The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-07-20
GEN. MILES GONE
TO PORTO RICO.
GEN. BROOKE SECOND IN
COMMAND.

deos Secretary Alger ADD Gen Brooke,
during which there vas frequent con-
muuicatiou with Gen. Miles at Siboney,
the details of the Porto Rlcan expedi-
ton we're perfected and the expedition
itself was gotten under way, Gen
Miles. with some artillery and troops
sailing today for Porto Rico op the con-
verted cruiser Yale. to be followed
quickly by an army of about 10000
meo. There are some notable differ
ences 10 the plan for this expedition
aud for the stately paval pageant that
sailed away from Tampa under Gen
Shafter's command to attack Santiago.
First, there will be no naval coovoys,
the navy department has declared that
they are uqpecessary; that there is net
Spanish Sarsbip 10 the West Indies
that dare truet it's bow out of port. 10
the second place the expedition does
not star. from one point, but Will be
divided among several ports. thus pre-
venting the tremendous congestion that
was encountered at Tampa in tie effort
to start the big feet. Lastly, there
will be DO effort 10 get tbe ships away
together, but the transports will be
allowed to ipd their own way to their
destination without concerted move
ments.
Gen Miles leads the way. He had
been promised by the Prcsideus that be
should 60 to Porto Rico aud the prom
ise was redeemed when the Yale head
ed to-day from Siboney for Porto Rico,
800 miles distant.
Gen Brooke will be the senior officer
10 Gsn. Miles command and upon him
will fall the responsibility for the execa'
ton of the details OF bis saperlor's
plans.
It ia estimated that Gen. Miles
should arrive by Wednesday night at
.he point selected for the landing and
will hoist the American dag at once
over Porto Ricar soil The point
chosen for bis landing is kept secret,
as the general will land before The full
body of the expedition is at hand. and
it is consequently not desirable that the
enemy should be able to assemble su-
perior force to meet him.
The distance from Charleston
where the FIRST body Of troops for Miles
expedition vas to start to-day, is more
than double che distance from Santiago
to Porto Rico 80 that the transports
which sail from the former city can
scarcely reach Gen. Miles before the
early part Of next week. These
Charleston troops are the first brigade
Of the fret division Of the frs: army
corps and are commanded by Brig.
Gen. George II. Ernst. The brigade
comprises the I'd Wisconsin, Sd Wis
consiu and 10th Pennsylvania regi.
ments
Tie purpose of Secretary Alger is
to make the Porto Ricau campaign a
short one. An overwhelming force
will be thrown upon the island and it
is possible t1at bloodless victory will
be achieved when the Spanish become
convinced that they have no reasonable
chance to resist successfully.
The expedition is to comprise $4,000
men at the start, and it will be swelled
soon to 40, 600, and if necessary to TO-,
900, the equipment of the volunteer
forces having DOW progressed so we'll as
to warrant the statement that that mum.
Der can be ready for service in Porto
Rico within very short time. The
entire body of troops at Tampa wil be
takeo. number about 5000 men and
including lot OF heavy and light ar
tillery under ommand of Gen. Rodg.
er.. The expedition will be particu-
larly stroog with artillery as come Of
that at Santiago commanded by Gen.
Randolph is to be drawn upon.
The Tampa troops are known as the
4th corps uuder Maj Gen. Coppioger,
comprising the "a division under Brig
Gen. Simon SyDder and made up OF the
lst brigade, Brig. Gen. Schwao, 1lth
aud 18th United States infantry );
I'd brigade, Brig. Gen. Carpenter,
I'd New York aud 9th Maryland Sd
brigade, 18th Indiana Sd Penosylva-
uia and 1st Ohio. Brig Geo. Hale; Sd
division, Brig. Gen. Kline. com uand-
Jog Let brigade; Col. c. L. KEENAN,,
5th Ohio. lst Florida and 32d Micbi-
gan I'd brigade, Brig. Gen. Lincolo,
69,h New York, 30 Ohio and I'd Geor-
gia, the provisional cavalry brigade,
Col Noyes 5tb United States aud de-
tacbments of 1st, Sd, 9Th and 10 Uai-
ted States cavalry and eight troops OF
Rough Riders; artillery brigade, Gen.
Randolph. two light and ten heavy bat
,eries Il is possible that all Of the
cavalry will NOS be called upon.
Gen Brooke will take with him
from Chickamauga park most Of the