The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-23
THE SECOND REPORT.
Severe Fighting, with Heavy Losses,
Followed by Much Suffering.

Severe Fighting, with Heavy Losses,
Followed by Much Suffering.
Colonel Roosevelt's second and more inn
portant report, which is addressed to Brig
Gen. Leonard Wood, commanding the Sec
ond Brigade of cavalry under date of Camp
Hamilton, near Santiago de Cuba, July 2O
follows
'sir-In obedience to your directions /
herewith report on the operations of my
regiment from the LIST to the 18th inst, in
elusive. AS have already made you two re-
ports of the first days operations, shall
pass them over rather briefly. On the morn
ing of the first day my regiment was formed
at the head of the Second Brigade by the
El Poso sugar mill. When the batteries
opened the Spaniards replied to us with
shrapnel, which killed and wounded several
of the men of my regiment. We then
marched toward the right and my regiment
crossed the ford before the balloon came
down there and attracted the fire of the
enemy, so that at that point we lost no one.
My orders had been to march forward until
/ joined General Lawton's left wing, but
after going about three-quarters of a mile
l was halted and told to remain in reserve
near the creek by deep lane. The bullets
dropped thick among us for the next hour
while we lay there, and many of my men
were killed or wounded. Among the former
was Captain O'Neill, whose loss was a. very
heavy blow to the regiment, for he was a
singularly gallant and efficient officer. Act
ing Lieutenant Haskell was also shot at
this time. He showed the utmost courage
and had been of great use during the fight
ing and marching. 1t seems to me some
action should be taken about him.
BLOCKHOUSB CAPTURED.
''You then sent me word to move forward
in support of the regular cavalry, and l adj
vanced the regiment in column of compa-
Mes each company deployed as skirmishers.
We moved through several skirmish lines
of the regiment ahead of Us, as it seemed to
me our only chance was in rushing the in
trenchments in front instead of firing at
them from a distance. Accordingly, we
charged the blockhouse and intrenchments
on the hill to our right against heavy fire.
1t was taken in good style, the men of my
regiment thus being the first to capture any
fortified position and to break through the
Spanish line. The guidons of G and e troops
were first at this point, but some of the
men of A and b troops who were with me
personally got in ahead of them. At the
last wire fence up this hill / was obliged
to abandon my horse, and after that 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 infantry and
cavalry supported by Captain Parker's Cat
ling guns.
by the time San Juan was taken a large
force had assembled on the hill we had
previously captured, consisting not only of
portions of other cavalry regiments. We
then charged forward under d very heavy
fire across the valley against the Spanish
intrenchments on the hill in the rear of
the San Juan hill. This we also took cap
turing several prisoners. We then formed in
whatever order we could and moved for
ward. driving the Spanish before us to the
crest of the hills in our front, which were
Immediately opposite the city of Santiago
itself Here received orders to halt and
hold the line of hill crest. had at that time
fragments of the Sixth Cavalry Regiment
and an occasional infantryinan under me
three or four hundred men all told. AS !
was the highest there, / took command OF
all of them. and so continued until next
morning. The Spaniards attempted to make
a counter attack that afternoon, but were
easily driven back. and then until after dark
we remained under a heavy fire from their
rifles and great guns, lying fiat on our faces
on a gentle slope just behind the crest Cap
tain Parkers Gatling battery was run up
to the right of my regiment. and did most
excellent and gallant service
ATE SPANIARDS' DINNER.
"In order 10 charge the mon mad. of course,
been Obliged to throw away their packs. and
we had nothing TO sleep in ard nothing to
eat We were lucky enough however, to
find in the last hlockhouse captured the
Spanish dinners still cooking, which we ate
Continued ON Fourth Pagc.l