Evening star., 1898-09-06
HO RTON s. HER OIS M
A Washington Boy Makesa Gallant Record
at Santiago.
Recommended for, promotion for
Signal brewery on the
Battlefield.

Washington has athero!l One of her sons
born and educated Under the shadow of the
National Capitol was with Gen. Hawkins
in the terrific assault upon San Juan. and
by his valor distinguished himself and won
a recommendation from his commander for
signal bravery on the field of battle. More
than this, he had been recommended for
promotion as lieutenant colonel of voiun-
teers and captain in the regular army
This, and more, too, has been won by w.
+. Horton, captain and assistant adjutant
general on the staff OF Gen. Hawkins
Captain Horton came home Friday on a
furlough and looks the picture of health
| a marked contrast to many less fortunate
District boys. When the war broke out Mr..
horton was in New York. He was bonn IN
Washington, was educated at the public
school here and served as a High School
Saoet tnroughout his term at the High
School- IhlS is where ne obtained his first
experience in affairs military So proficient
dld he become that when the Ordway Rifies
were organized young Horton was chosen
us captain Later Gen. Ordway appointed
nm an aid and attached him to his staff
so 1t Will be seen young Horton was ably
equipped to go to the front He came to
washington and enlisted with the 1st Dis
trict Regiment as adjutant. Later he was
detailed on the staff of Gen. Hawkins as
captain and assistant adjutant general
"A reporter of The Star found the young
nero Tor he was a hero as will be shown
talking to his mother and surrounded by a
group OF admiring friends. 1t was not
without an effort that the reporter per-
suaded him to talk. His modesty and de-
sire not to be made prominent manifested
itself in every word
The Battle of San Juan.
Yes, l am heartily glad to be home once
more. The experience we had in Cuba will
never be forgotten and the work of all
the brave boys who went to that fever
stricken Cline will go down into history
as signal sacrifice Yes every man who
went to Cuba is a brave man But you
asked me something of the battle of San
Juan On the morning of July /, we ad-
Vanced to the front, after an early break
fast, think it was o'clock. / went
ahead for orders. In two hours word came
to move Our division was comma nded by
General HAWKINS and consisted of the 9th
and 10th United States Infantry and list
New YORK Volunteer Regiment. Our orders
were TO wait at a certain point until Gen
eral Lawton swung around the enemy's
right and Joined General Kent's division.
The road was narrow and dangerous Soon
we heard firing and men in our command
were being hit right and left.
1t was a dangerous place to rest, and
soon Gen. Hawkins asked permission to
assault 1t was given. With Gen Kent
and staff Gen. Hawkins and staff led the
way to hill to reconnoiter. AS soon as
we got in sight the enemy spied us, and
shrapnel began bursting all about us. The
Mauser bullets whizzed by, making weird
music. My first thoughts were of my
horse; Although a fractiohs animal he be-
haved magnifcently and did not scare
worth a cent. This was satisfactory. for
l had worried about my horse when we got
into action. The big war balloon over our
heads manned by the engineer officers was
all the target The Spaniards wanted, and
gave them the range of our troops. One
shell sang a merry tune over our heads
and burst in the midst of some Cubans,
who became panic stricken and fed into
the jungle. Gems. Kent and Hawkins held
a consultation, and our brigade was order
ed to advance. NJ
A Fight In Earnest.
ut would have done you good to see the
alacrity with which our boys obeyed.
Under CALLING fire they advanced On the
way we met Gen. Summer with the Sd and
9th United States Cavalry, and the three
generals held another conference Gen.
Hawkins and his staff dismounted and.
stationing himself at the head of his di-
vision, gave the command, Forward and
up the hill marched the boys.
THE block house, strongly fortified be-
hind intrenchments, was two miles beyond
and the enemy was well secreted IT was
necessary before our boys could get in
fighting condition to cut through a barbed
wire fence tramp through a thick Jungle
and ford river UP to your arm pits Lieu
tenant Ord climbed tree and located the
enemy. Word was sent to General Kent
by General Hawkins that he would like
permission to take the fort With his bri-
gade. The word came back all right and
our fighting line was forIsed. The 9th In
fantry (regulars) We're placed in the front
line, and up the hill. followed by the 10th
United States Infantry and the list New
York Volunteers, the fighting line moved
Senerai Hawkins was in front. and his
tall statue and white hat made him a mark
for the Spanish bullets, out they did not
hit him. l tell you, it a grand. soul
stirring scene With two buglers behind
him to give the orders. the general waved
his men on. The bullets were coming like
nail, and every now and then some brave
boy in our ranks would throw up his hands
and stop. While crossing an open space
| saw colored soldier tenderly caring for
a wounded comrade. AS Gen Hawkins
rode by he called to him and asked permis
sion to go on and fight. ] shall never for
get that day, with its many stirring incl
dents.
AssassinatiOn of Lieut.. Ord,
Just before the charge commenced Lieut..
Ord, the brigade commissary, had gone
with order to form the troops. Instead
of returning. he led the troops Upon
reaching the crest of the hill a soldier
called the attention of Lieut. Ord to a
wounded Spaniard, and the former gave an
lard a moment later drew his revolver and
shot Lieut.. Ord killing him instantly
THE Spaniard tried to make mis- escaDa
but was literally torn to pieces by the bull
lets of our men, We were warm personal
friends, and several times he told me ne
was coming out of the a colonel or a
corpse. While the brigade was going
through the underground just before the
charge commenced, Lieut.. D. NJ Richie of
the 18th United States Infantry and one of
Gen. Hawkins aids, was killed We con-
sidared San Juan Hill the key to the situa-
ton in front of the city, and a Spaniard
told me his commander considered the hin
impregnable. Our brigade rested on the
hills of Fort San Juan for two nights, and
on the evening of July 2 while Gen Kent
and staff and Gen. Hawkins and what re-
mained of his staff were sitting along the
side of the fort, a she'll burst over our
heads and piece killed Lieut.. Monoz, one
of Gen. Kent's aids. He was sitting right
next to me, with Gen- Kent on the other
side. That night about 10 o'clock the enc
my made an assault and Gen. Hawkins
shot in the foot.Ti
Capt. Horton spoke Of the terrible oli-
mate of Cuba and dwelt esp Pacally upon the
bravery of the American troops