Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-15

ed for attack in the front of San Juan
hill. During this formation the second
brigade suffered severely. While person.
ally experimenting this movement, It's
gallant commander, Col. Wikoff, was kill
ed. The command of the brigade then
devolvcd upon Lieut.. Col. Worth, 18th in
fantry, who was soon severely wounded.
and next upon Lieut. Col. Dscum, Ath in
fantry, who five minutes later also fell
under the terrible fire Of the enemy and
the command of the brigade then devolv-
cd upon Lieut.. Col. Ewcrs, 9th infantry.
while the formation just described was
taking place. Gen. Kent took measures to
hurry forward his rear brigade. The 10th
and second infantry were ordered to fol-
low Wikoff's brigade, while the 2lst was
sent on the right hand road to support
the first brigade under Gen. Hawkins, who
had crossed the stream and formed on the
right OF the division. The second and 10th
infantry. Col. T.. P. Pearson commanding,
moved forward In good order on the left
OF the division, passed over a green knoll
and drove the enemy back toward his
trenches.
After completing their formation under
a destructive fire, and advancing short
distance, both divisions found in their
front a wide bottom In which had been
placed barbed wire enlargement, and
hey yond which there was high hill, along
the crest Of which the enemy was strong
ly posted. Nothing daunted, these gallant
men pushed on to drive the enemy from
his chosen position, both divisions losing
heavily. In this assault Col. Hamilton,
Leuts. Smith and Ship were killed and
Col. Carroll Lieuts. Thayor and Myer.
all in the cavalry were wounded.
Great credit Is due to Brig. Gen. VI. s.
Hawkins, who. placing himself between
his regiments urged them on by voice and
bugle calls to the attack so brilliantly eX-
ecutcd.
"In this ncrco encounter words fail to
do justice to the gallant rcgimental COM
manders and their heroic men, for while
the generals indicated the formations and
the points of attack, 1t was. after all, the
intrepid bravery of the subordinate OF.
/ ilccrs and men that planted our colors or
the crest OF San Juan hill and drove the
enemy from his trenches and block house
| thus gaining n position which scaled thC
| fate OF Santiago.
"fn this action on this part of the ficlf
most efficient service was rendered By
Lieut.. John n. Parker. 13th infantry, anC
the Gatlins gun detachment under hi:
command. The fighting continued at in
tervols until night fell, but our men hel,
! resolutely to the positions gained at tn,
cost OF so much blood and toll.
II am greatly indebted to Gen. Wheeler
| who, as previously stated, returned from
the sick list to duty during the afternoon
His checrfuness ana aggressiveness mad
itself felt on this part of the battle field
and the Information he furnished to me a
various stages of the battle proved to b.
most useful.
MY own health was impaired by over
eXertion in the sun and intense heat o
the day before, which prevented me from
participating as actively in the battle a
| desired. hut from high hill near m
headquarters l had a general view of tn
battlefield extending from FL Caney o
the right to the left of our lines on Sa
Juan hill"