The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-23
ROOSEVELT ON
THE CAMPAIGN.
A Report Of the Rough Rider Colonel
Just Made Public.
FRONT BETTER THAN HOSPITALS
Kept tho Sick and Wounded with Him
Rather Than Let Them suffer the
Hospital Dcprivations-Paid for
Supplies Himself
FRONT BETTER THAN HOSPITALS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-The War De
partment to-day made public two Reports
OF Colonel Roosevelt on tie fights oil th'
First United states Volunteer Cavalry
Trough Riders IN front Of Santiago.
one is addressed 10 Colonel WOOD
commanding, and the second Is to Bfls'
adier-GenerAl Wood, after Colonel ROOse-
welt took command OF the regiment
The War Department has hitherto re-
fused to make these reports public. The
second and more important report. after
detailing the lighting done By the Rough
Riders Is as follows:
For The next seven days. until the
tenth. we lay In our line while the truce
continued
MUCH SUFFERING.
We had continually TO work at addi-
tional bomb proofs and az the trenches.
and as we had 10 proper supply Of food
ana utterly inadequate medical facilities.
the men suffered a good deal The OH
GERS Clipped together. purchased beans.
potatoes and sugar for the men. so that
they might have some relief from the
bacon and bareback With a great deal
Of difficulty we got them coffee As for
the sick and wounded. they suffered so
IN the hospitals when sent 20 the rear
for lack OF food and attention, tina, we
found IT best 10 keep them at the front
and give them such care as our own doc
tors could.
As l mentioned I'm my previous letter.
thirteen OF our wounded men continued
TO fight through the battle In spite OF
their wounds. and OF those sent 20 the
rear. many both OF the sick and the
wounded. came up 10 reiOin us as s0oE
as their condition allowed them 10 walk
Most Of the worst cases were ultimately
sent TO the states. On the 10th the truce
was al an end and the bombardment re-
opened.
MOVED CAMP.
As far as our lines were concerned. II
was on the Spanish part very feeble We
suffered no loss. and speedily got the
fire from their trenches in our front
completely under on the 18th we were
moved three quarters of a mile % the
right. the truce again being on. Nothing
happened here, except we continued 10
watch ana DO our best 10 get the men,
especially the sick. properly fed. and
having no transportation. and being able
10 get hardly any through the regular
channels. We used anything we could find.
captured Spanish cavalry horses. aban-
doned mules. which had been shot. but
which our men took and cured diminu-
tive. skinny ponies purchased from the
Cubans. etc BY these means and by the
excrtions of the officers we were able
from time TO time 10 get supplies Of
beans, sugar tomatoes and even oat-
meal, while from the Red Cross people
we got our valuable load of rice. corn
meal. etc. All this was most necessary.
not only for the SICK but for the well,
as the lack of proper food was telling
terribly on the men. II was utterly i'm
possible to get them clothes and shoes:
these they had were in many cases, liter
ally dropping TO pieces.
THE BEST CAMP.
on the 18th the city surrendered on
tho 18th we shifted camp to here. the
best camp we have had. but the march
hither under the MONDAY sun told very
heavily on our men. weakened by under
feeding and overwork, and the next
morning l23 cases We're reported 20 the
doctor. and I now have but half Of the
six hundred men With which / landed
four weeks ago tit for duty. and these
are not fit for anything like the work
they could do then. As we had but one
wagon. the change necessitatcd leaving
much Of my stuff behind with a night of
discOmfOrt-with scanty shelter and
scanty food for the most OF the officers
and many Of the men.
only the possession Of the improvised
pack train alluded 10 above saved us
from being worse. Yesterday I sent In
detail of six officers and men 10 see II
they could not purchase or make ar
for a supply Of proper food
and proper clothing for the men. even If
we had to pay for 1t out of our own
pockets.
our suffering has been due primarily
10 lack OF transportation and Of proper
food or sufficient clothing and Of medi-
cal supplies We should now have wagon
sheets for tentage Very respectfully.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.