The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-13

days Of July. The letter to the editor OF
the Tribune says: Army men declare
the second, and only changed his views
when he found himself in the minority at
the meeting tof generals on the evening OF
July - Mr.. Bonsal also says that. al
though General Wheeler stood against re-
treat while the others were waverfng on
the night Of July l. he had modified his
the second, and Mr.. Bonsal quotes from
an account of the night conference alleged
to have been written by one of the officers
US that on that afternoon General Wheeler
came TO see him. and was most emphatic
and outspoken in his desire TO retreat To
this General Wheeler responds as follows
This statement is absolutely untrue. I
was emphatic and positive and earnest
San Juan hill until July l6 when Santiago
surrendered; General Kent has written TO
me positively denying that he ever made
the alleged statement, or that ever made
such a statement 10 him. This statement
of Mr.. Bonsal was called TO the attention OK
Captain Matthew F. Steele, who served on
that this statement Is untrue. He says
that when General Wheeler received the
quarters Quartz he said: we cannot retreat: Il is
unnecessary and would be disastrous; We
are twice as strong in force ana nothing
would justify our falling back. Captain
Steele SAYS further: 'On his return from
General Shafter L asked the general THAT
was the result of his visit 10 General Shaf-
-.
army would not fall back. and that the
matter had been discussed and that ne hao
made this proposition: Il make the motion
that we return to our commands. strengthen
our position and remain In our position, or
words TO that effect. He declined TO say
how the ssd voted en inS
urged that the army ought to retreat. but
est grounds against IL. stated that i had
opposed retreating the night before. when
we had no breastworks and very small
force on the ridge, and that now we We're
twice as strong In position and more than
twice strong in men,. Toward evening
General Wheeler received TINS message irons
the idea OF sending a division In the rear
of the left division TO clear out the forts
along the entrance to the bay, so as 10 let
the navy in and have the business over
Can IL be done2" Before the receipt of this
message Gen. Wheeler had learned OF the
pressure on Gen. Shafter 10 Withdraw the
army and believing that the proposed
movement meant or would result I'm a with
drawal, he replied at once TO Gen. Smarter.
Il regret to say that do not think infantry
can take forts along the entrance or the
bay. / would like to do It. but the EFFORT
would be attended with terrible loss. We
can procure artillery without limit IL seems
siege guns and other artillery In position
and hammer at Santiago and at all the bat
terfes that interfere with u.s." This reply
was written late in the afternoon, just be-
fore General Wheeler started for General
Skaters headquarters, and about the time
that he expressed himself so strongly
against retreating TO Captain Steele. as the
captain declares.
An interesting confirmation of all this ex-
plicit evidence is found in Colonel hoose-
velt's account OF the campaign, In which he
saws: "a ~ery few words with General
Wheeler treasured us about retiring He
had been through too much heavy fighting
in the civil war to regard the present night
as very serious, and he told us not TO b5
under any apprehension. for he had sent
word that there was no need whatever or
retiring and was sure could stay where
we were until the chance came to advance
He was second in command. ana 10 him
more than TO any other one man was Que
the prompt abandonment OF the proposal TO
fall back a proposal which III adopted would
have meant shame and disaster Shortly
afterward General Wheeler sent us orders
&c intrench."
Altogether. IL must appear that General
Wheeer's report 10 the adjutant general IN
reply 10 his critics certainly seems 10 de-
molish the two serious accuse tons they
brought against him-namely, that he dis
obeyed orders and caused misfortune at Las
Guasimas. ard that he was disposed 10 re-
treat from the ridge OF San Juan.