Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-26

OF the plan Of battle, be uecIuo4, L
developments as advised by General
Skaters aid-de-canp. The fire was still
hot around the ford, and, placing his
men under cover, he staid till / o'clock,
when Colonel McDerby further in.
structed him by Skaters express order
to turn over one gun to Lieutenant
Miley of the corps staff and take the
Others forward beyond the ford, where
the dynamite gun is, and 60 into action
at the best point you can find" At that
hour the whole line beyond San Juan
river had been developed by the caval-
ry, and the brigades of Hawkins and
Wikotf, tho 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
o toward the fort, which still belched
fire in all directions and s%tubbornly re-
sisted the assaults upon it. Said he to
Captain Boughton of the Third cavalry:
"Show me a Spaniard. l 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 the 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 W story Of what followed
is very modest, what might be looked
for in the narrative of a hero telling Of
his own exploits. He says:
The battery opened at ranges Of COO to 500
yards at :l5 p. IN. TIL enemy at first con
oentrated his fire upon US, but soon weakened.
and in five minutes was clambering from his
trenches and running to tho rear. We fred as
rapidly as possible upon the groups thus pre-
scented until | saw n white handkerchief waved
by one OF my own regiments, the Thirteenth
infantry, and at the same time Captain Ian
dis, First cavalry, said Better stop. Our
own men are climbing the ridge" | ordered
the fire to cease ut l :231b p. m, and "A moment
later saw our own troops were within $50
yards OF the eneny's trench, occupying the
crest Of the hill. The firing had beer. contin
ued by the battery until our own troops were
within $50 yards Of the enemy's trench, "A fact
made possible by the steep slope Of the hill
upon which he enemy had been.
AT the time my battery went into action l
had no support, and the position ! took was at
least 100 yards in front Of any of our troops
along this part Of the line. The infantry and
cavalry had been pounding away for two
hours on these positions, and in 81? minutes aft
or the Gatlings opened the works were ours.
Inspired by the friendly rattle Of the machine
guns, our own troops rose to the charge, while
the enemy, amazed by our sudden and tire
mendous increase of fire, first diverted his fire
to my battery, and then, unable to withstand
the hail of bullets, broke madly from his safe
trenches and was mercilessly cut by fire from
these guns during his flight.
Although San Juan hill and fort had
fallen, triumph was by no means as
sured. The Spaniards had simply fallen
back to a second line, and from there
they opened a fearful fire upon the
Americans around their old trenches.
This was taken by the wise heads as
the precursor of a countercharge. Park
er at once moved his guns forward at a
gallop and Joined the skirmish line on
the very crest. In order to get room for
his G%atlings, he compelled the cavalry
skirmishers 10 give way right and left,
and, being shorthanded from loss Of
men, impressed soldiers of other com.
mands to help work the pieces.
The Spanish counteroharge at San
Juan hill didn't take place. Parker
raked every hiding spot with bullets
for some time. About 4 O'Clock a force
Of Spaniards numbering 400 came into
view off to the right of the road where
Parker was, apparently aiming at ths
salient in front Of the cavalry. The
range watabout 600 yards, and after a
few revolutions of the bullet sifters the
enemy disappeared. At shutdown there