Military officer; born in
Kalamazoo county, Mich., Oct. 16, 1835; received a common school education; entered the
National army as first lieutenant in the 7th Michigan Infantry, Aug. 22, 1861; became major of the 19th Michigan Infantry, Sept. 5, 1862; was promoted lieutenant-colonel, June 5, 1863; colonel of the 17th United States Colored Infantry, April 19. 1864; and was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers.
March 13, 1865.
He was commissioned lieutenantcolonel in the regular army in January, 1867, and was promoted brigadier-general in May, 1897.
When the
American-Spanish War began he was appointed major-general of volunteers and ordered to
Tampa, Fla., to command the invading
army of
Cuba.
He conducted the military operations which ended in the surrender of
Santiago de Cuba in July, 1898.
Shafter was selected to lead the
American troops in
Cuba, according to
General Corbin, “on account of his rank and conceded ability, his vigor and good judgment.
He is one of the men in the army who has been able to do what he was ordered to do; not a man to find out how things can not be done.”
On his return to the
United States he was temporarily in command of the Military Department of the East, from which he was transferred to the Department of the Pacific in December, 1898, and on Oct. 16, 1899, he was retired, on reaching the age limit, but was retained in his last command.
See
El Caney;
San Juan Hill;
Spain, War with.