The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-17
ROUGH RIDERS VICTORY.
CYCLoNIC TACTICS DTsSrARED TIE
SPANISH AT 8U4sIaTAS.

v Details Of the Fight Coolnass OF
the Men-The Black T~rooperS' Charge.
sIpoYEY, June 27,-Guaslmas is the name
given to the battlefield where, on june "a. the
First United States Volunteer Cavalry. better
known as the rough riders. received Its bnp-
tism OF fire and behaved with the coolness and
intrepidity Of veteran troops. But all the glory
OF a decisive defeat OF the Spaniards did not be-
long to the rough riders. The Tenth Cavalry
distinguished itself and some troops Of the
First United States Cavalry were also engaged.
Anew Yorker In the rough riders, who wit
messed the charge OF the Tenth up a ridge on
the right OF the valley whore Col. Woods regl-
ment seemed to be caught in q trap. was very
enthusiastic after the battle over the dashinE
style in which the black troopers went for tho
position Of the Spanish and captured 1t.
Il don't know what kind OF cavalry they
make" he said. but they are q glorious sue
cess as infantrymen. There can be no better
soldiers in the world, and yet / used to doubt
whether the negro could fight with as much
dash as the white man."
The First United States Cavalry claims the
credit OF having opened the engagement with
the discharge OF a Hotchkiss gun In the direc-
ton OF a force Of Spanlards which was plainly In
view on the crest Of a hill. 1t Ii said that the
Spaniards did not open FIRE on the rough riders
until q few minutes later. There are two
Things tnaJ SnOulu De Salu WIFI eupndblS bclVEo
the battle Is described in detail: one is that the
rough riders were not ambushed. as that word
Is generally understood. and the other
is that none OF them was shot by
his comrades in an overlapping line
In the roar. There have been hints that this
happened. but they do serious injustice to Col.
Wood and Lieut.. Col. Roosevelt. and also to
Gen. Young, who was in command Of the
brigade engaged. The brigade was a part. 1t
should be understood. Of Gen. Wheeler's corps,
The night before Guasimas Gen. Young sent
for Col. Wood OF the rough riders and In sub
! stance said to him:
Colonel. 1 have reliable information that
the Spanlards have taken a very strong posi-
ton beyond Sevilla, near the junction OF the
trail over the mountain at Siboney and the valley
road, and expect to infict a defeat on us there
IL we advance. l think the brigade can fight
the first battle OF the war tomorrow morning
and drive the enemy back on Santiago"
Gen. Young got his Information about the
position of the Spaniards from Gen. Demetrto
C~astillo's scouts. and 1t proved to be correct,
Col. Woods regiment climbed the hill at Sibo-
ney soon after sunrise and the Tenth took tho
valley road, starting later. Behind the rough
riders at some distance marched the First. The
country In which the troops were to operate
can best be described as a chaos OF high hills
and mountain peaks. So ~prodigally are they
massed about that IL should not be difficult
for a resourceful and determined enemy to an
initiate an invading army. Col. Woods men
marched with heavy packs at the regulation
step and suffered terribly from the heat. Many
of them threw away their blankets or coats on
the way and 10 per cent, fell out, so that at one
time a considerable halt was necessary.
The Tenth Cavalry, Injured to hot-weather
marching. went along cheerily enough. but
ryhap thu haffla hapan fhoy yyara pnma diStnnpa
behind the rough riders. The Tenth had. how
ever, a better road to march over. That which
Col. Woods regiment took was a mere trail
through the woods. where it was not always
possible for four men to march abreast. Let II
be understood that the rough riders were pro-
ceeding along one Of the ridges. Of which there
are so many in the valley that ends at Santiago
The course of the Tenth was in the bottom o.
the valley. Overlooking the ridge on both sides
was some high ground. and in front was a con
siderable hill.
The Spanish position was in the shape OF 6
horseshoe, so that volley firing could b
directed from three sides on a regiment ad
vancing along the ridge. On both sides OF tn
trail were dense thickets, in which the gian
cactus known as the Spanish bayonet predomi
mated. but the trend of these thickets wa
slightly upward on the right and sharply down
ward on the left.
Capt. Capron Of the volunteers was riding a
point. or ahead Of the main body. when he be
came aware Of the presence OF the Spaniards II
force on O hill to the right. He halted his littl
body Of men and sent back word to Col. Wood
The latter at once gave orders to deploy Oh
both sides OF the trail. and e~njoined silence
especially on the left. where there was som
shouting and laughter. for the men, tagged GU
as they were from heat and marching. were in
clined to be hilarious over the prospect OF
brush with the enemy. Lieut-Col. Roosevelt
at once repressed their enthusiasm.
Suddenly from cover on the left front. and be
fore the regiment was well deployed. Their
came a rip-rip-rip OF musGetry. The firm
was directed against Troop L.. which was in I'D
/ vance. 1t is said that the rough riders on tn
extreme left anticipated the Spanish firing by
few seconds. but on this point there seems t
be some doubt. Reference has already beel
made to the assertion that a Hotchkiss gu
, handled by the First Regiment OF cavalry fire
the first shot. Troop L Of the rough rider
replied to the Spanish fire with great spirit an
: precision. The trail and woods on both side
: of it are still Uttered with empty cartridge
fired by them. On the left side Of the trail tn
bushes were thick, and the men could not Sc
the Spaniards who were firing on them fror
the slope. On the right the enemy could b
I seen in a little clearing a mile away an
Troops X. G, and A. after p~lunging through tn
bushes. blazed away at them with good will.
a There was at arst some danger that tn
. Tenth Cavalry. which came up quickly as 500
T as the firing began. would mistake the dc
' ploying rough riders on the right for S~paniardi
and one OF the officers Of the Tenth afterwar
2 said that no was greatly relieved when tn
l guidon of X appeared on a slight elevation l
tho valley ahead. 1t is doubtful whether TrooI
G. X. and A, which were in that order on tn
. right OF Company l.. could have driven tn
q Spuniards off the hill without support. I'll
d Tenth. on getting the word. swarmed up tn
hill. firing with great elaboration volley afte
volley. Their alignment and GOODNESS were n
markable. Whenever a man was hit the cry
Hospital" went up calmly, and the trooper
a pressed on as II engaged In practice ma nor
|. vres. Although many of them had never bee
= under fire. there was not the least faltering {
y confusion.
: On the left Of the rough riders Troops ID an
. II . 49, A.-t..t .,1nI, L .nI II "A. R,.Ak.