The evening times., 1898-09-20

because Cen Kent dld not refer TO the
First Volunteer Cavalry (Roosevelt's
Rough Riders) in his report, the New
York Evening Post yesterday printed the
following: e@s
Washington Sept. l9-Now that army officers
have had time TO digest the Santiago campaign
reports they find some remarkable features. On:
of these is the generosity OF the praise bestowed
every hand, and ano,her is the failure of the
reports TO accord much credit to the Rough
! Riders.
| Ii appears that Gen. J. F. Kent's report,
! which covers, rather. should cover the opera
! tions of the command under Wood and Rose,
welt, contains not a word in regard to the regi-
ment, or any part of it, which had share in
| the battle of San Juan Hill.
There is excellent chance that this incident
may lead to one of those post-bellum contro-
versies of which history is full for already there
| is dispute TO whether the Rough RIders
really TOOK part in the fight of San juan In
| cCuraged by Gen. kents report, the assertion Is
now made that the regiment was two miles away
! from the hill.
The Rough Riders were very indignant
when they read the article. and Col.
| Roosevelt said respecting it:
The story is ridiculous. Gen. Kent
would no more mention in his report the
Rough Riders and myself than would
| Col. Sumner, who is in command of the
cavalry division. mention in his report
| Gen. Kent"
Adjt. Gen. Corbin said this morning that
as matter of course Gen. Kent would
| not mention the Rough Riders in his re-
| port, because they were not in his division
| Acting Secretary Meiklejohn made a
similar comment, adding that he knew OF
no reason why Gen. Kent should refer
to the Rough Riders.
Some of the Rough Riders themselves
| were asked about the assertion that they
| were not in the front, and they replied
| as follows:
Bruce Rutherford said:
The Rough Riders were the first SOL
diers at the top of San Juan Hill. ASK
any man of the First Regulars, the Ninth
| or Tenth, and he will say So
| r. G. Knox, of Troop l., said:
What nonsense. My captain, r. G.
Day, who took Capt. Caprons place, was
wounded there. How did it happen If the
Rough Riders were not there?"
Little Ernest Austin, the colored boy
mascot. showed every tooth in his head
as he asked:
They went up the hill so fast that it
took my breff away"
| Capt Curry, of Troop II, who left
behind in Florida, against his will, kept
himself posted on every detail, however.
He said:
why. Kent has nothing to do with us
| why should ne report. II WOulu De q
breach of discipline on his part to do so. -
Capt. McGuiniss, of Troop l, was equal
ly well posted. He said that Gen Kent
was all right in not mentioning the cav
airy. even if it was on foot.
| Rough Rider Charles Raniett, of TrooI
J. was indignant until he learned the
truth, and then he said:
why of course. We belonged to the
Second Brigade of the Second Division
; OF the Fifth Army Corps. Shafter com
manded the corps. Wheeler the division
and Young. Wood and Roosevelt the
brigade in turn. Gen Kent had nothing
whatever to do with the division"
It was learned at the War Department
today that Gen. Sumner was in command
of the cavalry division, with Col Leon
ard Wood, of the Rough Riders. and Col
Carroll, of the regular cavalry, as bri
gade commanders. The First Voluntee
Cavalry (official designation of the Rougl
Riders) was in the Second Brigade, an,
was specifically mentioned in Gen. 10
seph Wheelers report. which covered tn,
ground as far as the cavalry division Wa:
concerned. and was supplemented b!
Gen. Kent's report on the infantry opera
tions.
In the list of casualties that follows II
Gen. Wheeler's report the First Volun
teer Cavalry is reported to have lost IL
this fight one officer and fourteen mel
killed, and five officers and fourteen meI
wounded This would indicate that tn,
Rough Riders were at San Juan Hill
The attempt to create a controvers.
over the Rough Riders position at SaI
Juan is ridiculed at the War Department