[_ — % V The Santiago Campaign ^A /*^W THE Santiago Campaign 1898 BY Major-General Joseph Wheeler Commanding Fourth Corps, United States Army Late Commander of Cavalry Division in Santiago Campaign Lamson, Wolffe and Company Boston New York London MDCCCXCVIII Lm^, ** 2 Copyright, 1898, By Joseph Wheeler. All rights reserved. msrW«d Cram - )'s Offtc«. sef ?9 ms U and Churchill Press Boston, Mass., U.S.A. TO Zbe Brave ©fficers anfc SolMers OF THE CAVALRY DIVISION, ARMY OF SANTIAGO, I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO THEIR SUPERB COURAGE IN BATTLE, AND THEIR ENDURANCE AND FORTITUDE WHEN SUBJECTED TO THE DISCOMFORT, DISEASES, AND HARDSHIPS OF THE TROPICAL CLIMATE OF CUBA, IS LARGELY DUE THE GLORY ACHIEVED BY AMERICAN ARMS IN THE CAMPAIGN OF SANTIAGO THEIR GOOD CONDUCT IN BIVOUAC, UPON THE MARCH, AND IN BATTLE, HAS NEVER BEEN SURPASSED BY ANY SOLDIERS; AND I SHALL REMEMBER EACH AND ALL OF THEM WITH EVER INCREASING GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Below synopsis of each chapter will be found, by way of Index, the running heads on right-hand pages. PART I. THE CAMPAIGN. Chapter I. My Appointment — Report for Duty to General Wade, Commanding at Tampa — General Shatter takes Com- mand of the Expedition — Embarking for Cuba — Diary en route ... 3 Arrival at Tampa, 5 ; the embarkation, 7 ; the naval column, 9; approaching Cuba, 11. Chapter II. Landing at Daiquiri, after Naval Bombardment of the Shore — Strength of the Cavalry Division — Hoisting the Flag on a Spanish Block- house — The Battle of Las Guasimas — My Official Report — Names of the Killed 13 The Cavalry Division, ; 15 on the march, 17 ; the battle, ; wounded officers, the 19 21 ; Death Roll, 23. OF CONTENTS v jii TABLE PAGE Chapter III! The Battle of Las Guaslmas (concluded) — Official Reports of Gen- eral Young, and Colonel Wood of the " Rough Riders " — A Spanish News- paper's Report — Editorial in the N.Y. "Times" 24 Castillo, the at- Young's Report: — Meeting 25 ; 29; results, 31, Wood's tack, 27 ; troops engaged, : death of Capron, 35 ; Report — Heavy firing, 33 ; " Beaten, hut persisted in fighting," 37. Chapter IV. The Spanish Forces engaged El Caney's Defences — Battle of San juan _ Senior in Command on the Line The Question of Falling Back after 39 the Hills were gained . 41 instructing In general command on shore, ; Generals Kent and Sumner, 43; endurance of the ridge, 47. troops, 45 ; holding the Chapter V. Battle of San Juan (concluded) — Remarks of N.Y. "Sun" on General Shatter's Expurgated Despatch — My Report of this Battle — Tables of Losses, Cavalry Division and Kent's Infantry Division — Names and Commands of Offi- cers Killed and Wounded . -49 retreat, 53 ; Pushing forward, 51 ; the enemy's officers killed and strength and casualties, 55 ; wounded, 57. Chapter VI. The Battle of San Juan (con- Reports of General , .r — Offical ;] D ED) Kent, Colonel Leonard Wood, of the TABLE OF CONTENTS IX PAGE "Rough Riders," and Theodore Roose- velt, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding . 59 : — the Kent's Report Panic-stricken soldiers, 61 ; infantry charge, 63 ; honorable mention, 65 ; the casualties, 67, 69. Wood's Report: —The Cavalry troops, 71 ; taking the hill, 73 ; Captain O'Neil and others, 75- Roosevelt's Report :— On the line, 77; individual valor, 79. Total army strength, 81. Chapter VII. Concerning the Regulars and the Volunteers in Action — " Harpers' Weekly" on Due Credit to the Per- manent or the Temporary Soldier — Conduct of the 71st New York . 82 " " Rough Riders' marksmanship, 83 ; the New York Volunteers at San Juan, 85. Chapter VIII. Admirable Defences of San- tiago: THE PUNTA GORDA AND SOCAPA Batteries — Plan of Extending our Right around the clty — general blanco and Admiral Cervera see their Predica- ment — The Attempted Flight and the Destruction of Cervera's Fleet —Word from Dewey 87 Our center well established, 89 ; armament of Watson's Cervera's fleet, 91 ; the fleet destroyed, 93 ; " 97-105. despatch, 95 ; the Herald's" story, Chapter IX. Messages from General Miles and the President — General Toral's Proposal for Surrender declined — Truce for removing Non-combatants — ; TABLE OF CONTEXTS PAGE The Story of General Escario's Advance — " Tremendous Fighting Qualities " of the Spaniard 107 Action retold in General Orders, 109; a threat to shell the town, 111; the truce extended, 113; telegram July 3d, about withdrawing, 115. Chapter X. My Illness overstated — Did NOT LEAVE COMMAND — GENERAL GARCIA'S Battle with the Pando Column — A Warm Attack on the City — Detailed Report of Bombardment — General Miles takes Command — The First Overtures for Peace 117 Bombardment from the sea and land, 119 ; eSects of the shots, 121 ; the question of Toral's authority, 123; a tentative proposal, 125. Chapter XI. Preliminary Agreement for the Capitulation — Spanish Pride and Sensitiveness — A Pitiful Appeal to Madrid — Terms of the Military Con- vention — The Surrender .... 126 The honorable terms proposed, 127 ; character- istics of Toral, 129 ; Noblesse oblige, 131 ; Linares' long cablegram, 133 ; the commissioners meet, 135 the final terms, 137 ; the news sent home, 139. Chapter XII. Report of the Commissioners' Conversations — A Misunderstanding as to tiik Spanish Commissioners' Powers -"Capitulation" substituted for TABLE OF CONTENTS xi PAGE "Surrender" — The Honor of the American Nation Pledged — Adjourn- ment 141 A question of sentiment, 143 ; diplomatic misun- derstanding and delay, 145 ; immediate decision urged, 147; willing to return the Spanish arms, 149 ; Toral's presence wanted: adjournment, 151. Chapter XIII. The Conversations (contin- ued) — Another Misunderstanding — The Red Cross Ship to enter First with Provisions — General Toral's Appeal on Behalf of Spanish Honor — The Remov- ing of Harbor-Mines — Adjournment . 152 Agreement to be modified, 153 ; way for the Bed Cross ship, 155 ; Spanish troops to be transported, the 157 ; point of honor recommended, 159 ; the misunderstanding again, 161 ; not an absolute capitulation, 163 ; adjournment, 165. Chapter XIV. The Conversations (con- cluded) — Spanish Forces to march out Under Arms and salute their Colors — The Misunderstanding satisfactorily settled — Water Supply of Santiago — The Final Details 166 General Toral demurs, 167 ; harbor defences, and the refugees, 169 ; arrangements for feeding the city, 171 ; Spanish colors to be honored, 173 ; the Government at Madrid approves, 175. Chapter XV. The News sent Home— Cap- itulation Ceremonies — The Entry of Santiago — Raising the American Flag Xll TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE above the palace — im\' vlsit to the Wrecks of Cervera's Squadron . 177 The Nation's thanks, 179 ; riding into the city, 181 , the barricades and intrenchments, 183 ; ap- pearance of the wrecks, 185 ; examining the forti- fications, 187 ; rifles and ammunition turned over, 189. Chapter XVI. Description of the Neigh- boring Country — The Towns : Daiquiri, SlBONEY, SEVILLA, AND El CANEY — SUF- FERINGS of the Refugees — The City of Santiago — Captain Fry's Fate recalled — spanish abuse of the red Cross Flag 190 A fruitful land ill-used, 191 ; interior views of the city, 193 ; barbarous Spain, 195. Chapter XVII. Our Generals in the Cam- paign — The Spanish Generals and Civil Officers -—" Society of the Army of Santiago " — Getting the Troops North — Placed in Command at Montauk Point, 196 Generals, 199 General Shafter, 197 ; the other ; rich young Americans in the ranks, 201 ; officers of the new society, 203 ; the Cavalry Division re- embarked, 205. Chapter XVIII. Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point — Sanitary Care of the Soldiers — Gifts from the American People, of Money, Goods, and Personal Service — A Statement to the Associated Press — TABLE OF CONTENTS Xlll PAGE Visits of the Secretary of War, Pres- ident MC KlNLEY, AND SURGEON-GENERAL Sternberg 207 supplies and Some of the donations, 209 ; extra trained nurses, 211 ; convalescents attended home, themselves, 215 the 213 ; spirit of the soldiers ; Alger's selection of Montauk Point, 217 ; Secretary visit, 219; the Surgeon-General satisfied, 221. Chapter XIX. Mustering Out the Regi- ments — Farewells 222 Addenda to Part I.: A. — Officers of Cavalry Division in the Battle of Las Guasi- mas, June 24, 1898 . .229 B. — Officers of Cavalry Division in the Battle of San Juan, July 1, 2, and 3, 1898 . 231 XIV TABLE OF CONTENTS PART II. DESPATCHES ON THE FIELD. PAGE Chapter I. Advance from the Coast — Cubans' Skirmish with the Spaniards — In Sight of Santiago — Examining Span- ish Prisoners — Directions for the Line of Battle from General Shafter, On Board S. S. " Seguranca " — Rations for Castillo's Troops 239 The dynamite gun wanted, 241 ; occupying the enemy's ground, 243 ; report of two boy refugees, 245 ; topographical officers detailed, 247 precau- ; tion in addressing despatches, 249 ; bringing up the commands, 251. Chapter II. Reinforcements expected — Cuban Regiment reports for Duty — Delay for Reinforcements — A Refugee's Statement of the Food, Population, and Defences of Santiago — Pando coming from Manzanillo to Its Aid with 5,000 Troops 253 Stores for troops and refugees, 255 ; disease and hunger in the city, 257 ; old-fashioned guns : news of Hobson, 259; the forces in El Caney, 261. Chapter III. Rations, Forage, and Roads — The Wire Nippers — A Refugee's Re- port of El Caney — Conference of the American and Cuban Generals — Num- ber and Kind of Troops in Santiago — Oi;l»i;i:s CONCERNING OUTPOSTS . 262 Widening trails for pack-trains, 263 ; council with Garcia and Castillo, 265 ; duties of outpost commander, 267 ; sentinels' duties, 269. TABLE OF CONTENTS XV PAGE Chapter IV. The Status, Morning of July First — General Shafter takes Command on Shore — Despatches during First Day, Battle of San Juan — Interviewing Spanish Prisoners — Washington notdjied, 271 On the crest of the hill, 273 ; traverses and in- " trenchments, 275 ; the appeals to withdraw the line," 277; ElCaney carried, 279. Chapter V. The Status, Morning of July Second — Despatches during Second Day, Battle of San Juan — Order for List of Casualties 280 Disposition of the troops, 281 ; artillery to hold their fire, 283 ; positions of the commands, 285 ; locating siege-guns, 287 ; the firing ceased, 289.