The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-23
FIGHT At Fl P0S0 HILL
Roossvsltis Report of Operations
In Front OF Santiago.
MEN ACTED LIKE HEROES
Bvsn the Wounded Could Not Be Kept
From the Firing Line-The Sol
disrs Suffered From
Lack OF Food.

Washington. Dec. 22.-The war de-
psrsment to-day made public w re-
ports of Colonel Roosevelt on the fights
of the LIST u. s. volunteer cavalry
trough riders) in front OF Santiago. one
Is addressed to Colonel Wood. COM
manding. M the second is to Briga-
der General Wood. after Colonel
Roosevelt took command OF the regi-
ment. The war department has hith-
erto refused to make the reports pub
lie. The second and more important re-
port Is as follows:
Camp Hamilton, near Santiago.
July 20, 1sss.-Brigadier General Wood.
Commanding Second brigade Cavalry
Division: Sir-In obedience TO your d.
rections. ! herewith report on the oper-
ations of my regiment from the list to
h 18th instant inclusive. As l have
already mad you two reports about
the first days operations. l shall pass
them over rather briefly.
On the morning OF the first day my
regiment was formed at he head of a
secon brigade. by the FL Poso sugar
mill. When the batteries opened the
S~paniards replied to us with s%hrapnel.
which killed and wounded several of M
men. We then marched toward the
right and my regiment crossed the ford
before the balloon came down and at
tracted the fire OF the enemy. so at that
point we lost no one. Ny orders had
been to march forward until 1 Joined
General Lawton's left wing. but after
coins about three-quarters OF a mile l
was halted and told to remain in re-
serve near the creek by a deep lake.
The bullets dropped thick among us
for the next hour. while We lay there
and many OF my men were killed or
--A.AAl Ar.An. fhA nrpaA hAfnU INnn-
tain O'Neil. whose loss was a very
heavy blow TO the regiment. for he was
q sfngularly gallant and efficient officer.
Acting Lieutenant Haskell was also
shot at this time. He showed the ut
most courage and had been of great use
during the fighting and marching. II
seemed to me some action should be ia
ken about him. You then sent me word
TO move W in support OF the reg
ular cavalry. and / advanced the regi-
ment in column of companies. each
company deployed as skirmishers. We
moved through several skirmish lines
of the regiment ahead of US. as IL SEEM
ed to me n only chance was i'm rush
ing the entertainments In front Instead
of firing at them from a distance. Ac-
cordingly we charged the lockhouse
and entertainments on the hill TO our
right against n heavy fire. Ii was TIA
ken in good style. the men of my regi-
ment thus being the first TO capture any
fortified position and to break through
the Spanish line. The guidons OF G n
T. troops were first at this point, but
some of the men of A and y troops
were with me personally n got in
ahead Of them. At the last wire fence
up this hill I was obligea To abandon
my horse and after hat went on foot.
After capturing this hill we first OF
all directed a heavy fire upon the san
Juan hill TO our left. which was at the
time being assailed by the regular in
fantry and cavalry supported by Cap
tain Parker's Calling gun BY the
time San Juan was taken a large force
had assembled on the hill we had pre-
viously captured. consisting not only OF
my W regiment. but OF the 9Th and of
portions of other cavalry regiments. We
then charged forward under a heavy
FIRE across the valley against the Span
Ssh Entertainments on the hill on the
rear OF the San Juan hill. This we also
took. capturing several prisoners. We
then formed i'm whatever order we could
and moved forward. driving the Span
1ards before us to the crest OF the hills
IN our front, which were Immediately
opposite the city OF Santiago itself.
Here I received orders to halt and hold
the HILL. ] nae at that time fragments
of the 9Th cavalry regiment and an oc-
casional infantryman under me-three
or four hundred men all told. As l was
Wv 6tt hhfAts u Aoth VI
all of them and so continued until the
next morning. The Spaniards attempt
ed to make a counter attack that after
noon. but were easily driven back and
then. until after dark. we remained un-
der a heavy FIRE from their rifles N
great guns. lying fiat on our faces on
a gentle slope Just behind the crest.
Captain Parker's Calling battery
was run up TO the right OF my regiment
and did most excellent and gallant SER
vice.
In order TO charge the men had. OF
course, been obliged to throw away
their packs. and we had nothing TO
sleep in and nothing to eat. We were
lucky enough. however. 10 find in the
captured blockhouse the Spanish din
ners still cooking. which We ate with
relish. We also distributed the cap
tured Spanish blankets rs far as they
would go among our men and gather
ed a good deal OF Msuser ammunition
for use in the Colt rapid fire gun.
which was being brought up. That
night We dug intrenchments across our
front. At 3 o'clock in the morning the
Spaniards made an attack on us which
was easily repealed and at 4 o'clock they
opened the day with a heavy rifle and
shrapnel FIRE. All day long we remain
ed under these. replying whenever we
got the chance. In the evening at
about so'clock the Spanisrds fired three
guns N then opened a heavy rifle lire.
their skirmishers coming well orward.
] got all my men down into the
trenches. as did the other command.
Inc we opened a heavy return fire. The
Spanish advance was at once stopped
and after al hour their fire died away.
That night We completed most of our
trenches and began to build pomb
proofs. The protection offered TO our
men was good and next morning |
had but n man from the
rife and shell fire until ~ o'clock.
when the truce came.
I do not mention the officers and men
who particularly distinguished them
selves, as / have nothing TO add In this
respect to what was contained in my
two former letters. There were numer-
Gus Red Cross fags flying in the va
rious parts OF the city. two OF them