General Young's station. The battle began in much the same manner
as the other one, and when the machine guns opened fire the
Spaniards sent volleys at the gunners from the brush on the
opposite hillside. Two troops of cavalry charged up the hill and
other troops sent a storm of bullets at every point from which the
Spanish shots came. The enemy was gradually forced back, though
firing all the time until they, as well as those confronting the
Rough Riders, ran for the blockhouse only to be dislodged by
Colonel Wood's men.
General Young stated afterwards that the battle was one of the
sharpest he had ever experienced. It was only the quick and
constant fire of the troopers, whether they could see the enemy or
not, that caused the Spaniards to retreat so soon. General Young
spoke in the highest terms of the conduct of the men in his
command, and both Colonel Wood and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt
were extremely gratified with the work done by the Rough Riders on
the first occasion of their being under fire.
When it became evident that the Spaniards were giving up the
fight, searching parties went through the thicket and tall grass,
picking up the dead and wounded. The latter were carried to a
field hospital half a mile to the rear and all possible attention
was given them, while preparation was made to remove them to
Juragua.
ARMY IN A BAPTISM OF FIRE.
After a period of comparative idleness the campaign was opened in
earnest Friday, July 1, when General Shafter's army began an
attack at dawn upon the Spanish fortifications. Shatter had come
from Cuero to El Caney with his army, making headquarters at
Siboney. From these points the Spanish troops under General
Linares had retreated a short distance and taken San Juan hill,
from which they had accurate range of the American batteries.
Shafter's forces were without sufficient guns, while the Spaniards
had more and of a heavier caliber than was anticipated.
The American army slept Thursday night within sight of its
battlefield of the morrow. At daylight Friday morning the forward
movement began. Hard fighting was expected at El Caney, guarding
the northeastern approach to Santiago, and against this position
were massed the commands of Generals Lawton and Wheeler, supported
by Capron's battery of light artillery. Both General Wheeler and
General Young were sick, so General Sumner was assigned to the
command of the former and Colonel Wood of the Rough Riders was
placed in command of General Young's cavalry brigade. Colonel
Carroll of the Sixth cavalry took General Sumner's place at the
head of the First brigade of cavalry. Under General Lawton were
three brigades--Colonel Van Horn's, consisting of the Eighth and
Twenty-second infantry and the Second Massachusetts volunteers;
Colonel Miles', consisting of the First, Fourth and Twenty-fifth
infantry, and General Chaffee's, consisting of the Seventh,
Twelfth and Seventeenth infantry. On the eve of battle Colonel Van
Horn was replaced by General Ludlow. Under General Sumner were
four troops of the Second cavalry and eight troops of the First
volunteer cavalry; under Colonel Wood the Rough Riders, the Tenth
cavalry and four troops of the First cavalry. These two cavalry
commands occupied the left of the San Juan plain for the attack on
the blockhouse at that point. They were supported by Colonel
Carroll's brigade, consisting of the Third, Sixth and Ninth
cavalry, and by Captain Grimes' battery of the Second artillery.
The southeastern approaches to the city were commanded by General Kent's
division. His First brigade was commanded by General Hawkins and
consisted of the Sixth and Sixteenth regular infantry and the
Seventy-first New York volunteers. Colonel Pearson commanded the Second
brigade, composed of the Second, Tenth and Twenty-first regular
infantry, while the Third brigade, commanded by Colonel Worth, consisted
of the Ninth, Thirteenth and Twenty-fourth regular infantry. Aguadores
was their objective point. Grimes' battery of artillery and the Rough
Riders were to support General Kent in his attack on Aguadores, while
General Duffield, with the Thirty-third and a battalion of the
Thirty-fourth Michigan volunteers, was in advance of Kent's left.
CAPTAIN CAPRON OPENS THE FIGHT.
The first shot of the engagement came at 6:45 o'clock Friday
morning. It was fired by Captain Allyn M. Capron's Battery E of
the First artillery. The privilege of opening the engagement was
granted this officer because of the killing of his son among the
Rough Riders who fell near Sevilla. The Spanish answered the
challenge from their forts and trenches about Caney, and
immediately the battle was on. The Spaniards for a time fought
desperately to prevent the town from falling into the hands of our
forces, but before the fighting had been long under way the
Americans and Cubans under Garcia gained advanced ground. Foot by
foot the enemy was driven back into the village. The enthusiasm of
the American forces was intense and their spirit quickly spread to
the Cuban troops.
At one time during this fight one of the big military balloons
used by the signal corps for reconnoissance hung over San Juan,
not over 500 yards from the enemy, and for five minutes the
Spaniards below tried to puncture it, but they were unable to get
the range. This balloon proved of inestimable service in the
engagement. It floated just over the tree tops, and was easily
guided along three miles of the road toward the lines of the
enemy. Whenever it halted for the purpose of taking a photograph
of the fortifications below, the Spaniards seized the occasion for
taking pot shots.
In the fighting at San Juan a Spanish shell two and a half inches
in diameter burst in the midst of Captain Puritier's Battery K of
the First artillery, wounding several. Among those injured was.
Private Samuel Barr. Roosevelt's Rough Riders were also in this
fight and bore themselves with as much credit as in the battle of
last Friday in the bush. Several of the Rough Riders were wounded.
THE FIGHT BEFORE CANEY.
Meanwhile the battle was raging fiercely at Caney and Aguadores.
In General Lawton's division the Second Massachusetts up to the
middle of the day sustained the heaviest loss, although other
regiments were more actively engaged. During the afternoon the
fight for the possession of Caney was most obstinate, and the
ultimate victory reflects great credit upon the American troops.
It was a glory, too, for Spain, though she never had a chance to
win at any time during the day. Her men fought in intrenchments,
covered ways and blockhouses, while the American forces were in
the open from first to last. The Spanish soldiers stuck to their
work like men, and this, the first land fight of the war, may well
cause Spain to feel proud of her men. The American soldiers
attacked the intrenchments through open ground, and, from the
firing of the first shot until they were on the hills above Caney,
they fought their way forward and the Spanish were driven
backward. General Chaffee's brigade held the right of the line
with the town of Caney. General Ludlow's division was in the
center and Colonel Miles held the left.
The firing at times was very heavy during the morning, but the
Spaniards in the covered way made a most obstinate defense and
refused to yield an inch. Time and again the shells from Captain
Capron's battery drove them to cover, but as soon as his fire
ceased they were up and at it again. Despite the heavy firing of
the American troops they were able to make but little apparent
progress during the morning, although eventually they steadily
drew in and inclosed the town on all sides.
At noon it became evident that the fire from the covered way could
not be stopped by the artillery alone and that no permanent
advance could be made until the place was taken, and General
Lawton decided to capture it by assault. Accordingly he sent a
messenger to General Chaffee, with instructions to take the
position by a charge. General Chaffee thereupon closed in with his
men rapidly from the north, while Captain Capron maintained a
heavy fire on the fort, keeping the Spaniards in the covered way
and putting hole after hole into the stone walls of the fort.
Shortly afterward he threw a shot from the battery, which tore
away the flagstaff, bringing the Spanish flag to the ground. From
that time no banner waved above it.
No finer work has ever been done by soldiers than was done by the
brigades of General Ludlow and Colonel Miles as they closed in on
the town. The Spanish blazed at them with Mausers and machine guns
but without effect. Nothing could stop them and they pushed in
closer during the afternoon, and by the time General Chaffee's men
were in form Miles and Ludlow were in the streets of the town,
holding with tenacity the Spaniards from retreating toward
Santiago, while Chaffee closed in on the right.
The fighting for hours in front of Colonel Miles' line at a
hacienda known as "Duero" was very fierce. The Spanish defense was
exceedingly obstinate. The house was guarded by rifle pits, and as
fast as the Spaniards were driven from one they retreated into
another and continued firing.
When the final closing-in movement was begun at 6 p.m. the town
of Caney was taken and a large number of prisoners was captured.
The Spanish loss was 2,000 in all.
ATTACK ON AGUADORES.
The only movement of the day which did not meet with success was
General Duffield's attempt to occupy the sea village of Aguadores.
The New York, the Suwanee and the Gloucester shelled the old fort
and the rifle pits during the forenoon, drove all the Spaniards
from the vicinity and bowled over the parapet from which flew the
Spanish flag; but, owing to the broken railway bridge, General
Duffield's troops were unable to get across the river which
separated them from the little town, and were compelled to go back
to Juragua.
Saturday at dawn the Spaniards, encouraged by Linares at their
head, attempted to retake San Juan hill. Hotchkiss guns mowed them
down in platoons. They were driven back into the third line of
their intrenchments, and there their sharpshooters, reported to be
among the finest in the world, checked the Americans. The
batteries of Grimes, Parkhurst and Burt were compelled to retire
to El Paso hill. Lawton came with the Ninth Massachusetts and the
Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Michigan and the Spaniards began
to retreat.
Sampson then began bombardment of the outer forts of Santiago. The
Oregon shot down Morro's flag and battered the old castle into
dust. The batteries at Punta Gorda were blown up by the Oregon and
the Indiana. Not one of the American ships was hit by the Spanish
fire.
At Guantanamo the Cuban forces under Garcia and Castillo killed
300 Spanish soldiers and routed the enemy's army there. Castillo's
forces forced their way to within five miles of Santiago.
SHATTER'S REPORTS OF THE FIGHT.
The nation was thrown into a fever of excitement Friday when the
following bulletin was posted at the War Department, in
Washington:
Camp, Near Sevilla, Cuba 5--Action now going on. The firing only
light and desultory. Began on the right near Caney, Lawton's
division. He will move on the northeast part of the town of
Santiago. Will keep you continually advised of progress.
SHAFTER.
For several hours this was the only information from the seat of
war, but later a dispatch came from Colonel Alien, in charge of
the signal station at Playa del Este. He said that the fight was
growing furious in all directions. At the time he sent the
telegram eight Americans and nine Cubans had been wounded. All
through Saturday rumors of American reverses were rife, and to
make public information definite, so far as it went, the War
Department thought it wise to post a dispatch which it had
received early that morning. This was as follows:
Siboney, via Playa del Este, July l.--I fear I have underestimated
to-day's casualties. A large and thoroughly equipped hospital ship
should be sent here at once to care for the wounded. The chief
surgeon says he has use for forty more medical officers. The ship
must bring a launch and boats for conveying the wounded. SHAFTER,
Major-General.
The next message made public sent a wave of apprehension over the
country. The text was as follows:
Camp Near Sevilla, Cuba, via Playa del Este, July 3.--We have the
town well invested in the north and east, but with a very thin
line. Upon approaching it we find it of such a character and the
defense so strong it will be impossible to carry it by storm with
my present forces. Our losses up to date will aggregate 1,000, but
list has not yet been made. But little sickness outside of
exhaustion from intense heat and exertion of the battle of day
before yesterday and the almost constant fire which is kept up on
the trenches. Wagon road to the rear is kept open with difficulty
on account of rains, but I will be able to use it for the present.
General Wheeler is seriously ill and will probably have to go to
the rear to-day. General Young is also very ill, confined to his
bed. General Hawkins slightly wounded in the foot during sortie
enemy made last night, which was handsomely repulsed. The behavior
of the troops was magnificent. General Garcia reported he holds
the railroad from Santiago to San Luis and has burned a bridge and
removed some rails; also that General Pando has arrived at Palma
and that the French consul, with about 400 French citizens, came
into his line yesterday from Santiago. I have directed him to
treat them with every courtesy possible. SHAFTER, Major-General.
General Miles sent the following dispatch to General Shafter:
Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C., July 3.--Accept my
hearty congratulations on the record made of magnificent
fortitude, gallantry, and sacrifice displayed in the desperate
fighting of the troops before Santiago. I realize the hardships,
difficulties, and sufferings, and am proud that amid those
terrible scenes the troops illustrated such fearless and patriotic
devotion to the welfare of our common country and flag. Whatever
the results to follow their unsurpassed deeds of valor, the past
is already a gratifying chapter of history. I expect to be with
you within one week, with strong reinforcements.
MILES, Major-General Commanding.
General Shafter's reply was as follows:
Playa, July 4, Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, Near Santiago, July
3--I thank you in the name of the gallant men I have the honor to
command for splendid tribute of praise which you have accorded
them. They bore themselves as American soldiers always have. Your
telegram will be published at the head of the regiments in the
morning. I feel that I am master of the situation and can hold the
enemy for any length of time. I am delighted to know that you are
coming, that you may see for yourself the obstacles which this
army had to overcome. My only regret is the great number of
gallant souls who have given their lives for our country's cause.
SHAFTER.
In the light of these sorrowful, if triumphant, facts it must not
be forgotten that the enemy also suffered a terrible loss. In the
fatuous sortie upon the American position on the night of July 2
General Linares, commanding in Santiago, was wounded in the foot
and shoulder and 500 of his soldiers died upon the field. Scarcely
a man in our intrenchments was hurt. Of the Spanish 29th battalion
defending El Caney less than 100 survived. General Vara de Rey,
its commander, was buried with military honors, General Ludlow
taking possession of his sword and spurs.
The Spanish fought stubbornly throughout, and their retreat,
though steady, was slowly and coolly conducted. They contested
every inch of the way and fought with unexpected skill, their
officers handling the troops with bravery and good judgment, and
demonstrating that in them our boys in blue were fighting with
foemen worthy of their steel.
The gallantry of the American officers was conspicuous throughout
the battle. Major-General Wheeler, who was seriously indisposed
and suffering from an attack of fever, ordered an ambulance to
convey him to the front, where the sound of fighting seemed to
give him new life, and in a short time he called for his horse and
personally directed his division in the attack.
General Hawkins, commanding the First Brigade, Ninth Division, was
conspicuous for the manner in which he exposed himself to Spanish
bullets. After taking the redoubt on the hill with his command he
stood for a long time on the summit watching the fight. A heavy
fire at times was concentrated on the spot, but he surveyed the
field of battle while the bullets were whizzing past by hundreds.
SHAFTER DEMANDS THE SURRENDER OF THE CITY.
On July 3 General Shafter sent the following communication to
General Toral, commanding the Spanish army in the province of
Santiago:
Headquarters of United States Forces, Near San Juan River, Cuba,
July 3, 8:30 A. M.--To the Commanding General of the Spanish
Forces, Santiago de Cuba--Sir: I shall be obliged, unless you
surrender, to shell Santiago de Cuba. Please inform the citizens
of foreign countries and all women and children that they should
leave the city before 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. Very
respectfully, your obedient servant, W. R. SHAFTER, Major-General,
U. S. A.
General Toral made this reply:
Santiago de Cuba, July 3, 2 pm.--His Excellency, the General
Commanding the Forces of the United States, San Juan River--Sir: I
have the honor to reply to your communication of to-day written at
8:30 A. M. and received at 1 pm, demanding the surrender of this
city; on the contrary case announcing to me that you will bombard
the city, and asking that I advise the foreign women and children
that they must leave the city before 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.
It is my duty to say to you that this city will not surrender and
that I will inform the foreign Consuls and inhabitants of the
contents of your message.
Very respectfully, JOSE TORAL, Commander in Chief, Fourth Corps.
The British, Portuguese, Chinese, and Norwegian Consuls requested
that non-combatants be allowed to occupy the town of Caney and
railroad points, and asked until 10 o'clock of the next day for
them to leave Santiago. They claimed that there were between
15,000 and 20,000 people, many of them old, whose lives would be
endangered by the bombardment. On the receipt of this request
General Shafter sent the following communication:
The Commanding General, Spanish General, Spanish Forces, Santiago
de Cuba--Sir: In consideration of the request of the Consuls and
officers in your city for delay in carrying out my intention to
fire on the city, and in the interest of the poor women and
children who will suffer greatly by their hasty and enforced
departure from the city, I have the honor to announce that I will
delay such action solely in their interest until noon of the 5th,
providing during the interval your forces make no demonstration
whatever upon those of my own.
I am with great respect, your obedient servant, W. R. SHAFTER,
Major-General, U. S. A.
On July 6 the flag of truce which had been flying over Santiago
for a day or two was still displayed, but a smaller flag was
presently seen coming from the city in the hands of a man in
uniform.
A party was sent from General Shafter's headquarters to receive
the bearer of the flag. It was found that he was a commissioner
from General Toral. He announced to those who met him that he had
an important communication to deliver to the commander of the
American army, coming direct from General Toral, and he desired to
be taken to General Shafter.
Ordinarily such a messenger going through the lines would be
blindfolded. Our position was so strong, however, and our
offensive works so impressive, that it was decided to give the
commissioner the free use of his eyes, so that he might see all
the preparations that have been made to reduce the city. The siege
guns and mortar batteries were pointed out to him, and he was
entertained all the way to head-quarters with a detailed
explanation of the number of our forces, our guns, and other
matters that must have been of interest to him. In fact, he was
very much impressed by what he heard and saw.
Arriving at General Shafter's headquarters the communication from
the Spanish commander was delivered with some ceremony. It was
quite long. General Toral asked that the time of the truce be
further extended, as he wanted to communicate with the Madrid
government concerning the surrender of the city. He also asked
that cable operators be sent to operate the line between Santiago
and Kingston. He promised on his word of honor as a soldier that
the operators would, not be asked to transmit any matter except
that bearing on the surrender, and that he would return them safe
to El Caney when a final reply was received from Madrid. This
request for operators was made necessary by the fact that the men
who had been operating the Santiago cable were British subjects,
and they had all left the city under the protection of the British
consul when the Americans gave notice that the city would be
bombarded unless it surrendered.
The commissioner said that General Toral wanted to consult with
the authorities in Madrid, for the reason that he had been unable
to communicate with Captain-General Blanco in Havana.
It was finally arranged that the truce, which expired at four
o'clock on the 6th, should be extended until the same hour on
Saturday, July 9th.
The commissioner was escorted back through another part of the
camp which was filled with bristling guns. The British consul
having given his consent to the operators returning to the city,
messengers were sent to El Caney to learn if the men would go.
They expressed their willingness, and were escorted to the Avails
of the city, where they were met by a Spanish escort and taken to
the office of the cable company.
DESTRUCTION OF CERVERA'S FLEET.
On the morning of July 3, Admiral Cervera, commander of the
Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, made a bold dash
for liberty by a desperate attempt to break through the American
line, in the hope of reaching the open sea.
In the face of overwhelming odds, with nothing before him but
inevitable destruction or surrender if he remained any longer in
the trap in which the American fleet held him, he made a dash from
the harbor at the time the Americans least expected him to do so,
and fighting every inch of his way, even when his ship was ablaze
and sinking, he tried to escape the doom which was written on the
muzzle of every American gun trained upon his vessels.
The Spaniards made a daring venture, and with a less vigilant foe
they might have succeeded. It was known in the fleet that General
Shatter was closing in on the city and that Admiral Cervera's
position was desperate, but it was supposed that he would remain
in the harbor and train his guns on the American land forces as
long as possible, and that he would blow up his ships rather than
allow them to fall into the hands of the enemy. It is certain that
Admiral Sampson did not expect Cervera to make a break for
liberty, although the American commander has known for several
days that the sinking of the Merrimac did not completely block the
channel entrance to Santiago harbor.
At 9:35 on Sunday morning the flagship New York, with Admiral
Sampson on board, was many miles to the eastward, bearing the
admiral to a conference with General Shafter. The fleet as a whole
was much farther off shore than usual. Any one looking seaward
from Morro Castle and seeing the distant specks on the water would
not have realized that the port was effectively blockaded.
Evidently the Spaniards had been waiting for the American fleet to
become thus scattered. They thought our fleet was napping, and
that this was the time to make a quick exit and start homeward.
Very soon after the New York had started to Siboney the shore
batteries opened fire on the American fleet. As the vessels were
practically out of range and not in the usual line formation this
firing from the shore caused some surprise. In the first place,
these batteries had been shelled the day before, and it was
supposed that they had been silenced, and in the second place it
seemed foolish of the Spaniards to undertake haphazard firing.
At that time the vessels of the blockading squadron were at
varying distances of from three to ten miles from the harbor
entrance. Most of the American cruisers were at the usual Sunday
morning quarters, and not one ship was really prepared for
immediate action. Almost as soon as the batteries opened fire a
Spanish cruiser, the Cristobal Colon, was seen to emerge from the
channel entrance and head toward sea, firing her forward battery
as she came. Then the signals hurried from one ship to another,
and on every American vessel there was a rush of activity. In
every engine room there was a signal for full speed. The entire
fleet began to move in toward the shore, heading for the channel
entrance. At 9:45 the Oquendo slipped out of the channel. By this
time the Cristobal Colon had turned to the west, and with a good
headway was attempting to slip past the blockaders. The Maria
Teresa, the Vizcaya, the two torpedo-boat destroyers, the Furor
and the Pluton, and a gunboat were all clear of the channel
entrance and racing for liberty when the American vessels opened
fire at long range. The Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas, Oregon and
Iowa bore down upon the Spaniards and opened fire, but they were
too far away to get a good range. As for the Spaniards, they began
to shoot as soon as they came out of the harbor and continued to
blaze away until they were utterly defeated, but they showed poor
judgment and bad marksmanship.
THE GLOUCESTER'S GOOD WORK.
As the Americans came in closer and closer the fighting became
general. The Gloucester had been lying off Aguadores, three miles
east of Morro, when the Spaniards came out. She hurried to join in
the attack, and at first opened fire on one of the large cruisers.
Already they were being pounded with terrific effect by the
battleships, however, so the little Gloucester turned her
attention to the two torpedo-boat destroyers which had slipped out
of the harbor behind the cruisers. The Gloucester was one of the
swiftest boats in the navy, and although she was equipped with
nothing heavier than six-pound guns she made a resolute attack on
the two destroyers, and the chase began. They headed to the west
at high speed, and she flew after them, pouring shot after shot
with such wonderful accuracy, that by the time the destroyers were
five miles to the west of Morro both were on fire and plainly
disabled. They had persistently returned the fire, and a shower of
little shells fell around the yacht, but once more the American
gunners showed their superiority, for the Gloucester was
comparatively unhurt.
The Furor turned at last and gave battle to the Gloucester. Here
was another instance of American good luck and Spanish
inefficiency. The Furor sent torpedoes against the Gloucester, but
they failed to explode. As soon as the Spanish destroyer stopped
the Gloucester simply raked her fore and aft with rapid-fire guns,
and the Furor again headed west to escape the terrible punishment.
The smoke was pouring out of her sides, and soon she turned in
toward shore, evidently in a sinking condition. The members of the
crew flocked to the small boats and abandoned their craft. Later
on most of them were taken prisoners on shore. The Furor was
floating about, a mass of flame.
The Pluton also was disabled, and headed for the shore. She was
beached under a low bluff, where a heavy sea was running, and was
soon pounded so that she broke in two in the middle. Only about
half of the crew reached the shore alive.
Having disposed of the two destroyers the Gloucester lowered her
small boats and sent them ashore to rescue the Spanish sailors.
The Furor drifted about until the fire reached her magazines, and
then there were two terrific explosions which shattered her hull.
Her stern sunk quickly, and as it went down her bow rose until it
stood almost straight up in the air, and in this position she
disappeared from sight.
TEST OF BATTLESHIPS.
While the little yacht had been gaining this notable victory over
the two famous destroyers the big battleships had been following
the line of Spanish cruisers and pounding them with great
persistence. The four Spanish cruisers were under the direct fire
of the Brooklyn, and the four battleships, the Massachusetts, the
Texas, the Iowa and the Oregon. It was the first time that any
first-class battleship had ever been put to the test in a naval
battle. The huge fighting vessels kept close after the fast
cruisers and fired their big guns with deadly certainty. The
American fire was so rapid that the ships were surrounded by
clouds of smoke.
The Spanish gunners seemed unable to get the proper range and many
of their shots were very wild, though a number of them fell
dangerously near to the mark.
Two guns of the battery just east of Morro also took part in the
game and their shells fell around the American ships. Many of them
struck the upper works of the fleeing Spaniards and must have
resulted in killing and wounding many of their men.
The Spanish ships had now reached a point about seven miles west
of Morro and a mile or two beyond the place where the Furor was
burning and the Pluton broken in two against the cliff.
The flagship and the Oquendo were the first to show signals of
distress. Two thirteen-inch shells from one of the battleships had
struck the Maria Teresa at the water line, tearing great holes in
her side and causing her to fill rapidly. The Oquendo suffered
about the same fate and both ships headed for a small cove and
went aground 200 yards from the shore, flames shooting from them
in every direction.
The Gloucester, after sending a boat ashore to the Pluton, steamed
along the coast to where the armored cruisers were stranded and
went to their assistance. There was danger from the magazines, and
many of those on board jumped into the water and swam to the
shore, though a number were unable to reach the small strip of
sandy beach in the cove and were thrown against the rocks and
killed or drowned. Many of the wounded were lowered into the
ships' own boats and taken ashore, but this task was a most
difficult one.
The Gloucester had all her boats out and one seaman swam through
the surf with a line from the Maria Teresa, making it fast to a
tree on the shore. By this means many on the flagship, including
Admiral Cervera, lowered themselves into the Gloucester's boats.
The wounded were taken to the Gloucester as rapidly as possible,
and the lower deck of the yacht was soon covered with Spanish
sailors mangled in limb and body by the bursting of shells.
CHASE OF THE CRISTOBAL COLON.
The Brooklyn, Oregon, Massachusetts and Texas and several smaller
vessels continued the chase of the Cristobal Colon, and in less
than an hour were lost to view of the burning ships on shore. The
Iowa and Texas both gave assistance to the imperiled crew of the
Vizcaya. Her Captain surrendered his command and the prisoners
were transferred to the battleship. The Vizcaya probably lost
about sixty men, as she carried a complement of 400 and only 340
were taken aboard the Iowa.
Soon after Admiral Cervera reached the shore and surrendered he
was taken to the Gloucester, at his own request. There was no
mistaking the heartbroken expression upon the old commander's face
as he took the proffered hand of Captain Wainwright and was shown
to the latter's cabin, but he made every effort to bear bravely
the bitter defeat that had come to him. He thanked the Captain of
the Gloucester for the words of congratulation offered on the
gallant fight, and then spoke earnestly of his solicitude for the
safety of his men on shore. He informed Captain Wainwright that
Cuban soldiers were on the hills preparing to attack his unarmed
men and asked that they be protected.
For hours after Admiral Cervera went aboard the Gloucester the
Infanta Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo and Vizcaya continued to
burn and every now and then a deep roar, accompanied by a burst of
flame and smoke from the sides of the ships, would announce the
explosion of more ammunition or another magazine.
It may be mentioned as a coincidence that Lieutenant-Commander
Wainwright, the Commander of the Gloucester, was executive officer
of the Maine at the time of the disaster, and, although he
remained in Havana harbor two months after the explosion, he lived
on board the dispatch boat Fern and steadfastly refused to set his
foot within the city until the time should come when he could go
ashore at the head of a landing party of American blue jackets.
To-day it was his ship that sank two Spanish torpedo-boat
destroyers and afterward received the Spanish Admiral aboard as a
prisoner of war.
From his position on the bridge of the Gloucester Lieutenant-Commander
Wainwright watched the flames and smoke as they enveloped the decks of
the three greatest warships of the Spanish navy, which were soon to be
reduced to nothing but shattered masts and twisted smokestacks
protruding above the water.
The prisoners of war included the captains of both boats. None
offered any resistance and all were glad to go to the Gloucester,
as they feared an attack from the Cubans.
When asked to make some statement in regard to the result of the
battle Admiral Cervera said: "I would rather lose my ships at sea,
like a sailor, than in a harbor. It was the only thing left for me
to do."
The work of the American battleships was as rapid as it was
terrible. At 9:35 the first vessel headed out past Morro Castle.
At 10 o'clock the two destroyers were wrecked and deserted. At
10:15 the Oquendo and Maria Teresa were encircled by the Iowa,
Indiana and Texas. At 10:40 both were on the rocks. A few minutes
later the Vizcaya was abandoned.
The Cristobal Colon, having the lead, ran farther along the coast
before the persistent firing by the Brooklyn and Massachusetts
brought her to a stop. She fought for twenty minutes. At noon she
was on the rocks, perforated and tattered. Spain's greatest fleet
was destroyed in about three hours.
Chief Yoeman Ellis of the Brooklyn was the only American killed In
three hours of incessant fighting, while the Spanish loss reached
600 killed, 400 wounded and 1,100 taken prisoners.
ADMIRAL SAMPSON'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the official report sent by Admiral Sampson to the
navy department at Washington:
United States Flagship New York, First Rate, Off Santiago de Cuba,
July 15, 1898.--Sir: I have the honor to make the following report
upon the battle, with the destruction of the Spanish squadron,
commanded by Admiral Cervera, off Santiago de Cuba on Sunday, July
3, 1898:
The enemy's vessels came out of the harbor between 9:35 and 10 am,
the head of the column appearing around Cayo Smith at 9:31 and
emerging from the channel five or six minutes later. The positions
of the vessels of my command off Santiago at that moment were as
follows: The flagship New York was four miles east of her
blockading station and about seven miles from the harbor entrance.
She had started for Siboney, where I intended to land, accompanied
by several of my staff, and go to the front to consult with
General Shafter. A discussion of the situation and a more definite
understanding between us of the operations proposed had been
rendered necessary by the unexpectedly strong resistance of the
Spanish garrison of Santiago. I had sent my chief of staff on
shore the day before to arrange an interview with General Shafter,
who had been suffering from heat prostration. I made arrangements
to go to his headquarters, and my flagship was in the position
mentioned above when the Spanish squadron appeared in the channel.
The remaining vessels were in or near their usual blockading
positions, distributed in a semi-circle about the harbor entrance,
counting from the eastward to the westward in the following order:
The Indiana, about a mile and a half from shore; the Oregon--the
New York's place between these two--the Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn,
the latter two miles from the shore west of Santiago. The distance
of the vessels from the harbor entrance was from two and one-half
to four miles--the latter being the limit of day--blockading
distance. The length of the arc formed by the ships was about
eight miles.
The Massachusetts had left at 4 A. M. for Guantanamo for coal. Her
station was between the Iowa and the Texas. The auxiliaries
Gloucester and Vixen lay close to the land and nearer the harbor
entrance than the large vessels, the Gloucester to the eastward
and the Vixen to the westward. The torpedo boat Ericsson was in
company with the flagship, and remained with her during the chase
until ordered to discontinue, when she rendered very efficient
service in rescuing prisoners from the burning Vizcaya.
The Spanish vessels came rapidly out of the harbor at a speed
estimated at from eight to ten knots and in the following order:
Infanta Maria Teresa (flagship), Vizcaya, Cristobal Colon and the
Almirante Oquendo. The distance between these ships was about 800
yards, which means that from the time the first one became visible
in the upper reach of the channel until the last one was out of
the harbor an interval of only about twelve minutes elapsed.
Following the Oquendo at a distance of about 1,200 yards came the
torpedo-boat destroyer Pluton, and after her the Furor. The
armored cruisers, as rapidly as they could bring their guns to
bear, opened a vigorous fire upon the blockading vessels and
emerged from the channel shrouded in the smoke from their guns.
The men of our ships in front of the port were at Sunday "quarters
for inspection." The signal was made simultaneously from several
vessels, "Enemy ships escaping" and "general quarters" was
sounded. The men cheered as they sprang to their guns, and fire
was opened probably within eight minutes by the vessels whose guns
commanded the entrance. The New York turned about and steamed for
the escaping fleet, flying the signal "Close in towards harbor
entrance and attack vessels," and gradually increased her speed,
until toward the end of the chase she was making sixteen and a
half knots, and was rapidly closing on the Cristobal Colon. She
was not at any time within the range of the heavy Spanish ships,
and her only part in the firing was to receive the undivided fire
of the forts in passing the harbor entrance and to fire a few
shots at one of the destroyers, thought at the moment to be
attempting to escape from the Gloucester.
The Spanish vessels, upon clearing the harbor, turned to the
westward in column, increasing their speed to the full power of
their engines. The heavy blockading vessels, which had closed in
toward the Morro at the instant of the enemy's appearance and at
their best speed, delivered a rapid fire, well sustained and
destructive, which speedily overwhelmed and silenced the Spanish
fire. The initial speed of the Spaniards carried them rapidly past
the blockading vessels and the battle developed into a chase, in
which the Brooklyn and Texas had at the start the advantage of
position. The Brooklyn maintained this lead. The Oregon, steaming
with amazing speed from the commencement of the action, took first
place. The Iowa and Indiana, having done good work and not having
the speed of the other ships, were directed by me, in succession,
at about the time the Vizcaya was beached, to drop out of the
chase and resume the blockading station. The Vixen, finding that
the rush of the Spanish ships would put her between two fires, ran
outside of our own column, and remained there during the battle
and chase.
The skillful handling and gallant fighting of the Gloucester
excited the admiration of every one who witnessed it and merits
the commendation of the navy department. She is a fast and
entirely unprotected auxiliary vessel--the yacht Corsair--and has
a good battery of light rapid-fire guns. She was lying about two
miles from the harbor entrance, to the southward and eastward, and
immediately steamed in, opening fire upon the large ships.
Anticipating the appearance of the Pluton and Furor, the
Gloucester was slowed, thereby gaining more rapidly a high
pressure of steam, and when the destroyers came out she steamed
for them at full speed and was able to close at short range, where
her fire was accurate, deadly and of great volume.
During this fight the Gloucester was under the fire of the Socapa
battery. Within twenty minutes from the time they emerged from
Santiago harbor the careers of the Furor and the Pluton were ended
and two-thirds of their people killed. The Furor was beached and
sunk in the surf, the Pluton sank in deep water a few minutes
later. The destroyers probably suffered much injury from the fire
of the secondary batteries of the battleships Iowa, Indiana and
the Texas, yet I think a very considerable factor in their speedy
destruction was the fire at close range of the Gloucester's
battery. After rescuing the survivors of the destroyers the
Gloucester did excellent service in landing and securing the crew
of the Infanta Maria Teresa.
The method of escape attempted by the Spaniards--all steering in
the same direction and in formation--removed all tactical doubts
or difficulties and made plain the duty of every United States
vessel to close in, immediately engage and pursue. This was
promptly and effectively done.
As already stated, the first rush of the Spanish squadron carried
it past a number of the blockading ships, which could not
immediately work up to their best speed, but they suffered heavily
in passing, and the Infanta Maria Teresa and the Oquendo were
probably set on fire by shells fired during the first fifteen
minutes of the engagement. It was afterwards learned that the
Infanta Maria Teresa's fire main had been cut by one of our first
shots and that she was unable to extinguish the fire. With large
volumes of smoke rising from their lower decks aft, these vessels
gave up both fight and flight and ran in on the beach-the Infanta
Maria Teresa at about 10:15 A. M. at Nima Nima, six and one-half
miles from Santiago harbor entrance, and the Almirante Oquendo at
about 10:30 A. M. at Juan Gonzales, seven miles from the port.
The Vizcaya was still under the fire of the leading vessels; the
Cristobal Colon had drawn ahead, leading the chase, and soon
passed beyond the range of the guns of the leading American ships.
The Vizcaya was soon set on fire, and at 11:15 A. M. she turned in
shore and was beached at Aserraderos, fifteen miles from Santiago,
burning fiercely, and with her reserves of ammunition on deck
already beginning to explode.
When about ten miles west of Santiago the Indiana had been
signaled to go back to the harbor entrance, and at Aserraderos the
Iowa was signaled to "resume blockading station." The Iowa,
assisted by the Ericsson and the Hist, took off the crew of the
Vizcaya, while the Harvard and the Gloucester rescued those of the
Infanta Maria Teresa and the Almirante Oquendo.
This rescue of prisoners, including the wounded, from the burning
Spanish vessels was the occasion of some of the most daring and
gallant conduct of the day. The ships were burning fore and aft,
their guns and reserve ammunition were exploding, and it was not
known at what moment the fire would reach the main magazines. In
addition to this a heavy surf was running just inside of the
Spanish ships. But no risk deterred our officers and men until
their work of humanity was complete.
There remained now of the Spanish ships only the Cristobal Colon,
but she was their best and fastest vessel. Forced by the situation
to hug the Cuban coast, her only chance of escape was by superior
and sustained speed. When the Vizcaya went ashore the Colon was
about six miles ahead of the Brooklyn and the Oregon, but her
spurt was finished and the American ships were now gaining upon
her. Behind the Brooklyn and the Oregon came the Texas, Vixen and
New York. It was evident from the bridge of the New York that all
the American ships were gradually overhauling the Colon, and that
she had no chance of escape.
At 12:50 the Brooklyn and the Oregon opened fire and got her
range, the Oregon's heavy shell striking beyond her, and at 1:10
she gave up without firing another shot, hauled down her colors
and ran ashore at Rio Torquino, forty-eight miles from Santiago.
Capt. Cook of the Brooklyn went on board to receive the surrender.
While his boat was alongside I came up in the New York, received
his report and placed the Oregon in charge of the wreck to save
her, if possible, and directed the prisoners to be transferred to
the Resolute, which had followed the chase.
Commodore Schley, whose chief of staff had gone on board to
receive the surrender, had directed that all their personal
effects should be retained by the officers. This order I did not
modify. The Cristobal Colon was not injured by our firing, and
probably is not much injured by beaching, though she ran ashore at
high speed. The beach was so steep that she came off by the
working of the sea. But her sea valves were opened and broken,
treacherously, I am sure, after her surrender, and despite all
efforts she sank. When it became evident that she could not be
kept afloat she was pushed by the New York bodily up on the beach,
the New York's stem being placed against her for this purpose--the
ship being handled by Capt. Chadwick with admirable judgment--and
sank in shoal water and may be saved. Had this not been done she
would have gone down in deep water and would have been to a
certainty a total loss.
I regard this complete and important victory over the Spanish
forces as the successful finish of several weeks of arduous and
close blockade, so stringent and effective during the night that
the enemy was deterred from making the attempt to escape at night
and deliberately elected to make the attempt in daylight. That
this was the case I was informed by the commanding officer of the
Cristobal Colon.
It was ascertained with fair conclusiveness that the Merrimac, so
gallantly taken into the channel on June 3, did not obstruct it. I
therefore maintained the blockade as follows:
To the battleships was assigned the duty, in turn, of lighting the
channel. Moving up to the port at a distance of from one to two
miles from the Morro--dependent upon the condition of the
atmosphere--they threw a searchlight beam directly up the channel,
and held it steadily there. This lighted up the entire breadth of
the channel for half a mile inside of the entrance so brilliantly
that the movement of small boats could be detected.
When all the work was done so well it is difficult to discriminate in
praise. The object of the blockade of Cervera's squadron was fully
accomplished, and each individual bore well his part in it --the
commodore in command on the second division, the captains of ships,
their officers and men. The fire of the battleships was powerful and
destructive and the resistance of the Spanish squadron was in great part
broken almost before they had got beyond the range of their own forts.
The fine speed of the Oregon, enabled her to take a front position in
the chase, and the Cristobal Colon did not give up until the Oregon had
thrown a 13-inch shell beyond her. This performance adds to the already
brilliant record of this fine battleship and speaks highly of the skill
and care with which her admirable efficiency has been maintained during
a service unprecedented in the history of vessels of her class.
The Brooklyn's westerly blockading position gave her an advantage
in the chase, which she maintained to the end, and she employed
her fine battery with telling effect. The Texas and the New York
were gaining on the chase during the last hour, and had any
accident befallen the Brooklyn or the Oregon, would have speedily
overhauled the Cristobal Colon. From the moment the Spanish vessel
exhausted her first burst of speed the result was never in doubt.
She fell, in fact, far below what might reasonably have been
expected of her. Careful measurements of time and distance give
her an average speed from the time she cleared the harbor mouth
until the time she was run on shore at Rio Tarquino--of 13.7
knots. Neither the New York nor the Brooklyn stopped to couple up
their forward engine, but ran out the chase with one pair, getting
steam, of course, as rapidly as possible on all boilers. To stop
to couple up the forward engines would have meant a delay of
fifteen minutes--or four miles--in the chase.
Several of the ships were struck, the Brooklyn more often than the
others, but very slight material injury was done, the greatest
being aboard the Iowa. Our loss was one man killed and one
wounded, both on the Brooklyn. It is difficult to explain this
immunity from loss of life or injury to ships in a combat with
modern vessels of the best type; but Spanish gunnery is poor at
the best, and the superior weight and accuracy of our fire
speedily drove the men from their guns and silenced their fire.
This is borne out by the statements of prisoners and by
observation. The Spanish vessels, as they dashed out of the
harbor, were covered with the smoke from their own guns, but this
speedily diminished in volume and soon almost disappeared. The
fire from the rapid-fire batteries of the battleships appears to
have been remarkably destructive. An examination of the stranded
vessels shows that the Almirante Oquendo especially had suffered
terribly from this fire. Her sides are everywhere pierced and her
decks were strewn with the charred remains of those who had
fallen.
W. T. SAMPSON,
Rear Admiral United States Navy, Commander in Chief United States
Naval Force, North Atlantic Station. The Secretary of the Navy,
Navy Department, Washington, D. C.
BURNING OF THE ALFONSO XII.
Two batteries silenced; two gunboats put to flight; the Alfonso
XII., a transport of 5,000 tons, loaded with ammunition, beached
and burned; those were the Spanish losses in the second battle of
Mariel on Wednesday, July 6. The Hawk, Prairie and Castine fought
it, destroying the most valuable ship and cargo that Spanish
daring employed to run into Havana's relief after the blockading
squadron stationed itself before Morro.
The Hawk began the battle Tuesday night off Havana. Lieutenant
Hood had taken his destroyer yacht far in under the guns to watch
the western approach to the harbor. Twenty minutes before midnight
he reached the eastern limit of his patrol, six miles west of
Morro, and went about, swinging farther in shore as he turned. The
Hawk had not finished circling when the forward lookout sighted a
huge four-masted steamer creeping along in the shade of the shore
a quarter of a mile nearer the beach, a mile to the westward. His
"sail ho" warned the master of the steamer that he was discovered
and he put about at the cry and steamed furiously away toward
Mariel.
Lieutenant Hood was after him in an instant. Eastward within call
lay six warships, but Lieutenant Hood wanted the steamer for his
own prize, and started after her without calling for aid. Mile
after mile the two vessels reeled off, the Hawk waiting to get its
prey well away from the squadron before striking. Twenty miles
from Morro the steamer began drawing away from the destroyer. The
Hawk's men were at their quarters, and when Lieutenant Hood saw
his prize slipping from his grasp his forward six-pounders began
to speak. Some of the shells must have landed, for the Spaniard
ran for shoal water, apparently hoping to catch the Hawk among the
rocks.
Lieutenant Hood was game, however, and the light-draught Hawk kept
hammering away with her rapid-fire guns and burning signals for
help from the bridge. Two miles east of Mariel the hunted Spaniard
broke for the narrow harbor mouth, and Lieutenant Hood's jackies,
pumping steel across the moonlit waters, groaned in the fear that
she might escape. The raining six-pound shells upset the pilot,
however, and the fleeing ship struck hard on the bar at the west
side of the entrance and stuck fast. With wild cheers the Hawk's
crew tumbled into the boats and boarded the prize, but the
steamer's rail was lined with riflemen and the popping Mausers
drove the Hawk's tars back to their ship.
The Hawk guarded the prize till morning and then, seeing her fast
aground, ran back to Havana to report to the fleet and to ask help
in taking her. The Castine was sent down to aid in the work, but
the shore batteries opened on the ships when they appeared. After
two hours' fruitless fighting the Hood went back to the fleet for
re-enforcements. The Prairie, manned by Massachusetts reserves,
was dispatched to engage the batteries, and at 1 o'clock in the
afternoon Captain Train took a position two miles from Martello
tower and began pitching six-inch shells into the tower and sand
batteries. Ten shells silenced the three guns in the tower and
sent the artillerymen streaming back over the hill toward the
city.
Two gunboats inside the harbor poured five-inch shells at the
Prairie, but nine shells from that ship routed them and drove them
back to the city. The sand batteries were harder to silence, but
fifteen shells did that work and wrecked the barracks besides. The
infantry in the rifle pits supporting the batteries were driven
out by five-inch shells from the Castine, which fired during the
morning and afternoon 250 shots. The Prairie used thirty-eight of
her six-inch shells and about 100 six-pounders. The Castine and
Hawk had taken the steamer, and the Hawk then reported to the
fleet at Havana. The Spanish vessel was so badly riddled that the
name could not be deciphered.
GENERAL MILES ASSUMES COMMAND IN CUBA.
On July 13 General Miles arrived at the front and assumed personal
command of the army around Santiago. Negotiations for the peaceful
surrender of the city had been going on for several days between
General Shafter, commander of the American forces, and General
Toral of the Spanish army, but it was not until the 16th that a
final agreement was reached. On this date conditions of surrender
were offered, the principal articles of which were as follows:
First, that all hostilities shall cease pending the agreement of
final capitulation.
Second, that the capitulation includes all the Spanish forces and
the surrender of all war material within the prescribed limits.
Third, that the transportation of the troops to Spain shall be
furnished at the earliest possible moment, each force to be
embarked at the nearest port.
Fourth, that the Spanish officers shall retain their side arms and
the enlisted men their personal property.
Fifth, that after the final capitulation the Spanish forces shall
assist in the removal of all obstructions to navigation in
Santiago harbor.
Sixth, that after the final capitulation the commanding officers
shall furnish a complete inventory of all arms and munitions of
war and a roster of all soldiers in the district.
Seventh, that the Spanish general shall be permitted to take the
military archives and records with him.
Eighth, that all guerrillas and Spanish irregulars shall be
permitted to remain in Cuba, giving a parole that they will not
again take up arms against the United States unless properly
released from parole.
Ninth, that the Spanish forces shall be permitted to march out
with all the honors of war, depositing their arms to be disposed
of by the United States in the future, the American commissioners
to recommend to their Government that the arms of the soldiers be
returned to those "who so bravely defended them."
By the terms of this agreement the southeastern end of Cuba--an
area of about 5,000 square miles--the capital of the province, the
forts and their heavy guns, and Toral's army, about 25,000 strong,
passed into our possession.
The ceremony which sealed the capitulation of Santiago was simple
and short. Promptly at 9 o'clock in the morning all division and
brigade commanders and their staffs reported to General Shafter at
his headquarters. With Major-General Wheeler at his left, General
Lawton and General Kent behind, and the other officers, according
to rank, following, the little cavalcade, escorted by a detachment
of Rafferty's mounted squadron, rode around the base of San Juan
hill and west on the royal road toward Santiago. Just about midway
between the American and Spanish lines of rifle pits stands a
lordly ceiba, 125 feet high to the crown, nearly 10 feet in
diameter at the trunk and spreading 50 feet each way from the
polished tree shaft. Under this tree General Toral and a score of
his officers awaited the Americans. As General Shafter came down
the slope toward the tree General Toral advanced a few feet and
raised his hat. General Shafter returned the salute, and then the
quick notes of a Spanish bugle, marking the cadence of a march,
sounded on the other side of the hedge which bordered the road,
and the king's guard, in column of twos, came into view. Before
they arrived on the scene the American cavalrymen had lined up
with drawn sabers at a carry, each man and horse motionless.
The Spanish soldiers came through a gap in the hedge in quick
time, the Spanish flag leading the column and two trumpeters
sounding the advance. The soldiers marched in excellent order, but
as they passed General Shafter their eyes moved to the left and
they glanced curiously at the men who had served as their targets
only a few days before. About 200 soldiers and officers were in
the king's guard, and the little command, after moving down the
entire front of the detachment of cavalry, countermarched, and,
swinging into line, halted facing the Americans, about ten yards
distant.
For a few minutes Americans and Spaniards faced each other, silent
and motionless. Then the two trumpeters gave tongue to their horns
again; a Spanish officer shouted a command; the Spanish colors
dipped in a salute; the Spanish soldiers presented arms and the
Spanish officers removed their hats. Captain Brett's quick, terse
command, "Present sabers," rang over the hillside, and American
swords flashed as the sabers swept downward. General Shafter
removed his hat, and his officers followed his example. For half a
minute--and it seemed longer--the two little groups of armed men,
each representing an army, remained at "the salute." The Spanish
officer in command of the king's guard was the first to break the
silence. His commands put the Spaniards in motion, and they again
passed before the Americans, who remained at "present arms" until
the last of the guard had marched by. The Spaniards marched back
toward Santiago a few hundred feet, halted, stacked their Mauser
rifles and then, without arms or flags, filed back of the American
lines and went into camp on the hill just west of San Juan hill.
The formal part of the proceedings came to an end with this little
ceremony, then Spanish and American officers mingled, shook hands
and exchanged compliments. While the king's guard and the American
cavalrymen were saluting each other the 5th army corps stood on
the crest of the parapet of the rifle pits, forming a thin line
nearly seven miles long. Only a small part of the army could see
the groups of Spanish and American soldiers under the ceiba tree,
but every one of the men who had been fighting and living in our
trenches strained his eyes to catch a glimpse, if possible, of the
proceedings which put an end to hostilities in this part of Cuba.
ON THE WAY TO SANTIAGO.
After a few minutes of informal talk General Toral and his
officers escorted General Shafter and his military family to
Santiago.
General Shafter's entrance was hardly the triumphant march of a victor,
for the procession of Americans and Spaniards ambled quietly and
unostentatiously over the cobble and blue flag stones, around the little
public circles and squares, past ancient churches and picturesque ruins
of what once were the homes of wealthy Spaniards, through narrow,
alleylike streets to the Plaza de Armas, with the cathedral, the Cafe de
Venus, the governor-general's palace and San Carlos club facing the
square.
General Toral was the first to spring from his horse, and he held out
his hand and welcomed General Shafter to the "palace." This was a few
minutes after 10 o'clock.
Here General Shafter received the local council and other civic
officials, and the governor, seeking to do the honors properly,
gave a luncheon to the general and his principal officers.
By this time the 9th infantry had marched into the square and formed two
lines, facing the palace, and the band had taken its station in the
center of the broad walk, with the American officers grouped in front.
Just five minutes before noon General Shafter, General Wheeler, General
Lawton and General Kent came from the palace and joined the officers,
and Lieutenant Miley, General Shafter's chief aid-de-camp; Captain
McKittrick and Lieutenant Wheeler, General Wheeler's son, swarmed over
the red roof tiles to the flagstaff. Then followed five long, expectant,
silent minutes. Some of the officers held watches in their hands, but
most of them kept their eyes on the little ball of bunting which cuddled
at the foot of the flagstaff. General McKibben, his long, slim figure
erect, stood before the 9th regiment, and when the first stroke of the
cathedral clock bell sounded from the tower he whirled around and gave
the command "Present arms." The final word was spoken just as the flag
fluttered up toward the tip of the staff, and the crash of hands meeting
rifle butts and the swish of sweeping sabers came with the opening notes
of the "Star-Spangled Banner," and every American there saluted our flag
as the wind caught the folds and flung the red, white and blue bunting
out under the Cuban sun and over a conquered Spanish city.
And when the last notes of the national air died away and the
rifle butts had come to an "order" on the pavement, and the sabers
had been slipped into their sheaths, men whose faces and throats
were deep brown, whose cheeks were thin, whose limbs trembled with
fatigue and Cuban fever, whose heads wore bandages covering wounds
made by Spanish bullets, but who stood straight, with heads erect,
were not ashamed to wipe from their eyes the tears which came when
"old glory" spread its protecting folds over Santiago.
YELLOW FEVER IN SHAFTER'S ARMY.
Yellow fever broke out in the army on July 11, spreading with
frightful rapidity among the men, but it fortunately proved to be
of a mild type, and in comparatively few instances was the dreaded
disease attended with fatal results.
When the landings at Baiquiri and Juragua were made there were
many men to be handled, the facilities were limited and the
landings were made in great haste. No building was burned, no well
was filled, no sink was dug. Several of the enthusiastic young
aids seized pretty vineclad cottages as headquarters for their
respective generals. Cubans and Americans filed into the empty
houses of the town without inquiry as to their antecedents.
Major LeGarde, in charge of the beach hospital, recommended
earnestly on landing that every building be burned. Major Wood and
Colonel Pope indorsed this, but the recommendation went by
default. The camp was established in the heart of the Spanish town
and the first yellow-fever case was that of Burr McIntosh, the
actor and newspaper man, who had been sleeping at General Bates'
headquarters in one of the pretty vine-covered cottages mentioned.
Dr. Lesser and his wife, "Sister Bettina," the New York workers of
the Red Cross, were among the first victims, and Katherine White,
another Red Cross nurse, was also sent to the yellow-fever camp.
After the fever was discovered every effort was made to check it
and stamp it out, but the camp had already been pitted with it.
Cases were taken out of the surgical wards of the hospital tents
and out of the officers' tents, General Duffield being one of the
victims.
Owing to the unhealthful climate and the lack of proper food,
medicines, clothing, and shelter, the army was soon threatened
with an epidemic of disease, and it was evident that the detention
of the troops in Cuba would result in loss of life to thousands of
brave men. In order that the authorities at Washington might have
a thorough understanding of the situation, the officers of the 5th
army corps united in the following letter which was addressed to
General Shafter, and which was transmitted by him to the war
department in Washington:
We, the undersigned officers commanding the various brigades,
divisions, etc., of the army of occupation in Cuba, are of the
unanimous opinion that this army should be at once taken out of
the island of Cuba and sent to some point on the northern seacoast
of the United States; that it can be done without danger to the
people of the United States; that yellow fever in the army at
present is not epidemic; that there are only a few sporadic cases;
but that the army is disabled by malarial fever to the extent that
its efficiency is destroyed, and that it is in a condition to be
practically destroyed by an epidemic of yellow fever which is sure
to come in the near future.
We know from the reports of competent officers and from personal
observation that the army is unable to move into the interior and
that there are no facilities for such a move if attempted, and
that it could not be attempted until too late. Moreover, the best
medical authorities of the island say that with our present
equipment we could not live in the interior during the rainy
season without losses from malarial fever, which is almost as
deadly as yellow fever.
This army must be moved at once or perish. As the army can be
safely moved now the persons responsible for preventing such a
move will be responsible for the unnecessary loss of many
thousands of lives.
Our opinions are the result of careful personal observation, and
they are also based on the unanimous opinion of our medical
officers with the army, who understand the situation absolutely.
J. FORD KENT, Major-General Volunteers, Commanding First Division
Fifth Corps.
J. C. BATES, Major-General Volunteers, Commanding Provisional
Division.
ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General Commanding Third Brigade, Second
Division.
SAMUEL S. SUMNER, Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding First
Brigade Cavalry.
WILL LUDLOW, Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding First
Brigade, Second Division.
ADELBERT AMES, Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding Third
Brigade, First Division.
LEONARD WOOD, Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding the City of
Santiago.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Colonel, Commanding Second Cavalry Brigade.
As a result arrangements were completed as quickly as possible for
the transportation of the troops to the United States, and immunes
were sent to Santiago for garrison duty in their places.
ANOTHER NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
On the morning of July 18 the vessels on blockade duty in the
vicinity of Manzanillo approached the harbor of that city from the
westward. The Wilmington and Helena entered the northern channel
towards the town, the Scorpion and Osceola the mid-channel, and
the Hist, Hornet and Wampatuck the south channel, the movement of
the vessels being so timed as to bring them within effective range
of the shipping at about the same moment. An attack was made on
the Spanish vessels in the harbor, and after a deliberate fire
lasting about two and a half hours, three transports, El Gloria,
Jose Garcia and La Purrissima Concepcion, were burned and
destroyed.
The Pontoon, which was the harbor guard and storeship for
ammunition, was burned and blown up. Three gunboats were
destroyed, one other was driven ashore and sunk, and another was
entirely disabled. No casualties occurred on board any of the
American vessels. The Spanish loss was over 100 in killed and
wounded, and the Delgado, Guantanamo, Ostralia, Continola and
Guardian, gunboats of the Spanish navy, were sent to join
Cervera's fleet.