The War with Spain

* ^ ,' ' *i 1. : V ? I • i. - MWM 'MMmMi iiiiililiiill ' ::::-/liitHmii !ii i 111!:. llllilllllljllilllflllllllli < o ' "^ s • • , "^ \ '"XiW: ^'\ V .9: -•• 0^ ^^> " \>' '^/vs^' * ^^ y'. — Uniform with this Volume. ¥ THE NATION'S NAVY. Our Ships and their Achievements. By Charles Morris. l2mo. Cloth, illustrated, $1.^0. " This is one of the books that deserve an immediate, as well as a lasting popularity, for the reason that its every chapter is of vital and telling interest and instruc- tion to all who keep in close touch with the eventful news of each day as the present war progresses. Mr. Charles Morris, the author, tells the absorbing story of our navy, from its earliest beginnings, in a manner that is sure to win the respect and regard of every reader for the successful effort of the writer, as well as an added admiration for our country and her notable history among the nations of the earth." Boston Courier. » i ! THE WAR WITH SPAIN A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1898 BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN BY CHARLES MORRIS AUTHOR OF "THE NATION'S NAVY," "HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, "HISTORICAL TALES," ETC. IVITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS iPHILADELPHIA . t J. B. LIPPiNC?(3TT COmpaW 1899 El IS Copyright, 1898, BY J. B. LiPPiNcoTT Company. •8681. 'Ad 00 \H PREFACE. The true mission of the United States may be held peace, not war production, not destruction ; in- to be ; dustry, not rapine. But even to the most peacefully inclined of nations occasions come which irresistibly demand that the sword shall be drawn and blows be struck, and through one of these periods of violence this country has just passed. It has had to deal with a nation not yet in the nineteenth century, a belated relic of the mediaeval age, and has found it necessary to employ forcible methods. War is an evil, but there are greater evils only to be met by war, national diseases which only the strongest remedies can cure. Spain's colonial system has been such a disease, one with which only heroic treatment would avail. It has been a system of despotism and enslavement, of the suppression of insurrection by massacre and starvation, and of obstinate ad- herence to methods long since outlived by other civilized nations. The state of affairs had grown intolerable when the United States took up the sword for the relief of a starving and perishing people, and began a war based upon the highest of motives, that of humane sympathy and the succor of the oppressed. This country has been accused of a selfish greed for the territory of Spain ; but it may be safely said that no purpose of territorial aggrandizement was among the motives that inspired the war. All wars yield unpre- S 6 PREFACE. meditated results, and the principal result of this has been to place under the control of the United States certain island possessions which obviously cannot be handed back to Spain, to be misgoverned as before, and whose people are incapable of self-government. The United States must retain them or hand them over to land-greedy nations which stand ready to seize every shred of unappropriated soil. Some of them she has decided to hold ; but it may be repeated that this result of the war was not included among its motives. The war has been regarded with interest by foreign nations from another point of view. For years past the powers of instruments of destruction have been steadily on the increase, until it began to appear as if war would become wholesale butchery, and must cease as some- thing too terrible to be contemplated. This war has, therefore, been looked upon as an object-lesson in the destructive powers of magazine rifles, rapid-fire guns, tor- pedo-tubes, and other death-dealing implements. The result has been to prove that in the rush, the turmoil, the nerve-strain of combat, modern weapons are apt to waste their projectiles upon the empty air, and that infantry may still charge earthworks and rifle-pits with no greater loss of life than in former wars. In naval combat the value of coolness and training, as compared with the opposite qualities, has received a wonderful demonstra- tion in the quick and complete destruction of the Spanish fleets and the remarkable immunity of American ships and men. The "man behind the gun" seems of more importance than the gun itself. But a preface should not be an argument or an example of special pleading, and we may conclude by saying that in these less than four months of war the PREFACE. 7 United States has taken a new position before the world, a higher and nobler attitude. Europe has suddenly dis- covered that we are more than of a nation shopkeepers ; that we are a people who can strike shrewdly for the right, and one that is destined to be a leader in the van of human progress, an example to the world of the value of free institutions, peaceful industries, high aspirations, and moral energies. — CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. SPAIN AND HER COLONIES. PAGE Cruelty of the early Spaniards—Annihilation of the natives —How Cuba was colonized—Later history of Cuba Spain's methods of administration—Commerce forbidden —Character of office-holders— Insurrections begin—The cruelties of the Spanish army—The Captain-General of Cuba given despotic powers—Cuban hatred of Spain Attempts at insurrection—The Lopez invasion—The Quitman project—Revolt in Spain— Condition of aflfairs in Cuba—Oppression of the islanders— Large salaries and perquisites of the Spanish officials— Frauds and fees The share of Spain—Disregard of Cuban interests—The revolt of 1868—A guerilla war—The character of the country—The machete as a weapon—Bush fighting—The rainy season—Desultory warfare— Official bulletins—The trocha and reconcentration—Outrages in Havana—Mas- sacre of the students—The treaty of EI Zanjon—Promises of reform not kept 21 CHAPTER IL RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES TO CUBA. Early difficulties with Spain—Threatened interference of the Holy Alliance between Spain and the revolting colonies—This leads to the Monroe doctrine—The United States gives warning to European powers—Mexico and Colombia warned to keep out of Cuba—The United States guarantees Spain's title to Cuba—Secretary Ever- ett's ultimatum—Offer to purchase Cuba—The Black Warrior affair—The Ostend conference—Buchanan's 9 lo CONTENTS. views—The Virginius affair—Protest and indemnity- President Grant's attitude—Injuries to American com- 47 CHAPTER III. CUBA IN INSURRECTION. efforts— Cubans in exile—The work of the clubs—Marti's The outbreak of revolt—Macao and Gomez reach the island—Death of Marti—Campos appointed governor- general—His methods—How the insurgents fought— Their horsemanship—Life in a Cuban camp—Gomez in command—His troubles and despondency—Camaguey invaded—Gomez's plan of campaign—A war of skir- mishes—The battle of Bayamo—A Cuban constitution and government—Maceo's activity—Progress of the war west- ward—Its destructive character—Pinar del Rio invaded —Campos replaced by General Weyler—Weyler's repu- Destruc- tation for cruelty—His inefficient campaigning— tion of plantations—Maceo's operations—His death— The province of Pinar del Rio pacified—Operations of General Weyler in Santa Clara—Gomez's waiting game— Indignation Garcia' s capture of Victoria de las Tunas— at Weyler's cruelty—He is recalled and replaced by Gen- eral Blanco—A reform administration—How the Cubans 5° received it CHAPTER IV. THE FORTS AND THE TROCHAS. The Spanish ill-success due to their method of warfare— This method of advantage to the insurgents— Guerilla warfare a Spanish habit—The trocha trusted to—Suc- them cessive trochas built—Gomez and Maceo treat Majana with disdain—Weyler's trocha from Mariel to described—The trocha from Jucaro to Moron—The mul- forts, titude of forts—The Spanish held the towns and the defensive no the Cubans the country—Spain on ; energetic offensive operations—Their system of returning purpose . to dinner—War bulletins—Falsehoods with a 82 — CONTENTS. II CHAPTER V. THE RECONCENTRADOS AND THE MILITARY PRISONS. PAGE Weyler's barbarity—The reconcentrado order—Its disas- trous effect—Pacification by starvation—The reconcentrados at Jaruco—McKinley's denunciation of the cruelty displayed—What Senator Proctor and others saw in Cuba — Incomunicado imprisonment—General Lee's protests —Murder of Dr. Ruiz—No more Americans imprisoned —The sufferings of Cuban exiles—The story of Evange- lina Cisneros—Spanish compared with Turkish barbarity —A butcher of men feasted in Sagua—The endless con- flagrations—An intolerable situation 92 CHAPTER VI. EVENTS LEADING TO INTERVENTION. Efforts to prevent expeditions to Cuba—The Competitor prisoners—President Cleveland's message—Spain's reply —General Lee sent to Havana—His report—President McKinley's action—Spain's reply to Minister Woodford — Intervention for charity—Spain's financial condition The hopeless state of the war—Lee's opinion of the insurgents—Increase of irritation—The riot in Havana— The Key West squadron—The De Lome letter—The Maine in Havana harbor—The explosion and its result Wide-spread indignation—The Court of Inquiry and its verdict— Active preparations for war—Emergency fund voted—New ships bought and ordered—Senator Proctor's speech—The feeling in Congress—McKinley's pacific action—Lee leaves Havana—The message to Congress —The consular reports—Warlike resolution of Congress- Its immediate results—Spanish methods—War inevitable —Concentration of the army—The attitude of the powers of Europe 103 12 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VII. CUBA UNDER BLOCKADE. PAGE signalling—The The waiting fleet at Key West—A night of of the start for Cuba—The first prize—Establishment blockade— Peril of the Paris—Blanco and the Havanese —Prizes of the fleet—Lieutenant Rowan's daring journey —The question of privateers—Spain's declaration—Sec- retary Sherman retires—The Matanzas ports bombarded —The Cape Verde fleet—The flying squadron—Bombard- jour- ment of forts at Cienfuegos and Cardenas—The Attitude ney of the Oregon—Complaints from Tampa— of the powers of Europe—Friendliness of Great Britain .

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