Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-15
A VIRGINIA HERO.
Major John A. Harman is n Native
of StauntOn.

Major John A. Hartman, who so greatly
distinguished himself at Santiago, is a
Stanton man, and is related to the WELL
known Hartman family Of Augusta and
Rockbridge and this city The Phladel-
phia Telegraph says:
major John A. Hartman, acting as
sistant Acknowledgement. is a conspicu-
Gus hero of the Santiago campaign. he
having been recommended by both Gene
rails Wheeler and Sumner for promotion
for gallantry He is as unassuming as
is General Sumner. and is a valuable as
sistant to the latter in the mastering
out duties. Major Hartman is a native
of Stanton, Va, graduated from the
Military Academy at West Point IN 1881.
He was then assigned to the Seventh
Cavalry as second lieutenant. and saw
service in Montana, Kansas, Indian Ter
ritory, and Oklahoma Territory. He par
ticipated in the Crow campaign In Mon
tana in the winter Of 1Ss7-SS and took part
in the engagements against Indians. In
September. $780, he was appointed as COM
mandant of cadets at the Virginia Poly
technic Institute, Blacksburg, Va. and re-
manned there until September, 1894. when
he was ordered to Fort Sill, Okla, and
joined the Indian Troop of the Seventh
Cavalry. In November of that year he
was promoted TO first lieutenant. and was
assigned to duty with the Sixth Cavalry
at Fort Myer, Va, Joining this regiment
in the following February. In December,
1896 he was appointed as quartermaster
Of the same regiment which position he
retained until just before the embarka-
ton for Cuba, when he resigned TO be-
come an aide on Summers stan.
The part he took in the Santiago cam
paign was that Of hero. In the early
part of the fight on July LIST, and when
Spanish bullets were killing American sol
ders right and left, Hartman saw that
several batteries of machine-guns, which
were greatly needed. had become dis
organized and disabled. All of the officers
OF this detachment were either Killed,
wounded, or overcome by the heat, the
ammunition was exhausted. and no one
was able to command, a number OF men
having been shot, and many of the horses
had been killed. Hartman rushed TO the
scene, through hail Of bullets, gathered
up the remnants OF the batteries, quickly
organized them into one battery and took
temporary command. With seven guns
and about twenty-five men this depleted
battery marched heroically TO the sum-
nit of San Juan Hill. where II Joined the
Sixth Cavalry. Soldiers of the latter regi-
ment were assigned to the battery as adj
ditionai gunners, and IL afterward did
effective work. During the march up San
Juan Hill the detachment was under a
constant fire, and several men were kill
cd.
For this gallant action Hartman was spe-
officially recommended by both Wheeler
and Sumner for promotion, and when he
reached Montauk he was appointed chief
ordnance officer United States Volunteers,
with the rank Of major, as a recognition
OF bravery. Major Hartman was then as
signed TO duty at Santiago, but General
Sumner requested the War Department TO
send him to Philadelphia as his aide, and
this was done. he being made acting as
sistant adjutant general. When the work
here shall be completed Major Hartman
will probably be assigned TO duty in Cuba
az chief ordnance officer.