Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-22

1or cover. Inc CaValrymen say that
some time after they reached this point,
which was known to them as San Juan
House, they heard heavy firing at the
blockhouse. This led them to suppose
that the blockhouse had not yet fallen
when they reached the crest Of the
ridge. However, the infantry said that
they fred from the captured blockhouse
and vicinity upon the retIeating Span
iards and at their second line. Many
gallant fellows of Wikoff's and Haw-
kins' brigades fell after the blockhouse
was in the possession Of the Americans.
Among these was Lieutenant Ord Of
Hawkins staff. who broke away from
his leader in order to 60 in with tho
| men of his own regiment, the Sixteenth.
Ord's conduct that day was heroic, his
death most tragic. When the brigade
was at the creek, deploying for the at
tack, he had said by way of encourage
ment, "You can take it in so minutes"
Major Forse Of the First cavalry, who
went forward with his battalion after
| the capture of Kettle" hill, was also
killed
The infantry reformed lines at the
blockhouse and took position to resist
counter attack, which a little later was
threatened from the Spaniards in front
The blockhouse was brick building
loopholed, Wits trenches on each flank
and in front. West Of it, toward Santi-
ago. the ground falls into deep depres-
sion. Six hundred yards westward, on
| both sides of the main road to Santiago
| the Spanish had strong works. On the
| American right and left Of this depres-
sion the heights are abrupt, and pos
session of these was essential to the
holding of the blockhouse as we'll as of
kettle" hill, because the heights on
the American right of the blockhouse
itself are higher than "Kettle" hill.
| AS soon as the cavalry took possession
Of "Kettle" hill, as already described,
many Of the soldiers had rushed for.
ward to the west crest and opened with
their carbines upon the Spaniards
around the heights in front. Majors
and captains got their battalions and
troops together and with cheer charged
forward, Two troops of the Third cav
airy, led by Major Vessels, Captains
|
straight for the building known as the
San Juan House, The Ninth and Tenth
| cavalry, with part of the rough riders,
seemed to strike for the house, but
owing to distractions the line became
mixed. On this charge there Were some
casualties. Captain Bigelow and Lieu
tenant ROBERTS of the Tenth were wound
ed in charging down from Kettle" hill
into the swale. and Captain Mccoy
was wounded in ascending the ridge.
Captain O'Neil. Of the rough riders, was
killed. Soon after reaching the house
|. Major Vessels and Captain Hunter Of
the Third We're hit The fall of Major
Vessels left the command of the regi-
ment in the hands of Captain Morton.
Troops l and b, under Boughton and
Dugan, coming up from San Juan block
house, joined, and Morton pushed for
ward 265 yards to the crest of the ridge.
The Ninth and part of the rough riders
were off to the right Of that point, and
!. Captain Galbraith, with Lieutenant
Berkeley and two troops Of the First
cavalry, was also there.
i The Sixth cavalry had kept in touch
with the infantry all the way up the
hill to San Juan blockhouse and, reach
ing the crest, was on the left Of the
Tenth. Thus the cavalry had strong
line upon the highest part of the ridge
: extending from the Santiago road north
ward toward the FL Caney road, ready
to form connection with LAYTON left,
according to plan. These troops imme-
diately began intrenching, some using
tin plates and fingers, and others, es-
pecially the Tenth cavalry, tools brought
along on their backs The right of the
line was under fire from a blockhouse
off toward the FL Caney road. Parker
took his guns up the hill, and, under
the direction Of cavalry officers, used
them with good effect. 1t was believed
at the time that the Spaniards We're
ready for a counter attack. The Ninth
cavalry ON the right of the line, being
only che battalion strong asked for help
from the infantry. and finally Kent sent
to its assistance some of the blockhouse
victors-namely, the Thirteenth infan-
try.
As San Juan blockhouse was situated
| ou tuo CItct VI tuc duNuuCc
was made by Wikoff's and Hawkins
troops. They intrenched the line from
the San Juan road. the Sixth cavalry
position, southwark, using for this work
the krag. Jorgensen bayonet, which is
simply very heavy knife with blade
about an inch and half wide. Haw-
kins' brigade. which had los; the heavi.
est OF any Ia climbing the hill and was
also weakened by the detection of some
hundreds of volunteers. had been
strengthened early in the day by the
Twenty first infantry from Pearson E
Second brigade. This regiment had been
detached by General Kent to assist
HAWKING. bat owing to the crowded
road had NJ. got into position in time to
barge with the Sixth and Sixteenth
However. il lost under the fire at tt
'reek and also in ascending the hill
lose upon the heels Of the other req
,nents
Meanwhile what Of the crest south
west of the blookhousc> a., region