Show LAWTONS ADDRESS Pitting Recognition the Second Divisions Valor Santiago de Cuba Aug 15 1130 a m The following is General Lawtons f address to his staff a part of which will shortly return home Headquarters Second Division Fifth Army Corps Santiago de Cuba Aug 14 1898 1 Being ordered to other duty the f undersigned hereby relinquishes the command of the Second division of the Fifth army corps and in doing so desires de-sires to express to the officers and enlisted en-listed men of his command his thanks for and appreciation of the gallant and I soldierly manner in which the duties r and labors required of them have been performed the character of which is i E almost unparalleled in severity and danger The Second division established a little more than two months ltte ago proceeded pro-ceeded almost Immediately to embark S for the expedition to Santiago Arriving Arriv-ing off that coast it was the first to disembark and the first American military S mil-itary force to land on Cuban soil Without With-out delay or waiting to secure rations baggage or other necessaries and conveniences con-veniences of any kind the division pro ceeded t Siboney compelling the g rison there to retire and capturing the town The division then resumed an advance towards Santiago laboring night and day amid trying conditions in marches reconnoissances and marces rennoisaces scouting scout-ing and while covering the advance fighting the decisive battle of Caney Unique in the character of its defenses de-fenses and importance of its situation 5 Caney was defended with a stubborn SS resistance permitting of no surrender 1 + and was carried by a charge such a is made only by American soldiers killS kill-S log wounding or capturing almost every Spaniard Moving thence within an hour without with-out one man unaccounted for towards autiago and taking up a position on U the right or the amy and hastily entrenching en-trenching it was engaged with the enemy en-emy on the 2d of July Extending to the right and covering the bay of Santiago lingo and threateningsthe safety of the Spanish ships the latter sought safety in flight to the sea Fighting by daylight and digging all night the division pressed forward to I the right under the lines and to within 150 yards of the enemy the right resting rest-ing on the bay of Santiago The memorable mem-orable 17th of July came and with it the surrender of the city and the Spanish Span-ish army and later the end of the war with Spain When overtaken by the dreaded fever fe-ver your courage cheerfulness and fortitude for-titude did not forsake you When the history of the wars for Cuban independence Inde-pendence is written the Second division divis-ion will deserve and receive a full page on every important occurrence that led up to its successful termination To my staff I desire to acknowledge a special obligation for most loyal and faithful duties performed under circumstances cir-cumstances and conditions too trying to be described Signed H W LAWTON Major General United States Volunteers Volun-teers Commanding Second Division Fifth Corps |