The Denison review., 1899-06-16

fh M.IEySlslQ age Of the Amer
II yIIlW s[slIlS& ican people sas
f-A MgINSbYEL< they long had
Tx MIIE&fNH been Of the army,
L. -z-------- Colonel Egbert
was the one commander who was
wounded while heroically accomplish
Ing something on the slope of San Juan
hill in front of the blockhouse. Other
officers fell that day and were heroic,
but it was not their fortune to get much
in return for their blood. Egbert led
his regiment, the Sixth United States
infantry. against the blockhouse alone
At the end Of couple Of hours he. was
wounded and carried from the field, but
meanwhile he had occupied the atten.
tion of the Spaniards in FortiSan Juan,
drawn their fire and enabled his men
and his superiors also to study the weak
points in the stronghold, if weak points
there were, and to reconnoiter the
ground leading up to it. ipshsst
| Now that the colonel has become inns
mortalized because his fate at Manila
has been more bloody than at San Juan.
1t is interesting to recall his report ot
that battle. the last story Of battle from
his lips or pen. Egbert commanded the
Sixth infantry at San Juan hill IN the
brigade with the Sixteenth and the
Seventy first New York. The public
knows too we'll how things were not
done that day, but there is no need Of
excuse or apology over Colonel Egbert
and the Sixth. Colonel Egbert tells
naturally how his regiment had the
lead on the march to the San aJnan.
ford; that Spanish shells passed harms
lessly overhead. After awhile he caused
the men to remove their packs and lay
them beside the creek. Then said ihe,
"They stood ready for action withioniy
canteen. haversack, campaign hat, blue
shirt. canvas leggings, canvas trou-
sers and 900 rounds of ammunition Der
man." Before reaching San Juan river
the infantry halted to give the cavalry
the right of the road. It was late IN the
morning, the valley was shut in, and
it was very hot. An aid came back
from the front and brought word that
/ Colonel Hawkins. the brigade COM
mander. wished the Sixth moved fofs
ward at once. a., ,, HI
Pushing everything out Of the way.
Colonel Fgbert says. he led forward 70
the ford of the Aguadorres creek. From
that point the commanders could get 4
partial view Of San Juan hill. Haw-
kins eaid to Egbert, Somewhat be-
yond here you can get an enfilade fire
on those works, and Lieutenant Ord
will show you where to go In. = Ord
belonged to the Sixth andiswas on; the
brigade staff that day. This order Oolo,
,nel Egbert calls, the keynote Of tie
desperate fight waged, BY the Sixth in
fantry against the San Juan intrench..
mente- /" The stream in front was knee
deep. and Colonel Egbert djsmounted
and walked through. followed sby two
battalions Of his troops. He walked
through because he thought some Of tie
men might pick dry fording places and
impede the column. ,,..,s.....
| Across the stream the colonel soon
found the cavalry front and re-enforced
its outposts. Spanish fire was then bs- be.
ing. directed upon the outposts from
buildings on the hills. The field, in
front of the Sixth Colonel Egbert found
to be 800 yards across, covered. with
tall grain and swept by Spanish fire On d,
its exposed elevations. The regiment
was led across the field to heavy belt
Of trees, and there was found the. San
Juan river flowing waist deep in rapid
current. Colonel Egbert again took the
initiative with one company and recon
noitered the ground beyond. He saw; i
road at the base Of San Juan ihilli.an,3
the wire fence Enclosures between the
road and the hill trench. At signal
from the colonel the rest of the Yegi-
ment leaped down the bank into the
river and soon lined up along the barbesl
wire fence. A hot fire was opened on
the Spanish works, and this was far
ahead Of the cavalry attack on the first
hill. so often called the first attack on
the Spanish at San Juan.
Here the Sixth, says Colonel Eg.
bert, remained contending with the
hill for about an hour, but, as we were
partially hidden by the hedge and pro-
tected by the road trench, our casual
ties were not heavy; at the same time
1 was not satisfied with our position On
the road. which, being oblique to the
hill. gave only an oblique and compara-
lively not an effective fire. therefore
concluded to advance the regiment into
the field Of high grass and weeds Wing
between our position and the San Juan
blockhouse. AS we had no material for
cutting the stiff wire fence ayailed
myself OF the service Of Cuban neaso