But we speedily had to abandon any thought of carrying it out.

The maneuver brought us within fair range of the Spanish intrenchments along the line of hills which we called the San Juan Hills, because on one of them was the San Juan blockhouse.

On that day my regiment had the lead of the second brigade, and we marched down the trail following in trace behind the first brigade.

Apparently the Spaniards could not make up their minds what to do as the three regular regiments of the first brigade crossed and defiled along the other bank of the stream, but when our regiment was crossing they began to fire at us.
Under this flank fire it soon became impossible to continue the march.
The first brigade halted, deployed, and finally began to fire back.

Then our brigade was halted.