Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1904-11-08

O-A Cf dE kOAD YIN
WHICH WE STOOD was another
hill surmounted by large painted
house. This is the hill SUISSE
QUENTLY captured by the cavalry
division and opposite to which their
lines extended, though they were not
in sight from the road.
"This was the first opportunity Of
fered to efficiently carry out General
Hawkins order to enfilade the San
Juan Hill, upon which my regiment
and the detachment of the Sixteenth
now opened a hot fire, to which the
trenches responded, and this CONTIN-
UED FOR AN HOUR. IL will be OBJ
served that except for Captain Whit
airs detachment of the Sixteenth THE
SIXTH WAS NOW ENTIRELY
ALONE IN its attack on the San Juan
Hill.
Here the Sixth remained, contend
ing with the hill FOR ABOUT AN
HOUR, but as we were particularly
hidden by the hedge and protected by
4 road trench (sunken road our cas-
ualties were not heavy. At the same
time was not satisfied with our po-
sition on the road, which, beiEg OBJ
liQue to the hill, gave only an oblique
and comparatively not effective fire.
1 Therefore concluded to advance the
regiment into the field of high grass
and weeds lying between our present
position and the San Juan blockhouse.
AS they drew nearer we dis
tinguished the tall hgure of General
Hawkins, with his aid, Lieutenant
Ord, Sixth Infantry, charging at the
head Of the skirmishers and waving
their hats. AS soon as this
could be stopped by signal the min
gled troops of the Sixth, Sixteenth,
Thirteenth and Twenty fourth swept
up and over the hill and it was won,
Captain Charles Byrne's Company +,
and Captain Kennon's Company Z, of
the Sixth, being among the foremost,
if not actually the very first, on the
summit"
Captain Whitall, of the Sixteenth IN
fantry, says in his report, page 2S5:
During the entire action, from the
time General Hawkins ordered my
company forward, / never received a
command from any one until after my
company had carried the colors to the
blockhouse, where it was the first flag
on the San Juan Hill. At the time of
my arrival at the blockhouse on the
crest of the hill could see no other
men there but those Of my company
and a few men from other companies
of the regiment"
Lieutenant Stedman, of the Six
teenth Infantry, says, in his official
report page 2S2): Il here ascertained
that the other companies of my battal-
ion We're to my left, IN THIS SUNK
EN- ROAD. l moved my company to
the left and went through an opening
in a wire fence, which had been cut
by Cuban, who was very prominent
in the first charge. This was about
thirty PAGES from the crossing of the
creek. This put me on the right of the
front line that started to make the
charge across this open space, the
companies consisting of A, d, E, G,
and G, Sixteenth Infantry.
Il led my company across this open
space some 600 yards, and the charge
was made directly in front of THE
trench occupied by the enemy. That
was a little. to the left of the block
house directly fronting us, and on the
crest of the hill, THE ONLY FORTI-
FLED FIELD WORKS near this
blockhouse."
Captain L. W. v. Kennon, of the
Sixth Infantry, says in his official re-
port page 2SS): "Our artillery fire hay-
ing ceased, Company E went up the
hill, and was the first organization of
our army to reach the summit and the
fort. A number of enlisted men of
other companies joined in the advance
and reached the crest with US. At this
time there were a few Spaniards in the
blockhouse and in The trenches to the
TANKS, but the greater part were in the
rear of the fort, retreating to position
in rear
General Kent says in his official re-
port page 1861: General Hawkins.