Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-02-23

due north of the blockhouse where
there was house with outbuildings
and trenches, all used by the Spaniards
for cover. The cavalrymen say that
some time after they reached this point,
which was known to them as San Juan
House, they heard heavy firing at the
blockhouse. This led them to suppose
that the blockhouse had not yet fallen
when they reached the crest of the
ridge. However, the infantry said that
they fred from the captured blockhouse
and vicinity upon the retreating Span
iards and at their second line. Many
gallant fellows Of Wikoff's and Haw-
kins' brigades fell after the blockhouse
was in the possession of the Americans.
Among these was Lieutenant Ord of
Hawkins staff, who broke away from
his leader in order to 60 in with the
men Of his own regiment, the Sixteenth.
Ord's conduct that day was heroic, his
death most tragic. When the brigade
was at the creek, deploying for the at
tack, he had said by way Of encourage
ment, lyon can take it in 80 minutes.
Major Forse Of the First cavalry, who
went forward with his battalion after
the capture Of "Kettle" hill, was also
killed.
The infantry reformed lines at the
blockhouse and took position to resist
counter attack, which little later was
threatened from the Spaniards in front.
The blockhouse was brick building,
loopholed, with trenches Oh each flank
and in front West Of it, toward Santi
ago, the ground falls into deep depres-
sion. Six hundred yards westward, on
both sides of the main road to Santiago,
the Spanish had strong works On the
American right and left Of this depres
sion the heights are abrupt, and pos
session Of these was essential to the
holding of the blockhouse as well as of
Kettle" hill, because the heights on
the American right Of the blockhouse
itself are higher than "Kettle" hill.
As soon as the cavalry took possession
Of Kettle" hill, as already described,
many of the soldiers had rushed for.
ward to the west crest and opened with
their carbines upon the Spaniards
around the heights in front. Majors
and captains got their battalions and
troops together and with cheer charged
forward. Two troops Of the Third cav
airy, led by Major Vessels, Captains
Morton, Hunter and Morgan, dashed
straight for the building known as the
San Juan House. The Ninth and Tenth
cavalry, with part of the rough riders,
seemed to strike for the house, but
owing to obstrucsiOns the line became
mixed. On this charge there were some
casualties. Captain Bigelow and Lieu
tenant Roberts Of the Tenth were wound
ed in charging down from "Kettle" hill
into the swale, and Captain Mccoy
" as wounded in ascending the ridge. |
Captain O'Neil, of the rough riders, was
killed. Soon after reaching the house
Major Vessels and Captain Hunter of
the Third were hit. The fall of Major
Vessels left the command of the regi-
ment in the hands of Captain Morton.
Troops I and b, under Boughton and
Dugan, coming up from San Juan block
house, Joined, and Morton pushed for
ward 265 yards to the crest OF the ridge. |
The Ninth and part of the rough riders
were off to the right of that point, and
Captain Galbraith, with Lieutenant
Berkeley and two troops Of the First
cavalry, was also there.
The Sixth cavalry had kept in touch
with the infantry all the way up the
hill to San Juan blockhouse, and, reach
ing the crest, was ON the left Of the
Tenth. Thus the cavalry had a strong
line upon the highest part of the ridge
extending from the Santiago road north
ward toward the Ell Caney road, ready
to form connection with Lawton's left,
according to plan. These troops imme-
diately began intrenching, some using
tin plates and fingers, and others, es-
pecially the Tenth cavalry, tools brought
along on their backs. The right of the
line was under fire from a blockhouse
off toward the FL Caney road. Parker
took his guns up the hill, and, under
the direction of cavalry officers, used
them with good effect. II was believed
at tha TINA that the Standards wera