The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-15

Sketches Of the Chief Officers of the
Rough Riders.

NVo8n s>s~Ss~s
Before the test OF battle came q reg
ular army officer OF high rank predicted
that the regiment of Rough Riders
would not be as useful as the ordinary
volunteers. He admitted that they had
courage, but he was sure they would
not pay enough attention to orders. but
would want to fight independently. His
judgment was disproved by their be-
havior In battle. The record they have
made adds interest to the character OF
their leading spirits. A correspondent OF
the Chicago Record says that outward
ly two men less alike than these chiefs
OF the Rough Riders IL would be hard
to imagine. Gen. Wood is quiet and un-
demonstratiye, imperturbable beyond
any man have ever known. i used to
amuse myself sometimes trying TO con-
ceive OF some event or combination of
events, train OF disasters or flood OF
fortune that might excite him, but
never succeeded He has magnificent
physique. His chest is deep az that of
one of Du Chaillu's gorillas and his
shoulders remind one of the Farnese
Hercules. He is said to be the best boxer
in the army and the only white man who
can tire out an Apache Indian on the
trail. AT the landing of Baiquiri 1 saw
him helping soldiers TO land from the
sized man hesitated TO grasp the hand
extended to him, whereupon Wood
bent over. grabbed him by the collar
and lifted him out of the bodt rs easily
as though he had beep a kitten.
His military sagacity was first proved
in warfare against the Apaches. The
opportunity for distinction as tac-
tician i'm the present campaign has not
been great. but such as il has been, he
has made the most Of IL. He certainly
showed his talent for organization at
San Antonio. No detail was trivial in
his eyes. From reveille until long after
the bugles had sounded taps he was
constantly at work. and the light in his
tent was the last to be extinguished.
Throughout the day he was omnipres-
ent. his long. steady stride carrying
him from point to point. from troop TO
troop. watching, directing everything.
II he had reproof to administer he did
IL quietly, almost gently. but every
Rough Rider In the regiment seemed to
know intuitively that he was the last
man in the world TO be trifled with.
As he was at San Antonio SO he was
at La Quasina, moving through storm
of bullets from troop to troop, issuing
and then standing and looking thought
fully about him, his hands thrust in the
pockets OF his riding breeches. Roose-
welt, on the other hand. was all anima-
tion and eagerness. He was evidently
thinking of the "fifteen-foot pole" and
wishing to get to close quarters. He
never once forgot his duties as leader
but II was easy to see that he was long
ing to do something rather than order
1t done. Several times he stopped in
passing troop and pointed out a good
shot to the men. Once he began to d.
rect a troopers aim, but stopped half
way in his direction. Lend me your
~ 4 T. A.
laid his cheek lovingly on the breech
and pulled the trigger and little sput-
ter Of dust below a thicket on the op-
posite hillside followed the report. He
terked the breech pin back impatiently
and sent the cartridge shell flying out
"I'll try it again." he said. and threw
the gun to his shoulder. This time q
little patch of grayish white appeared
at the edge OF the thicket and stayed
there. II think 1 got him that time"
said the lieutenant colonel. showing his
white teeth pleasantly. All the time he
seemed to be Indifferent to personal
danger. Wood seemed absolutely un-
conscious OF II.
From the first to the last the two
commanders have worked together in
perfect harmony. Wood was the presid-
ing genius OF the camp of organization.
Roosevelt was learning to be and was
not afraid that some one would find 1t
out. One bond between them was their
intense pride In the regiment. Wood
declared one day that he would sooner
be it's colonel than commander-in-ch chief
and think he was perfectly sincere
Roosevelt has always been very proper
ly convinced that the American army s
the best in the world. and that the First
Volunteer Cavalry is the very finest
regiment in that army. The rest of the
officers have shared his opinion and the
men have known II and have felt a
place In its ranks to be q distinction far
beyond commissions In other regiments.
They all knew that great things were
expected of them.
They have been constantly and tact
fully impressed with the fact that to
accomplish great things they had to
submit to discipline. They were told
that no movement was to be made, that
no finger was to press the trigger with
out orders; that every evolution meant
something, that nothing that they were
being taught was in vain; and they un-
n