The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-10-06

Now that the public has given vent
to it's feeling of pride and exultation in
the achievements Of Col. Roosevelt, Gen
Wheeler, the Rough Riders and the
list New York, and Alabama and New
York have honored Wheeler and RoOse-
Welt with political preference, there is
a lull in which the mind of the public
reverts to a acalm, unimpassioned re-
view of Ithe past few months. In this
retrospect the regulars occupy very
conspicuous place, and there arises the
suspicion that possibly, in the first
spasm of enthusiasm over the heroism
of the volunteers, the regulars have
been grossly neglected. 1t appears on
close inspection that General Kent of
the regular army had probably more to
do with the final capitulation OF Santi-
ago than any other one man. A writ II
in Harper's Weekly points out that it
was General Kent who had entire
command of the second, sixth, ninth,
tenth, thirteenth, sixteenth, twenty
first and twenty four regiments of
regular infantry, who, with the assist
ance of the first, third, sixth and ninth
cavalry were the men who took San
Juan Hill. General Kent made him
self conspicuous throughout the fight
by his gallantry in leading the men on
in the terrible charge. 1t was the
regulars under his command who took
the hill, and the thirteenth regiment
who seized the colors. Moreover Gen
eral Kent had more men under his
command than Admiral Dewey, faced
deadlier fire from the enemies guns,
displayed more bravery, and secured
such an important position before San
tiago as to necessitate the Spanish
fleets leaving the harbor. NOtwith-
sta nding this we hear not word of
either tho gallant general or the brave
boys under his command
Why has this been so? 1t is prob
ably due to the fact that COL Roosevelt,
the Rough Riders and the list New
York were volunteers. They were
made up of MEN who dropped the
peaceful pursuits Of private life to try
the hazards of war. Many of them
were from the most prominent families
of New York, leaving their listless clu0
life of New York swells, and homes Of
wealth and luxury for the vicissitudes
of an arduous campaign. Col. Roose-
welt himself was a conspicuous public
man before he resigned his government
position to fight for his country.
Moreover the variegated composition
and startling name Of the Rough Rid
ers was calculated to attract public
attention. In their ranks the tenderly
nurtured child of metropolitan wealth
and refinement stood shoulder to
shoulder with the hardy, uncooth
pIOOQCG VI Jul "OSbCAA pAolL1O anu
mountains. With the regulars, how
ever, it was all in the course Of events
in their every day life. 1t was like a
change of camping place. They
obeyed orders in their usual way and
without noise or commotion strapped
on their knapsacks and cartridge belts,
shouldered their rifles and took their
position at the front. There was no
enlisting, no getting ready, no breaking
of home ties. 1t was only the grateful
interruption of a monotonous routine
which the fight provided for the camp
tired regular. Under these circum
stances there is little wonder that the
volunteers received the bulk of the
newspaper notice and public praise
When the cool, studious historian tells
the tale, however, the regulars will be
given their full need of glory and the
United States will feel a great pride in
the conduct of it's regular army.