Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-07-14
CAPT. MAX LUNA'S ACCOUNT.
How the "Rough Riders" stood Their
Ground al La Quasina.


During the past ten days there have
circulated in the city Of Las Vegas and
other towns and communities Of New
Mexico some s%candalous stories relative
TO Captain Maximiliano Luna, Of the
Rough Riders says the New Mexican.
without referring 20 the details OF these
contemplate aspersions upon the char
actor OF a soldier lighting at the front
for the honor and the glory Of his coun
try. II IL sufficient to say that Captain
Luna's conduct throughout the terrible
battle at La Quasina was OF that heroic
character which reflects honor and credit
not only upon himself, but upon all the
people OF New Mexico, including the
miserable character assassins who are
circulating these stories. These are the
men who ever since the beginning Of
this Wal have been pronounced in their
malicious criticisms Of President Nc
Kinley and his advisers. the governor OF
New Mexico and his military appointees,
and the character Of the men who have
had the courage 10 60 to the front at the
FIRST call Of the country.
A letter has been received from Cap
tain Luna, extracts from which are ~
fOllOws.
"Giracimas, June 25.-1 have not had
opportunity OF writing before. pre-
sumo that by this time you already know
" have met the enemy" The Rough
Riders" were destined 10 be the first Of
all the army TO shed their blood In this
war. We came upon the Spaniards
they numbered 1000 in a stongly for
titled position In the mountains. Cap.
tain CaprOn's troop was In the lead. My
troop WIS second, and we were ordered
some little distance 10 the left. My 1rst
platoon In charge OF Max Keyes, n little
IN advance. We had not proceeded far
when We heard firing 10 the right. We
still advanced. when all Of n sudden the
firing became simply terrific, and then
IL was hot. FOR hours W. were subjected to
a m|urderOus nfe from in front aud from
the right flank, where they had two rapid
Dire guns was especially heavy. But
there our men stood, not one 1iuehed.
They kept up firing on all sides, but the
baud OF heroes kept on advancing. We
could not locate them ~ they used
smOkeless powder, but we fired at the d.
rection we thought they fired from II
was hot We answered In kind, not a
man finching. We kept on gaining on
the enemy Gin W. had them In full flight
and We took their positions.
"Ihe courage displayed by our men
was magnificent. They are all herOesl
Now ~ 20 the results, Captain CaprOn
and Hamilton Fish were killed In the
ilrft fire. In my troop ! had one man
killed; q man by che name Of Erwin,
from San Antonio. / had besides eight
men wounded, including poor GeO. Ar
milo, who had his hand shot of and may
lose his arm. Once ~ | got up from a
lying position. a bullet passed right be.
tween my legs. They whistled all around
us. Our regiment lost nine killed and
thirty or forty wounded. The Spanish
lost very heavily"
Many other letters have been received
in their tenor giving the lie to the ru-
mors 30 diligently circulated by the
back-biters nj Las Vegas and elsewhere.
These men of course constitute a small
number OF our citizens. but az IL always
the case, a despicable lie diligently cir
culated by such yipers travels rapidly
and IA never caught up with by the
truth.