Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-07-01

the objective OF Kent's right flank.
Kent had already sent Hawkins bril-
gade forward, and shortly after Grimes
battery opened, which was before 8
O'Clock, he rode ON and came up with
Hawkins and his leading regiment, the
Sixth infantry. at that point he was
ordered to give the cavalry the right of
way, which caused delay of his ad-
vance 40 minutes. During that dely
Hawkins and Kent went to the front
under the fire Of sharpshooters and
crossed the main ford of San Juan riv-
er, already reached by the advance
guard Of the cavalry division, the Ninth
regiment. They looked through the
fringe Of trees and saw the enemy's po-
sition. Hawkins thought he could turn
the enemy's right at San Juan, but
Kent did not agree with him and de-
cided to put two brigades into column
for direct attack. Going backward to
hurry his troops, he met them Just as
they came under heavy fire not only
from the front, but from the dense
tbicket on the banks and from sharp.
shooters in trees in the rear of the NOV
ing troops.
The balloon was abreast of the head
Of his division, and sbrapnel aimed at
1t fell among his men. The observers In
the balloon pointed out to Kent trail
parallel with the road ON its left. The
Sixth and Sixteenth regiments were al
ready in the road, past the forks of the
trail, and Kent went back and directed
the Seventy first regiment into the trail,
to be followed by Wikoff's brigade, in
support of Hawkins. The Seventy. first
became stumbling block in the way Of
Wikoff's advance, and IL was noon
when the head Of Wikoff's brigade
reached the fording place.
When the Sixth regiment reached
the ford, Hawkins was there and said
to Colonel Egbert, its commander,
Somewhat beyond here you can get
an enfilade fire on those works, aud
Lieutenant Ord will show you where
to go in The works on San Juan
heights were within view. Marching to
the front the Sixth formed on the left
Of the Sixth cavalry behind the fringe
of trees, directly opposite San Juan
blockhouse. Colonel Egbert looked over
the ground in his front, and, finding
that the cavalry pickets were being fred
upon by Spaniards in the houses in
front, sent out four companies rs Skin
mishers to re- enforce the troopers. These
companies drew heavy fire from the
Spanish front. This halt was made be-
tween the Aguadores and San Juan.
Seeing a battalion Of the Sixteenth
coming to his support, Colonel Egbert
ordered his regiment forward in line Of
battle. Traversing grainfield, the Sixth
encountered heavy belt Of trees and
underground lining the high banks Of
the San Juan river. Taking Company
E, Captain Kennon, with him, the
colonel plunged into the stream. which
was waist deep, crossed, and beyond the
high bank found q road parallel to the
river and inclosed by barbed wire fences.
At signal from the colonel the rest Of
the regiment leaped down the bank,
waded the stream aud clambered mp the
opposite side through the underground,
all coming to halt ut the wire fence.
Captain Whitall, with part of the Six
teenth infantry also crossed and lined
up at the fence with the Sixth regi-
ment. The line as it then stood was o
prolongation Of the line on San Juan, or
Kettle" hill, which the cavalry after
ward carried, AS told in the last article.
The rest Of the Sixteenth regiment pass
ed some distance beyond the Sixth. on
its left and rear.
Colonel Egbert kept his regiment at
the road an hour, partially carrying
out Hawkins orders to enfilade the
enemy. His men were somewhat shell.
tered by a hedge and roadside ditch,
but from their position could only OBJ
tain IN ohliuua fro AGAINST tho hill In