The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-01

| >NS.$J7& -s2l~ | IilstuS4 lle elses4s
-''''-'------1 of the few so
noticeable. When looking for the I'M
exploited heroes at Camp WilscT,
ran upon the story of Major William
iAuman of the Thirteenth regulars.
The dash OF Lieutenant Anderson's
handful to the top of the crest ahead
of all the rest and the seizure Of the
Spanish flag by this band seemed to
i'll the measure of glory for the regi-
mont. After noting it down from An
derson's lips | was prepared to leave
camp, when the colonel said: Il hope
you won't overlook Major Auman. He
was q great i;sere in the crisis OF the
charge"
Aunan is civil war veteran anG q
soldier OF striking appearance. He was
second in command in the early part
Of the attack upon San Juan hill. The
Thirteenth dashed direct upon the
blockhouse at 8 time when its defend
ers were stirred up TO stubborn de-
Tense. The Americans had been aim.
ing at the stronghold for over two
hours, and the Sixth Infantry, support
ed by the Sixteenth, were halted on
the slope to the right OF the Thir-
teenth, the latter having an ACTIVITY
in front with Il steepness of so degrees.
For few minutes the regiment lay
Oh the slope and fired at the Spaniarls
in the trenches at the biockhouse. The
artillers' was also pounding at the
same target, and finally Parker's Cat
hngs swept the position with n terrible
fire Just how seriously the enemy
was harmed 10y this storm of shot has
never been told, but there was a sign
Of confusion in their lines, with men
running back from the front In the
heat of battle it is Impossible to tell
wien an enemy has had fatal blow.
But Major Amman took the chances
that the hoEl had come to charge, and
rose up in front of the fort, in full view
of his men and shouted: THE Span
isrds are running, boys! Forward,
sEEiiilrteeHtsi,,''
The regiment shot forward like a
fhunderbolr. clinching the victory II
not winning it. But that was not the
sole end accomplished ~ Aumans
timely action. His form c7nlii be seen
along the line of two lsiies s:es, end
his voice reached officer SOD men Of
other regiments. They t'e,lared aft
onward that it was tiGqiy; for they
had about come to the cecision that
the fort could not he carried by i!ls
force then In front Of H. ANu is
speech was o bracer, ard the rus q
the Thirteenth under his lead wa FOL
lowed by the charge of four more gi
ments, two on each flank. Then "a!
Juan blockhouse fell
1t is difficult sometimes to say H@
what stroke decides q battle. but rhe
rush forward of the Thirteenth i;si4el
Major Auman's lead seems to have
carried the day. IL not actually
slaughtered and driven out by Parker
Calling fire, the Spaniards We're terri
bly, scared end made precipitate re
treat. They soon gave Indications tina
they regretted their haste.
Major Auman learned the art O,
fighting when he was boy. He enlist
ed so promptly in 1861 that he wen
to the front among the famous 'sF'irs
Defenders of Washington. After sery
! ing with galiantry -four years he wa
appointed lieutenant in the regua
army and took a course fighting In
dams on the plains. Another mciden
at San Juan fort Illustrates the powe
OF individual courage at. the =
time. A soldier in the Rooseve' nos
s pital, New York, George ]. Iiaaion o
the Seventy first, describing his ex
periences in the Charge, said:
with the Thirteenth regulars When We reache
the top, some Of us took shelter in the bIocl
house and began firing from there al tlH opposit
hills. There wasn't Of the eneni. in sigh
only dead ones, SO we blazed away at n5thing q
all for awhile But they had Us de.ld in rang.
and it was no dream the way tleir bullets Elaye
around US.
One of the bravcst things saw in the wa
happened right there. An officer came up-h
was a major OF the regulars. but don't kno,
what reaiment--nnd he saw that We Didn't kno
what to aim at and were getting a little ra'
tied So what did he do but quietly walk out 4
front where the Mausers were coming tniekes
and proceed to study the hills with bis ieidgla:
as unconcetned as you please And every nor
and then he would call osit to us who were IL
side, Men, fix your range at 800 yards and swee
the grass of the ridge of thnt hill" again
fesien, see spanaIds oyer there Try 1,01
yard range and see if you can't get some of then
Fire low" never such nerve as that oil
Ger had. He d have stirred courage in anybody.
Hanlon told two stories of ugl
wounds sustained by his comrades Il
the blockhouse from bullets fire,
through the small window. and til
question was natural one rs to TIL
fate Of the brave major outside Tn
second conrade wounded was BIO,
Of 20, In the Thirteenth, and Ianlol
went out to call Red Cross man t
attend him. He found one bendin;
over a PROSTATE form ON the ground
1t proved to be that OF the major. II
was shot through the heart.
OF unknown heroes there were not
few at Santiago. Hanlon says thatth