The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-15

Baiquiri to render those depots secure from
attack, organizations held to protect our
Hanks, others acting as escorts and guards
10 light batteries, the members of the hos
pital corps, guards left in charge OF blanket
rolls, which the intense heat caused the
men to cast aside before entering battle,
orderies. etc, it is doubtful If we had more
than twelve thousand men on the firing
line on July l. when the battle was fiercest
and when the important and strong posi-
tions of FL Caney and San Juan were cap
tuTed.
"A few Cubans assisted in the attack at
FL Caney, and fought valiantly, bat their
numbers were too small to materially
change the strength. as indicated above
The enemy confronted us with numbers
about equal to our own they fought obsti-
nately in strong and intrenched positions.
and the results obtained indicate the in
trepid gallantry of the company officers
and men and the benefits derived from the
careful training and instruction given in the
company in recent years in rifle practice
and other battle exercises. Our losses in
these battles were twenty-five officers and
2OS men killed and eighty-one officers and
1908 men wounded; missing, seventy-nine
The missing, with few exceptions, reported
later"
General Shafter says the arrival of Gen.
eral Escario at Santiago was not antici-
pated. He says: General Garcia, with be-
tween 1000 and 5000 Cubans, was intrusted
with the duty of watching for and inter-
cepting the reinforcement expected. This,
however. he failed to do, and Escario
passed into the city along on my extreme
right and near the bay"
After speaking of Admiral Cervera's sor-
tie and the destruction of his fleet General
Shafter says he again called on the Spanish
commander to surrender He says: "On
the same date / informed Admiral Sampson
that if he would force his way into the
harbor the city would surrender without
any further sacrifice of life. Commodore
Watson replied that Admiral Sampson was
temporarily absent, but that in mis- wat
son's) opinion the navy should not enter
the harbor. The strength Of the
to assault if it could be avoided. An exam
ination of the enemy's works made after
the surrender, fully lustities the wisdom OF
the course adopted. The intrechments
could only have been carried with very
great loss of life
General Shafter gives the varying efforts
towards securing a surrender, ard his re-
opening the engagement on the 10TH when
the truce ended. On the 18th the surrender
was again demanded. BY this date ne
says 1.-The sickness in the army was in
creasing very rapidly, a result of ex-
posture in the trenches to the intense heat
of the sun and heavy rains. Moreover, the
dews in Cuba We're almost equal to rains.
The weakness of the troops was becoming
so apparent / was anxious to bring inc
siege to an end, but, IN common WIN me-. nloSt
of the officers of the army, did not think
an assault would be iustifiable, especially
as the enemy seemed TO be acting IN good
faith in their preliminary propositions TO
surrender.
MILES'S ARRIVAL NOTED.
July Il | informed the Spanish COM
mander that Major General Miles, COM
mander-in-chief of the American army, had
just arrived in my camp, and requested him
to grant us a personal interview on the fol-
lowing day He replied he would be pleased
to meet u.s. The interview took place on
the 18TH and / Informed him his surrender
only could be considered and that, as he
was without hope of escape. he had no
right to continue the fight
the final surrender, his entry to the city
and the raising OF the American nag. IN In
l wish to dwell upon the natural obstacles
| had to encounter and which no foresight
could have overcome or obviated The
rocky and precipitous coast afforded no
sheltered landing places, the roads were
mere bride paths, the effect of the tropical
sun and rains upon unacclimated troops
was deadly, and dread of strange and UNI
known diseases had its effect on the army.
AT Baiquiri the landing of the troops
and stores was made at smaIi WOODEN rl
but unsuccessfully, and the animals were
pushed into the water and guided to Il
sandy beach about two hundred yards IN
extent At Siboney the landing was made
on the beach and at . small wharf erected
by the engineers. | had neither the time
nor the men to spare to construct permd-
nent WharVeS. In spite of the fact that L
had nearly one thousand men continuously
at work on the roads, they were at times
impossible for wagons. The san Juan ana
Aguadores rivers would often suddenly rise
so as to prevent the passage of wagons,
and then the eight pack trains with the
command had to be depended on for the
Victualing of my army as well as the 200O0
refugees, who could not, in the interests OF
humanity. be left to StarVe While we had ra-
tions. Often for days nothing could be
moved except on pack trains.
After the great physical strain and ex-
posture of July l and the malarial and
other fevers began to rapidly advance
throughout the command. and on July the
yellow fever appeared at Siboney; Ih9ugn
opfn rfc n
the army it soon became known.
THE supply of quartermaster and COM
missary stores during the campaign was
abundant and Notwithstanding the ditncul-
ties in landing and transporting the rations,
the troops on the firing line were at all
times supplied with its coarser components,
namely, of bread, meat, sugar and coffee.
There was no lack of transportation, for at
no time up to the surrender could all the
wagons l had be used.
I'm reference to the sick and wounded I
have to say that they received every at
tention that it was possible to give them
The medical officers without exception
worked night and day to alleviate the suf-
fering which was no greater than lnvar-
iably accompanies campaign. 1t would
have been better if we had more ambu-
lances but as many were taken as was
thought necessary, judging from previous
campaigns.
superb and / wish to invite attention to
the fact that not an officer was brought
to trial by court-martial. and, as far as
i
volumes for an army of this size and in a
campaign of such duration.
I'm conclusion, l desire to express to the
members of my staff my thanks for their
efficient performance of all the duties re-
quired of them. and the good Judgment and
bravery displayed on all occasions when de-
manded"
General Shafter recommends for promo
ton and brevets the, following officers;
Lieut. Col. E.. j. McClernand, Lieut. Col.
George McDerby, Lieut.. Col. j. ID. Miley,
Major R. H. Noble. Lieutenant Colonel ].
j. Astor, Lieut.. Col. p. F. Pope. Major s..
w. Groesbeck Lieut.. Col Chas F. Humph-
rey. Colonel John r. Weston; Major G. G..
Starr, Major Leon Roudiez. Major II. j..
Galliger, Captain Brice. Captain E. II.
Plummer, Captain j. C. Gilmore, jr, Capt.
w. Fl. McKittrick. He also mentions DR.. G.
Goodfelow and Mr.. G.. F. Hawkins, of New
York, for services performed and expresses
his Warmest thanks to division brigade and
regimental commanders without exception.
The reports of division commanders, which
are attached, have been already reported.