Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-24
ROUGH RIDERS VICTORY.
Cyclonic Tactics Dismayed the Span
ish at Guasimas.
STRIKING GOODNESS OF Thu MEN
How the Engagement Began aud Was Sue
cessfully Won by Roosevelt's Men
and the Black Troopers of the
Regular Army.

Guasimas is the name given to the
pattleneld where, on June "a, the 1st
United States volunteer cavalry, better
known as the rough riders, received it's
baptism of fire and behaved with the
GOODNESS and intrepidity of veteran
troops. But all the glory of a decisive
defeat of the Spaniards did not belong
to the rough riders. The 10th cavalry
distinguished itself, and some troops of
the list United States cavalry were also
engaged. A New Yorker in the rough
riders, who witnessed the charge of the
10th up a ridge on the right of the val
ley where Colonel Woods regiment
seemed to be caught in a trap, was very
enthusiastic after the battle, wei the
dashing style in which the black troop
ers went for the position Of the Spanish
and captured it. II don't know what
kind of cavalry they make" he said,
but they are a glorious success as in
fantrymen. There can be no better SOL
diers in the world, and yet 1 Used %
u whether the negro could fight
with as much dash as the white man.
The LIST I'm ed States cavalry claims
the credit Of having opened the engage
ment with the discharge of a Hotchkiss
gun in the direction of a force of Span
iards which was plainly in view on the
crest of a hill. 1t is said that the Span
iards die not open fire on the rough rid
ers until a few minutes later. There
are two things hat should be said with
emphasis before the battle is described
in detail. One is that the rough riders
were not ambushed, as that word is
generally understood, and the other is
n a none of them was shot by his COM
rades in an overlapping line in the rear.
have been hints that this hap
pened, but they do serious injustice to
Colonel Wood and Lieutenant Colonel
Roosevelt, and also to General Young.
who was in command of the brigade en-
gagged. The brigade was a part, it should
be understood, of General Wheeler's
The night before Guasimas General
Young sent for Colonel Wood, of the
rough riders, and in substance said to
him.: Colonel, I have reliable informa- !
ton that the S%paniards have taken a !
very strong position beyond Sevilla, +
near the junction of the trail over the /
mountain at Siboney and the valley |
road, and expect to inf1ict a defeat on /
US there If we advance. l think the bri- |
gade can fight the first battle Of this |
wal tomorrow morning, and drive the |
enemy back on Santiago"
General Young got his information
about the position of the Spaniards |
from General Demetrio's scouts, and it
proved to be correct. Colonel Woods |
regiment climbed the hill at Siboney |
after sunrise, and the 10th took |
the valley road, starting later. Behind |
the rough riders at some distance |
marched the LIST. The country in which |
he troops were to operate can best be i
as a chaos of high hills and
mountain peaks. So pr'odigally are they
nassed about that it should not be diff |
1cult for a resourceful and determined
to annihilate an invading army. |
COLONEL Woods men marched with
packs at the regulation step, and
suffered terribly from the heat. Many
# them threw away their blankets or
'oats on the way, and 10 per cent fell
tut, so that at m time a considerable
lalt was necessary.
The 10th cavalry, Injured to hot wealth
# marching, went along cheerily
'nough, but when the battle began they
some distance behind the rough
The 10th had, however, a better
Dad to march over. That which Colonel
regiment took was a mere trail
through the woods, where it was not
llways possible for four men to march
lbreast. Let it be understood that the
ough riders were proceeding along one
the ridges Of which there are so many
n the valley that ends at Santiago. The
course of the 10th was in the bottom OF
he valley. Overlooking the ridge on
10Th sides was some high ground, and
n front was a considerable hill.
The Spanish position was ii the shape
# a horseshoe, SO that volley firing
InpI11 he ItV01A~ n---. 49,. 49, l