The age-herald., 1898-07-06
ROOSEVELT'S RIDERS
 LEAD THE CHARGE

This, from the New York Journals ac- count of the battle at San Juan last Fri day, graphically tells the story of the charge of Roosevelt's Rough Riders, and the Tenth cavalry, composed of negro regu- lars:
 The Rough Riders, the Tenth and First cavalry, were ordered to make detour and take the hill where the Spanish bat tery had been planted. Then began the real battle of the day. The Spahiards were nowhere to be seen, but when the Rough Riders advanced across the gulch to the slope below the blockhouse, the enemy opened a sharp fire again.
 The first shell wounded Mason Mitchell, a Cuban trooper and Surgeon Devore. At the same time the enemys sharp shooters began peppering away at the Americans, picking off man here and there as the line advanced.
 Roosevelt, mounted, led the Tenth cav airy. which was lined alongside the Rough Riders. The Spanish fife grew hotter and hotter The heroic men began to drop in twos and threes by the time they came to the open, smooth hillside, which offered no protection from the enemy's deadly vol leys.
 A perfect storm of shot and shell swept the hillside. There was a moments hesi- tation along the line Then the order was Forward charger Roosevelt was in the lead, waving his sword. Out into the open and up the hill where death seemed cer- tain, in the face of the continuous craclsle of the Mausers came the Rough Riders wifi +ba a1o lot a man flnched, all continuing to fire as they ran.
 Roosevelt was a hundred feet ahead of his troops yelling like a Sioux, while his own men and the colored cavalry cheered him as they charged up the hill. There was no stopping mems neighbors' fell, but on they went, faster and faster.
 Suddenly Rooseveh's horse stopped, paw ed the air for moment and fell in heap. Before the horse was down Roosevelt dis engaged himself from the saddle and land ing on his feet again, yelled to his men and, sword in hand, charged on afoot. It was something terrible to watch these men race up that hill with death. Fast as they were going it. seemed that they would never reach thu crest.
 
 rife shots as they marched in the ranks. We could clearly see the wonderful work the dusky veterans of the Tenth were do- ing. Such splendid shooting was probably never done under these conditions.
 As fast as the Spanish fire thinned their ranks the gaps were closed up, and after an eternity they gained the top of the hill and rushed the few remaining yards to the Spanish trenches.
 Had the enemy remained staunch the slaughter at close range would have been appalling, but the daring of the Americans dazed them. Their fire drivelled to nothing. They wavered and then ran. Our fellows dropped to one kuee and picked them off like partridges in the bush. The position was won. The block house was ours. Some of the Span1ards' guns had been abandoned but a good many they had been able to car ry off.
 Arcoss the gulch the soldiers wildly cheer ed the gallant Tenth. The Tenth gave tongue with an answering cheer and rush. ed on to drive the enemy further. Over the Spanish trenches they tore, passing the Spanish dead. The trenches were full carried off by the retreating foe. In the last wild rush more than half of the Rough Riders were wounded. We had the hill, but the position was perilous. The enemy's sharpshooters galled us from their rifle pits further along.