The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-21
REFUTED BY WHEELER
OF THE GENERALS CON-
DUCT NOT WARRANTED.
"FightiDg Joe's" Reply to Reflections
on the Work of the Cavalry Di.i-
sion i'm the Fighting Near Santiago.


refute certain allegations which reflect
upon the cavalry division which l had the
honor to command" The statement is ex-
ceedingly voluminous making really an
other history of the campaign before San
tiago, and it is accompanied by an appendix
made UP of letters from officers who were
connected with General Wheeler in his
operations to support the allegations he
makes.
General Wheeler begins with the declara-
ton that some statements were made be-
fore the war investigation commission re-
garding the battle of La Guasfmas which
do great injustice to that part of the army
which fought that battle. Stephen Bonsal
states that General Wheeler was guilty of
disobedience of orders. General Wheeler
says that to remain silent and neglect to
refute the untruthful charges made by Bon
sal would be disloyal to the soldiers and to
the country He notes that it is with the
approval of Major General Miles, the COM
manding general that he makes the ex-
PLANTATION now submitted.
The history of the movements begins with
a quotation of a statement made by General
Lawton before the war commission, to
the effect that he had been directed by the
general commanding to proceed TO and
capture Siboney. General Wheeler tells
how the troops landed; how he had pointed
out to Shafter the necessity of pursuing and
beating the Spaniards before they could re-
treat behind their strong breastworks at
Santiago, and how Shafter and many Off
GERS fully concurred in the necessity for a
speedy movement. He reports Skaters
order to proceed to Jaragua and throw
forward pickets to Juaraguacito" otherwise
Siboney) He quotes various orders TO
show Skaters anxiety to get Wheeler
rapidly forward in order to reach Lawton,
whom he found on the road just before
reaching Siboney. Wheele- tells of the
reconnaissance he made personally and of
a consultation that night with General
Young and Colonel Wood. He says the
Cubans predicted that the Spaniards would
leave Siboney and Santiago that night
FAILED TO GET DYNAMITE GUN.
When the advance began next day, Gen.
Wheeler says, the regular troops and artil-
lery were ordered upon the main Siboney
and Santiago road, while the Rough Riders
and some of the other cavalry organizations
were, ION the recommendation of Gen.
Castillo, sent by the less frequented and
most difficult road" The Spaniards were
found in the same position the next morn
ing about three miles from Siboney, and
General Wheeler gives description of the
action that followed. He says the dyna-
mite gun on which great reliance was
placed failed to reach him, and it was for
a time very doubtful whether the men in
front of him were SpaniardS or Cubans. In
an hour the fight was won, but the enemy s
retreat being precipitate, his men being ex-
hausted and all being on foot, pursuit was
impossible.
At this point General Wheeler includes
congratulatory reports from Shafter upon
the engagement. He points out that Shaiter
was the only officer in Cuban waters senior
to him: that he, Wheeler was the senior
officer on shore and, of course, much was
left to his discretion. He quotes Shafter' s
effect that the fight had good results; that
it taught the Spaniards that they had diff
ferent men from the Cubans TO hght;
Wheeler submits that this SHOWS beyond
controversy that what he did was strictly
in accordance with General Skaters orders;
that the La Guasimas fight was made in
strict obedience to the spirit of and proper
Interpretation of the orders received from
General Shafter In addition, Genera}
Wheeler insists that leaving this evidence
aside, the facts stated by Lawton in his re-
port to Shafter of June %. and Lawton S
sworn evidence before the war commission
would show that he fought the La Guasimas
wishes of General Shafter, his commanding
general.
FAVORED PROMPT ACTION.
Wheeler quotes Lawton's statement that
he had been ordered by Shafter to proceed
against Siboney, and declares that practic-
ally his orders were the same as Lawton's S.
He insists that the Spaniards were in po-
sition where it was advantageous for the
Americans to attack them rather than to
allow them to fight in their block houses
and other defenses, which they occupied at
the time Lawton received his orders. Says
Gen. Wheeler: THE least delay, and this
have hoo ms
that he (Shafter) wanted the enemy to be
impressed with American bravery and de-
termination. L knew tina: the American
people and the administration had sent us
TO Cuba for a special purpose and that q
prompt attack on the SpaniardS would aid
in attaining that purpose. This (dread OF
yellow fever) added to emphasize the inn
perative necessity of prompt action upon
my part. The victory was due entirely 10
the chivalric courage of the 964 brave Amer
lean soldiers who fought the battle. Inc
statement that they were ambushed was aD-
solutely untrue. The statement that they
were aided in any way, shape or form by
any other troops is also untrue. The near
est American troops were about TOUR miles
off when the fight commenced. and the VIC
tory had been won and the enemy had been
in precipitate retreat fully two hours before
they reached the field"
Gen. Wheeler proceeds to point out the
difficult position of the troops at the end OF
the battle Drenched with rain, hungry and
tired. He claims the victory was due TO
the cavalry division entirely, and quotes
iards believed the American force which
whipped them and drove them from the held
was ten times s large as it actually was.
He refers to statement by Bonsel tha'
Iawton had declared that every man VINO
had fallen in the Guasimas fight had been
needlessly sacrificed. and he says: 1T is
my duty to say that this statement is alb
solutely untrue" He tells how General Law
ton. after the fight, congratulated him
(Wheeler) and points out how unsoldierly II
would have been Cor Lawton to have crit
cax-s +he efafornort ff,- C-ia~'r7,~ fis~;''
had the effect of drawing the troops five OF
six miles into the interior was also mis-
take. The adNallce Mas oH.s sLtcc Ei-4CF
and would have been necessary in any case
to find proper camping ground In this con
nection he again quotes Shafter In an order
TO him to advance Lawton's division. made
because il would have been impossible C
have camped the entire army within three
miles of the coast at Siboney
WHAT LAWTON SAID.
Touching General Miles's statement before
the war commission where that officer said
Lawton had told him that there was {
scheme on foot TO leave him Qawton) II
the lurch, and have fight. General Wheeler
points out that General Miles was careful
to say that he only reported what Lawtor
| told him.
Taking up the charge that Wheeler haC
| been relieved of command on the night OF tn'
| 30th and had no con6nand during the battle
| on the following day. General Wheeler says
| Thereupon he shows he was assigned TO M:
command on June "A. and tells what he die
I day by bay in the exercise OF that command
| He saws on the 18th. 18th and 30th he SUI
| fered from fever resulting from exposure
| but nevertheless continued his duties an6
| WAS not nut the sick report. lie al