St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-01-11

OF tie plan of battle, be decided to ava
: developments as advised by Genera
Skaters aid-de-camp. The fire was sti
hot around the ford, and, placing hi
men under cover, he staid till | O'Clock
when Colonel McDerby further in
structed him by Skaters express orde
to turn over one gun to Lieutenan
Miley Of the corps staff and take th
others forward beyond the ford, wber'
the dynamite gun is, and go into actor
at the best point you can find. " At thai
hour the whole line beyond San Juai
river had been developed by the caval.
ny, and the brigades of Hawkins and
Wikoff, the latter being deployed in
front Of Fort San Juan.
The Gatlings were drawn by mules
and after crossing Parker kept in the
main road, which ran between the fort
and the hill which the cavalry attacked.
This road was between the two attack.
ing columns and free from troops. After
crossing Parker caught up with some
cavalry officers accommodating on the
road toward the fort, which still belched
fire in all directions and stubbornly re-
sisted the assaults upon it. Said he tc
Captain Boughton of the Third cavalry
"Show me Spanard. have been all
the morning looking for them and
haven't caught sight of one yet" Guild.
ing the young soldier toward the fringe
of trees lining tho road, the captain
pointed out the fort and trenches which
the men of Wikoff's and Hawkins
brigades were trying to silence, saying,
There are Spaniards in plenty"
Parker's own story of what followed
is very modest, what might be looked
for in the narrative of hero telling of
his own exploits. He says:
The battery opened at ranges of 600 to 800 |
yards at :l5 p. III. The enemy at first con
centratcd his fire upon u.s. but soon weakened,
and in five minutes was clambering from his
trenches and running to the rear. We fired as
rapidly as possible upon the groups thus pre-
sented until | saw a white handkerchief waved
by one Of my own regiments, the Thirteenth
infantry, md at the same time Captain Ian
dis, First cavalry, said: "Better stop. Our
own men nre climbing the ridge. ordered
the fire to cease ut :23l2 p. m, and moment
later saw our own troops were within lN
yards Of the enemys trench, occupying the
crest Of the hill. The firing had been coutin
ued by the battery until our own troops were
within $50 yards Of the enemy's TRENCH n fact
made possible by the steep slope Of the hill
upon which he enemy had been
At the time my battery went into action
had no support, and the position | took was at
east 100 yurds in front of any of our troops
along this part of the line. The infantry and
'avalry had been pounding away for two
iours on these positions, and in 81 minutes aft
n the Gatlings opened the works were ours
inspired by he friendly rattle of the machine
uns, our own troops rose TO the charge while
he enemy, amazed by our sudden and tire
nendous increase of fire. first diverted his fire
o my battery, and then, unable to withstand
he hail Of bullets, broke madly from his safe
renches and was mercilessy cut by fire from
hose guns during his fight.
Although San Juan hill and fort had
allen, triumph was by no means as
ured. The Spaniards had simply fallen
ack to second line, and from there
hey opened fearful fire upon the
americans around their old trenches.
his was taken by the wise heads as
ne precursor Of countercbarge. Park
r at once moved his guns forward at
allop and joined the skirmisb line OIL
he very crest. In order to get room FOR
is Gatlings, he compelled the cavalry =
to give way right and left, ,
nd, being shorthanded from loss of :
EN-, impressed soldiers of other com =
ands to help work the pieces
The Spanish countercharge at San j.,
IAN hill didn't take place. Parker =
ked every hiding spot with bullets ~
T some time. About o'clock force !,
Spaniards numbering 400 came into .
ew off to the right of the road where -
arker was, apparently aiming at the q
lient in front of the cavalry. The o
nge was about 600 yards, and after E,
w revolutions of the bullet sifters the !.
lemy disappeared. At shutdown there =,