Question: what us president fought in the spanish american war

title: Spanish–American War
text: On July 1 , a combined force of about 15,000 American troops in regular infantry and cavalry regiments , including all four of the army 's `` Colored '' regiments , and volunteer regiments , among them Roosevelt and his `` Rough Riders '' , the 71st New York , the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry , and 1st North Carolina , and rebel Cuban forces attacked 1,270 entrenched Spaniards in dangerous Civil War - style frontal assaults at the Battle of El Caney and Battle of San Juan Hill outside of Santiago . More than 200 U.S. soldiers were killed and close to 1,200 wounded in the fighting , thanks to the high rate of fire the Spanish put down range at the Americans . Supporting fire by Gatling guns was critical to the success of the assault . Cervera decided to escape Santiago two days later . First Lieutenant John J. Pershing , nicknamed `` Black Jack '' , oversaw the 10th Cavalry Unit during the war . Pershing and his unit fought in the Battle of San Juan Hill . Pershing was cited for his gallantry during the battle .