Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-23
WHEELER DEFENDS HIMSELF.
Answers Allegations Rejecting Upon
His Command in Cuba.

Washington, March 21.-Adjutant
General Corbin yesterday made public
a statement which Gen. Wheeler has
felt called upon to make, in order as
he says, ito refute certain allegations
which reflect upon the cavalry division
which | had the honor to command"
The statement is exceedingly volum-
nous, and is accompanied by an ap-
pendix made up of letters from officers
who were connected with Gen. Wheel
er in his operations to support the allie
cations that he made. Gen. Wheeler
begins with the declaration that some
statements were mace before there was
an investigating commission regarding
the battle of La Guasimas which do
great injustice to that part of the
army which fought the battle. Steven
BonsaI stated that Gen. Wheeler was
guilty of disobedience of orders. Gen.
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 coun-
try. After giving the details of the
landing at Daiquiri, Gen. Wheeler re-
ports that Skaters ORDER was to pro
coed to Jaragua and throw forward
pickets to Juraguairto" otherwise
Siboney). He quotes various orders to
show Skaters anxiety to get Wheeler
rapidly forward in order to reach Law
ton, whom he found on the road just
before reaching Siboney. The Span
iards were founu next morning about
three miles from Siboney and Gen.
', neeler gives description of the &C
ton that followed which is known as
the battle of La Guasimas. He points
out that Shafter was the only officer in
| Cuban waters senior to him; that ne,
| Wheeler, was senior officer on shore
and of course much was left to his dis
cretion He quotes Skaters testimony
before the commission to the effect
that the fight had good results and
that it taught the Spaniards they had
different men from the Cubans to
fight. Wheeler submits that this
shows beyond controversy that
what he did was strictly in accordance
with Gen. Skaters orders. Wheeler
had been ordered by Shafter to pro-
coed against Siboney and declares
that practically his orders were the
same as Lawton's. He insists that the
Spaniards were in a position where it
was advantageous for the Americans
to attack them rather than allow them
to fight in their blockhouses and other
defenses which they occupied at the
time Lawton received his orders.
Taking up the charge that Wheeler had
been relieved Of the command on the
night of the Both and had no command
during the battle on the following day,
Gen. Wheeler says the statement is
absolutely false. He admits that he
was ignorant of the conference held
by Shafter and his generals on the
Goth, but Shafter explained this by
saying that he understood Wheeler
was sick and his physician had ad
vised against letting him know of the
proposed battle the next day. Not |
witnstanding this. Wheeler says, he
learned that active preparations were
being made for operations and at day.
light on the next day he rode to the |
front and exercised command. He |
tells of the weakness of the line at |
San Juan and says many officers in
sisted that the ridge could not be held
and he learned the same statements
had been made to Shafter. Says
Wheeler: Z did everything in my
power to discourage this feeling"
Gen. Wheeler says the statement that
he had told Gen. Kent of his desire to
retreat was absolutely untrue, adding
Il was emphatic and positive and
earnest against retreating from the
time We took San Juan hill until July
18th when Santiago surrendered"