The Spanish-American War by Berner Brad K.; Goldstein Kalman;

Author:Berner, Brad K.; Goldstein, Kalman; [Berner, Brad K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
Published: 2014-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

Major-General U.S. Vols.

Brigadier General

H.W. Lawton

Ventura Fontán

Major-General U.S. Vols.

Lieut. Col. General Staff

J.D. Miley

Robert Mason

1st Lieut, 2d Art., A.D.C.

interpreter

to General Shafter

Source: French Ensor Chadwick, The Relations of the United States and Spain: The Spanish-American War, vol. 2 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1911), 245–47.

129. Cuban Insurgent General Calixto García’s Letter of Protest (July 17, 1898)

On the day Santiago capitulated, Cuban insurgent General Calixto García sent a letter of protest to General William Shafter. In the letter he pointed out that he and his troops had been excluded from negotiations and the capitulation ceremonies, and that Shafter was temporarily retaining certain Spanish officials in office.

Shafter responded stating there was a war in progress between the United States and Spain and that the surrender had been solely made to the American Army. The embittered García withdrew with his troops to Jiquaní and resigned. He eventually accepted an invitation to visit the United States, where he enjoyed a public welcome in New York City and had an interview with McKinley. He died suddenly in Washington, D.C., on December 11, 1898 at the age of 71.

Following the plans and obeying the orders of the leaders, I have done everything possible to fulfill the desires of my government, having been, up till now, one of the most faithful of your subordinates. . . .

At last the city of Santiago de Cuba surrendered to the American army, and the news of such an important victory only came to my attention by persons completely foreign to your General Staff. I have not been honored with a single word from yourself informing me about the negotiations for peace or the terms of the capitulation by the Spaniards . . .

I know, . . . that you have left constituted in Santiago, the same Spanish authorities against whom I have fought for three years as enemies of the independence of Cuba . . . when the question arises of appointing authorities in Santiago de Cuba . . . I cannot see but with the deepest regret that such authorities are not elected by the Cuban people, but are the same ones selected by the Queen of Spain. . . .

A rumor too absurd to be believed, General, describes the reason for your measures and for the orders forbidding my army to enter Santiago for fear of massacres and revenge against the Spanish. Allow me, sir, to protest against even the shadow of such an idea. We are not savages ignoring the rules of civilized warfare. We are a poor, ragged army, as ragged and poor as was the army of your forefathers in their noble war for independence, but like the heroes of Saratoga and Yorktown, we respect our cause too deeply to disgrace it with barbarism and cowardice.

Source: Emilio Roig de Leuchsenring, La guerra hispano-cubano-americana fue ganada por el Lugarteniente General del Ejército Libertador de Cuba Calixto García Iñiguez (Havana: Oficina del Historiador de la Ciudad, 1955), 148–50.

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