The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-05
ROOSEVELT A HERO.
Horse Shot Under Him, He Leads the
Charge on Foot

CAh1SS Oh GOOS-
New York, July "a dispatch to the
New York Journal from Smarter army
giving details of the first days fight,
The American army had the city
practically surrounded by Thursday
The plan of attack was for joint
movement of the fleet and army on
Aguadores. The army alone was TO
move against Caney and San Juan; the
fleet to divert the enemy's attention by
occasional bombaTdments. The three
divisions of General Lawton's force on
the north were to make an attack on
Caney. General Wheeler's cavalry, un-
der General Sumner, Wheeler being III,
was to move up the center in the valley.
General Dufield at the seaside was to
act in conjunction with the fleet and
the Michigan volunteers at Aguadores.
The Tenth cavalry and the Rough
Riders were lying along the hillside
under cover of the bushes. For half an
hour shells whistled and shrieked on
both sides, while the Spaniards on the
hilltops were surrounded by a great
cloud Of yellow dust thrown UP by the
The Rough Riders" the Tenth and
First cavalry were ordered to make
detour and take the hill where the
Spanish battery had been planted. Then
began the real battle of the day. Span
iaTds were nowhere to be seen, bus
when the Rough Riders" advanced
across the gulch to the slope below the
blockhouse the enemy opened a sharp
fire again. The enemy's sharpshO hooters
began peppering away at the Ameri-
cans, picking off man here and there
as the line advanced.
Roosevelt, mounted, led the Tenth
cavalry, which was lined alongside the
Rough Riders" The Spanish fire
grew hotter and hotter. The men be
gan 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 VolleyS. There
was a moments hesitation along the
line. Then the order was Forward,
charged"
Roosevelt was in the lead, waving his
sword. Out into the open and up the
hill, where death seemed certain. in the
fact Of the continuous crackle of the
MauserS, came the Rough Riders
with the Tenth cavalry alongside. Not
a man fiinched, all continuing to fire as
they ran.
Roosevelt was 100 feet ahead of his
troops, yelling like mad at his own men,
and the negro cavalry cheered him as
they charged up the hill. There was no
stopping as mems neighbors fell, but
on they went, faster and faster. Sud
denly ROOsevelt's horse fell in a heap.
Before the horse was down RooSeVelt's
disengaged himself from the saddle,
and, landing on his feet, again yelled
to his men. and, sword in hand, charged
on foot. The men did not stop to fire,
but poured in rife shots as they march
ed in the ranks. We could clearly see
the wonderful work the dusky veterans
of the Tenth cavalry were doing.
Had the enemy remained stanch the
slaughter at close range would have
been appalling, but the daring of the
Americans daZed them. Their fire
driVeled to nothing. They Wavered and
then ran. Our fellows dropped TO one
knee and picked them off like part
ridges in the brush. The position was
won. The bIockhouse was ours. Some
of the Spaniards' guns had been aban-
doned. but good many they had been
able to carry off.
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
CALLED US from the rifle pits further
along