The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-29
HE REALLY COMMANDED
M'KINLEY KEPT CLOSE WATCH on
PROGRESS OF WAR.
Many Orders, Even i'm Minor Matters,
Came Directly from Him-Examples
of His Careful oversight.
National Magazine for May.

NdllOHdl MdedZilS lOI May"
Much has been written regarding the
personality of the late President Mckinley.
Never before in the history of our country
was there a President who absolutely
and devotedly commanded the fighting
forces of the United States as did William
Mckinley.
During the civil war the conditions were
widely different. Then the commanders in
the field had almost entire authority TO do
as they pleased with the forces of their
commands. General Grant seldom asked
for orders from Washington, and he only
irfrequently received any. Not so during
the Spanish-American war. Mr.. Mckinley
was, at all times. fully cognizant of even
the minutest detail affecting the army and
navy.
Conferences were held at the White
House every evening and often lasted un-
til l. and 8 o'clock in the morning. There
were present, usually, Secretary of War
Alger, Secretary of the Navy Long and
General Corbin, the adjutant general of the
army. The President required all military
orders to be submitted 10 him before being
issued, and many of them to-day bear his
corrections in pencil.
The night of June and the morning of
the Sth will long be remembered by those
at the White House. On the evening of the
18th, upon the advice OF Admiral Sampson
that ne had bombarded the forts of Santi-
ago and urging that army of not less
than 10000 men be sent there at once, a
direct wire was secured from the White
House to Tampa, and General Shafter was
instructed to sail Immediately.
Within five minutes a reply was re-
hat IN ba inn, N
for him TO get away before daylight the
next day. Until about o'clock i'm the
morning kilograms were going to and COM
ing from General Shafter. The President
wanted TO know how many troops and
horses would go with the first expedition
II adequate quartermaster, commissary and
medical supplies were on board the ships.
After all this information had been OBJ
tanned, the President said to the operator:
Tell him'-meaning General Shafter-
good night and gOdspeed.'
The order below shows that President Nc
Kinley, at times, even designated the regi-
ments for active service:
Washington. ID. c.
General Corbin:
IF we need more troops for Manila, after
the force now at S. +. has gone | direct
that you will order the Twelfth New York
Col. Leonard comdg. VIM. Nick.
Aug. II. 1885,
on July 5, the day after the naval battle
at Santiago, Mr. Mckinley sent the follow
ing order to the secretary of war
ITO the Secretary of War:
General Shafter and Admiral Sampson
should confer at once for corporation in
taking Santiago. After the fullest ex-
change of views they should be left TO de-
termine the time and manner Of attack,
William Mckinley"
On July 10. just after the land battle
around Santiago General Shafter, in a dis
patch 10 the adjutant general regarding the
surrender. reported that the Spanish com
mander desired that his troops be allowed
to retain their arms. The following answer
was written by Secretary Alger under di-
rection of the President:
Executive Mansion Washington
Mai Gen. Shafter-YOur dispatch is a
surprise TO the President and me. What
you went to Santiago for was the Span
ish army. If you allow IL to evacuate
with It's arms you must meet 1t some
where else. This is not war. If the
| Spanish commander desires to leave the
| city and its people, let him surrender and
we will then discuss the question as TO
| what shall be done with them
The order below is in the handwriting Of
| Mr.. Mckinley and was sent to General
Miles as soon as he landed in Porto Rico:
How many troops will you require for
! the campaign in Porto Rico? After being on
the ground, do you revise your original fig
| ure of 40 O00?''
| II will be remembered that when our
| soldiers were encamDed at Chickamauga
and other places their friends and relatives
sent them all kinds OF delicacies. such. in
| many instances. being very detrimental 70
| the hedltn OF the men. 10 snow the BreSl-
! dents personal supervision over such small
details, below is given a copy Of an item
| prepared by the adjutant general for pub
! lication in the daily press which IL was
| thought would stop the practice:
! THE sending OF delicacies to the army
/ by generous people will not longer be en-
/ couraged by the War Department. as IL has
been found that such delicacies for troops
/ in the field are Injurious rather than help
/ full. The secretary of war suggests that
/ donations Of this character be sent 10 the
hospitals only. and that the surgeon Of the
army De consulted 10 where they will
4 be most needed.
/ This the President amended 20 read:
The sending Of deicacies 10 the army. al
/ though most generous and fully appreci-
ated by the authorities, will not longer be
encouraged" etc.
one OF the most interesting and at the
same time unique follows
Executive Mansion. Washington.
/ Secretary OF War:
Make the necessary order which will en-
/ able the regiment OF w j. Bryan 10 be &C
/ cepted under the quota OF the State OF Ne
/ braska- WM. NJ X"
/ Mr.. Mckinley very often would come 10
| the telegraph bureau and read the mes
qrtk.