Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-01

ment that day former Lieutenant John
NJ. Thomson of the Third battalion has
told the story So long held secret of
what the battalion did at San Juan
Hill. He shows. like Major Reade, that
| the Third battalion, last in line, was
! not seriously affected by the wavering of
the troops ahead, and continues:
Major Reade, OF Kent's staff, asked Major keck,
commanding the Third battalion, ii he would
obey any orders from Kent Upon receiving an
affirmative reply Major Readc directed him to
carry his battalion TO the front, which imnne-
diatey done. Advancing through the trail, the
Third battalion passed the Second and First bat
talions Major Keck directed the battalion to ford
San Juan river.
high grass, the battalion again formed and
speedily executed the command of Major Keck,
which was, LEFT front into line of squads as
skirmishers, March!"
have never seen the maneuver more perfectly
executed parade. In this order the battalion
crossed the field, which was about POO yards in
width and 500 yards in length and proceeded up
to the brow OF San Juan hill to the left of the
bIockhouse. When we reached the top, we found
Captain Rafferty, and already there By drec-
tion Of General Kent the battalion marched
to the left for the distance of about one-quarter
of a mile to find the left OF the Sixteenth iII-
fantry. Not being able to find the Sixteenth.
Major Keck marched back to previous po
ition the top. OF San Juan hill. There has
been no claim that the Third battalion led the
regiment into action, but the Third battalion does
claim that they were first on the hill after Cap
tain Rafferty,, who had preceded the Third bat
talion by about 20 minutes.
l decry much anybody the undue credit
given to the Seventy-first and the rough riders
for the capture of San Juan hill, but do claim
for Company + and the Third battalion that they
present at the taking Of San Juan hill and
most materially assisted in doing The Third
battalion closely followed the footsteps Of the
Twenty fourth infantry. the fact of which can be
substautiated BY nearly ALL il not all. the officers
OF the Twenty fourth infantry.
While at Camp Wikoff the writer
personally verified the statements made
by officers of the regiment to the effect
that 5S men of the Seventy first report
ed on the rolls as missing the night of
July 1 were not shirking. but were in
among the regulars. having charged the
hill with them. Major Webb, inspector
general of the Second division. says
that when the regulars marched through
the PROSTATE Seventy in the trail
they were greeted with such cries from
the New Workers as, ''Go in, boys, and
give it to theml' 1--WE wish we were
going along with your ::Say. take us
along with yout' Ask any old soldiers
if that is the language of towards and
shirks on the edge of the battlefield.
The gallant Captain Parker of the Cat
lings laments that the Seventy first men
cheered his guns as they went in and
drew Spanish fire. But all this cheering
and calling for leaders shows that the
grit of the misguided boys was all right
It was place to rattle the oldest vet
erans hut the moment leader showed
himself who could lead, the Seventy
first men were as valorous as the best.
All who left their own ranks to join the
regulars fought like heroes, and then
went back to their own colors
Captain Rafferty, finally told his
story. and said MY company pushed
right along and forded the creek, which
was up to their necks From the creek
up to the blockhouse was an open
space which the Spaniards just swept
with volleys- We clambered along to-
ward the eminence on which the fort
stood. Adintant Tayman of the Twenty
fourth infantry, one of the colored regi-
ments, a splendid officer and man. came
up and said, Where are you goingf
II replied, Up the hill.
d" 'Goodl' said ne. You're the kind
we want So along with the regulars
Company F went mp.
Tayman said tina: il was as Rafferty,
claimed; that he, Tayman, directed
Rafferty, how to get his company to do
execution, and Rafferty,. after the bat
tie, hunted him ont to thank him for
il. Said Tayman. Rafferty, did -
well.
: A field officer and a line officer saved
the honor of the Seveuty-tirst on San
Juan hill, and to Private Charles Ed
wards of Company | belongs the glory
of winning the only honorable mention
&.~