The conflict with Spain; a history of the war based upon official reports and descriptions of eye-witnesses...

Preface

IN the ensuing pages the reader will find the record of one of the most astonishing transformations in the history of peoples. The plain tale as set forth rivals the enchantments of feudal conquest, when the world made war a part of its daily life. For though in point of time, the conflict with Spain embraced but the duration of three months, the prodigies performed by our fleets rival a century's activities in other times. In an hour almost, one of our fleets conquered an Oriental empire — dating back coevally with the settlement of our own states; at our very doors, in the sea which has witnessed colossal struggles of most of the powers of Christendom, our navy in three hours ended the domination of the onceworld power. And if our armies did not equal in these achievements, the marvels of the fleets, they performed wherever called upon, all that a heroic soldiery was ever asked to do. The tale as it unrolls itself from the far-off shores of the Philippines and the coral reefs of the Caribbean, takes on the texture of the most absorbingly thrilling romance, for it involves the dauntless heroism of the knight pledged to deeds of emprise and armies consecrated to peril in every form known in war. It reveals a galaxy of heroes added to the long list whose names shine in the golden legend of our creation and maintenance as a state. From this tale, the citizen of the republic will rise with a new confidence in our system, a new hope in our destiny. For from the opening guns at Manila to the last volley at Santiago, there was not a man under the flag who did not. and does not deserve well, of his country. As much as possible I have striven to let the heroes who wrought so grandly tell the story of their achievements in their own words. From the captivating confidences of the Hero Hobson to the caustic comment of General Miles, the reader will find side by side with the author's deductions and appreciations, the testimony of every actor in the grandiose drama which constitutes the miraculous conquest of three months.

There is no equal period that has a tale of such results to tell ; no epic or imagining of what fleets and armies have done that exceeds the intrepidity of our fleets and soldiery. Nor can any other war, from the excursions of the crusaders, to the campaign in Cuba, equal the unvarying chivalry of the great men who wrought in the republic's honor. For

.at was never before known in war, both the chiefs of the soldiery cap-

VI

PREFACE.

tured by our fleets and armies, returned to their homes, testifying in pub lie documents to the chivalrous magnanimity of their treatment, by the men who had conquered them. It is a stirring tale which tells itself and has little need of the artifices of rhetoric — for it recounts valor in every conceivable stress, the qualities in short, which make up a race worthy of its destiny. It is peculiarly mete that freemen battling for the republic, should be the heroes of the scene, for while no commanding figures were discerned for public acclamation, the private soldier, the men behind the guns became the country's admiration, the world's wonder. Instead of one Napoleon, or a score of renowned marshals, every man that held a bayonet illustrated the valor of knighthood, the quality of the freemen in armor. An army raised in a day, achieved the work, hardly hoped for from the veterans of a score of campaigns. Wonder books and fiction cannot exceed in the marvelous, the plain unvarnished tale of a conflict, ended almost as soon as begun— so swiftl} r accomplished indeed, that the spectators do not yet realize its momentous significance, its unparalleled completeness.

Chapter I

Part I.— Relates how War Reveals Peoples to Themselves— The Early Victories of the Republic— Presents the Influence of the Civil War upon Youth— Gives Types of Americanism and our Race Name-Shows War as a Passion— Tells of the Veterans of the Civil War-^Congress and the Press-The President's Opposition to War— The Destruction of the Maine— Describes the De Lome Incident— The Diplomatic Correspondence— De Lome's Successor— The "Jingoes"— " Yellow " Journalism— States that Dispassionate Deliberation was Impossible —That the Majority of the People were Opposed to War— Takes up Cuban Sentiment-Commercial Interests— Cuban Bonds— Filibustering. 17

Part II -Treats of the Purpose of the War-The British Press-British Estimate of the Yankees-Rumors of European Intervention-The Proffer of British Alliance-European Sympathy for Spain-European Distrust of the United States- Attitude of the British Liberals-Enmity of the "Saturday Review "-What British Alliance Really Meant-The Conversion of Depew-Arguments of the Tempters-Carlyle's Estimate of his Countrymen-An Outspoken British Statesman and Editor

Chapter II

PART I -Shows how Spain received the Ultimatum of the United States-The Monarchy in no condition to Wage War-The Spectre of "Carlism "-Decadence of the Monarchy-Spain's Great Captains-Her Audacious Enterpnses- Her Activities Dependent on Foreigners-British Alliance-Spam s Fleets- Tells how Europe sees the United States through British Yrm-Mm Spain Seeking Help •

PART II.-Contains an account of Spain under Charles V-Her WMh^oMbUai from Britain-Early British Intrigue-Spain's Naval ^ni-Her Co^ng System-ShowshowsheTreatsherSailors-Givesher Naval Nomenclature ...60

CHAPTER III. „ . . ftt . Tomc8

Wherein our Former Relations with Spain are Recounted-Other Topics Treated are: The Conquistadores-Comparison of Forces-Span . s *ava Strength-Warships of the Republic-An Auxiliary Navy-The Hornets of

VII

OTH CONTENTS.

the Sea — Encounter of the " St. Paul " and the " Terror" — Early Navies of the Republic — Naval Warfare in 1812 — Britain Mistress of the Seas — Naval Duels — Comparison of Armaments — Juggling Tonnage Figures — The Man Behind the Gun — Naval Heroes of the Civil War — Life on a Modern Battleship — The Agonizing Expectancy — The Fierce Joy of Battle — Heroism of the Crews 96

Chapter IV

In which the Influence of the "Yellow" Press is Depicted — Also Relates the President's call for Troops and the Marvelous Response — Likewise the Capture of Prizes — The Making of Soldiers from Recruits — The Lessons of the Civil War — Treats of Politics in War — How the West Point Graduates were Ignored — The Man With a "Pull " — Moving the Legions— The Devotion and Constancy of the Soldiers — " The Rough Riders" — Presents Roosevelt, an Interesting Figure. 85

Chapter I

Part I. — Introduces Commodore George Dewey and the Asiatic Squadron — Dewey Fitting Out His Ships— Dewey Waiting for Orders— Gives the Fateful Message — Dewey's Comment and Vessels Comprising his Fleet — Describes the City of Manila— Cavite Arsenal — Corregidor — Dewey's Captains — The Spanish Strength— States what Battle Reveals — Dewey's Precautions — Shows Admiral Montojo opening the Combat — The "Olympia" Replying — Dewey's Tactics— The Coolness of the Commanders — The Duel Between the Flagships — What an "Eight-Incher" Did and the Spanish Admiral's Story of the Battle— Tells How Gridley's Guns were Worked — How the Spanish Admiral Transferred His Flag— How the "Baltimore" Led the Second Attack— Describes the " Austria " Wrecked— The Defiance of the " Ulloa "—The Joy of the Crews— What the Men in the Turrets do— The Audacious " Petrel"— The Victors on Errands of Mercy 99

Part II.— Details the Plight of the Queen Regent— Spanish Self-Restraint— Shows Spain Ready for Peace— Carlist Plotters— Life in Gay Madrid— Tells of the Sickness of the King — Describes a Legacy of Hatred— The Spanish Court — The Spanish Cortes— Shows Spain as only a Shadow of Former Greatness— Tells of Canovas del Castillo— The Short-lived Democracy and Shows the Obverse of the Picture 133

Part III— Contains a Description of the Philippines— Their Area— Population— Discovery and Conquest — Diverse Tribes— Amazing Fertility of the Soil — The Negritos— The Malays— The Peculiar Treatment of Criminals— Relates how Schooled by Priests they Become Assassins — A Scientist's Story — Introduces the Jesuits— Mohammedans— Pirates — Colonizing— The Malay Proa — Sulu Homes— Dress— Amusements and Passions— Food Products— The " Queen of Fruits." 147

CONTENTS. Ii

Chapter II

Refers to Our Vulnerable Sea-Coast— The Ability of Our Fleets— A Source of Anxiety — The Battleship Oregon— Fears for the Noble Ship— Creating an Auxiliary Navy — The Puzzle of the " Cape Verde Fleet— Solves the Mystery- Shows the Spanish Admiral Bottled Up— Introduces a Strangely Daring Youth — Richmond P. Hobson — Describes his Audacious Plan — Details of the Scheme — The Collier Merrimac — The Enterprise— An Ensign's Heroism— The Call for Volunteers — The Devoted Seven— Watching the Expedition— The Painful Suspense — The Flag of Truce — The Heroes Safe — As Prisoners of War— Ah Exchanged — Hero Worship — Hobson's Modest Behaviour — Relates his Praise for the Jackies, and his Story of the Merrimac's Suicide 161

Chapter III

Part I After Alluding to the Santiago " Nightmare," Describes the Destruction of Cervera's Fleet — The Warning Cry — The Admiral's Ship— The " Iowa " fighting the "Teresa" — Now the "Oquendo" — The Apparition of the "Colon" — Titanic Fury of the Combat — The Hadean Atmosphere — The Dreaded Destroyers — How the "Gloucester" Marked its Prey — The Stately " Vizcaya" — A Duel to the Death — Spain's Proud Cruisers on the Rocks — The Inhumanity ot the Cubans— The Soul-Stirring Devotion of the Yankee Crews— The Proffer of Captain Eulate's Sword — Gives the Noble Sailor's Reply — Recounts the Difficulties of a Historian — The Story of a Wide-Awake Young Lad— Other Details of the Fight 191

Part II Unfolds the Romance that Envelops Santiago — Exploits the "Texas"— Gives Captain Philip's Epilogue — Also Admiral Schley's Digest of the Battle — Also the Epic of the "Oregon" — Contains Ensign Powell's Story — Relates the Intrepidity of the "Gloucester " — Other Incidents of the Thrilling Drama —And what Captain Evans Regarded as his First Duty— Besides Telling how Turret Guns are Worked 209

Chapter IV

Part I Describes the Difficulty of Accounting Rationally for the Effect and Causes of Certain Battles — Trials of the Santiago Expedition — The Strength of the City — The First Landing — Camp McCaUa — The Marine Corps— The First Sanguiuaiy Encounter — What a Correspondent Saw — And Heard — The Irksomeness of Blockading— What the "Winslow" Did— A Withering Blast of Shells- Ensign Bagley's Death — Baiquiri — Debarking an Army — A Foodless Army— How the Rough Riders Set Out— An Ambush in the Chapparal — The Equanimity of the Troops— Coolness of the Leaders — The Cry of Mutilation— The "Devil's Claw " — Poisonous Cacti — Uncanny Things — The Cuban Contingent — The Ingenious Yankee Soldier. 243

PART II Affords A View of Florida's Sand Wastes aud Tawny Coasts— The Troops Eager for War — Life on a Transport — Leaving the Squalors of Tampa — An Imposing Armada — Fair Cuba at Last — Describes the Delight of the Seaworn Soldiers — An Untried Undertaking — Skirmishes — The Natural Defenses of Santiago — The Invading Column — Blockhouses and Wire Barricades — Squad Fights — The Work of the Regulars— Quotes Active Observers of the Operations "—Mentions the Diversity of Comment — Tells of General Linares in a Trap — s CONTENTS.

The Fifth Day— The 6ry of Hunger— Our Thin Line— A Whimsical Purpose- General Shaf ter's Objective— St. James of Cuba— Environed in Beauty. 269.

Part III.— Details the Advance of General Young's Troops from Baiquiri— Their Progress— The Implacable Resistance of Earth and Wood— The Exuberance of the " Rough Riders "—The Story of Sevilla— Compares the Arms of the Opposing Forces— States the Objective Point of the Army— Carries the Reader to El Caney— Relates the Onset of the " Regulars"— Tells the Story of Capron's Merciless Guns-Of Haskell's Dash Into the Pitiless Hail— Describes Phenomena of the Battlefield— The Anxiety to be on the Line of Fire 291

Pakt IV Illustrates Engineering Difficulties Before Santiago— Shows a Panorama of the City Itself— Describes El Morro— Other Defences of Santiago— Some Railroads— Spanish Neglect of Sanitation— Introduces Absorbing Episodes- Personal Recollections of the Thirty-six Hours Fighting— The Singing of Bullets— The Wire Barricades— The Planting of the Colors— The Silencing of Batteries— The Fury of the Fighting— Excerpts from Reports of Commanders —Comment— Describes the " Regulars "—Tells the Deserter's Story— Defines Bravery — Likewise Cowardice 302

Pabt V.— Touches upon the Humorous Side of Grave Ordeals— Relates the Story of El Pozo— Fittingly Eulogizes a Brilliant Staff Officer— Tells how a Blockhouse was Taken— Paints the "Tramp" Aspect of the Troops— Describes a Cactus Jungle— Touches Up the Cubanos— Enlarges Upon the Loathly Land Crab— Gives British Impressions at El Caney 335

Chapter V

Part L— Exploits the "Red Cross" Society— Its Work— Miss Clara Barton— Gives the Origin of the Society— Its Founder— Its Emblem— The "Seneca" and " Concha " Horrors— Presents Criticisms on the Medical Bureau— The Evasive Letter of the Secretary of War— A Scathing Reply— The Soldier's Story- Tells of Peculations, Large and Small— Of Selling Supplies— Of the Camp at Tampa 358

Part II. — Introduces the Red Cross Steamer " State of Texas " and its Samaritan Crew and describes the Advancement of Medical Science— What the Soldier was Told— Field Hospitals— Stretcher Squads— First Dressings— New Methods... 573

Chapter VI

Part I.— Sets Forth the Royalist Tendencies of Cuba's Capital City— Slavery in Cuba, How Born In War it Lived in Conquest— The Impress of One Man Upon Havana— Tacon— Havanese Architecture— The Student Confused— Population of Cuba— Distinctions of Birth— Cuba Librists— Cuba, the Fairest of Tropic Climes— Early Government— Climate Influence Races— Defines the Cubano— The Autonomist Group— Shafter's Cuban Allies— The Dream of the Hierarchy — Shows Havana Under the Blockade 379

Part II. — Contains Disquisitions on the Political Repose of Cuba— An Anarchic Interlude— Cespedes— The Virginius Affair— Cuba for Sale— The Rebellion of 1895— Cause of the Revolt— Agricultural Decay— Spain's Unwisdom- Campos— Weyler's Regime— Gomez's Methods— The Inutile " Trochas"— The " Reconcentrado " System— What a "Yellow" Journal Did— Presents the 11 Maine " Calamity as Fortuitous— The Cuban Vendetta — Maceo — His Instinct for Leadership— His Fate— The Cuban as an Ally 393

CONTENTS.

Chapter I

PART I. — Depicts Dewey, the Man for the Hour — Gives his Novitiate under Farra^ut — Career During the Civil War — Subsequent Career — Promotions — Reluctanl Acceptance of the Asiatic Billet — Personality — Forecastle Criticism— The Jack Tar's Story — Presents Dewey's Incomparable Equipoise as both Warrior and Statesman— Relates the Story of the Wbite Flag at Cavite— August; \s Ridiculous Proclamation— Rivera's Treaty with Aguinaldo— Sets Forth tbe Bumptious Meddlings of the German Admiral— And How Dewey Resented bis [nsolence — Also tbe Disingenuousuess of tbe British Admiral 411

PART II.— SHOWS the Subtle Ease with which the War for " Humanity" Became a War for Conquest— Details the Vociferous Demands for "Expansion "—Ami Gives an Insight into tbe Character of Aguinaldo, tbe Bragadocio Insurgent Leader— It Portrays the Ineradicable Savagery of the Man— His Ambit ions Pretensions— His Grotesque Pranks— And Presents a Faithful Picture of his Tatterdemalion Followers— It Recounts the Gathering and Despatching of Troops to Reinforce the Fleet at Manila— The Jocose Pillaging of tbe Treasury in Fitting Out tbe Expedition— Tbe Rain-Driven Ingenuity of the Soldiers in Front of Manila— The Attack on aud Surrender of Manila 135

Part III.— Contains an Account of the Capture of the Ladrones, Beside which Fiction is Pale and Nerveless— Tbe Author also Philosophizes on this Incident in the Manila Escapade— Describes tbe Discovery of the Group--States Why the Epithet ' ' Thieves " was Applied to the Islands— And Supplies other Information of Value Regarding them and the Islanders 460

Chapter II

Illustrates the Island of Porto Rico as a Land of Philosophic Repose- States How an Almost Orphic Voice Demanded its Conquest— Compares the Island to Naboth's Vineyard— Proclaimes tbe "Jingoes' " Greed— Recites the Adventures of a Young Officer whose Devoir was to Spy out the Land— The Refrains of the Press— The Bouffe Conquest— The Comments of a Porto Rican 469

Chapter III

Explains the Responsibilities of .the Administration after Santiago— Gives the President's Tranquilizing Proclamation— Mentions the Fantastic Campaign of Threats— Shows how Spain Swallowed her Pride— Invoked tbe Aid of France— Obtained the President's Ear— Signed the Memorable Protocol— The Chapter Contains also the Full Text of the Fateful Paper, and Disquisitions on Various Allied Matters * 79

Chapter IV

Eulogizes the Admirable Group whose Prescience Perplexed and Discomfited the Enemy— Unfolds the Scope of the " War Hoard "—The Comprehensive Range of its Functions— Quotes a High Authority on Awards and Promotions-Defines "Prize Money" and " Bounty Money "-States the Methods

XII

CONTENTS.

of their Distribution — Approximate Amounts Due Various Commanders and Ships 487

Chapter V

Part I, — Marks the Volume Encyclopaedic, Containing as it does the Official Reports of American and Spanish Naval Commanders — It Embraces Admiral Dewey's Story of Manila — Admiral Montojo's Rej)ort to the Spanish Minister of Marine — The Eeport of tho Diario de Manila — Admiral Sampson's Report — Commodore Schley's Report — Captain Evan's Report — Captain Cook's Report — Captain Philip's Report — Captain Clark's Report — Captain Taylor's Report — Captain Chadwick's Report — Lieut. -Commander Wainwright's Report — Lieut.- Commander Sharp's Report — Captain Cotton's Report — Lieut. Usher's Report — Admiral Cervera's Statement — Also Reports and Minutes of Conversations between the Commanding Officers of the Naval and Land Forces before Santiago 502

Part II.— Continues the Official History of the War by Giving the Reports made to the War Department by various Military Commanders — ~.t Contains General Shafter's Report — General Wheeler's Report — General Kent's Report — Inspector-General Breckenridge's Report — It also Contains General Linaies' Report to the Spanish Minister of War — Various Statements and Documents Pertaining to the Santiago Campaign from General Miles, Secretary Alger, General Shafter, and General Toral — Address of the Spaniards to the American Army — General Merritt's Report— General Anderson's Report 547

Part III. — Supplements the Official Reports by Controversial Documents, such as a Letter from Secretary Long to Admiral Sicard — A General Officer's Statement — Secretary Alger's Letter to Hon. Chauncey M. Depew — General Wheeler's Statement — General Sternberg's Statement 582

List of Illustrations.

PAGE.

Aguinaldo, The Insurgent Leader 446

Alger, Secretary, in his Office 38

Almirante Oquendo, Bow of.. 64

Almirante Oquendo, Wreck of 206

American School, Flag-day at an 23

Army Wagon— Tail-piece 46

Atachio, General 445

Augusti, Captain-General 419

Aunon, Minister of Marine 435

Bagley, Ensign Worth. I 69

Baiquiri, The Landing at 259

Barton, Miss Clara 364

Bates, Major-General John C 236

Battleship Oregon 162

Blanco, Captain-General Ramon 388

Blockading Fleet leaving Key We3t 68

Blockading Fleet off Havana 77

Blockhouse, Lime-kiln converted into.. 279

Blue, Lieutenant Victor.. 169

Blue Monday— Tail-piece 459

Breokenridge, Major-General Joseph C. 381 Bringing up Ammunition — Tail-piece- 581

Brooke, Major-General John R 482

Bugle Call— Tailpiece 12

Butler, Major-General Matt. C 482

Buttons will Come Off 501

Cabinet, Sagasta announcing a new 49

Cadiz, Coast Defense Gun at 59

Cambon, M.Jules 484

Camp Alger, Company Drill at 87

Camp, A Convalescent 372

Campos, General Martinez 400

Castellar, Senor 145

Cavite Arsenal, Capture of 1° 3

Cavite, Spanish Earthworks at 426

Cavite, A Street in 151

Cervera, Admiral Pasoual y Topete 220

Cervera's Fleet leaving Curaooa 160

PAGE.

Cervera's Fleet, Destruction of 195

Chadwick, Captain F. E 229

Chaffee, Major-General A. R 253

Clark, Captain Charles E 214

Color Guard, The 467

Commissary Tent, Regimental 288

Concas, Captain D. Victor M 218

Cook, Captain F. A 229

Corbin, Brig.-General Henry C 381

Corduroy Road, Building a. 225

Cristobal Colon, Wreck of. 197

Cuba, Off for 16

Cuban Patriot, A. 3 "

Cutting Cables near Cienfuegos 491

DeLome, Dupuy 31

Dewey, Rear- Admiral George 410

Don Carlos.. )1

Duffield, Brig.-General H. M. 498

Dynamite Gun, Inspecting a ■ ,( >

El Caney, Bringing up Artillery at 298

El Caney, The Capture of 300

Embarking Troops at Tampa #4

Eulate, Captain D. Antonio 217

Evans, Captain Robley D 214

Expedition, Loading Supplies for 273

Field Gun Loaded on Mule 267

Flag of Truce, The First from Santiago 346

Flagler, Brig.-General Daniel W 381

Garcia, General Calixto 40G

Gomez, General Maximo 40 *

Grant, Brig.-General F. D 4o8

Greeley, Brig.-General A. V 4

Gridley, Captain Charles V 98

Guantanamo, With the Marines at 217

Gun on the Texas, Loading a 83

Gun Squad at Practice 89 ' 2

Guns, Working the Olympia'8 8-incn. . . 118

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

lawkins, Major-General H. S 253

rligginson, Captain F. J 209

rlobson and his Crew 174

rlobson, Lieut. Richmond P 169

ETobson's Reception after his Exchange 178

hospital Ship, On a 378

[nfantry, 25th U. S., Packing up 270

Keifer, Major-General J. Warren 482

Kent, Major-General H. T 498

King, Brig. -General Charles 458

King of Spain, The, and Queen Regent 48

Ladrones, A Native of the 464

Ladrones, Native Hut in the 466

La Quasina, Rough Riders at the Battle of 264

Lazaga, Captain D. Juan B 217

Lee, Major-General Fitzhugh 290

Letter from Home, The 306

Lieber, Brig. -General Guido N 415

Linares, General — 291

Long, Secretary, in his Office 38

Ludlow, Maj. -General Wm 253

Maceo, General Antonio 404

Manila, Battle of— The American Fleet 129 Manila, Battle of— The Spanish Fleet.. 128

Manila Bay 420

Manila, General View of 102

Manila, Hermitage St. Nicholas 153

Manila, Insurgents Decoying Spaniards 429

Manila, Native Village near 149

Manila, Port of 146

Manila, Spanish Artillery Headquarters 104

Manila, Spauish Vessels Blockaded at 112

Maine, Survivors of the 30

Maria Teresa, Wreck of 198

Matanzas, The Puritan at 86

Matanzas, View of 80

McKinley, President, and Cabinet 27

McKinley, William 21

Merriam, Major-General H. C 482

Merritt, Major-General Wesley 439

Military Barracks, Annapolis 234

Military Mast, In the Olympia's 132

Miles, Major-General Nelson A 475

Mining Village near Santiago 322

PAGB.

Monday Troubles — Tail-piece 15

Mono Castle, Havana 383

Montojo, Admiral Patricio y Parason. .. 110 Montojo, Admiral, leaving his Flagship 119

Moreu, Captain D. Emilio D 218

New York, Volunteering in 85

Off Duty 434

Off for Manila— Tail-piece 158

Packing Mules for the March 276

Philip, Captain, Giving Thanks 233

Philip, Commodore John W 214

Pillsbury, Lieut. -Commander John E. 98

Porto Rico, A Native of 477

Powell, Ensign Joseph W 169

Prizes, Spanish, in Key West Harbor.. 89

Railroad Bridge at Aguadores 311

Rapid-fire Gun on Shipboard 82

Rapid-fire Gun, Working a Five-inch... 109 Rapid-fire Gun, Working a Six-pounder 202

Red Cross in the Field, The 366

Regimental Post-Office— Tail-piece 546

Roosevelt, Colonel Theodore 253

San Juan Hill, Assault of Frontispiece

San Juan, Charge of the Regulars 327

San Juan, Porto Rico, View of 468

Sampson, Rear-Admiral William T 188

Santiago, Bombardment of 249

Santiago, Boat Club House 322

Santiago, A Corner in Morro Castle —

Tail-piece 241

Santiago, Fleet Positions at 204

Santiago, Loading a Tiansport for '-'44

Santiago, Lying in Wait before 166

Santiago, Map of 307

Santiago, Morro Castle 179

Santiago, Officers Killed at 318

Santiago, Palace of the Governor-General 357

Santiago, View of 242

Santiago, Yellow Fever Hospital Near.. 311

Schofield, Lieut.-General John M 397

Schley, Rear-Admiral Winrield Scott... 188

Sevilla, Block-house at 293

Shatter, Major-General William R 271

Shatter, Sampson and Garcia, Conference between 277

Shells used in the United States Navy 211 Sicard, Rear- Admiral Montgomery 397

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

Signaling the Fleet ■ 216

Sigsbee, Captain Charles D 397

Spanish Officers, Captured, on the

Nashville 9l

Spanish Reserve Fleet, The 57

Soldiers, Spanish, in Ambush 251

Stanton, Brig. -General Thaddeus H.... 415

Sternberg, Brig.-General George M 381

Strategy Board, The 165

Stuff our Navy is Made of, The 188

Sunday in Camp— Tail-piece 6

Tampa, Infantry Receiving Visitors at.. 263

Tampa, Preparing to Leave 273

Taylor, Captain Henry C HI

Terror, St. Paul Disabling the 72

Toral, GeneralJose y Velasquez 332

Toral, General, Surrender of 353

Torpedo Boat in a Gale 66

Torpedo, Launching a 257

PAOB.

Torpedo, Loading a 256

Uniforms, Light and Heavy

Vilnius, Execution of the Crew 396

Vizcaya, Wreckof 205

Wade, Major-General J. F 498

Wainwright, Commander Richard 229

Walker, Commander Asa 98

Watson, Commodore John C 397

Weyler, General Valeriano 403

Wheeler, Major-General Joseph 290

Whitney, Lieut. Henry W 172

Wilson, Brig -General John M 415

Wilson, Major-General James H 198

Wood, Brig.-General Leonard 236

Woodford, General Stewart L 24

Working the Big Turret Guns 80

Worth, Brig.-General W. S 458

Young, Major-General S. B. M 236

THE CONFLICT WITH SPAIN.

I

IT is noted in the history of all peoples, that war serves as a flash light to reveal them to themselves and incidentally to their neighbors. Until the civil war, we were in the dark as to our capabilities for organizing armies, fleets, and the conduct of campaigns. Indeed our jocose habit of bragging, had long impressed the world with the conviction that we were an incurably ungovernable race, unamenable to the severe discipline rigorously essential in war.

Our earlier conflicts had shown that we had constancy, endurance, and when adequately commanded, most of the qualities that go to make trustworthy soldiers. Even in our infancy we had routed the veterans of European fields ; had captured army corps under the most illustrious British captains, had, after years of cruel vicissitudes, finally worn out the British resources. But signal as our victory, in conquering independence, it was held alike by the worsted enemy and the European critics, that Britain's needs in Europe, more than the valor of the patriots, was accountable for the successful issue of the War of Independence.

In the struggle of 1812, Britain was still further hampered by the prodigious efforts of Napoleon, who though rapidly sinking under coalized Europe, made it necessary for the British to keep fleets and armies in Europe, which, free to cross the water, would have made the war life or death to us. But wherever a Yankee fleet, or man-of-war, engaged an enemy, there remained no doubt of the status of our seaman. Under the southern cross, in the purple reaches of the Mediterranean, in the fogs of the German sea, or off the bleak coasts of New England, our mariners left a glowing track of victory, or of valor, that compelled the admiration of the world. Vessel for vessel, our fleets were never successfully resisted, with equal numbers, yard arm to yard arm, no enemy ever escaped capture or sinking.

While Europe suffered the ignominious pillage of its merchant fleets

cm

18 TALES OF WAR.

by the fierce buccaneers of the Barbary coasts, our sailors boldly en. tered the pirate harbors, burned the corsair treasure places, cut out vessels and extorted treaties of peace, on the decks of our victorious war craft.

The civil war, however, proved that in action, the people of this republic arose far above the energies, resources and audacities of Rome, when she made war a religion, or France, when her legislature decreed victories and won them. Since, as Gibbon acridly annotates, mankind gives more glory to its destroyers than to its benefactors, the tale of war is always the most absorbing, save possibly to the philosopher or the poet. The self revelation of war, is comparable, to that premonitory moment, in which it is said, that on the point of death, a man sees his whole career in an instantaneous glimpse. Until the civil war the lad at school or college, was taught eloquence in patriotism from the texts of foreign speakers ; all his ideas of valor were drawn from the spectacular glories of Napoleon, or the classics. The speeches of Burke, Mirabeau, O'Connell ; the polished and rythmic prose of Motley or Bancroft, were the main resources for schools and academies.

But the civil war gave a new cast to even collegiate thinking and admiration. The masterly simplicity of Lincoln, his addresses to all manner and conditions of men, became models for the young. The thrilling episodes of the armies that marched and fought from July, 1861, until April, 1865, replaced the conquests of Italy, Egypt — Europe. The boy began by learning that this republic had been born in war; had worsted its hereditary enemy, the British, twice ; had conquered Mexico; had fought from '61 to '65 a war, compared to which all other wars, up to that time were mere emutes ; had intimidated banded Europe, from the plot to divide us and forced the British to observe the word, if not the act of neutrality ; that we had curtly commanded the strongest military power of that day to withdraw from an usurped sovereignty in Mexico ; that in four years, an unmilitary, if not an unwarlike people, had perfected a warlike machine which could have resisted combined Europe.

It was the inculcation of these things in the minds of the present generation that impelled Congress to disregard the prescribed course of negotiation and imperiously command war ! A complex and confusing vocabulary of new terms arose in the newspapers. The vain-glorious who spoke lightly of wars as the end and aim of national greatness, were spoken of as " types of Americanism." Careless and ignorant newspapers differentiated public men by this grotesque misnomer, but it be-

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came firmly established as a synonym for "citizen" of the republic, u fervent in his patriotism, than his neighbor !

To be stigmatized as " un-American " became the haunting terror oi public life; to be termed a "genuine American " was as mysteriously potent as the insignia of the cross in the age of the crusades. Yet the Canadian, the Mexican, the Brazilian, the Cuban, the Haytian, the Argentines and Peruvians, are genuine Americans! Unlike the Dutch, when the United States of Holland played its great part in the world, we have no race name to designate our disparate social compact. " Van kee " is the nearest we have to a national designation covering all ; yet until the war of the rebellion, to call a southerner a Yankee, would have been as deep an offence, as to confuse a high caste Hindoo with a Pariah ! Now General Lee, kin of the greatest of the Confederate commanders, glories in the name! Perhaps no secondary incident in the reconciliation of the North and South, is more significant of the effect of the war than the complacent acceptance of a term once used in reviling, as a glory and grace! Phenomena like these must be noted to enable us to comprehend the spirit in which our men took up the cross of war and won the crown of conquest.