Lot 780

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SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR DIARY OF ADOLFO CARLOS MUNOZ - AIDE TO GEN. JACOB FORD KENT AND VETERAN OF SAN JUAN HILL
Incredible content war-date diary of Adolfo Carlos Munoz, an American educated son of a wealthy Cuban sugar plantation owner who left his career as a Philadelphia architect to serve as a voluntary aide to Gen. Jacob Ford Kent. Kent's division would land at Baiquiri and lead the main attack on San Juan Hill, taking heavy losses there (including Munoz), and later besiege Santiago. Munoz's diary, about 200pp. small 8vo., 90pp. of daily ink entries, begins on June 5, 1898 when he reports to Kent at Tampa Heights, and concludes on Aug. 18 at Camp Wykoff on Long Island. The front of the diary also lists the 1st Infantry Division officers and others aboard the SS Santiago bound for Cuba. His very clearly-written diary reads, in small part: "...orders to break camp and be aboard transport before daybreak...steamer was pulled out from docks. Band playing and cheers...escorted by gunboats Helena, Annapolis...Hills of Cuban mainland sighted...waited for about 6 hours for rest of fleet...from Sampson's fleet...fleet was before Baiquiri. Several houses were burning, the town having been abandoned...sailed to a point about 8 mi. from Morro Castle...shots were fired from Punta Gorda battery. Both shots well directed...About 8 AM some firing took place between forts & warships...Gen. Kent ordered me to land with Gen. Noyes...engagement between Spanish & American forces. About 4,000 Spaniards...17 Americans killed, among the Capt. Capron. 65 wounded...Spanish abandoned their strong positions...we proceeded to Siboney...reconnoiter towards the N.E. having heard that a Spanish column is coming...watched the landing of Cubans of Calixto Garcia's force...Cubans were sent ahead to scout...a dangerous country to reconnoiter...crossing iron bridge at Siboney...block houses are protected by rifle pits & barbed wire...great number of exploded cartridges...Gen. Garcia & escort passed our camp...I met Gen. Castillo who was going to conference with the American generals...[July 1] Artillery stationed at El Pozo began firing...had to withdraw as the Spanish artillery having found our range...balloon had been carried to the front and hoisted...many were killed and wounded on this road 3/4 mile before reaching the front...showers of Mauser bullets keeping up a lively hissing...snapping boughs and branches over and all around us...killed and wounded were being taken back in great numbers. Others fell all around me. This was about 9 A.M....the 71st started for the front taking the left hand. Soon after they rushed back in a panic...many shouting to all to retreat...Gen. Kent rightly indignant told their Col...to keep them out of the road...Col. Pearson wanted two more regiments to reinforce his position...roads comes to the San Juan river, which we forded...infested with Spanish sharpshooters hiding in the trees...Col. Wykoff was killed...Spaniards even fired on ambulances and on wounded...found myself alone, taking short cuts...running from tree to tree...I soon reached a high point from which I could see the hill of fort San Juan covered with our troops and an American flag...our men in skirmish line were going up a hill, held by the Spaniards, who at this time were at the crest behind a barbed wire fence. Our troops were pushing up steadily...I rallied all the men I found on the road sending them to the front...The storming of the forty San Juan by the Infty had been a brilliant feat, which cost some regiments 30% of their men...I reported to Gen. Kent the taking of fort San Juan...battery of Hotchkiss guns...trained on the Spanish trenches..." Here Munoz adds a sketch of the various hilltops seized in the assault, and describes the reinforcing and entrenching efforts undertaken. He continues: "...had to use my machete to drag myself up the steep and stony hill...[July 2] enemy made an attempt to recapture...the hill was already too well fortified...every time one of us exposed ourselves to view the firing, the enemy [firing] would become hotter...shrapnel was also used...I was hit by one of the shrapnel...which passed through the brim of my hat, entered my head near the ear...". Munoz was then given some whiskey by a fellow officer and evacuated by a 71st NY ambulance to a hospital. The following days' entries describe poor conditions in overcrowded hospitals, and the expectation that Santiago would soon be heavily bombarded once non-combatants were evacuated. On July 10 he describes heavy naval and artillery firing in response to the Spaniards' failure to surrender. On July 16, terms of surrender were accepted by Madrid and hostilities cease. Munoz is soon involved in dealing with nearly 9,000 prisoners, and witnesses the conclusion of the formal surrender ceremony which involved the defeated Spaniards marching into captivity before the American forces in formation. Munoz goes into Santiago proper to visit the Governor's Palace, where he sees all of the victorious generals and views the raising of the American flag, officially signaling the capture of the city. Much more content , far more than we can quote including mention of post-war battles in outlying provinces, conditions in field hospitals, further travels into and around Santiago, breaking camp and return to New York, and so on. The rear of the diary has all sorts of notes, including casualties at Santiago, plans for camps, terms of peace, a list of Munoz's equipment, lists of officers, and so on. Incredible detail from an aide to one of the fightingest generals of the war. Also included in this lot: typed and printed copies of a dispatch written by Munoz from Havana, Oct. 18, 1897 citing starvation, multiple letters and documents to and from Munoz concerning his pre-war efforts to raise funds for the starving Cuban population; a translation of a Feb. 15, 1898 letter further describing the crisis; an A.L.S. from Munoz, 2pp. 8vo., on the road to Santiago", July 29, 1898 (two days before San Juan Hill) to a friend: "I am in for it and must see it through...We have been two nights at this bivouac and may move on tomorrow to another...then the outskirts of Santiago...we had six Cubans as scouts..."; a second fine content A.L.S., 16pp. 8vo., "1st Division Field Hospital, 3 miles from Santiago de Cuba", July 8, 1898, Munoz describes the heavy firefight he encountered, terrific Spanish firing, the panic of the 71st New York, etc.; copies of July, 1898 letters of recommendation from Gen. Kent suggesting that Munoz be given a military commission; and a veterans organization letter to Munoz (now a captain), 1899. Fine.

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February 18, 2014 11:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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