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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Commander, North Atlantic Fleet, to Major General William R. Shafter

U.S. Flagship New York, 1st Rate,

Off Santiago de Cuba.

June 23rd, 1898.

 

Sir:-

Referring to the decision which you reached at the recent consultation at Acerradoros to transfer the force of General Garcia,1 consisting of about 3000 men, from Acerradoros to Daiquiri.

I respectfully suggest, would it not serve your purpose better if Garcia’s force were left to the westward of Santiago de Cuba, to hold in check the 10000 Spaniards who are now collected at Holguin, thus preventing a junction between those Spaniards and the garrison at Santiago de Cuba? It would be necessary, if such a plan were adopted, to furnish rations at Acerraderos to General Garcia’s 3000 men.2

 

Very respectfully,

            W.T. Sampson

            Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

              Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Force,

                   North Atlantic Station.

Source Note: TLS, DNA, AFNRC, M625, roll 232. At top right corner: “No. 2.” Addressed below close: “Major General/W.R. Shafter, U.S.V.,/Daiquiri, Cuba.”

Footnote 1: General Calixto Ramón García Iñiguez.

Footnote 2: In his report on this period, Sampson noted that Gen. García did leave 3,000 of his men to watch the Spanish force at Holguín. Report of the Bureau of Navigation, 1898, 496-97.

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