The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-02-08

Vic Icciucus TOT prcNelb lOE BaAidlbff
under fire at Santiago and the battles
thereab0ut. we notice in the New York
Sun the name of Capt. Henry Wygant.
OF the oath U. S. Infantry. who is
breveted Major. The gallant Captain
was stationed at Central University for
three years, in charge OF the cadet bat
talon, and when called for active duty
carried with him the respect of every
body here. His charming wife soon
followed, to Fort Douglas, Utah, with
one son, Philip. Harry entered the
regular Army, whilst Benyoard entered
the Navy. Strange, but true, ali three
saw service in the Spanish war, the
Captain and his son Lieut. Harry Wy
giant, Of the 9Th U. S., meeting face to
face at Bloody San Juan. Benyoard at
the moment was on blockade duty In
front of Havanna.
The Salt Lake City Tribune has this
interesting narrative from the Captains
lips:
IN THE THIoKEsT OF SAN JUAN
FIGHT, BUT ESCAPED UNHURT.
Capt. Henry Wygant, rugged and
strong as that bright spring day last
april when his regiment left for the
war, has returned to Fort Douglas
from Santiago de Cuba and Montauk
Point. All reports which have come of
that memorable charge up the bloody
heights of San Juan hill tell of the con-
spicious gallantry of Capt. Wygant.
During that charge he was in COM
mand of the Second battalion and for
two hours afterwards. while the TWEEN
ty-fourth was recognizing and taking
its position in the trenches on the sum-
nit of the hill, the Captain was in
command of the entire regiment
THAT MEMORABLE CHARGE.
Capt. Wygant was seen by Tribune
representative at the fort last evening.
OF the battle OF San Juan be was at
first very reluctant to speak. at is
all like dream to me now" he said,
''and a very black one, too. After the
regiment had formed in that river bed
and then began that long charge across
the wide field where Col. Liscum and
Augustin and Quincy fell, 1 can scarce
ly recall much Of what we did. We
had come across that field at such a
pace that when we reached the foot
of the hill, where we were compare
lively shattered from the Spanish fire,
| was Just about exhausted. There
were some barbed wire fences there,
and we had to clear them away before
we could move on. remember seeing
Dodge and Lyon hacking at fence,
and 1 believe 1 carried off an armful
myself.
II wanted to form the battalion in
better order there. but we just couldn't
keep those darkey boys back. They
were crazy to get at the top of the hill,
and up we went. our regiment mixed
inextricably with volunteers and others
of the regulars. The way those col
ored boys fought was wonderful, sim
ply wonderful. They needed no urg-
ing on by tie officers, but they kept
right at the front without wavering OF
fiinching a particle.
UNDER SEVERE FIRE.
"When we swarmed over the summit
of the hill we were greeted by severe
fire from the reserve Spanish lines on
line of hills 500 yards nearer the city
than San Juan, and we had to dispose
our troops in the old Spanish trenches
and compel them TO lie down to keeF
out of range of the Spanlards. 1t was
while engaged in this duty that Capt
Ducat, who had shown wonderful cour
age and daring during the entire fight
was wounded.
ave lay there in the trenches fol
nearly two weeks and then on the
night of July 18th we we're ordered tC
Siboney to do daty in the hospitals
there. We marched to Siboney
through the blacklist night 1 ever saw
The men had to hold each other
hands TO keep together and we were
constantly getting lost in the cane
brake and thick chapparal.
HERoIsM AT sIBONEY.
ut was at SiboDev that the tru,
heroism Of our darkey boys showed it
self. They were called out to nuns
the sick and do police duty in the vel
low fever hospitals and when volun
teers were asked for for this danger
GUS work over a hundred men cam
forward Immediately. And they di,
good work there, those fellows. and to-
much credit cannot be- given them TO
it. All OF the regiment was on dut,
in the hospitals, squads relieving eacl
other at intervals, and although thei
duties were disagreeable and arduou
in the extreme, they never faltesed
never complained. and were at thei
posts always. They we're kept Their
at Siboney forty days until Angus
10th, and Of the 500 men in the regi
ment just twelve escaped the fever o
malaria"
CAPT. wYGANT's CALAMITY.
Cant Wv0anf was himself one Z
the twelve fortunates. Maj. Markele
was the only other officer who escape
without illness or-xound. Althoug
Capt. Wygant would say absolutel
nothing about his own doiDgs in th
fight and in the lever camps, otbel
are not so reticent. All unite in sa,
: ing that his gaIlantry was most e,
} ceptional. While the regiment was r,
, forming and taking its position on Sa
Juaa's deadly summit, Capt. Wygar
! moved about the hill, exposed ever
minute to a very hail OF bullets. H
: commanded bis battalion at the hol
pital camps and WIS untiring in hi
I work there among the sick aud dyin
! patients. He returns to this city
: recuperate from a nervous attac
I brought on by the weeks Of nerv'
raeking work and exposure in the no
E pitfalls and in the trenches. He has bee
( especially mentioned for bravery 0
: the f1ald If l,,ftla and ie now eenff