The age-herald., 1898-10-23
SAN JUAN HILL
 STORMED AGAIN This Time By HaIi of the First
 Alabama. BATTLE WON BY MAJ. SMITH One Thousand People ShiVered in the
 Cold to See It.
A VERY ENTHUsING SPECTACLE
Men Were Allowed to Spend Last Night in Town = Will Report This Morning to Surrender
 Their Fire Arms.

One thousand people stood shivering in the cold at East Lake yesterday afternoon and saw the First Alabama regiment di- vided in halves doing mimic battle with each other
 The intensely disagreeable temper of the weather kept the crowd down. Five times as many people would have witnessed the event on a warm, sunshiny day.
 As 1t was large number of tickets were sol dto people who did not attend and the receipts to be turned over to the Sisters of Charity and the E1illman hospitals, while modest in comparison with what was ex- pected, are substantial enough to make warm place in the hearts of the managers of these institutions for the boys of the First.
 Almost the entire strength of the regi- ment was drawn out in the battle lines of the two sides. Under the command of Major Tom O. Smith were six companies of infantry and a platoon of Troop D to act as skirmishers. Major Mcleod had six companies and Battery B, of Mont gomery with two field pieces.
 The battle lasted an hour and grew so exciting at times that the spectators forgot their chills and cheered the boys who did not see any real bloodshed, but were going through a sham battle with the ardor of veterans doing the real thing.
 Storming of the Hill
 Major McLeods forces were fortified with their battery on the hill northeast of the parade grounds. Their sharp shooters were concealed in front of the battery to the sides skirting along the fringe of woods. Major Smiths forces were stationed to the south of the sharpshooters and acted as the attacking party. The cavalry un- masked Major McLeod's sharpshooters and with few shots drove in the outposts and sklrmish lines. Then the firing became general and in a few moments the bat teries on the crest of the hill were set thun dering. Major Smith saw at glance that the hill must be taken. He gave the order to charge and the blue coats began an ex- citing rush up the hill.
 He Joined in the Fight
 Just at this juncture an old man with gray hair and bent form, who was stand ing among the spectators, let forth a yell and sprang past the sentries and on at a mad run toward the firing lines. He grab- bed gun from some one, and, hatless, with his gray hair streaming in the wind, was soon in the midst of the charge. His name could not be learned, but some one re- marked that he was an ex-confederate sol- oier. A number of old soldiers standing near cheered him on with the battle-cry of the sixties.
 All at once, when Major Smiths fore most battle line reached the foot of the ha 6rip The intuition was either worthless to begin with or had been damaged by rain. The line was exposed to the fire of the battery, but bravely proceeded up the hill. Major Mo- Leod's forces were offering a stubborn re- sistance, but were being slowly forced back.
 With yells that shook the woods the at- tacking party charged on up San Juan heights, stormed the battery, captured it and routed the infantry behind it. The flag of truce was run up and San Juan hill was captured.
 The regiment, after the battle, was drawn up on the drill ground and probably gave it's last dress parade before being mustered out. Colonel Higdon was in com mand and the boys were lustily cheered, as they put up a faultless drill.
 Give Up Their Guns Today
 A. of the men who desired were allowed | to spend last night in the city. It was | quite a change to them to spend a frosty | night in a good warm bed.
 They were all ordered to report at 9 | o'clock this morning, when they will sur l render their guns to the government The |! medical examination will begin tomorrow [ and will be rushed though as rapidly as | possible 4t is now expected that the paymasters | will be here on the 31st. The men will re- | ceive two months pay, besides the ordnance 1 money due them. The majority of the pr- yates will draw from $50 to $75 from this | source, and 1t will take about 900 to pay the regiment.