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The Spanish troops in Cubathe American control of the sea made it unnecessary to consider those available in Spainamounted； according to returns in April； 1898； to 196；820。 This formidable number； however； was not available at any one strategic spot owing to the difficulty of transporting either troops or supplies； particularly at the eastern end of the island； in the neighborhood of Santiago。 It was estimated that the number of men of use about Santiago was about 12；000； with 5000 approaching to assist。 Perhaps 3000 insurgents were at hand under General Garcia。 The number sent； then； was not inadequate to the task。 Equal numbers are not； indeed； ordinarily considered sufficient for an offensive campaign against fortifications； but the American commanders counted upon a difference in morale between the two armies； which was justified by results。 Besides the American Army could be reinforced as necessity arose。
CHAPTER XI。 The Campaign Of Santiago De Cuba
In planning the campaign against Santiago； Admiral Sampson wished the army immediately to assault the defenses at the harbor mouth in order to open the way for the navy。 General Shafter； however； after conferring with General Garcia； the commander of the insurgents； decided to march overland against the city。 The army did not have sufficient small vessels to effect a landing； but the navy came to its assistance； and on the 22d of June the first American troops began to disembark at Daiquiri； though it was not until the 26th that the entire expedition was on shore。 On the second day Siboney； which had a better anchorage and was some six miles closer to Santiago； was made the base。 From Siboney there stretched for eight or ten miles a rolling country covered with heavy jungle brush and crossed by mere threads of roads。 There was indeed a railroad； but this followed a roundabout route by the coast。 Through this novel and extremely uncomfortable country； infected with mosquitoes； the troops pressed； eager to meet the enemy。
The first engagement took place at Las Guasimas； on the 24th of June。 Here a force of about a thousand dismounted cavalry； partly regulars and partly Rough Riders； defeated nearly twice their number of Spaniards。 This was the only serious resistance which the Americans encountered until they reached the advanced defenses of Santiago。 The next week they spent in getting supplies ashore； improving the roads； and reconnoitering。 The newspapers considered this interval entirely too long！ The 30th of June found the Americans confronting the main body of Spaniards in position； and on the 1st of July； the two armies joined battle。
Between the opposing forces was the little river San Juan and its tributaries。 The Spanish left wing was at El Caney； supported by a stone blockhouse； rifle pits； and barbed wire； but with no artillery。 About four miles away was San Juan Hill； with more formidable works straddling the main road which led to Santiago。 Opposite El Caney； General Lawton was in command of about seven thousand Americans。 The fight here began at half…past six in the morning； but the American artillery was placed at too great a distance to be very effective。 The result was a long and galling exchange of rifle firing； which is apt to prove trying to raw troops。 The infantry； however； advanced with persistency and showed marked personal initiative as they pushed forward under such protection as the brush and grass afforded until they finally rushed a position which gave opportunity to the artillery。 After this they speedily captured the blockhouse。
The fight lasted over eight hours instead of two； as had been expected； and thus delayed General Lawton； who was looked for at San Juan by the American left。 The losses； too； were heavy； the total casualties amounting to seven per cent of the force engaged。 The Americans； however； had gained the position； and after a battle which had been long and serious enough to test thoroughly the quality of the personnel of the army。 Whatever deficiencies the Americans may have had in organization； training； and military education； they undoubtedly possessed fighting spirit； courage； and personal ingenuity； and these are； after all； the qualities for which builders of armies look。
The battle of El Caney was perhaps unnecessary； for the position lay outside the main Spanish line anal would probably have been abandoned when San Juan fell。 For that more critical movement General Shafter kept about eight thousand troops and the personal command。 Both he and General Wheeler； however； were suffering from the climate and were unable to be with the troops。 The problem of making a concerted advance through the thick underbrush was a difficult one； and the disposition of the American troops was at once revealed by a battery of artillery which used black powder； and by a captive balloon which was injudiciously towed about。
The right wing here； after assuming an exposed position； was unable to act； as Lawton； by whom it was expecting to be reinforced； was delayed at El Caney。 The advance regiments were under the fire of the artillery； the infantry； and the skillful sharpshooters of an invisible enemy and were also exposed to the fierce heat of the sun； to which they were unaccustomed。 The wounded were carried back on litters； turned over to the surgeons； who worked manfully with the scantiest of equipment； and were then laid； often naked except for their bandages； upon the damp ground。 Regiment blocked regiment in the narrow road； and officers carrying orders were again and again struck； as they emerged from cover； by the sharpshooters' fire。 The want of means of communication paralyzed the command； for all the equipment of a modern army was lacking： there were no aeroplanes； no wireless stations； no telephones。
Throughout the morning the situation grew worse； but the nerve of the men did not give way； and American individual initiative rose to the boiling point。 Realizing that safety lay only in advance； the officers on the spot began to take control。 General Hawkins； with the Sixth and Sixteenth Regulars； advanced against the main blockhouse； which crested a slope of two hundred feet； and the men of the Seventy…first New York Volunteers joined promiscuously in the charge。
To the right rose Kettle Hill； jutting out and Banking the approach to the main position。 Facing it and dismounted were the First and Ninth Regular Cavalry； the latter a negro regiment； and the Rough Riders under Colonel Roosevelt。 The Tenth Infantry was between the two wings； and divided in the support of both。 A battery of Gatling guns was placed in position。 The Americans steadily advanced in an irregular line； though kept in some sort of formation by their officers。 Breaking down brush and barbed wire and sheltering themselves in the high grass； the men on the right wing worked their way up Kettle Hill； but before they reached the rifle pits of the enemy； they saw the Spaniards retreating on the run。 The audacity of the Americans at the critical moment had insured the ultimate success of their attack and they found the final capture of the hill easy。
The longer charge against the center of the enemy was in the meantime being pressed home； under the gallant leadership of General Hawkins； who at times was far in advance of his line。 The men of the right wing who looked down from their new position on Kettle Hill； a quarter of a mile distant； saw the Spaniards give way and the American center dash forward。 In order to support this advance movement； the Gatlings were brought to Kettle Hill； and General S。S。 Sumner and Colonel Roosevelt led their men down Kettle and up San Juan Hill； where they swept over the northern jut only a moment after Hawkins had carried the main blockhouse。
The San Juan position now in the hands of the Americans was the key of Santiago； but that entrenched city lay a mile and a quarter distant and had still to be unlockeda task which presented no little difficulty。 The Americans； it is true； had an advantageous position on a hilltop； but the enemy had retired only a quarter of a mile and were supported by the complete system of fortifications which protected Santiago。 The American losses totaled fifteen hundred； a number just about made good at this moment by the arrival of General Duffield's brigade； which had followed the main expedition。 The number of the Spanish force； which was unknown to the Americans； was increased on the 3d of July by the arrival of a relief expedition under Colonel Escario； with about four thousand men whom the insurgent forces had failed to meet and block； as had been planned。
On the 2d of July there was desultory fighting； and on the 3d； General Shafter telegraphed to the Secretary of War that he was considering the withdrawal of his troops to a strong position； about five miles in the rear。 The Secretary immediately replied： 〃Of course you can judge the situation better than we can at this end of the line。 If； however； you could hold your present position； especially San Juan Heights； the effect upon the country would be much better than falling back。〃
The Spanish commanders； however； did not share General Shafter's view as to the danger involving the Americans。 Both Admiral Cervera and Gener