The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-05
Downright by Associated Press.)

tSODyIIShI Ny 49, |
Correspondence of Associated Press.)
Headquarters of the First Division
of the Fifth Army Corps, Near Santi-
ago de Cuba, July 22.-Major General
Shafter having authorized the publica-
ton of the official report of Brigadier
General J. Ford Kent, of the battle of
July list, End ard 3rd, a certified copy
of the report is now furnished to the
Associated Press by Major A. c.
Sharpe, assistant adjutant general of
the First division, Fifth army corps.
The opening portions of the report
deal with orders given and the first
forward movement to San Juan hill on
the morning Of July 1st. He details
his inspection of the enemy's posi-
ton made at the front and the open
ing of the fire by Grimes battery. He
then continues:
SURROUNDED BY THE ENEMY.
Having completed the observation
with my staff, | proceeded to Join the
head of my division, just coming un-
der heavy fire. We were already Suf-
fering losses caused by the balloon,
near by attracting fire and disclosing
our position. The enemy'S infantry
fire, steadily increasing III intensity,
now came from all directions, not only
from the front and the dense tropical
thickets on our TANKS, but from sharp
shooters thiCkiy posted in trees in our
rear and from Shrapnel apparently
aimed at the balloon. Lieutenant Col
Onel Derby, of Skaters staff, met me
about this time and informed me that
a trail or narrow way had been dis
covered from the balloon a short dis
lance back, leading to the left to a IOrd
lower down the stream. L haStened to
the forks made by this rOa and soon
after the Seventy-first New York reg
iment, of Hawkins brigade, came up.
| turned them into the by-path, indi-
Gated by Lieutenant Colonel Derby,
leading to the lower ford, sending word
to General Hawkins of this mOVement.
This would have speedily delivered
them in their proper place on the left
of their brigade, but under the gall
ing fire of the enemy, the leading pat
TALON of this regiment was thrown
into confusion and recOiled in disorder
on the troops in rear. 1t this critical
moment the officers of my staff practi-
cally formed a Gordon behind the panic
stricken men and urged them to again
go Onward | finally ordered them to
lie down in the thicket and clear the
way for others of their own regiment,
who were coming up behind. This
many Ol lucIl ulu dIlu IllC hoCNoAlN "ii'
Third battaliOnS came forward IN bet
ter order and moved along the road
towards the ford. One of my staff Off
GERS ran back waving his hat to hur-
ny Orwar the Third brigade, who
upon approaching the ford found the
way blocked by men of the Seventy
first New York. There were other men
of this regiment crOuching in the
bushes, many of whom were
ed by the advance of the approaching
column to arise and go forward.
BRIGADE OFFICERS SHOT.
Il pushed the head of my division
as quickly as I could oward the river
in column of files of tWOS, paralleled in
the narrow way by the cavalry. Owing
to the cOngeSted condition of the road,
the progress of. the narrow column
was, however, painfully slow. [ again
sent a staff officer at a gallOp to urge
forward the troops in the rear. The
head of Wikoff's brigade reached the
forks at 1920 o'clock p. M, and hur-
ried on the left, stepping over pros
trate forms of men of the Seventy
first. This heroic brigade Consisting
of the Thirteenth, Ninth and Twenty
fourth United States infantry speed
lily crossed the stream and were
quickly deployed to the left of the low
er ford. While personally superin-
tending this movement Colonel Wikoff
was killed, Ine COI1lIlldllu vi Tx u
ade then devolving upon Lieutenant
Colonel Worth. Thirteenth infantry,
Who Immediately fell severely wound
ed, and hen upon Lieutenant Colonel
Liscum, Twenty-fOurth infantry, who,
five minutes later also fell under the
whitening fire of the enemy. The com
mand of the brigade then devolved
upon Lieutenant Colonel E. p. EWers
Ninth infantry.
A GALLANT CHARGE.
Crossing the lower fork a few min
utes later. the Tenth and Second as
cended the high ridge beyond, driving
back the enemy in the direction of his
trenches. Colonel E. P. Pearson, Tenth
infantry, commanding the Second bri-
gade. and the officers and troops under
his command deserve great credit to1
the sOldierly manner in which his
movement was executed. ] earnestly
recommend Colonel Pearson for promo
ton. Prior to this a OF the sec
Ond brigade. the Third, connecting witt
Hawkins gallant troops on the right
had moved toward Fort San Juan
sweeping through a zone of most de-
structive fire, scaling a steep and diff
fiCult hill and assisting in capturing
the enemy's strong position, Fort San
Juan, at 1870 o'clock p. m. This crest
was about 125 feet above the genera
level and was defended by deer
trenches and a loop-holed fort. sur
rounded by barbed wire entanglements
Credit is almost equal due the
sixth, Ninth, Thirteenth, Sixteenth anC
Twenty-fOurth regiments of infantry
The Thirteenth regiment captured the
enemy's colors. waving over the fort
but unfortunately destroyed them, dis
tributing the fragments among thu
men. The greatest credit is due to th'
officers of my command, whether com
pany, battalion. regiment or brigad'
commanders, who so admirably direct
ed the formation of their troops un'
avOidably intermixed in the dense thic
ket, and made the desperate rush fol
the distant and strongly defended
crest.
Il have already mentioned the cir