The sun., 1899-04-30
HEAVY LOSS OF OFFICERS.
FIGURES OFF THE NTT1GO CIM-
P1IGN IND or THE ,,ITIL WAR.

FIGURES OFF THE SANTIAGO CIM-
PiIGN AND or THE ,rITIL WAR.
The Latter show Some Ren ,aTknbly Heavy
Lossa-Forty-three Officpps Killed at
Fort WRgner-COn Losses at
Franklin, Tenn.-At hair Oaks Long
street Lost sixty-one Oftcers Killed.
WASHINGTON. April 23.-The American loss
in officers in the several bat ties with the
Spanish forces before Santiago Cuba, on the
1st I'd aud 81 OF July last. Officially reported
by Gen Shafter. amounted to twenty-three
killed and eighty wounded. A number OF the
latter were mortally wounded. and subse-
qucntly died All but few of the se killed and
wounded oiflcens were of the regular army.
The Army Register for 1899, just out. shows
that OF the total. eighteen OF the killed outright
and six who died OF their wounds belonged to
seventeen different infantry and cavalry regi-
ments OF the permanent establishment.
There is n popular impression that the
losses in officers vera very severe. which is
correct but it is a mistake to suppose they
we're unprecedented or even extraordinary. in
the annals OF our military cam patgns. Some
of the losses sustained by both Union and Con-
federate commands during tho civil war make
these casualties at Santiago look rather mod
crate. when the time consumed in the battles
and the numbers engaged are considered.
Gen Skaters force in these Cuban battles
was approximately 1880 men. the greater
part Of whom were regulars. But ahaiters
troops were not armed with the best modern
breech-loading magazine rifles. whereas their
Spanish foe was equirYed with the famous
Mauser rifles. held now by most experts to DO
the best arm in existence. Out OF this fact has
grown another erroneous impression. VIZ that
the battles of nowadays are very muh more
destructive than those Of even forty years ago.
because OF the superiority OF the later models
of firearms But. nevertheinss. it Is very
doubtful IL the Americans at Santiago would
have been successful much sooner than they
were or lost fewer men. had they been armed
with precisely the same kind OF rifles as the
Spanarls. The latter were covered with
earthworks. while our men fought In the omen.
During our civil war the Union and Conted-
crate troops were on even terms SO tar as
arms were concerned. The great bulk OF both
armies was equipped with Enfield and Spring.
field riied muskets. muzzle loadtrs. with the
exception OF a short whilc at tho beginning.
There was but little, II any. difference in the
effectiveness OF these two models although
one was American and the other English.
In the memorable assault made by the Union
forces on Fort Wagner. Morris Island. 5. C.. on
the 18th OF July. 1853. ten regiments OF volun-
teer infantry were engaged. 1t took place at
although a part OF the assault ing column ef-
fected lodgment in one OF the baStions, but
the men we're ultimately captured Il, after hold
ing out about three hours. The loss in killed.
wounded and missing was l.5lo. which M
cluded 3Sl missing. some OF whona were doubt
less killed and wounded. ShaftIrs losses IN
the three days hghting at Santiag were l,ooo.
The Spanish defences at Santiago appear to
have been about as strong as those OF the Con-
federates at Wagner; therefore. tire compare
son Is a fair one in every way. EXCEPT that
the numbers engaged at Wagner and the
time consumed were far less than at San
!'rx% !% % "s * 5% rs nc @sn - a%a nd asa" a., Sy
regiments engaged. % officers we !" killed
outright and Is wounded OF ,as ,nmtt,ir la,trr
died. among them Gen. George Q. Strong. the
magnificent soldier, who sommande't the as
s sRss 81 oss1 sss
sd saaadsG 1 sHd Fl a s' 6Rs sns
SHnsSf Ths sSs%
the The m @ uzzIe- oadinG Enhield rifles. but at very
III isYis killed iedtTid and wognded. w w '
The number Of ,Gonfederya.tes actually en-: en-.
h tS strss s ffa hS 3
Santiago although Hoods entire force az mana
particularly in Officers. No detailed ofic a re.
port OF them is on fle 10 ths public archives,
Ts,ns tRsI Printed to es sr osef: Ss
fHsS feS a and sb n2U %oanded seVSrs oi the latter
s2. Sse & fRd Rd n ae@sSs G9ns xo4s OF atn pc
ally swept bare Io,inGs division u lost
NI,;a Jiyi. N urnh hal laSS fhnn nnp-Hfth Of
the present senator from Missouri. Francis n.
I men Sna s2 oesrs s?'9 Of Sess %ss IL
9iticers Killed and 81 wounded. apd 277 en-
cocsreli % hims self lived to tell the tale; but hs
evidently found the atmosphere much hotter
sh"t n ehe
officers killed and 30 wounded. But although
the confgderates suffered iaF , greater th losses
were not by any means all on one side. as at
Fort Wagner, In the five 6riEasaes 60. OF the
In nj the bloody asssui,. delivered by Burnside
heavy. as the, Coniederates manly fought be-
sssss atsa sSS 81 SssSs s& E%S %5SSpSsa S:
these the, single division OF Hancock. which
oeaTs Oh shs %oad rUR than
nth. dt the army's total loss In officers.
renime ents. alone lost II officers killed and Al
wounded. ,Humnhreyss division Of eight reg
iments lost II officers killed and 81 wounded.
Hancock carried into action AT Fredericksburg
+,4S4 men and officers. all volunteers less
than one-thir1 the force Shaito. sent against
the SuanardS AT Santiago
In his attack upon the Union fortified lines
at Fair Oaks LhNEstCcet' : Confederate division
lost 81 officers Killed and 203 wounded ICON
siderable number OF the wounded subsequent
ly died.
The foregoing citations and comparisons deal
tonly with assaultson fortified, lines or earth