and deployed to the right, reaching beyond the Spanish lines in that direction, or at least it was able to reach the extreme right of the enemy.  The Sixth Infantry continued this line southward and it was to be farther extended by the Sixteenth.  Before this disposition could be effected the fire of the enemy became so severe that an advance movement was started and the Sixth lined up facing the fort on the hill, with only one company and a half of the Sixteenth on its left.

While Hawkins’ and Wikoff’s brigades were preparing for the advance upon the enemy’s works, Pearson’s brigade was approaching the ford, hurrying to the support.  The Twenty-first Regiment of this brigade was detached from the brigade and sent directly forward on the main trail with orders to re-enforce the firing line.  This regiment crossed the San Juan River to the left of the main ford and rushed forward to support Hawkins’ left.  In the meantime the two other regiments of the brigade, the Second and Tenth, which had preceded the Twenty-first in their march from El Poso, had been deflected to the left by order of the division commander and were passing to the front over the trail previously taken by Wikoff’s brigade, crossing the San Juan at the lower ford.  The Tenth crossed in advance and formed in close order on the opposite side of the stream, its line facing northwest.  It was soon after, however, put in battle formation and moved to the right until it connected with the Twenty-first.  The Second Regiment crossed the ford in the rear of the Tenth, having been delayed considerably by the Seventh-first New York Volunteers, who still blocked the way between the forks and the lower ford.  After crossing the ford the Second put itself in line on the left of the Tenth, the whole brigade being now in position to support the First and Third Brigades in their charge.

This movement of Colonel Pearson’s brigade had not been made without hardship and loss.  All of the regiments came under the enemy’s fire before reaching the San Juan River and many men were killed or wounded while the regiments were gaining their positions.  The movement was so well executed as to call forth from the division commander the following enconium:  “I observed this movement from the Fort San Juan Hill.  Colonel E.P.  Pearson, Tenth Infantry, commanding the Second Brigade, and the officers and troops under his command deserve great credit for the soldierly manner in which this movement was executed.”

Although we left Wikoff’s brigade standing in line on the left of the lower ford, we must not imagine that it remained in that position until the above movement on the part of the Second Brigade had been accomplished.  There was no standing still in the fierce fire to which the men of that brigade were at that time subjected—­a fire which had already cut down in rapid succession three brigade commanders.  The formation was no sooner completed than the rapid advance began.  The Thirteenth