The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-04
HEROES .0F SANTIAGO.
Brig. Gen. K0nt'S Report on
the Fighting.
SOLDIER COURAGE SUBLIME
Regulars Fearless Under a Fierce
Fire.

scventy-First New York Regiment
the only one to Lose Its Head in
the Fnce of the Terrible Rain of
BuIets-Its Men in Front of the
Regulars When the Battle began
and Lny Down in the ThicI<et and
Allowed the other Troops to Pass
over Them-Esvery Regular Army
Oniccr at His Post of Duty FeRrIess
of Death.
| Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.
Correspondence OF The Associated Press.
Headquarters of the First Division OF
the Fifth Army Corps, Near Santiago dc
| Cuba, July 22.-Maj. Gen. shafter having
authorized the publication Of the report
of Brig Gen. J. Ford Kent Of the battle
of July ], and 3. certified copy Of tho
report is now furnished 10 the Associated
Press by Mai A. c. Sharpe. assistant ad-
| tutant general First Division, Fifth Army
! Corps.
The opening portions of the report deal
with orders given and the first forward
movement toward San Juan hill on the
morning of July /.
He details his inspection Of the enemy's
position made at the front and the OPEN
ing Of the fire by Grimes battery.
lie then continues: Having completed
the observation with my staff. proceeded
to join the head of my division just COM
ing under heavy fire. We were already
suffering losses, caused by the balloon
near by attracting fire and disclosing our
position. The enemys infantry fire,
steadily Increasing in intensity now. came
from all directions, not only from the
front and the dense tropical thickets on
our ianks but from sharpshootefs thick
| ly posted In trees in our rear, and from
ehrapnel apparently aimed at the balloon.
Lieut.. Col. Derby of Gen. Skaters
STAFF met me about this time and inform
ed me that tran or narrow way had
been discovered from the balloon a short
distance back leading to the left of ford
lower down the stream. hastened 10
the forks made by this road and soon af-
ter the Seventy-hrst New York Regiment
Of Gen. Hawkins brigade came up. I
turned them into the by-path indicated by
Lieut.. Col. Derby. leading to the lower
ford, sending word 10 Gen. Hawkins of
this movement This would have speedi-
ly delivered them in their proper place ON
the left Of their brigade, but under the
CALLING fire of the enemy, the leading bat
TALON of this regiment was thrown into
confusion and recoiled In disorder on the
troops in rear.
"At this critical moment the officers OF
my stan practically formed a Gordon be-
hind the panic stricken men. and urged
them 20 again go forward.
/ finally ordered them to lie down In the
thioket and clear The way for others Of
their own regiment, who were coming up
behind This many of them did, and the
Second and Third BattaBons 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 for
ward the Third Brigade. who, upon ap-
preaching the forks, found the way block
AIDED by men of the seventy-frst New
York. There were other men of this regi-
ment erouching in the bushes, many of
whom were encouraged by the advance Of
the approaching column to arise and go
forward.
Il pushed the head of my division as
quickly as I could toward the river In cob
um Of files of twos parallel in the narrow
way by the cavalry. Owing to the congest-
ed condition Of the road the progress OF tho
narrow column was, however, painfully
SOW. again sent a staff officer al a gal-
Top to urge forward the troops in the rear.
The head Of Col. Wikoffs brigade reach
ed the forks at 1920 p. m, and hurried on
The left stepping over prostrate forms of
men of the Seventy-hrst
This heroic brigade Consisting Of the
Thirteenth, Ninth and Twenty-fourth
United States Infantry speedily crossed
the stream and were quickly deployed 10
the left Of the lower ford.
" nile personally experimenting this
movement, Col. Wikon was killed, the
command of ths brigade then devol1lng
upon Lieut.. Col. Worth. Thirteen Ipfap-
uy who Immediately fell severely wound
ed and then upon Lieut.. Col. Liscum,
1wenty-fourth Infantry, who five miautes
later also fell under the whitening fire Of
the enemy. The command of the brigade
then devolved upon ] ieut. Col. e. p. Ew-
ers, Ninth Infantry.
Crossing the lower fork few minutes
later the Tenth and Second ascended the
h,eh ridge beyond. driving back the enemy
~ The direction OF his trenches.
"col. q. +. Pearson. Tenth Infantry,
commanding the Second brigade. and the
ofBcers and troops under his command de-
eerve great credit for the soldielly mani
ner In which this movement was execut-
/