H. C. Corbin, Adjutant-General.

The orders sent to General Miles and General Shafter were identical with the above save as to names.

Senor Palma, the head of the Cuban Junta, sent the following cable by way of Santiago: 

Bartolome Maso, President Cuban Republic, Santiago, Cuba; I have this 13th day of August, 1898, accepted, in the name of the Cuban provisional government, the armistice proclaimed by the United States.  You should give immediate orders to the army throughout Cuba suspending all hostilities.  Preliminary terms of peace, signed by representatives of Spain and the United States, provide that Spain will relinquish all claim over and title to Cuba.

T. Estrada Palma.

On August 16 the President appointed as military commissioners
Major-General James F. Wade, Rear-Admiral William T. Sampson, and
Major-General Matthew C. Butler for Cuba, and Major-General John
E. Brooke, Rear-Admiral Winfield S. Schley, and Brigadier-General
William W. Gordon for Puerto Rico.

As soon as General Shafter received the President’s proclamation for the cessation of hostilities he took steps for the immediate notification of the Spanish commanders in the vicinity, and also the insurgent leaders.

The proclamation was received in Santiago with the greatest enthusiasm, the officers and men of the army being alike supremely satisfied with the definite declaration of peace.  After the fall of Santiago a period of uncertainty and inactivity had had its effect upon the soldiers stationed there.  The weary waiting for new developments, weakened by the enervating climate, watching the insidious ravages of disease, sapped the spirits of all, and the news that brought to them a near prospect of home was like a bracing breeze that swept through the camp, giving new courage to all.

The end of the war.

Thus came to a close our war with Spain for Cuba’s freedom.  Commenced in a spirit of vengeance for the destruction of a battleship, the war was conducted with singular freedom, all the circumstances considered, from vindictiveness.  We struck hard, but quickly.  We compelled victories, destroyed fleets, but were merciful and considerate towards the captured.  There was singularly little revilement of the Spanish enemy and the bravery of the Spanish soldier and sailor was freely admitted.  But mere personal valor could not supply the place of skill and discipline.

In all history there is not an instance of such unchecked successes as attended our military operations.  For us the encounters were not bloody, the victories were not dearly purchased.  At sea we destroyed squadrons without the loss of a man or a ship; on land we compelled the surrender of garrisons strongly intrenched.  In Puerto Rico our march was a triumphal procession.