Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-28

noticeable. When looking for the up-
exploited heroes AT Camp WikOff, l
ran upon the story of Major William
Aumau of the Thirteenth regulars.
The dash of Lieutenant Andersons
handful TO the top of the crest ahead
of all the rest and the seizure of the
Spanish flag by this band seemed to
fill the measure of glory for the reei-
ment. after noting it down from An
derson's lips / was prepared to leave
camp when the colonel said: u hope
you won't overlook Major Auman. He
was great figure in the crisis OF the
charge
Amman is 4 civil war veteran and a
soldier of striking appearance. He was
second in command in the early part
of the attack upon San Juan hill The
Thirteenth dashed direct upon the
blockhouse at time when its defend
ers were stirred up TO 4 stubborn de-
fense The Americans had been aim
ing at the stronghold for over two
hours, and the Sixth infantry, support
ed by the Sixteenth. We're halted on
the slope to the right Of the Thir-
teenth, the latter having an acclivity
in front with Il steepness of 30 degrees.
For a few minutes the regiment lay
on the slope and fired al the Spaniards
in the trenches at the blockhouse. The
artillery was also pounding at the
same target, and finally Parker's Cat
lings swept the position with a terrible
fire Just how seriously the enemy
was harmed by this storm of shot has
never been told, but there was a sign
OF confusion in their lines, with men
running back from the front. In the
heat OF battle it is Impossible to tell
when an enemy has had a fatal blow.
But Major -Auman took the chances
that the hour had come to charge. and
rose up in front of the fort. in full view
of his men. aud shouted: The Span
iards arc running, boys! Forward,
Thirteenth
The regiment shot forward like 81
thunderboit clinchlug the victory it
not winning it. But that was not the
sole end accomplished by AumaD's S
timely action. His form could he seen
along the line of two brigades, and
his voice reached officers and men of
other regiments. They declared aft
ervard that it was timely for they
had about come to the decision that
the fort could not be carried by the
force then in front of it. Auman's
speech WaS Il bracer. and the rush of
tic Thirteenth under his lead was fol
lowed by the charge Of four more regi-
mcnts. two on each flank Then San
Juan biorkhouse fell
ii is difficult sometimes to say just
what stroke decides battle, but the
rush forward of the Thirteenth under
Major Aumaus lead seems to have
carried the day. Ii not actually
slaughtered and driven out by parker's
Gatlin% fire. the Spaniards were terri
bly, scared aud made precipitate re
treat. They soon gave indications that
they regretted their haste
Major Auman learned the art of
fighting when he was boy. He enlist
ed so promptly in 1861 that he went
to the front among the famous First
Defenders Of Washington. After serv-
ing with gallantry four years he was
appointed lieutenant IN the regular
army and took Il course fighting In
dams on the plains. Another incident |
at San Juan fort Illustrates the power
of individual courage at the right |
time. \ soldier in the Roosevelt hos |
pitai, New York. George !. Hanlon of |
the SeyeDty-iirst, describing his ex-
periences in the charge said:
My company got mixed up, and pushed on