Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-01

H-fE.SHXR SEthe brigade.
They held that it
was done simply to give its leader the
post of honor. General Sumner said
that such was not the case. but that it
was the turn of the rough riders to be
at the front that day.
Some time after Summers brigade
under Colonel Carroll, including the
Third, Sixth and Ninth (colored), fol-
lowed by the rough riders, as the adj
vance of Woods brigade, had passed
on beyond Crimes position at Ell Poso,
the two remaining regiments of Wood,
the First United States and Tenth (col-
ored), started forward BY the time
| these two regiments reached the danger
point in the road tho Spanish fire had
somewhat abatcd. In fact. but for the
balloon the column would have escaped
! casualties until it reached the San Juan
fords. The balloon moved just ahead
of the Tenth cavalry, which was first
| III the column. 1t was high enough to
draw fire, and one of the officers said at
/ Camp Wikoff, "What the balloon didn't
get hit us" The firing at the balloon
mel and bullets in the ranks of the First
cavalry.
| Finally the balloon was pulled down,
/ the observers got out, and it was tied to
u tree, where it tloated above tree tops
and still drew fire until the Spaniards
destroyed it. One of Kent's infantry
regiments had a similar experience with
the balloon, for it was passing down a
trail to the left Of road where the
cavalry was marching and just abreast
of it.
At Hell's Crossing the Tenth cavalry
lost half dozen men. AS the shells ut
that point passed overhead with their
peculiarly startling shrek, the negroes
Strengthened up at attention and saluted
them. The two regiments lay half or
three-quarters of an hour i'll the river
bed, which was dry at the time. except
at the deepest part, where the river cur
rent runs. In order to escape the fire
they then moved ont, changing direc-
ton twice and passing in front of Car
rolls brigade to cover under n high
bank, and lay there another half hour.
From this point. looking through the
trees in front, as described in the story
of Carrolls cavalry brigade, the Span
ish position could be seen. II was we'll
known to the officers what was expect
ed of the line, and finding in front of
them u barbed wire fence of six strands,
all hands went TO work to clear away
the obstruction. The men pulled out the
posts and twisted and broke the wire,
all the time under fire.
A boy hero was developed at this
time in the son of the colonel of the
Tenth, Theodore n. Baldwin, Jr
Young Baldwin was civilian, who
went along to see the fun. He was ~
years old. He had picked up carbine.
intending to fight along with the rest
and was foremost i'll tearing down the
fences. Afterward he charged up the
hill with the line, and President Nc
Kinley commissioned him for his gal
lantry. After the fence had been level
ed the line Of Woods brigade was
formed, with the rough riders in front,
Much had been SAID about this. that
and the other one having initiated the
charge on San Juan hill. Ii is evident
from what has been told of the situa-
tion in Carroll's brigade that the line
officers and men were not left to their
own devices at this crisis Wood was
the colonel of the rough riders ('Wood' ;
Weary Walkers, rs their regular COM
rades called them. initiating the first
alliterative title), and it is 10 be sup
posed that he looked to them and to the
rest of the brigade as we'll.
He was new to command-in fact,
comparatively new to the service. Colo
mel Baldwin of the Tenth is n regular
army war veteran; same with Major 5.
7. Norvell. Major Theo Whit of the
Tenth is war veteran Of the Sixth
Pennsylvania cavalry. Colonel q. ID.
Viele of the First has been in the regu-
lar army since 1861. and Major A. O..
Forse was at West Point from 1861 to
1865.
When the line was formed, the barbed
wire fences cleared away-all of this
some hours. be it remembered. alter the
Spanish guns began their killing work
in the crowded road and ut the crossing
Colonel Wood appeared on the line of
his brigade and gave the order to adj
vance. Colonel Baldwin of the Tenth
arranged his two squadrons ono in
front and the other AS support. Colonel
Viele of the First cavalry took his
squadron commanders through the
fringe of trees and pointed out a red
house ON hill ito the right Of the
blockhouse), which will be- spoken of
hereafter as San Juan hill or kettle
Hill" He said to Captain Tutherly,
! commander of the First squadron.
"That is your right" Tutherly asked,
"When shall l fret" to which Viels
answered. Don't nre ON car men; iire
when you see the SpaniardsI The
First was in the third line of the brigade
Colonel Viele's caution about firing
was timely, for there were many OBJ
|, stacles to be passed which would break
4 the line, and besides Kent's infantry or
!, the left of the cavalry was already
t working toward the blochhouse. tt
/. two columns We're to converge slightly
t before reaching their separate goals an,
might in the excitement Of b0tsie mis-
take each other for the enemy. Tn,
gallant Hawkins. leader ef kent's nd
vance brigade. impatient to dash at Sal
Juan blockhouss. which no des.ssS,aa