Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-21
WHEELER'S DEFENCE
REPUTATION OF CHARGE RESPECT
ING THE GUAsIMAs FIGHT.
He WAS STRICTLY UNDER ORDERS.
Abundant Testimony to Prove This
He Was Against Retrcatinc-From
tiaGo He Maintained This Position.

says. Ito rofute certain allegations which
reflect upon the cavalry division which l
had the honor to command"
The statement Is very volumnous, max
ing really another history OF the cam
paign before Santiago, and II IS accom-
panied by an appendix. made up OF let
tiers from officers who were connected
with General Wheeler in his operations,
TO support the allegations he makes.
General Wheeler begins with the decla-
ration that some statements were made
before the War Investigating Commission
regarding tho battle OF Ia Guasimas
which do great injustice to the part Of
the army which fought that battle. Ste
phen Bonsal stated that General Wheeler
was guilty Of disobedlence Of orders. Cen
eral Wheeler says that to remain silent
and neglect to refute the untruthful
| charges made by Bonsal would be dis
| loyal TO the soldiers and to the country.
| lie notes that it is with the approval Of
Major-General Miles. commanding-gene-
raj. that he makes the explanation now
submitted
ORDERS FROM SKATER.
The history Of tho movement begins
with the quotations Of statement by
General I.awton before the War Commits
sion TO the effect that he had been direct
cd by the general commanding to pro-
coed TO and capture Siboney. General
Wheeler tells how the troops landed, how
he had pointed out TO Shafter the neces-
sjtv Of pursuing and beating the Span
iards before they could retreat behind
their strong breast-works at Santiago,
and how Shafter and many officers fully
concurred in the necessity for speedy
movement lie reports Skaters order TO
proceed to Jaragua and throw pickets
forward 10 Juraguacito" otherwise Sibo-
ney). lie quotes various orders to sho"
Skaters anxiety TO Get Wheeler rapidly
forward. in order to reach Lawton. whom
he found on the road just before reaching
siboney. Wheeler tells Of the recon-
noissance he made personally ana OF
consultation that night with GeneIal
Young and Colonel Wood. lie says tne
Cubons predicted that the SpaniarGs
would leave Slbonev and Santiago that
NIGHT. when the advance began next
dav. General Wheeler says the regular
troops and artillery were ordered upon
the main Siboney and Santiago ROAD
while the Rough Riders and some of the
other cavalry organizations were, "on the
recommendation of General Castillo sent
bv the less-freQuented and more diillcalt
road"
CONGRATULATIONS FROM SHAtIEh
The Spaniards were found In the SAINT
rosition next morning, about three miles
/
a description of the action that followed
He saws that the dynamite gun, upor
which great reliance WAS placed, fallet
TO reach him, and IL was for time very
doubtful whether the men in front Of nm
were Standards or Cubans. In an houl
the fight was won, but the enemys re
treat being precipitate his men being eN
hausted. and all being on foot, pursui
was impossible. At this point Genera
Wheeler includes congratulatory reports
from Shafter upon the engagement.
He points out that Shafter was tn
only officer in Cuban waters senior t.
him: that he (WheeleD was the senlo
officer on shore, and Of course, much Wa
left TO his discretion. lie quotes Shaf
ter's testimony before the commission Il
the effect that the fight had good re
suits: that it taught the Spaniards tina
they had different men from the Cuban
to fight. M
General Wheeler submits that hi
shows beyond controversy that what ~
did was strictly in accord with Genera
Shafter's orders: that the Ia Guasima
fight was made in strict obedience to IN
spirit OF and the proper Interpretation
of the orders received from Genera
Shafter. --..,o..,e,
TESTIMONY OF LAWTON'S.
T.. .11;.f,,, General Wheeler insist
thar leaving this evidence aside. the facts
stated in his report 10 Shafter June Zd
= and LaWton's sworn evidence before IN
commission. show that he fought III
, battle in strict compliance with the *
press wishes Of General Shafter, hi
commanding general.
Wheeler quotes LawtOn's statemen
that he had been ordered by Shatter L
proceed against Siboney. and declare
that practically his orders were the sam
as Lawton's. The Spanards were IN
: ! position where it was advantageous 10
the Americans to attack them, rattle
than 10 allow them 90 fight in thei
j block-houses and other defences whie
they occupied at the time Lawton re
! | ceived his orders
I saws General wheeler: "The least de
I, lay. and this opportunity would nave pee
: lost. / knew that he (Shafter) wante
{ tho enemy impressed with America
bravery and determination. | knew ina
the American people and the administra
tion had sent US to Cuba for a specla
; purpose. and that prompt attack on IN
, Standards would aid in attaining that pun
pose. This added 10 the imperative lie
cessitv of immediate action.
, SOLDIERS NOT AMBUSHED.
/ 1.-THE statement that the soldiers wer
y ambushed Is absolutely untrue; the state
8 ment that they were aided, in any way
shane. or form. by other troops is untru
The nearest American troops were aDou
four miles off when the fight commenced
, and the victory had been won and IN
. enemy were in preclpitate retreat fun
= two hours before they reached the field.
General Wheeler proceeds TO point ou
|, the difficult position of the troops at IN
!, ond of the battle. with their entrencf
!, ments filed with rain, hungry and tlre'
= He claims the victory was due TO IN
- cavalry division entirely, and quotes IN
y. snanish reports TO show that the Spar
= iards believed the American force whic
. whipped them and drove them from IN
. field was ten times as large as it actuall
- was. -
= He refers 70 a statement by Bonsai ina
J. Tayton had declared that every ma