Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-23
ROOSEVELT'S STORY.
COMMANDER OF ROUGH Riders
BEFORE DODGE COMMISSION.
SUFFERING OF THE SOLDIERS.
lack of Right Sort of Food and
Lack of Sufficient Professionally OF
the Front.
the Front.

NEW YORK, November Ex-Governor
elect Roosevelt. who commanded the
Rough Riders during the Santiago cam
paign. testified before the War Investi-
eating Commission to-day.
In reply TO a request from General Will
son. De told Of the equipment and muster
irr IN Of the First Volunteer Cavalry.
Known as the Rough Riders. when we
reached Tampa" Colonel Roosevelt said,
there vas a condition OF utter confusion.
We we're dumped outside, mile away
from our camp. No one knew where the
camp was There was no one to tell us
fhere TO 90 or what TO do. After walt
ny own hands, and bought food for the
men and horses. Later, when 1 found
our camp, we were all right"
Were you reimbursed for your outlay?"
o. never asked IT. II was a personal
matter entirely"
Colonel Roosevelt said a condition of
great confusion existed at Tampa No
body seemed to know anything and no
arrangements were evident as to what
transports were 10 be used. His own
Incidentally he had heard that the Sc
ccnd Infantry and Seventy-first New
York Volunteers were also assigned to
tae Yucatan. AS soon as he heard that
be- hurried the Rough Riders on board
and took possession of the ship, and held
H against other regiments. His men had
decided u CO. 10 Cuba. and they got
there. .ay.
"Do yer TJtribute all the confusion"
eske' MaEeral Wilson, ito lack of intel
ls cog on the part Of the men in charger
was only a Northumberland, and
couldn't tell whose the fault was
FOOD AMPLE. BUT BEEF BAD.
Replying 20 other questions, Colonel
Roosevelt said the food was ample, and
with the exception Of the canned roast
beef good. The beef was very bad.
Colonel Roosevelt told Of the voyage 10
Cuba, and the Decentralization OF the regi-
meut 40 Balquiri. There was great
scarcity OF material for landing men,
horses, and supplies.
Colonel Roosevelt. still replying to ques-
TONS told IN detail Of the march OF his
regimen, TO its first camping-piace'
after supper" he continued, "Colonei
Wood told as that we were 10 start next
morning 10 take the Spaniards.
The next mornings march was haru
one. especially for the men. TheTe were
u0 opportunities for fiankers. 1t was SO
Doc that about 10 men dropped out iol
a rest. and when the first Spanish out
post was discovered Colonel Wood or
cIei silence and was sent TO the right
90 dapIoy with the right wing.
"When the Spaniards began firing ! did
Dot know what was up. 1t was my tlrst
POWDER and 1 could not see where they
Wegc.
WHEN ~ DOUBT WENT AHEAD.
when / located the Spaniards with my
gasses ] did not know what TO do, put
knew DO was a good rule II In douOt 10
Q ahead. and so went ahead.
Colonel Roosevelt CLOSED over the Iur-
a-r details Of the lighting. He PAID
"atm tribute 10 the gallantry OF ASSIST
.Ht--lrscOn James w. Church, a former
Princeton football player, who. he salo,
more than once ran to the firing line ana
carried wounded men on his back 10 the
Division Hospital. Colonel RooseVelt
uaa told how the regiment camped out
ior The night.
VEGETABLES FOR OFFICERS ONLY
asked about the rations, he SAID: we
l-l the regulation rations OF SAT- porA'
'af1'ack. coffee. and sugar. but the men
Wanted vegetables. and 1 wanted 70 get
some Tor them. j took forty men, WIN
ta officers horses 10 SibOney, and trleo
% buy them. The department refused
sen me beans and tomatoes. unless 1
"-l4 certify that they were for oflcers
consumption. / stretched my conscience
aa Par as / could. and then boarded
transport and purchased 800 pounds OF
"aus II was too hot to eat nothing
Ilt The regulation rations. and the change
ul he men good"
Colonel Roosevelt went on TO tell OF the
'9'ance on Santiago. and Of the night
~ July 10Th. when the regiment slept IN
te trenches. He spoke of the advantages
~ smokeless powder and said That tne
tlied states artillery was frequently
oH'en from IFS positions because OF the
.istis made by the clouds OF smoke
,hei resulted from each discharge of the
oac6 powder
Was your command fully supplied with
700 and ammunition? asked General
wilson
FOOD SUPPLY INSUFFICIENT
., The ammunition supply was excellent.
4he food was Insufficient. There was
plenty OF food back al Eib0ney. L suppose
was lack OF transportation facilities
mar kept US without good food until
Guy zith. ] organized transportation
corps with the officers horses. and went
20 biboney and got food for the men.
AAtn later / got into Santiago and bought