Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-10-12
TROOP { TO The 'FRONT.'"
Sergeant Ledwidge Gives An Entertaining
Narrative of His Cuban and Transport
Experiences -About edwards.

AoSP - 'NS iNiASiot q u llct hCd
figure in the adventures of the Santa Fe
troop both on sea and on land, and he
has just given a description of the eX-
]periences of his troop that will be read
with interest by all the members of the
regiment in New Mexico, as well as
elsewhere. 1t seems that the sergeant
was q captain of artillery in the Cuban
army before Joining the Rough Riders,
SO that the smell of gunpowder was no
new thing to him.
He says the regiment was whipped
into shape at San Antonio In six weeks,
during which time Lieutenant Colonel
Roosevelt burned the midnight Gil in
boning up on cavalry tactics; and
what he would learn one night he prac-
ticed on the boys the following day.
Our horses, remarks the sergeant, were
bought by the government at $50 each,
and the same animals could have been
bought in Texas for half that sum.
Some of the men we had to pay for the
horses they wanted. But talking about
Vs., WE AoN III oul ColllIIllo-
sary department an ex-saloon keeper
from Oklahoma. Well, at one town
that have personal knowledge of, full
rations We're issued to the regiment,
At Tampa, this fellow was caught SELL
ing hay, and it is safe to say that he
sold the rations. AS he took one-quar-
ter of the food for both horses and men,
he must have made considerable mon
ey between May Is and September Is;
and the steward on the Yucatan was
evidently made out of the same kind of
cloth, for he sold food to the men at
most extortionate prices.
The Rough Riders went into the bat
tie Of Guasimas with jokes and laugh
ter, and with their rain-soaked clothes
steaming on their backs. The battle
lasted two and a half hours, although
it seemed only a few minutes, and it
proved that the Rough Riders could
stand the fire of the enemy like veter-
ans. Our success was no doubt due to
/ S'iN At@' tiAtt WV IC optLIll6t III
line from three different points and ad-
vanced in an extended line, thus giving
the Dons the impression that we wera
in great numbers. This led them to
fall hastily back, leaving the ground
strewn with their luggage. AS to the
Rough Riders being brave men, con-
tinued the sergeant, we had brave men,
and then we had some towards. Lieu
tenant Tom Hall was one of those who
let their heels get away with their
bravery. He turned and ran all the way
back to Siboney, reporting along the
trail that the Rough Riders had been
massacred in ambush, that Lieutenant
Colonel Roosevelt vas MORALLY wound
ed and Colonel Wood had been killed;
also, that he bore Woods dying mes
sage to his wife. There were several
other members of the regiment who were
equally ~cowardly. In the fight near Ell
Pose we were massed behind Grimes
battery. Now, the proper place for in
fantry supporting artillery Is on the
flank, or out in front Of the battery. and
not In the rear. The result was that
the dense smoke from the American
powder enabled the Spanish to get the
range on Crimes battery, and they
dropped their shells right into DUR
ranks. So we hustled off to the right
and left like quails running to cover.
At San Juan hill, the 9th cavalry was
just before us and preparing to go up
the hill, and the order was given them.
Troop e to the 'front.'" Captain Muller
of troop e, Rough Riders, thought tha
command was made for him, and he i'm
mediately took his troop forward. Then
there was a general movement of white
and colored troops all along the line, and
we went up that hill with a whoop and
a yell, and sent the Spaniards rushing
for cover behind their second line of in
trenchments. -Four regiments got mix
ed up in that fight, and after it was
over, officers found themselves in COM
mand of men they had never seen be-
fore.
Sergeant Ledwidge, in speaking of the
experiences on the transport Miami,
said that they were such as need not ba
described. The doctors were almost al,
Ill, and the supply of medicines was
scant. The mere sight and smell Of that
alleged prime roast beef. he says, sick
ened us. AS to Colonel Roosevelt, the
men just loved him, and they would be
willing to go into the jaws of death for
him because they know that he would
do the same thing for them.