- Jacob Ford Kent
Jacob Ford Kent (1835-1918) was a
United States general during theSpanish-American War .Kent was born in 1835 in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended thUnited States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1861 and served in the Union army during the Civil War. He also served in the regular army during theIndian Wars .In May, 1898 he was appointed
brigadier general of volunteers and assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division, V Corps destined forCuba . His forces landed atDaiquiri and at theBattle of San Juan Hill his division led the main attack onSan Juan Hill while theRough Riders led the attack on nearbyKettle Hill . Kent's division sustained heavy casualties during the assault.Hamilton S. Hawkins , commanding the 1st Brigade was severely wounded. ColonelCharles A. Wikoff , commanding the 3rd Brigade was killed and within half an hour 3 more officers were to assume command of the brigade. However U.S. forces took the heights and Kent's division participated in the subsequentSiege of Santiago . He was appointedbrigadier general in the regular army in October, 1898. He was transferred to thePhilippines where he briefly served before he retired late in 1898. He died in 1918.
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