right through a thick jungle, the balloon that was in use for purposes of reconnoitering, came up the road and exposed itself to the full view of the Spaniards upon the heights.  They needed no further invitation to direct toward our forces their artillery, for which the balloon became a flying target.  Many officers and men were wounded here by exploding shells and small arms’ fire of the enemy (Sumner).  Under this fire, however, the troops were deployed as ordered.

Colonel Wood, who had charge of the Second Brigade, of which the Rough Riders were the leading regiment, says this “regiment was directed to change direction to the right, and by moving up the creek to effect a junction with General Lawton’s division, which was engaged at Caney, about one and a-half miles toward the right, but was supposed to be working toward our right flank.  After proceeding in this direction about half a mile the effort to connect with General Lawton was given up.”  This movement to the right took place between ten and eleven o’clock, at which time Lawton’s forces had made no impression upon El Caney, and he was far from making any movement which might be described as working toward the right flank of the Cavalry Division.  Lawton was not found by that half-hour’s search to the right; and it was evident that something must be done by these troops in front, and done quickly.  The whole division was under fire, and the battle on the Spanish side was in actual progress.  True our men were hidden away in the jungle that bordered the creek, but their position was known to the Spaniards, and leaves and boughs are no cover from shot and shell.  They were receiving the fire of the enemy and making no reply whatever, save by the few ineffective shots from the far away battery on El Poso Hill.

Directly in front of the cavalry division was a little hill occupied by a Spanish force.  This hill is called in General Wood’s report East Hill, but in the literature of the battle it is usually mentioned as Kettle Hill.  The fire in part was coming from here.  Colonel Wood gives another report of the morning’s experience in which he says:  “The brigade moved down the road toward Santiago in rear of the First Brigade, with instructions to deploy to the right after crossing the San Juan, and continue to extend to the right, reaching out toward General Lawton’s left and holding ourselves in rear of the First Brigade as a support.  On reaching the stream the First Volunteer Cavalry, which was in the lead, crossed the stream with comparatively slight loss and deployed to the right in good order, but at this time a captive balloon was led down the road in which the troops were massed, and finally anchored at the crossing of the stream.  The approach and anchoring of this balloon served to indicate the line of approach of the troops and to locate the ford, and the result was a terrific converging of artillery and rifle fire on the ford, which resulted in severe loss of men.  Under this fire the First United