
'o days when i'll was in direct command
this campaign, which consider UNIQUE
American history, for it was really the
st time the United States had fought
lth its regular army. The civil war was
war OF volunteers, but this campaign At
IS fought and won by our regular troops.
did not notice the fact at first, but there be
sre only three volunteer regiments en- sit
ged against Spaniards. While the
ghest credit is to be given them, and no
ey fought bravely and well, there was
moral support of the regulars back OF
all.
Our volunteers lacked that unity, cohe-
IN ana individual support noticeable in
trained troops, but at the same time
dlsparagement should be made of the
lunteer regiments in the campaign. Je
nat they lacked otherwise they made mn NJ
: in enthusiasm aud patriotic spirit. and =
eslre to command no better army than
e composed of the class of volunteers we
DER me IN the Santiago campaign. The lila
eratlons of the regulars in the campaign ;st
We proved conclusively their superiority
'r some organizations of State militia. W
"hich the men are partially compelled col
serve by sense OF shame, but they do err
snow The enthusiasm of volunteers. the
ere has been some question concerning
transportation facilities of the army l"
facilities we're all there and the trans.
tatlon equipment provided was all II Ha
uid have been, but our difficulties were MI;
rmous. There was only one road. To
e built another would have taken two Sa'
rs. The nature Of the country. the at
ther-all these things-helped to dis. tina
anize this department. The use ofI foll
ons was almost impossible. n.
he pack train, as a matter of fact did i'eC
real service. had not at first thought bee
pack train would be of service. hut par
It not been there do not know what con
army would have done for food. The
IS were practically impossible. With poh
bridges down, the wagons could not be n
Aed. had great deal OF concern of j
we we're only able to get up one IN {
ratIons at u time, but as soon IA We nv,
able 10 get few days rations ahead We
new we were prepared for ANYTHING. oil j
g the occupation Of the city matters fine
gone smoothly. Order is gradually nro,
restored. The income under NV
roi from various sources since the VIII
ulation amounts to little more tbauI The
oVo, $90,OO0 of which stands as a nom
liza. - ;,o ou. ereu'', win but few out othe
It's of the incoms slow ~ ine uai'y eral
This large sum is drasp FINN
may lie termed military exactiou.
'as gone into the military chest In. =,
OF being turned into the treusury ="
rding the local situation, [ believe Mrs.
rst step toward the settlement of the was
ny VIII he the dislanding of the tyo,l
'ir homes. do not ,binh ~, "sIr f, men indie
will agree to any proposal to psy and
4 "os DO ! think the United States presc
a. wo1id ,h... takir
ucceedsd in Wrestling a Cal. u s asd did
ardsf Would they have expected 10 medi
bQen Maid ne ... An -