WHAT OUR ARMY ACHIEVED.
Now to turn from the navy to the army, and see what the latter achieved
in Porto Rico.
On July 21, 1898, General Miles sailed from Guantanamo Bay with a force
of 3,415 men. General Wilson had sailed the day before from Charleston
with 4,000 men, and General Schwan and his command sailed from Port
Tampa two days later.
The entire army of invasion numbered about eleven thousand men.
The hardships on the transports were very great.
The Massachusetts carried three troops of cavalry from New York and
Pennsylvania to Porto Rico and the events of the voyage have been thus
narrated by an eye-witness:
"With the penetrating of the tropics come days of languor and nights of
inactivity so delicious it seems profanation to move. More than one
thousand men, who boarded the Massachusetts with the vigor of the North
in their veins, have succumbed, one by one, to the lethargy of the soft
breeze of the Bahamas.
But an awakening is at hand. Pumps that have been running steadily day
and night slow down and stop. Troopers had become so accustomed to the
quick beating of the smaller machines that the cessation of throbs
between the slower pulsations of the heavier engines is noticed
instantly. A quick inquiry as to the cause brings the answer from one
less well-informed: "Only the water pumps broken down." That is all,
only eleven hundred parched horses awaiting the answer to the bugle call
they had learned so well--"Water horses!"--which sounded at the moment
of the fatal break in the pumps. Only a transport carrying ten hundred
and thirty men, and no means of extinguishing a fire!
Twenty minutes; one-half hour, and Captain Read, who has gone down into
"the hole," asks for five Troop A men. "No hurry," so the order said.
Somebody knew better, and the troopers go, hand over hand, down into the
ship's hold. A few bales of hay come up and over the side of the ship,
and sizzle as they strike the water. The troopers nurse a few burned
fingers, and Captain Read reappears on deck, smoked, wet with
perspiration, and makes his usual answer to a question, "What's the
trouble?" with "Nothing at all." But five men of Troop A and Captain
Read knows that a dangerous fire has been extinguished for the third
time in one day with men's bare hands.
"Three-quarters of an hour, and no sound from the engine-room, except
the steady throb of the propeller.
"'Thirty men from Troop A, thirty men from City Troop, and thirty men
from Troop C!' and ninety men in three squads silently are lined around
that entrance to Hades--the hole. 'Another fire,' was the quick alarm,
but it was worse than that. 'Water! water! water!" the cry comes from
the sunken eyes that look pleadingly at men; from harsh breathing; from
parched throats; from hanging heads of eleven hundred horses and mules
that had not been watered since receiving a scant quart eighteen hours
before. 'Let's see,' said the United States cavalrymen, quietly, 'the
pumps are hopeless, but we can draw up one bucketful every minute from
the hold aft, and one every minute from the forward hatch. We ought to
water all in ten hours. Form lines and water solid. The horse you skip
will be dead in the morning.'
"The horses stand with swollen legs far apart, instinctively to prevent
a fall. Once down, they know they never can get up. Their heads hang low
and their breathing comes in a whistle from parched lungs through a
long, dry throat and dusty mouth. There is an occasional form in the
black galleys. It is some trooper, his big arms around the neck of his
beloved dying mount, with tears in his eyes, but petting and talking to
the animal as if it understood. Then ropes over blocks begin to draw
buckets of water from sixty feet below. Immediately each horse or mule
has its draught, it is bathed in perspiration, and skin dry and
shriveled becomes soft and pliable. One can feel in the dark, whether a
horse has been missed or not.
"There is a delay and an anxious inquiry from above: 'What's the
matter?' 'Haul away,' is the response, and the bucket comes heavy this
time. Oh, it's only a man, stark naked, fainting, with a rope beneath
his arms, and head away to one side. 'Hospital case, overcome, haul
away,' and another bucket swings upward."
Of course the objective point of the whole campaign was the capital,
San Juan, on the northeastern coast of the island. Nevertheless the
troops were mostly landed on the southern coast not far from the
southwestern corner. The plan was to drive all the Spanish troops upon
the island into San Juan, where they could be captured upon the
surrender of that city.
The Spaniards abandoned precipitately the whole southern coast line, and
this seemed to promise an easy march for the Americans across Porto
Rico.
But this was not exactly the case, as we shall proceed to demonstrate.
There were several causes why the Spaniards fled before the invading
Americans.
One was that in the beginning the Spanish forces, from lack of knowledge
as to where the Americans would land, were widely scattered. By
retreating, the coast garrisons were brought together in bodies of more
or less magnitude. More than this in the interior could be found
stronger positions for defense, and there only land forces would have to
be dealt with.
It is probable that the Spaniards in Porto Rico, knowing as they must
have, that the war was virtually over, hoped by a show of resistance at
the end to come out with a certain degree of credit, and had resolved to
give up the fight only when they received an order to do so from Madrid.
At all events, the Spanish troops disputed the American advance at
several points. At Fajardo the American forces raised the Stars and
Stripes, but the Spaniards, several hundred in number, pulled it down
and even sought to drive away the landing party that held the
lighthouse on the shore. This attempt was most manifestly absurd, as in
the harbor was a squadron, consisting of the monitor Amphitrite, the
protected cruiser Cincinnati and the Leyden. No time was lost in landing
men to support the lighthouse force, and to open fire from the ships.
The Spaniards were driven back and suffered much from their foolish
temerity.
In the beginning the plan of campaign included an advance along three
lines.
The first division, under General Schwan, was to advance along the
western coast to Aguadilla, in the north-western corner of the island,
and then to push to the east until Arecibo, on the northern coast and
about half-way between Aguadilla and San Juan, was reached. The second
division, under General Henry, was to push directly to the north from
Ponce, forming a union with Schwan at Arecibo. The main advance was to
be along the military road from Ponce to San Juan. As this road runs for
some distance parallel to the southern coast, a division was dispatched
under General Brooke to land at Arroyo and capture Guayama, an important
city on the military road, about forty miles east of Ponce. By this
means, whatever detachments of Spanish troops might be stationed on the
road between these two points were exposed to attack from both front and
rear.
Before any of these movements could be completed, however, came the
armistice and the consequent cessation of hostilities.
Much, though, had been accomplished before this, enough to show what
American arms were capable of.
In the east, General Brooke, after landing at Arroyo, had taken Guayama;
in the centre, General Wilson had advanced on the military road,
occupied Coamo, and had made a demonstration before Aibonito, where
there was a large Spanish force; further to the west, General Henry had
marched to within fifteen miles of Arecibo; in the extreme west, General
Schwan had marched along the coast and taken Mayaguez, the principal
port in that end of the island, after a sharp skirmish with a force that
outnumbered his own. The slight opposition met by General Brooke at
Guayama, General Wilson at Coamo, and General Schwan near Mayaguez,
indicated that there would be little difficulty in reaching the capital,
and officers and men alike felt that the capture of San Juan was a
matter of but a few days.
The third landing of American troops in Porto Rico took place on August
2, at Arroyo, from the St. Louis and the St. Paul. The army then took
the place of the navy and accepted the surrender of the town. There was
no defense and no Spanish flag was flying. The surrender of Arroyo was
important, as there were a large number of manufacturing enterprises
there.
The attitude of the civil authorities and the ineffective character of
the defense made by the Spanish troops, says the San Francisco Argonaut,
was illustrated by the advance made by General Henry's division. General
Roy Stone was sent in advance with a small body of about one hundred men
to reconnoiter the road and determine its fitness for military
operations. The character of the expedition may be gathered from the
fact that General Stone and his officers rode in carriages. Yet town
after town surrendered to these outposts until they were encamped before
Arecibo, on the northern coast of the island. The main body had nothing
to do but follow and furnish flags for the surrendered municipalities.
One of the most extraordinary things in the whole campaign was the
surrender of the city of Ponce. This was done in response to a telephone
communication from Ensign Curtin. Not a single shot was fired.
After the surrender of Ponce it was reported that a large Spanish force
had gathered about ten miles in the interior. Two companies of soldiers
were sent out by General Ernst to see what this meant. On the outskirts
of the town a party of Spanish soldiers, loaded down with guns and
swords, was met with. As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of the
Americans they ran toward them crying, "Don't shoot!"
They declared that they were coming in to surrender. Although the party
was small, they had arms enough to stock a regiment. They were taken
before General Wilson, gave up their arms and signed a parole.
There was quite a strong resistance made at Coamo, a town on the main
military road between Juana Diaz and the Spanish mountain stronghold at
Aibonito. General Wilson effected the capture of this place with the
most consummate skill. His plan was simple enough. It was nothing more
nor less than an ordinary flank movement, such as Grant and Sherman
used so successfully during the Civil War.
General Wilson advanced against the town on the main road with
sufficient infantry, cavalry and artillery to drive out the Spanish
garrison. But when the latter attempted to retreat they found their way
blacked by the Sixteenth Pennsylvania, under Colonel Hulings, which
General Wilson had sent round to the rear of the town the night before.
The attack in front was timed so as to allow this force to get into
position.
The Battle of Coamo, if indeed, it can be so called, for it was nothing
more than a lively skirmish, has been thus described:
"Just as darkness fell, the regiment left the military road and struck
at a right angle for the hills to the northward. Porto Rican guides led
the way over paths so rough and narrow that the men could move only in
single file. It was toilsome progress. Absolute silence was enjoined; no
smoking was permitted lest the fitful flash of a match should betray the
movement to the watchful Spaniards on the hills. For hours the men
toiled on. The officers were compelled to walk and lead their horses.
Creeks and rivulets were waded; lofty hills were climbed or skirted;
yawning ravines were crossed. The men dripped with perspiration,
although the night air was chilly.
"At dawn both General Wilson and General Ernest were in the saddle, and
long before the shadows lifted from the valleys the main body of the
army was in motion to drive the enemy out of the town and into
Hulling's net. Nearer than the village and off to the right was the
blockhouse of Llamo de Coamo. The blockhouse was the first place
attacked. There was a heavy, jarring rumble over the macadam of the
military road. Anderson's battery came along at a sharp trot. At a turn
in the road where the blockhouse came into view it halted. Two minutes
later the fight opened. For a few minutes the Spanish returned the fire
with Mausers, but as shell after shell crashed through the blockhouse,
they abandoned it and fell back toward Coamo. Soon flames leaped upward
from the roof, and an hour later the fort was but a smoldering ruin.
"Meanwhile the infantry was pressing rapidly forward. General Wilson was
wondering what had become of Hulings. Not a warlike sound came from the
village, a mile and a half away. Had the garrison escaped? Suddenly from
beyond the town came the rattle of musketry. Soon the sound swelled into
a steady roar, which the mountains echoed again and again."
The same writer tells a story in regard to one whom he terms a real hero
of the war, and he calls attention to the callous manner in which
Spanish soldiers were sacrificed to protect political adventurers at
home. To quote his own words:
"His name was Don Rafael Martinez. There was no military justification
for attempting to hold Coamo under the circumstances. Yet Major Martinez
stayed. He was still in the prime of youth and in fine health. In Spain
his family is aristocratic and influential, and could have protected
him from the consequences of a quixotic court-martial. Martinez knew
that resistance was utterly hopeless. But Colonel San Martian had been
practically disgraced by Governor-General Macias for evacuating Ponce,
and all commanders of garrisons in the path of the American army were
ordered to fight. So Major Martinez kissed his young wife and children
good-by one day last week and sent them into San Juan for safety. His
scouts brought word that an American column of double the garrison's
strength was slowly creeping around to his rear. Then Martinez knew that
he was trapped, and decided to go out and meet the enemy. He rode in
advance of his slender column until he sighted Hulings's men, who were
immediately apprised of the enemy's presence by a volley. Soon bullets
were flying like hail. Martinez, mounted upon a gray horse, rode up and
down in front of his troops, uttering encouraging words. The soldier's
death which Martinez sought was not long coming. For a while he reeled
in his saddle, maintaining his seat with evident difficulty. Then his
horse went to his knees, and Martinez slowly slid from the saddle, a
lifeless form. When Major Martinez was found, five wounds, three of
which were mortal, were discovered. His horse was shot in four places."
The result of the attack on Coamo was the capture of about one hundred
and eighty men, or most of the garrison except the cavalry who took to
the mountains by paths better known to them than to the Americans. Of
General Wilson's force, none was killed and only a few were wounded.
The whole affair was splendidly managed. As has been said before, all
General Miles's plans could be put into action, the war was practically
ended.
On the afternoon of August 12, Secretary of State Day and M. Cambou, the
French ambassador, who was representing Spain, affixed their signatures
to duplicate copies of a protocol establishing a basis upon which the
two countries, acting through their respective commissioners, could
negotiate terms of peace.
The provisions of the protocol were practically as follows:
1. That Spain will relinquish all claim of sovereignty over and title to
Cuba.
2. That Porto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies, and an
island in the Ladrones, to be selected by the United States, shall be
ceded to the latter.
3. That the United States will occupy and hold the city, bay and harbor
of Manila, pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace which shall
determine the control, disposition and government of the Philippines.
4. That Cuba, Porto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies
shall be immediately evacuated, and that commissioners, to be appointed
within ten days, shall, within thirty days from the signing of the
protocol, meet at Havana and San Juan respectively, to arrange and
execute the details of the evacuation.
5. That the United States and Spain will each appoint not more than five
commissioners to negotiate and conclude a treaty of peace. The
commissioners are to meet at Paris not later than October.
6. On the signing of the protocol, hostilities will be suspended and
notice to that effect will be given as soon as possible by each
Government to the commanders of its military and naval forces.
The President at once signed the following proclamation, declaring an
armistice:
"By the President of the United States of America:
"A PROCLAMATION.
"Whereas, By a protocol concluded and signed August 12, 1898, by William
R. Day, Secretary of State of the United States, and his Excellency
Jules Cambon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
republic of France at Washington, respectively representing for this
purpose the Government of the United States and the Government of Spain,
the United States and Spain have formally agreed upon the terms on which
negotiations for the establishment of peace between the two countries
shall be undertaken; and,
"Whereas, It is in said protocol agreed that upon its conclusion and
signature hostilities between the two countries shall be suspended, and
that notice to that effect shall be given as soon as possible by each
government to the commanders of its military and naval forces;
"Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States,
do, in accordance with the stipulations of the protocol, declare and
proclaim on the part of the United States a suspension of hostilities,
and do hereby command that orders be immediately Driven through the
proper channels to the commanders of the military and naval forces of
the United States to abstain from all acts inconsistent with this
proclamation.
"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
"Done at the city of Washington, this 12th day of August, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and of the
independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-third.
"William McKinley.
"By the President. William R. Day, Secretary of State."
It may be interesting to pause here for a moment and note what the
London press had to say as to this suspension of hostilities. It will be
observed that the comments were extraordinarily favorable to the United
States.
The Standard, commenting on the signing of the protocol by the
representatives of Spain and the United States, said: "Thus ends one of
the most swiftly decisive wars in history. Spanish rule disappears from
the West. The conquerors have problems of great difficulty before them.
Doubtless they will face them with patriotic resolution."
The Daily News said: "August 12, 1898, will be a memorable day in the
history of the world. It is the day which witnessed the death of one
famous empire and the birth of another, destined perhaps to more
enduring fame. It must be admitted that the results achieved are a
substantial record for four mouths of war."
The Morning Post said that the protocol leaves open the two questions
regarding which future difficulties that may not concern the United
States and Spain alone are likely to arise. It advises Spain, assuming
that the United States only holds Manila, to sell the Philippines.
The Daily Telegraph was impressed by the indifference of the bulk of the
Spanish nation to the sentiment of national pride, which seems to be
extinct. For this reason national life, in the true sense of the word,
must sooner or later cease to exist.
The paper discussed the decadence of Spain in connection with the
contention that France and Italy have become stationary, and predicts
the ultimate disappearance of the Latin race as a factor in the human
drama.
The Chronicle said that the American people will never regret the
sacrifices they have made to remove the Spanish colonies from the map.
It added that many more difficulties and sacrifices await them, but the
result will be the growth of freedom and the extension of human
happiness and prosperity.
The Times said it hoped it was not a violation of neutrality to express
the satisfaction felt by a great majority of Englishmen at the success
of the United States. It added:
"Historians will wrangle for a long time respecting the propriety of the
methods by which the war was brought about, but once begun it was
eminently desirable for the interests of the world, and even, perhaps,
ultimately to the interests of Spain herself, that it should result in
the success of the Americans.
"The factor in the situation which is of the greatest immediate
importance to ourselves is the fate of the Philippines."
The Times thought it very remarkable that the New York newspapers
discovered on the same day that the United States were bound to put
themselves in the best possible position for defending the common
interests of themselves and Great Britain in China. It concluded:
"Providence in the nick of time has given them the Philippines."
The armistice proclamation was followed at once by orders from the War
Department to the several commanding generals in the field directing
that all military operations be suspended.
This was the text of the message to General Miles:
"Adjutant-General's Office,
Washington, Aug. 12, 1898.
"Major-General Miles, Ponce, Porto Rico:
"The President directs that all military operations against the enemy be
suspended. Peace negotiations are nearing completion, a protocol having
just been signed by representatives of the two countries. You will
inform the commander of the Spanish forces in Porto Rico of these
instructions. Further orders will follow. Acknowledge receipt.
"By order Secretary of War.
"H. C. Corbin, Adjutant-General."
These orders, coming as they did, undoubtedly prevented the sacrifice of
many valuable lives before San Juan. But they were anything but popular
among the American troops, for they reached the various divisions just
as each was about to strike a decisive blow.
The Spaniards, however, it is said, received the news with loud
manifestations of delight.
In General Brook's division, a battery had just been advanced to
position and the order to fire was about to be given, when a courier,
his steed panting and covered with foam, dashed upon the field and
informed the general that an armistice had been concluded.
General Brooke's sole reply was:
"Lieutenant, you arrived five minutes too soon. You should have been
more considerate of your horse."
While our army did not have a chance to show all that it was capable of
accomplishing, it was proven conclusively that the Yankees are good and
brave fighters.
The sight of an army springing up out of nothing, the spectacle of the
monumental work of military organization being pushed on to success in
spite of mistakes, arrested the attention of all European nations.
One thing is certain--a noble victory has been nobly won; and won,
happily at a cost, which, deplorable though it actually was, was
relatively small, as must be acknowledged by every student of the
warfare of the past.