The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-23
ROOSEVELT AT
CLOSE RANGE

The story of the regiment OF Rough
Riders has been told and retold. The DASH
ing leadership of Colonel Roosevelt is fa-
miliar to all. Yet it is a story that does not
pail by repetition. It does not provoke the
tired feeling. The sketch following is a
recasting of familiar facts, freshened and
fashioned by one who was a participant in
the incidents related.
Writing to a friend in Omaha, Thomas
Winthrop Hall, late adjutant of the regi-
ment, says of the regiment and its COM
mander:
Colonel Roosevelt did not join the regi-
ment to which he had been assigned as
lieutenant colonel until the latter part of its
stay at San Antonio. Tex. 1t was necessary
for some one of energy and influence to REL
main at Washington and see that the
equipment of the regiment Yves forwarded
with the desired promptness. And had he
not so sacrificed himself the regiment, be-
yond question, would have never seen Cuba.
In our recent war 1t was not only necessary
to get an order signed, but it was equally
necessary, by persuasion, argument and in
huence, to get the order enforced, such was
the military condition of affairs. 1t was
proposed to raise and equip a picked regi-
ment of mountaineers and plainsmen and
get them into the first campaign. With
Colonel (now GeneraD Wood at one end of
the line and Theodore Roosevelt at the
other, such a thing was barely possible. AS
a matter of fact, within the period of sixty
days the regiment of Rough Riders was
mobuized, equipped, drilled, mounted, arm
ed, transported half way across the con-
tinent. dismounted, transported to Cuba.
and thrown most prominently into the two
battles of the campaign.
From the first his consideration and gen.
erosity were most marked. AS adjutant
of the command no one had greater reason
to notice both of these characteristics than
the writer. Indeed, I was, literally, inti-
mate with Colonel Roosevelt before I
knew him. There were but few tents In
the camp at the dusty fair grounds In San
Antonio, and 1 occupied the tent assigned
to Colonel Roosevelt until he arrived, sx-
pecting then to move to the tent had used
for adjutant's office. But Roosevelt
would have none of this, and declared that
unless shared the tent with him he would
remain at the hotel In town In conse-
quence found myself a terminate of the
most remarkable man in American politics.
It was an embarrassing situation for me.
but would have been doubly so had not
my new terminate been such a thoroughly
representative American gentleman.
1T at once noticed the mans tremendous
capacity LOT WOTk. t1o WAS dDSotatciy4 w
happy when he did not have something to
do; although he was never idle, for he
was constantly studying some work on the
art of war, coming provided with. several
books on the subject besides the eregular
drill regulations. In these latter he was
already most letter perfect and had evi-
IDENTIFY studied them In Washington during
his enforced stay there. The enthusiasm
with which he did everything. whether It
was of great Importance or not, was WON
derful f.-4.. ~
"He was appointed to the disagreeabls
duties of field officers court almost inn
medateIy after his arrival, and all cases
of discipline in the regiment came oefore
him. These were not many. but they re-
uured delicate handling, as we had Pc
culiar class of men to deal with one OF
the most interesting was the case or two
men who had quarreled over their supper.
From our remote rendezvous no complaints
were made, but with all the efforts OF our
two colonies our equipment arrived but
slowly. We were long without bedding Cor
a large portion Of the command and longer
without cooking and table utensils. AS a
consequence the two men who quarreled
dixie many others) had to eat with their
fingers out of the same plate. It seems
that one was more greedy than the other
and made a practice of taking the better
and larger share, which resulted eventual
ly in a serious fight, in which both men
or matters. would have been worse. AS it
was there. was considerable apprehension
as to results when they should be liberated
from the guard house. COL Roosevelt al
lowed them to remain in confinement long
enough for them to cool Off, and then had
them brought to his tent No one knows
exactly what he said to them, but he soon
had the two rough cowboys crying, for
giving each other, and swearing an eter-
nal friendship.
During these days the colonel was not
only instructor, but pupil. 1t was strange
sight to see the man preside at officers
school for one hour and receive instruc-
tons himself In the manual of the carbine
or sword the next. He was learning
everything at once and teaching at the
same time. 1t was the same on board the
Yucatan going TO Cuba. Capt Capron.
who was afterward killed at Guasfmas.
taught officers school on board the Ship
Capron was young man, who held the
office OF second lieutenant in the Seventh
cavalry in the regular service. Roosevelt
but few weeks before had been assist
ant secretary of the navy, but the assist
ant secretary of the navy was not above
going to school to the second lieutenant
he was soon In command of his regi-
ment in the field, and besides leading In the
battle OF San JUAN made such efforts In
its behalf that 1t Jared better probably
. than any of the other regiments In the
command. When food was scarce he d.
vided with the men the supplies for the
headquarters' mess until often he was In
greater want than they. He labored also
under constant anxiety to discover the
identity of men whom he had noticed per-
forming various acts of valor on the field
In the terrific fight Of July 1. He had no
time to ask or remember names at the
time, but he was anxious to reward the
men, 1t Is to the everlasting credit of the
Rough Riders that these men, In most
cases, concealed their identity to the. end.
In fact, this went so far that one sergeant
persistently failed to report himsel wound
ed, thereby causing a continuous error in
the regimental morning report. When he
was at last discovered Roosevelt promoted
him for bis mndestx q we'll as his ualo.. y