Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-04
OFFICIAL REPORT.
Continued from page ID

observed the enemy's position from :
point some distance in advance Of the
! ford. Gen. Hawkins deemed 1t posi-
bly, to turn the enemys right at Fort
San Juan, but later. under the heavy
| fire, this was found impracticable fol-
| the LIST Brigade but was accomplished
| by the 3rd Brigade coming up on Gen.
| Hawkins left.
Having completed the observation
with my staff l proceeded to join the
head of my division just coming under
heavy fire. Approaching the 1st Bri-
gade | directed them to move along
side the cavalry, which was halted.
We would already suffering loss caus-
ed by the balloon near by attracting
fire and disclosing our position.
The enemy's infantry fire, steadily
increasing in intensity. now came
from all directions. not only from the
front and the dense tropical thlckets
on our Hanks, but from sharpshooters
posted in tree in our rear. Lieut.. Col
Derby, Of Gen. Skaters staff, met me
ABOUT this time and informed me that
a narrow way had been discovered
from the balloon Il short distance back
leading TO the left of ford, lower
down the stream.
| FASTENED to the forks made by this
road and soon after the list New York
of Hawkins brigade came up. turn
ed them into the by-path indicated by
Lient. Col. Derby, leading To the lower
ford, sending word to Hawkins of this
movement. This would have speedily
delivered them in their proper place on
the left of their brigade, but under the
fire of the enemy the leading batteries
Of this regiment was thrown into con-
fusion and recoied in disorder on the
troops in the rear.
At this moment the officers of my stan
practically formed a Gordon behind the
panic-stricl<cn men and urged them to
again go forward. / finally ordered them
to lie down in the thickot and clear the
way for others Of their own regiment.
who were coming up behind. This many
Of them did. aud the "a and 81 Battaltons
came forward in better order and moved
along the road towards the ford. one OF
my staff officers ran back, waving his hat
to hurry forward the 81 Brigade. who
upon approaching the forks found the
way blocked by mon of the list New
York.
There were other mon of this regiment
crouching in the bushes. many of whom
were encouraged by the advance of the
approaching column 10 arise and 20 for
ward As already stated | had received
orders some time before "a keep in the
rear of the cavalry division. Their adj
vance was much DELAYED resulting m fire.
ulicnt halls. presumably 10 drop their
hlaukct rolls ana due to the naturnl delay
in fnrdina a Stream. These ,ltIays under
such a hot fire grew exceedingly irksome
ana therefore pushed the head Of my
division rs n,,ick1v as / couid toward th,.
river in column Of nlcs Of twos parullelcd
in the narrow way bv tho cavalry. This
ouickenad the forward movement and en-
,bIaJ m. tn 90. INFO nnsitiou ms snae5ilv
a. pnssihla ror tha attack oyvinn IN tba
con.est.d condition Of thr road Inc
nrorross ,f tho narrow col,l,rn vas hoo,-
ever, painfully slow. | again sent staff
officer at Il gallop 10 urge forward the
troops in the rear
The head Of Wikom's brigade reached
the Forks ut l220 I. NJ. ana hurried on
the left. stepping over the PROSTATE form
of men of the list. This heroic brigade
consisting of the 18Th, 9th ana 2ith L. S.
Cavalry speedily crossed the stream ana
were quickly deployed to the left of the
lower ford. While personally supern-
tending this movement Col Wikon was
killed. the command of the brigade de
volving upon Lieut.. Col. Worth. 18th In
fantry. who Immediately fen severely
wounded, and then upon Lieut.. CJl. Lis
cum. 9th Infantry, who, five minutes
later, also fell under the whitening fire Of
the enemy. The command Of the brigade
then devolved upon Lieut.. Col. EwerS. 9th
Infantry
Meanwhile | had again sent a staff otli-
Ger 10 hurry forward the 81 Brigade. The
10th and ID Infantry soon arrived at the
| forks and were detected to the left to fol-