The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-03

Hawkins brigade came first through the jungle
which was sucl tax upon their endurance. was not
accident any superior excellence Of the men. but
sumpy the fact that. owing TO q good uight's rest
which none of the others who were competing for
the advance through the jungle had enjoyed, they
were IN better physical condition,
But about the battle, It was on early
the next morning and Gen. Sumner stood
at the point which came TO be known as
the bloody angle" and as fast as his
troops came up ne extended them out to
his right. The losses on the American
side began 10 be very heavy indeed. in
spite Of the fact that every precaution
was taken to keep the men under cover
Gen. Kent's order had been from Nc
Clearand, acknowledgement at FL Pozo. to
advance two miles toward Santiago and
there to bivouac. Under the circUm-
stances the orders were fmpracucable.
The cavalry division blocked the trail
when Gen. Hawkins came up with his
staff This was composed of LieUts. Ord
and Niche, Of the regulars, who were
both killed and of Capt Manning, Of the
Third Ohio Cavalry. and Capt Horton.
of the Second District Of Columbia. Capt
Manning. while trying TO bring into action
the Seventy-first New York, was severely
hurt by his horse falling on him. Capt.
Horton, like his chief, came through I'M
hurt.
When Gen. Hawkins came 10 through
the confusion 1t was evident that some
thing had TO be done. A reconnaissance
discovered the San Juan fort. and then a
conference was held. Gen. Hawkins de
claIed bluntly that in his judgment. the
question Of carrying the heights was 40
longer q question as TO whether the orders
received from headquarters authorized
them to make the attack or not. but in
his opinion the attack had become an i'm
perative necessity for the salvation OF the
troops who could not be expected TO wan
der about blindly all day in a jungle.
losing heavily under the whitening fire Of
an invisible enemy. The only question TO
be considered was whether our men could
capture the hin and hold it long enough
to extricate the two divisions from the
dangerous position in which they We're
involved.
Col Mney. Of Gen. Skaters staff. who
had listened with close interest to Gen.
Hawkins careful statement of the crit
cal situation. turned to Gen. Kent and
said:
Il am entirely of the opinion of Gen.
Hawkins. and I WILL if you have no OBJ
lection. in the name of Gen. Shafter, and
with his authority, direct Gen. Hawkins
to advance with his brigade and capture
the blockhOuse."
Gen. Kent had not the slightest objec-
ton; he fully approved Of the movement
recognizing. as he did, the necessity Of
some such heroic exoedient as this to re
lieve the strain of the situation. and, if
possible, to turn the tide Of battle in our
favor
Of course. in the jungle, anything like
regular formation was out of the ques-
ton The men could not see twenty
yards ahead of them. men of the same
troops and companies got lost. and the
columns We're mixed in inextricable con
fusion. Each man went ahead as best he
could and the best man was the man
who made the most progress. Now and
again half a dozen men would disappear.
having fallen into a little barranca COW
cred with leaves and vines, and now and
then she'll came tearing through the
Scrub-oak. causing terrible havoc
Once the color-bearers got into the open
the cry went up and down the line,
Dress by the colors, boys; dress by the
coIorsr"
When the men got to the San Juan
River the losses began to be very heavy
Many of the men had narrow oscar
from drowning. Gen Hawkins and his
staff were fortunate enough to be able TO
cross on tree, and once on the other
side, he reached glade where he halted