The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-04
The Men Charged Up a Steep Hill
Through TangIc of Barbed wire
4, the Face of Destructive
and whitening Fire.


Division Firth Army Corps
The opening portions of the report dcdl
with orders given and the first forward
movement toward san Juan hill on the
morning OF July lst lie details his In
sTection Of the cnemy's position made at
the front and the opening Of the nre by
Grimes Battery. He then continues:
FIRE FROM ALL SIDES.
Having completed the observation
with my staff. l proceeded 10 join the
head of my division just coming under
heavy FIRE.
1--WE were already suffering losses caus-
ed by the balloon nearby attracting fire
and disclosing our position. The enemy's
infantry fire steadily increasing in in
iensity. now came from all directions. not
only from the front and the dense tropi-
cal Tickets on our TANKS but from
sharp-shooters thickly posted in trees in
our rear. and from shrapnel apparently
aimed a 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
fhe balloon a short distance back leading
TO the left Of a sord lower down the
stream. I FASTENED 10 the forks made by
this road and soon after the Seventy-frst
New York Regiment. Of Hawkins Brigade
came up. I turned them into the bv-path
Indicated by Lieutenant Colonel Derby.
leading 70 the lower ford. sending word
TO General Hawkins of this movement.
THEY RECOILED.
This would have speedily delivered
them In their proper place on the left of
their brigade. but under the CALLING fire
OF the enemy the leading battalion Of this
regiment was thrown into confusion and
recolled In disorder on the troops I'm rear.
At this critical moment the officers Of
my staff practically formed a Gordon be-
hind the panic stricken men and urged
them 10 again go forward / finally or
dered them TO lie down I'm the thicket and
clear the way for others Of their own reg
iment who were coming up behind. This,
many Of them did. and the Second and
Third battalion came forward in better
order and moved along the road toward
the ford one of my stan officers ran
back waving his hat 10 hurry forward
the Third brigade which. upon approach
ing tho .arks found the way blocked
by men Of the Seventy-hrst New York.
There We're other men of this regiment
crouching I'm the bushes many OF whom
We're encouraged by the advance Of the
approaching column 10 arise and go for
ward,
] pushed the head of my division as
quickly as ] could toward the river IN
column or files of twOs paralleled I'm the
narrow way by the cavalry
PAINFULLY SLOW.
Owing 20 the c0ngested condition OF the
road. the progress of the narrow column
was. however. painfully slow. / again
sent STAFF officer at a gallOp 10 urge
forward the troops en- the rear The head
of WikOns brigade reached the forks az
1920 r. NJ. and hurried ON the left step
ping over PROSTATE forms of men OF the
Seventy-nrst. This heroic brigade (con-
sisting OF the Thirteenth and Fifteenth
United States Infantry quickly crossed
the stream and reached the lower fork.
While experimenting this movement COLI
onel Wikon was killed. the command de-
vOlvng upon Colonel Woeth.
who was severely wounded. and then
upon Lieutonant-COlonel Ligcolm, who
five minutes later also fen under the
whitening FIRE OF the enemy. The COM
mand of the brigade then developed upon
Lieutenant-Colonel r.. =. Ewerts. Nine
teenth Infantry
GALLANT CHARGE.
Crossing the lower fork q few minutes
later the Tenth and Second assembled
the high ridge beyond. driving back the
enemy ina the direction Of his trenches.
Colonel r.. T. Pearson. Tenth Infantry.
commanding the Second Brigade, and
the officers and troops under his COM
mand deserve great credit for the sol
dierly manner in which this movement
was executed. / earnestly recommend
Colonel Pearson for promotion
Prior 20 this advance OF the Second
Brigade. the Third, connecting with
Hawkins gallant troops on the right.
had moved toward Fort San Juan,
sweeping through a zone of most destruc-
tive fire. scaling a steep and difficult
Hill and assisting in capturing the enc
my's strong position, Fort San Juan, at
1870 p. NJ
THROUGH BARBED WIRE.
This crest was about one hundred and
twenty-five feet above the general level
and was defended by deep trenches and
a loop-hoed brick fort surrounded by
barbed-wire entangements.
Credit IS almost equally due the Sixth.
Ninth Thirteenth. Sixteenth and Twen-
ty-foureh Regiments Of Infantry. The
Thirteenth Regiment captured the enc
my's colors. waving over the fort but
unfortunately destroyed them, distribut-
ing the fragments among the men.
The greatest credit is due 10 the Off
GERS Of my command, whether company,
battalion, regiment or brigade command
ers who so admirably directed the formal
concentration OF their troops unavoidably
intermixed I'm the dense thicket. and made
the desperate rush for the distant and
strongly defended crest.
WONDERFUL GOODNESS.
have already mentioned the circum-
stances OF my Third Brgade's advance
across the ford. where. in the brief space
OF ten minutes, IL lost its brave com
mander killed and the next two rank
ing officers by disabling wounds. Yet, In
spite of these confusing conditions, the
formations were effected without hesita-
ton. although under a singing ire, com
panies acting singly In some circum-
stances and by battalion and regiments in
others. rushing through the jungle. across
the stream waist deep and over the wide
bottom. thickly set with barbed-wire en-
Engagements
In this connection ! desire 10 particu-
larly mention First Lieutenant Wendell
l.. Simpson adjutant Ninth Infantry,
acting assistant acknowledgement Third
Brigade. who was nOtlceably active and
efficient I'm carrying out orders which
had given him 10 transmit to his brigade
commander, who no longer existed.
ORDERED TO ENTRENCH.
The enemy having retired TO a second
lire OF rifle pits | directed my line TO
hold their positions and entrench. At
ten minutes past =. NJ. ! received al
most simultaneously two requests. one
from Colonel Wood. commanding a cav
airy brigade. and one from General Sum
rer. asking for assistance for the cav
airy on my right as they were hard
pressed Immediately sent 10 their aid
the Thirteenth Infantry, who promptly