William Shafter AKA ‘Pecos Bill’ goes down in history as the United States commanding officer during the Spanish-American War (1898). Shafter was known best for leading the United States into Spain to completely turn over Cuba their land/territory back in just as little as five days. Shafter also helped lead many Indian campaigns and conflicts. Shafter was known for being a hardworking and dedicated officer, as well as a fighter and gambler, he eventually retired from the field from medical problems, but that didn’t stop him, he kept going up until the very end of his time. While some say he was a lazy fat scum, his victories say otherwise.
Early life
William Rufus Shafter was born on October 16, 1835 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Huge Morris and Elizabeth Shafter. William was the first of four children, he had two brothers and one sister, James, John and Ann. Shafter was named after his grandfather William Rufus. Growing up Shafter lived in Michigan and received an elementary education, which he loved. He was known to be very smart and also to be one of the best spellers in the Galesburg district, leading him to win many spelling bees the school had held. Shafter loved sports and he even tried acting and wrestling. He truly loved the outdoors, he liked activities such as hunting and shooting his bow and arrow. It is even said that the girls at school were scared of him because he would steal their dolls and shoot at them for target practice! During his time of education, Shafter helped out on his family’s pioneer farm.
With the limited education that Shafter had he at the young age of twenty-one became a county school teacher at the same school he had received his education at as a young boy. Helping out on the family farm and being a school teacher led him to receive little pay, just to teach reading and writing, Shafter looked into a higher paying job, and applied at the Prairie Seminary close to Richland to receive further education, then later received another job in Athens as a teacher. While teaching in Athens, Shafter came across a young lady who seemed to catch his eye, Harriet Grimes. Although, she was a “pupil” at his school, and she was also the daughter of a teacher he had worked with, they proceeded to get married in 1862.
While Shafter tried to receive a better education, during that time the United States was going through a conflict, The Civil War. During the Battle of Fort Sumter, the horrible things he had heard about it, that was when Shafter decided he wanted to join the military and turn his boring life upside down, while he liked to be active. Whilst his father was not so proud in his decision, he kind of just had to deal with it, because after the spring semester at Prairie he had enlisted at Galesburg as a private with the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. It is said through his training, his officers and peers said he was very friendly and very corporative which led to him having such a high rank up front.
The Civil War
Shafter was a hard working dedicated solider and had fought in may battles throughout the Civil War, like the Battle of Ball’s Bluff and Fair Oaks which were the first ones he participated in. He became injured during the Battle of Fair Oaks, but walked away with the Medal of Honor for heroism. He was even captured in Tennessee at Thompson’s Station in March of 1863 as a Confederate prisoner for several months (3). But once released he continued his position unto the Infantry and then led his regiment at the Battle of Nashville. Although his participation during the Civil War was minimal he still received a high rank as a “Brigadier” general of Volunteers just before the Spanish American War.
The Start of Spanish- American War At the time of war, Shafter was not the first on the list to serve as commanding officer because of his age at the time (63) and the fact that was over 300lbs. It just did not seem right.
But clearly Shafter had what it took to led a victory against Cuba because of his lack of political aim, he scored the position of the Fifth Corps. There were many factors that caused the Spanish American War, like the revolt against the Spanish government, finical issues and mainly because the American warship Maine was sunk, killing many innocent Americans. America officially declared war on Spain on April 25 hoping to regain Cuba back as American territory.
Important Events In Between
Daiquiri Cuba:
Daiquiri became one of the first major sorting points of the U.S. invasion of Spain. Under the command of Admiral William T. Sampson, General William Shafter and General Calixto Garcia, they had planned the invasion on June 20, 1898, where Cubans troops under Garcia’s command would post up and eventually attack the Spanish troops when told so. While the U.S. troops would help ship some of Cuba’s troops to “Cabanas” to stop communication stop supply coming in. Garcia helped suggest that Shafter and his troops land at Daiquiri which was about 10 miles from the city of Santiago, which they were planning on taking down. This mission was the beginning of the Spanish American War that helped invade and capture the main city of Santiago. While this mission was a rough and a strung-out success, General Sampson and Shafter had indifferences about how they should go about taking down the city of Santiago. While not just Shafter and Sampson’s troops were the only ones coming in at sea, so were the “Rough Riders” another Calvary team sponsored by Teddy Roosevelt, who had helped converge within the take down of Santiago.
Santiago Blockade
The Santiago invasion was a rough and appalling success. Appalling meaning the start of the measles and red fever leaving many troops to become sick. But first taking down Santiago. The beginning of this invasion took some time,
End of War/Surrendering
Retired Life/After War
From the end of the Spanish-American war, for a few years Shafter remained on the lowdown before he retired in 1901. When he retired he made his ranch in Bakersfield, California his new home. Although, Shafter was known to not be lazy, after retirement, he still weighed over 300lbs and started to not be able to get around very well. His heavy weight put him in a spin, allowing him to not be able to hunt and farm on his ranch. Even though Shafter had retired from the field, he still liked to help out with little missions occasionally off base. He also liked catching up with old military friends when he got the chance.
Over the years of old age and being overweight, Shafter had come in contact with a health problem and died on November 12, 1906 in Bakersfield, California. Shafter was buried two days after his death, next to his wife Harriet at the San Francisco National Cemetery. After his death, it has been said that his daughter, liked to visit his grave and tried to remember her father as a caring and gentle man.
Shafter was remembered to be one of the most successful field officers during the Spanish American War. His soldiers liked to remember him as brave and relentless man.
Medals received: Medal of Honor during the Civil War, on May 31, 1862 while serving with Company I, 7th Michigan Infantry, in action at Fair Oaks Virginia. Civil War Campaign Medal. Indian Campaign Medal. Spanish Campaign Medal.