The record-union., 1899-03-21
GENERAL JOE WHEELER.
HERO OF SANTIAGO MAKES A
STATEMENT.
Refuting Allegations Rejecting
Upon the Cavalry Division
Which He Commanded.

WASHINGTON, March 20-Adju-
tant General Corbin to-day made public
the statement which General Wheeler
has been felt called upon to make, in
order, as he says, to refute certain al
legations which reflect upon the cavalry
division which he had the honor to
command. The statement is exceeding
ly voluminous, making really another
history of the campaign before Santi-
ago, and it is accompanied by an ap-
pendix made up of letters from officers
who We're connected with General
Wheeler in his operations to support
the allegations he makes.
General Wheeler begins with the dec
laration that some statements We're
made before the War Investigation
Commission regarding the fattle of La
Guasimas, which do great injustice to
that part of the army which fought in
that battle Stephen Bonsall states
that General Wheeler was guilty Of dis
obedience to orders. General Wheeler
says that to remain silent and neglect
to refute the untruthful charges made
by Bonsall would be disloyal to the SOL
diers and to the country.
He quotes various orders to show
Skaters anxiety 10 get Wheeler rap
idly forward, I'M order to reach Lawton,
whom he found on the road just before
reaching Siboney.
Wheeler tells of the reconnaissance he
made personally, and of a consultation
that night with General Lawton and
Colonel Wood. He says the Cubans
predicted that the Spaniards would
leave Siboney and Santiago that night
When the advance left the next day
Wheeler says the regular troops and
artillery troops were ordered upon the
Siboney and Santiago road, while the
Rough Riders and some of the other
cavalry organizations, were, on the
recommendation of General Castillo
sent by the less frequented and most
difficult road
The Spaniards were found in the
same position the next morning about
three miles from Siboney, and General
Wheeler gives a description of the ac-
ton that followed. He goes on to show
how necessary it was to act promptly,
and that every movement was in strict
accordance with the orders of General
Shafter. He insists that the Spaniards
were in a position where it was advan-
tageous for the Americans to attack
them, rather than to allow them to
fight in their blockhouses and their
other defenses, which they occupied at
the time Lawton received his orders.
Says General Wheeler: "The least
delay and this opportunity would have
been lost. The victory was due entirely
to the chivalric courage of the 9G4
brave American soldiers who fought the
battle The statement that they were
aided in any way, shape or form by
any other troops is also untrue. The
nearest American troops were about
four miles off when the fight com
and the victory had been won
and the enemy had been in precipi-
tate retreat fully two hours before they
reached the field.
Taking up the charge that Wheeler
had been relieved of command on the
night of the Both, and had mo- command
during the battle on the following day.
General Wheeler says all these state
ments are absolutely false.
Thereupon he shows that he was as
signed to his command on June 24th.
and tells what he did day by day in
the exercise of that command He saws
on the 2Sth, 10Th and Both he suffered
fromi fever resulting from exposure, but
continued his duties, and
was not put upon the sick report. He
admits that he was ignorant of the con-
ference held by Shafter and his Gem
erals on the Both, but Shafter has ex-
planned this by saying that he under
stood Wheeler was sick, and his physi-
~
know of the proposed battle the next
day. Notwithstanding this, Wheeler
says, he learned that active prepara-
tions We're being made for operations,
and at daylight on the next day he
rode to the front and exercised COM
mand.