The General has much to say of a pleasing personal nature.

The report of General Kent is of extraordinary merit for the exact detail and local color.  Colonel McClernand, he says, “pointed out to me a green hill in the distance which was to be my objective on my left,” and as he moved into action, “I proceeded to join the head of my division, just coming under heavy fire.  Approaching the First Brigade I directed them to move alongside the cavalry (which was halted).  We were already suffering losses caused by the balloon near by attracting fire and disclosing our position.

“The enemy’s infantry fire, steadily increasing in intensity, now came from all directions, not only from the front and the dense tropical thickets on our flanks, but from sharpshooters thickly posted in trees in our rear, and from shrapnel apparently aimed at the balloon.  Lieutenant-Colonel Derby, of General Shafter’s staff, met me about this time and informed me that a trail or narrow way had been discovered from the balloon a short distance back leading to the left to a ford lower down the stream.  I hastened to the forks made by this road, and soon after the Seventy-first New York Regiment of Hawkins’ brigade came up.  I turned them into the by path indicated by Lieutenant-Colonel Derby, leading to the lower ford, sending word to General Hawkins of this movement.  This would have speedily delivered them in their proper place on the left of their brigade, but under the galling fire of the enemy the leading battalion of this regiment was thrown into confusion and recoiled in disorder on the troops in the rear.”

The Second and Third Battalions “came up in better order,” but there was some delay, and General Kent says: 

“I had received orders some time before to keep in rear of the cavalry division.  Their advance was much delayed, resulting in frequent halts, presumably to drop their blanket rolls and due to the natural delay in fording a stream.  These delays under such a hot fire grew exceedingly irksome, and I therefore pushed the head of my division as quickly as I could toward the river in column files of twos parallel in the narrow way by the cavalry.  This quickened the forward movement and enabled me to get into position as speedily as possible for the attack.  Owing to the congested condition of the road, the progress of the narrow columns was, however, painfully slow.  I again sent a staff officer at a gallop to urge forward the troops in rear.”

The Second Brigade and Third “moved toward Fort San Juan, sweeping through a zone of most destructive fire, scaling a steep and difficult hill, and assisting in capturing the enemy’s strong position (Fort San Juan) at 1:30 p.m.  This crest was about 125 feet above the general level, and was defended by deep trenches and a loop-holed brick fort surrounded by barbed-wire entanglements.”