The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-01-19

Gdbah diktHtcs HhS tOuHuEU Out
great life after having exhibited the
highest qualities of great commander,
and now, when beyond the patr;archial
age and the freedom of Cuba is achieved,
he will retire to enjoy the blessings he
has so largely aided in winning for the
oppressed people of Cuba. H will be
honored while living and widely la
nented when dead, but the names
which call out the pathos in the history
OF Cuban independence are Marti. Maceo
and Garcia.
The participation Of Gen. Garcia in
the siege of Santiago has never been
officially promulgated in this country,
ard none of the metropolitan rewspa-
pers has published the facts, because
they have not had access to them. The
writer has learned from officers at army
headquarters. in the war depai tment
building, some facts on the subject
which are now written for the first time.
While Gen. Miles was endeavoring to
embark the Fifth corps, which was 70
90 to Cuba under Skaters command,
he received word from Gen. Garcia ask
ing that instructions be sent t. HIM for
cooperation with the American army.
Gen. Miles sent instructions in he form
Of suggestions and requests, but they
were heartily accepted as commands,
showing the good will and alac1ity of
soldier and patriot. So anxious was
Garcia to show his readiness TO coop
crate that his responses were hurried
forward through different channels in
order that in case one should miscarry
another might reach its destination.
Gen. Garcia said that he woulc at once
concentrate his forces at the points in-
dicated; that he would march without
delay; that he had already sent forces
to prevent aid going to Santiago from
Holguin; and that he would guard other
approaches TO Santiago. How earnest
was his purpose, and how energetcally
executed, is evidenced by the fact that
on the arrival OF Skaters expedition.
Garcia's forces were already In position
sll around Santiago, practically encom-
passing that city and the Spanish feet
lying in its harbor.
A glance at the positions seized proves
that superior soldierly instinct had
guided him in their selection and
seizure, the result obtained being the
practical beleaguerment of the city.
feet and harbor, and plainly indicates
the point where the American forces
should have landed, and the tactics
which obviously could not have failed
to give the Americans, with tie least
possible loss of life. the possession OF
the enemy's feet or its certain destruc-
tlcn and the possession of the city also.
Gen. Garcia had sent 5000 men tc hold
in check the 10000 Spaniards stationed
al Holguin; he had placed 1000 men
across the path which the 6,0c3 Span
iards at Guantanamo would have to fol-
low in an effort to reinforce Santiago.
He also sent 1000 men to execute a SIM
liar duty in the event that the 5000
Spanards al Manzahillo should attempt
the same enterprise. The Cubans un.
der Garcia participated in upwards ot
20 skirmishes with the approaching re-
CT forcements.
Gen. Garcia was amazed when Shafter
refused TO give him reenforcen.ents to
carry out his well laid plans. Shafter
said that he wanted all the SpaIards ir
The province to get into Santiago so that
be might capture them all at once. That
was before the assault of July /, when
suffered a serious repulse. Then
he directed Gen. Garcia to prev Mt fur.
ther Spanish accessions, but it was too
late. Skaters principal blunder at
Santiago was his first blunder, in chang
ing Garcia's plans and taking the hard
est possible route for his soldiers.
Although Gen. Garcia communicated
his views with dignity, and received re-
Dukes and contumely with suavity, he
knew that he was right, and that
Shafter was wrong; but he obeyed or
ders just the same, and fought with his
men by night and by day until the city
was captured by the brute courage of
the soldiers themselves, without orders
from the sick general who accompanied
the Fifth corps, and who telegraphed
his defeat on Sunday, July 3. At that
very time, Gen. Garcia and Gen Wheel
er were on the firing line, declaring
that they would succeed. Gen. Garcia
and Gen. Wheeler were the real heroes
there in active command.
Until the close of the campaign Gen.
Garcia continued to advance until his
right rested upon the bay, and he also
sent out strong detachments to cover
roads leading from Holguin and other
Spanish garrisons TO Santiago. Upon
the surrender of the city of Santiago,
Gen. Garcia, commanding the Cuban
forces, was debarred from entrance
int fba rifu o,,1 fr1,, a~.,