The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-04
GENERAL KENT'S REPORT
Official Story of the Fighting
Around Santiago.
UNDER A CALLING FIRE
Leading Battalion OF the New York Regi-
ment Was Thrown Into Confusion.
Story of the Panic seems
Well Founded.

the 5th army corps. near Santiago de
| Cuba, July 22.-Major Genera Shafter
having authorized the publication of
the official report OF the ~brigadier gen.
eral. j. Ford Kent. of the battle Of
July 1, 2 and 8. a certified copy of the
report is now furnished to the associ-
ated press by Major A. G. Sharpe, as
sistant adjutant general, LIST division.
5th army corps. In this report, which
is dated July Z. General Kent. after
detailing the movement which brought
on the battle of July /, gives the first
official statement covering certain in
cident of hat engagement.
The commander of the 9th corps had
directed General Kent to make a green
hill in the distance the objective point
of his left and to keep the right OF his
division on the main o leading to
Santiago. The advance was begun aft
err the enemy's artillery had opened in
reply to Grimes battery. instructions
had been given to allow the cavalry the
right-of-way, but they moved very
slowly, the report says, causing a de-
lay of fully 40 minutes in the genera
advance.
Describing the fighting in the vicinity
of the main ford of the San Juan river,
the report says: The enemy's infantry
fire, steadily increasing in intensity,
now came from all directions. not only
from the 'front.' and the dense tropical
thickets on our TANKS, but from sharp
shooters thickly posted in trees in our
rear and from shrapnel apparently aim
ed at the balloon. Lieutenant Colonel
Derby of Skaters staff met me about
this time and informed me that a trail
or narrow way had been discovered
from the balloon a short distance lead
ing to the left of the ford. lower down
the stream. i FASTENED to the forks
made by this road and soon after the
fist New York regiment, of Hawkins
brigade, came UP. L turned them into
the by-path indicated 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 prope place on the left
of their brigade, but under the CALLING
fire of the enemy, the leading battalion
Of this regiment was thrown into con-
fusion and retreated in disorder on the
troops in the rear. At this critical mo-
ment the officers of my staff practical
ly formed a Gordon behind the panic
stricken men and urged them TO again
go forward. l 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 Of them did, and the I'd and Sd
battalions came forward in better or
der and moved along the road towards
the ford. one of my staff officers ran
back waving his hat to hurry forward
the Sd brigade, who on approaching
the forks found the way blocked by
men of the fist New York. There were
other men of this regiment crouching i'm
the bushes, many of whom were en-
couraged by the advance of the APP
preaching column to arise and go for
ward. As already stated. j had received
orders some time before to keep in tbs
rear OF the cavalry division. Their ad'
vance was much slower, resulting in
frequent halts. presumably to drop
their blanke rolls and due to the nat
ural delay in fording a stream.
These delays under a calling FIR
grew exceedingly irksome. and | there
fore pushed the head of my division q!
quickly as / could toward the river il
column or files of twos paralleled OF
the narrow way by the cavalry. Thii
quickened the following movement
and enabled me to get into position al
speedily as possible FOR the attack. Ow
ing to the conGested condition of tn
road the progress. of the narrow col
umn was, however, painfully slow.
Il again sent a staff officer at a gal
: Top to urge forward the troops in tn
rear. The mead of Wikoff's brigad
reached the forks at 1920 D. m. an,
hurried on the left. stepping over tn
/, Frustrated forms of the men of tn
fist. This heroic brigade consisting
OF the 18th, 9th and oath u. 5. nfant
speedily crossed the stream and wer
, quickly deployed to the left of the low
2 er ford.
a "while personally superintendent
this movement Colonel Wikoff wa
killed, the command of the brigad
= then %devolving upon Lieutenant Colo
, mel Worth. 18th infantry. who immed
lately fell severely wounded, and the
upon Lieutenant Colonel Liscum, 24t
infantry. who, five minutes later, ais
: fell under the whitening fire of the en-
envy. The command of the brlgad
= then devolved upon Lieut.. Col. L. !
= Weers OF the 9th infantry.
Meanwhile | had again sent a sta
officer to hurry forward the second bris
ade. which was bringing up the rea
:, The 10th and End infantry soon arrive
: at the forks, were DETECTED to the LEI
= to follow the Third brigade, while III
; 2lst was directed along the main roa
% to support Hawkins. Crossing the lowe
. fork a few minutes later, the 10Th an
n End moved forward in column in goo
order toward the green knoll alreau
n, referred 10. as my objective on the lei
c. Approaching the knoll the regimen
n, deployed. passed over the knoll and a
cended the high ride beyond, driNlr
back the enemy in the direction or n
trenches. | observed this moVemel
from the forts on San Juan hill. CO
T.. Il. Pearson. l0th infantry. command
a. ing the Second brigade. and officers ar
troops under his command deser'
ne great credit for the soldierly manner
er which this movement was
I'D earnestly recommend Colonel Pears'
pe for promotion. Prior to this advance
% the Second brigade, the Third. connec
- ing with Hawkins gallant troops on u
=, right. moved toward Fort san Jua
or 90 al
An, ncult hill and assisting in capturing Z