The times., 1899-03-12

fcient service" He also SAYS: Il am
greatly indebted to General Wheeler. His
cheerfulness and aggressivensss made it
self felt on this part of the battlefield and
the information he furnished me at various
stages OF the battle proved 10 be most use
full -
Wheeler Prevents n Retreat.
The $500 troops who fought and won this
fight had marched all the previous night.
had waded San Juan River. had been un-
der severe fire for hours. t52 had been
killed and loco wounded. and after details
for buryins the dead and carrying the
wounded back TO the rear had been made
L is doubtful If there were more than half
the force on the ridge An angry, power
ful force Of Spaniards was directly in their
front, and some OF the brayest and best
men feared that the position could not be
held. Many officers went 10 General Wheel
er and also TO General Shafter insisting
that the command be Withdrawn. They
contended that il our troops were driven
from the ridge they would be crowded
against the river and the ford, only 500
yards OF. and that the slaughter would be
fearful. General Wheeler took the respon-
sibility OF protesting with all force against
this. and finally wrote TO General Shafter
telling him of the situation and urging him
not TO be inuleneed by the men who had
gone 10 the rear to advise him TO retreat
General Wheeler's letter was as follows:
Headquarters Cavdlry Division
san Juan. July I, ISIS, $50 p. III.
General Shaftcr:
Sif: examined the line in front of Woods
brigade and give the Shovcls and picks and
insisted their going right to work. also
sent VsoTd 10 General KcnI to come and get IN
trenchiug tools. and General Hawkins in per
and told him the thing They all
IL, III. =. sF.,
very difficult. as great part OF it is rocky The
positions our men carried we're very strong and
The intrenchmontS were very strong
\ number Of officers have appealed to me to
have the line Withdrawn and take up a strong
position farther back. and expect they viii ap-
peal 10 you. l have positively discount eElnrri
this, 1t would cost much prestige.
The lines are uow very thin and So many
men have gone 10 the rear with wounded and
many are exhausted; but hope these can b.
brought up tonight and with line iutrench-
ed and LawJon ON our right we ought To hold
tomorrow, bat teJr II viii be severe dIy. II
we can get through tomorrow al right, We can
make our b.eIstwor.s very strong the neNt night.
You can hardly realize the exhausted condition
OF the troops The Third and sixth Cavalry aud
other troops wrrr up marching and halted the
road all last night. and have fought i1r twelve
hours today. and those that are Not on the line
viii be digging trenches tonight
was ON the extreme front line. The mcH
wer, living down and reported the SplniIrls not
JOS WHEELER.
Major General Volunteers.
How the Troops intrcnched.
General Wheeler procured inrenching
tools and put the men at work and by
daylight the position was impregnable.
The next day Bates and Lawtou came up,
General Wheeler fastened their troops to
the line and our position was Sc
cured beyond question. During the 2d
the fighting was more or less severe.
and toward evening the appeals to
Wheeler and Shafter to withdraw
were quite as strong as they were the
night before. General Wheeler discouu
tenanced this in the strongest terms. AMI
late in the afternoon in reply TO letter
from Shafter. opposed. in the strongest
language. any movement TO the rear. but
insisted that batteries be brought up 10
hammer at the enemy's Santiago fortiticl-
tions. Al a meeting of the generals on the
night of the ID General Wheeler's opinion
was asked and he insisted that the COM
mand should remain on the ridge. and
closed his talk with these words;
Il move that return 10 our troops.
encourage our men. strengthen our breast
works and by tomorrow no one will even
want to consider the question Of leaving
I the ridge"
No one has been more emphatic than
[ Governor Roosevelt in the assertion that
! General Wheeler was, from first to last,
! opposed TO retreat.
! Mir. BOusal. in his book fpage 25Gl, states
that General Kent said C. N 'ral Wh seiFr
/ went TO see him on the afternoon OF the Il
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