Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1899-01-11


 for cover. The oavalrymen say that some time after they reached this point, which was known to them as San Juan House, they heard heavy firing at the blOckhouse. This led them to suppose that the blockhouse had not yet fallen when they reached the crest of the ridge. However, the infantry said that they fired from the captured blockhouse and vicinity upon the retIeating Span iards and at their second line. Many gallant fellows of Wikoff's and Flaw kins' brigades fell after the blockhouse was in the possession of the Americans. Among these was Lieutenant Ord of Hawkins staff. who broke away from his leader in order to go in with the men of his own regiment, the Sixteenth Ord's conduct that day was heroic, his death most tragic. When the brigade was at the creek, deploying for the at tack, he had said by way of encourage ment, "You can take it in 80 minutes. {" Major Forse of the First cavalry, who went forward with his battalion after the capture of Kettle" hill, was also killed.
 The infantry reformed lines at the blOckbouse and took position to resist counter attack, which a little later was threatened from the Spaniards in front The blOckhouse was a brick building. lOopholed, with trenches on each flank and in front. West of it, toward Santi- ago. the ground falls into deep depres- sion. Six hundred yards westward, on both sides of the main road to Santiago, the Spanish had strong works On the American right and left of this depres- sion the heights are abrupt, and pos session of these was essential to the holding of the blockhouse as we'll as of Kettle" hill, because the heights on the American right of the blockhouse itself are higher than Kettle" hill.
 As soon as the cavalry took possession of Kettle" hili as already described, many of the soldieIs had rushed for ward to the west crest and opened with their carbines upon the Spaniards around the heights in front. Majors and captains got their battalions and troops together and with a cheer charged forward. Two troops of the Third cav airy, led by Major Vessels, Captains Morton, Hunter and Morgan, dashed straight for the building known as the San Juan House. The Ninth and Tenth cavalry, with part of the rough riders seemed to strike for the house, but owing to Instructions the line became mixed. On this charge there were some casualties. Captain Bigelow and Lieu tenant Roberts of the Tenth were wound ed in charging down from Kettle" hill into the swale, and Captain Mccoy was wounded in ascending the ridge. Captain O'Neil, of the rough riders, was killed. Soon after reaching the house Major Vessels and Captain Hunter of the Third were hit. The fall of Major Vessels left the command of the regi- ment in the hands of Captain Morton. Troops and B, under Boughton and Dugan, coming up from San Juan block house, joined, and Morton pushed for ward 265 yards to the crest of the ridge. The Ninth and part of the rough riders were of to the right of that point, and Captain Galbraith, with Lieutenant Berkeley and two troops of the First cavalry, was also there.
 The Sixth cavalry had kept in touch with the infantry all the way up the hill to San Juan blockhouse, and, reach ing the crest, was on the left of the Tenth. Thus the cavalry had a strong line upon the highest part of the ridge extending from the Santiago road north ward toward the Fl Clancy road, ready to form connection with LAwton's left, according to plan. These troops imme- diately began intrenching, some using tin plates and fingers, and others, es- pecially the Tenth cavalry, tools brought along on their backs The right of the line was under fire from hlockbOuse of toward the Fl Clancy road Parker took his guns up the hill, and, under the direction of cavalry officers, used them with good effect Ii was believed at the time that the Spaniards were ready for a counter attack. The Ninth cavalry on the right of the line, being only one battalion strong. asked for help from the infantry, and finally Kent sent to its assistance some of the blockh0use the Thirteenth infan- try.
 As San Juan blockhouse was situated on the crest of the bridge no advance was made by Wikoff's and Hawkins troops. They intrenohed the line from the San Jnan road, the Sixth cavalry position, southward. using for this work the Krag- -Jorgensen bayonet, which is simply a very heavy knife with a blade about an inch and half wide. Flaw kins' brigade. which had lost the heavi-