Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-17

was the one commander who wa
wounded while heroically accomplish
ing something on the slope of San JuaI
hill in front of the blockhouse Othe
officers fell that day and were heroic
but ii was not their fortune to get mucl
in return for their blood. Egbert LEI
his regiment, the Sixth United State
infantry, against the blockhouse alone
At the end Of a couple of hours he wa
wounded and carried from the field, bu
meanwhile he had occupied the atten
tion of the Spaniards in Fort San Juan
drawn their fire and enabled his mel
and his superiors also to study the veal
points in the stronghold, if weak point.
there were, and to reconnoiter the
ground leading up TO it.
Now that the colonel has become i'm
mortalized because his fate at Manila
has been more bloody than at San Juan
it is interesting to recall his report oi
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 well how things were not
done that day, but there is no need OF
excuse or apology over Colonel Egberi
and the Sixth. Colonel Egbert tells
naturally how his regiment had the
lead on the march to the San Juan
ford; that Spanish shells passed harm
lessly overhead. After awhile he caused
the men to remove their packs and lay
them beside the creek. Then said he,
''They stood ready for action with only
canteen, haversack, campaign hat, blue
shirt, canvas leggings, canvas trou-
sers and 200 rounds of ammunition per
man. Before reaching San Juan river
the infantry halted to give the cavalry
the right CT the road 1t 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 for
ward at once,
Pushing verything out of the way,
Colonel Egbert says. he led forward to
the ford OF the Aguadorres creek From
that point the commanders could get a
partial view of San Juan hill. Haw-
kins said 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 and was on the
brigade staff that day. This order Colo
mel Egbert calls the "keynote of the
desperate fight waged by the Sixth in
fantry against the San Juan intrench-
ments The stream in front was knee
deep, and Colonel Egbert dismounted
and walked through, followed by two
battalions of his troops. He walked
through because he thought some of the
men might pick dry fording places and
impede the column.
Across the stream the colonel soon
found the cavalry front and REINFORCED
its outposts. Spanish fire was then be-
ing directed upon the outposts from
buildings on the hills. The field in
front of the Sixth Colonel Egbert found
to be 500 yards across, covered with
tall grain and swept by Spanish fire ON
its exposed elevations. The regiment
was led across the field to heavy belt
of trees, and there was found the San
Juan flver flowing waist deep in rapid
current Colonel Egbert again took the
initiative with one company and recon-
noitered the ground beyond. He saw a
road at the base of San Juan hill and
the wire fence Enclosures between the
road and the hill trench At a signal
from the colonel the rest of the regi-
ment leaped down the bank into the
river and soon lined up along the barbed
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 Egg
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
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 l therefore
concluded to advance the regiment into
the field cf high grass and weeds lying
between our position and the San Juan
blockhouse. As we had no material for
cutting the stiff wire fence l availed |
myself of the service of a Caban negro |
soldier who had found his way alone.
into this place and who, with his ma
chete, cut quite a number cf openings.
l now advanced my regiment through
these openings some 80 PAGES and !
formed the line directly facing the hill |
at about $50 yards distance, where we |
opened a steady and concentrated fire
upon the Notifications.
Surely to the Spanish this was the
irst American attack of the day. Up |
to that hour they had simply fired from
long range at the Americans seen ad-
down the ROAD and trail to-
ward the fords. When Egbert crossed,
they hadn't even begun on the fords,
Colonel Egbert tells how the Spaniards
received this first attack. Says the re-
port: "This sustained fire from a force
partially hidden by the grass seemed
at first to stun the enemy. Their fire
and | began to entertain
high hopes. But the Spaniard is a foe
to be respected behind breastworks.
the blockhouse and trenches
burst out with cannon and musketry,
Al III l.