Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-11-24
WISCONSIN ROUGH RIDER ON HIS
WAY HOME.
STOEY CT TERRIBLE RIDE
Former Oshkosh Boy Gets Mention
Fol Gallant CONDUCT in Porto Rico
detailed TO Garry Message
Around Spanish Lines-Shot
Through Leg But Didn't Know 1t.
Madison, Nov. %.

rev OF lie men SlLLlDS IN the + 6SS
hotel the other evening swapping
stories imagined that peaked young
fellow il their midst who never said
a word could double discount all their
adventures although he had himself
seen but 70 years. 1t was one of
Teddy RooseVelt's rough riders and
badger at that and one who saw more
rough service than the majority Of
that romantic organization. He was
one OF the few rough riders that act
uaIiy rode in the war. His name was
John Chester Lee and his parents live
near Prairie du Chen where the young
man is now going on visit. Lee was
born in Louisville, KY, but at the
age Of three moved with his parents
to Oshkosh where he attended the
high school. Finding school irksOme
he ran away from home and drifted
to Wyoming where he punched cattle
in the summer and read law in the
winter. at the breaking out of the
late war he was in Cheyenne. He i'm
mediately went to San Antonio and
joined Col. Woods regiment of rough
riders. Thence he went to Tampa
and on June u landed in Cuba. He
participated in the battles of Siboney,
San Juan and Ell Caney, escaping un-
hurt in all. He was made first duty
sergeant in troop G, Hamilton Fish,
| who was killed, holding the same posi-
ton in troop X. At the surrender Of
Santiago the rough riders were given
! the position of honor.
! When the riders were withdrawn
from Cuba to be transported to Mon
tauk Point, % of them enlisted with
! the regulars for service in Porto Rico,
Lee being one of them, he joining the
second cavalry under Gen. Summer.
Shortly after landing he had a thrill
| ing experience. Volunteers were
| called for to deliver a message to Gen.
! Grant near San Juan. Only three
were needed but SO volunteered. Lee
was one Of the three chosen and took
| the message. The soldier endeavored
to ride together around the end of the
| Spanish lines. They were discovered
! and ran the gauntlet Of CALLING fire.
| One of the three was soon lost but the
other two heroes galloped together.
! Soon bullet brought down Lees COM
panion. The victims foot, however,
was caught in the stirrup and his
| faithful horse kept company with
Lees, dragging the body which alter
nately struck the ground with great
thumps. 1t was no time to stop for
repairs, however, as Lee tersely put
it, and he rode on with his eyes shut
! that he might be spared the sickening
| spectacIe. After a time he again
| opened them only to find the corpse of
his Inflated companion still accom-
panying him. When next he looked,
| however, both horse and rider were
missing. Lee has but a confused pic
| ture of what followed. He remembers
some one saying, "never mind, ser
| geant, and when he came to found
| himself in hospital with a bullet
hole through the fieshy part of his left
| leg which he received in his terrible
! ride but does not remember when.
After lying in hospital at Ponce for
some time, he was taken to Montauk
Point where he remained until Oct. %
HAcu ue CAME west. lie expects
eventually to return to Wyoming and
study law. His discharge is now on
the way but he has already received
his papers mentioning him for gallant
conduct in Porto Rico which he
showed while here.
Mr.. Lee says, Teddy Roosevelt is
the only gentleman" and that the
rough riders would go to hades with
him. He says the next governor of
the empire state endeared himself to
the boys by his cordially and fearless
ness and by paying for supplies out of
his own pocket while they were starry
ing. He has also many romantic
stories to tell. Thus while at Tampa
they scattered cards marked, my
name is -, write to me-" They re-
GREETED the act for one day one of them
received as many as $50 letters in re-
Spouse. But they were thus kept in |
postage stamps.