The record-union., 1898-12-23

teen.
To attempt to give list of the men
who showed signal yalor would neces-
state sending in almost q complete ros-
ter Of the regiment. Many of the cases
which / mention stand merely as exam
pies of the rest not as exceptions. The
most conspicuous gallantry was shown
by Trooper Dowland. He was wounded
in the side in our first fight, but kept
in the firing line; he was sent to the
hospital the next day, but left it and
marched out to US, overtaking US, and
fought all through this battle with such
indifference to danger that l was forced
again and again to rate and threaten
him for running needless risks.
Great gallantry was also shown by
four troopers, whom / cannot identify,
and by Trooper Winslow Clark of Troop
G. 1t was after We had taken the first
hill. / had called out to rush the sec
ond, and, having by that time lost my
horse, climbed wire fence and started
toward it. After going a couple of hum
dred yards under a heavy fire, I found
that no one else had come; as I discov-
cred later, it was simply because in the
confusion, with men shooting and beng
shot, they had not noticed me start.
told the five men to wait moment, as
it might be misunderstood if we all ran
back, while 1 ran back and started the
regiment; and as soon as I did so the
regiment came with a rush. But mean
while the five men coolly lay down in
the open, returning the fire from the
trenches. 1t is to be wondered at that
only Clark was seriously wounded, and
he called out, as we passed again, ~ say
his canteen where he could reach it. but
to continue the charge and leave him
where he was. All the wounded had to
be left until after the first fight, for we
could spare no men from the firing line.
Very respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Lieutenant Colonel of the First United
States Volunteer Cavalry"
The second and more important re-
port is as follows:
Camp Hamilton, near Santiago de
Cuba, July 20, 189S.-Brigadier General
Leonard Wood, Commanding Second
Brigade, Cavalry Division.-Sir: In
obedience to your directions, 1 herewith
report on the operations Of my regi-
ment from the 1st to the 18th instant
inclusive
AS L have already made you two re-
ports about the first days operations,
shall pass them over rather briefly. On
the morning of the first day my regi-
ment was reformed at the head of the
Second Brigade by the Ell Paso Sugar
Mill. When the batteries opened the
Spaniards replied to us with shrapnel
which killed and wounded several of
my regiment. We then marched toward
the right and my regiment crossed the
ford before the balloon had come down,
and attracted the fire of the enemy so
at that point we lost no one. My orders
had been to march forward until
joined General Lawton's left, but after
going about three-quarters of a mile,
was halted and told to remain in re-
serve near the creek by a deep lake.
The bullets dropped thick among US
for the next hour while we lay there,
and many Of my men We're killed and
wounded, among the former being Cap
tain O'Neil. whose loss was a very
heavy blow to the regiment, for he was
singularly gallant and efficient officer
Acting Lieutenant Haskell was also
shot at this time He showed the ut
most courage, and had been of great
use during the fighting and marching.
1t seemed to me some action should be
taken about him.
You then sent me word to move for
ward in support of the regular cavalry,
and 1 advanced the right in column or
companies, each company deployed as
skirmishers. We moved through sew
eral skirmish lines Of the regiment
ahead of us, as it seemed to me our
only chance was in rushing the en-
trenchments in front, instead of firing
at them from distance. Accordingly
we charged the blockhouse and en-
trenchments on the hill to our right
against heavy fire. 1t was taken in
good style, the men of my regiment
thus being the first to capture any forti-
fed position and to break through the
Spanish line.
The guiders of G and E troops were
first at this point. but some of the men
of A and 3 troops, who We're with me
personally, got in ahead of them. At
the last wire fence up this hill I was
obliged TO abandon my horse. and after
that went on foot After capturing this
hill We first directed a heavy fire upon
the San Juan Hill to our left, which
was at the time being assailed by the
regular infantry and cavalry. supported
by Captain Parker's Gatling guns
BY the time San Juan was taken a
large force had assembled on the hill
We had previously captured, consisting
not only of my own cavalry regiment
but Of the Ninth and portions of other
cavalry regiments. We then charged
forward under a heavy fire across the
valley against the Spanish entrench-
ments on the hill i'm the rear of the San
Juan Hill. This we also took, capturing
several prisoners. We then formed in
whatever order we could, and moved
forward, driving the Spanish before us
to the crest of the hills in our front
which were Immediately opposite the
city of Santiago itself
Here l received orders to halt and
time fragments of the Sixth Cavalry
Regiment and an occasional infantry
man under me-three or four hundred
men all told. AS I was the highest
there, 1 took command of all of them
and so continued until the next morn
ing.
Inc SpanlardS attempted 10 make
counter attack that afternoon, but were
easily driven back, and then until after
dark We remained under a heavy fire
from their rifles and great guns, lying
fiat on our faces on gentle slope, just
behind the crest. Captain Parker's
Gatling battery was run up to the right
Of my regiment, and did most excel
lent and gallant service. In order to
charge, the men had, of course. been