New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-15
ARCHIBALD AND QUENTIN.

war was fought and his love for active life.
These same reasons drew to him scores of young
men of prominent families from all parts of the
country. who Joined the Western cavaIrymen to
go and fight the Spanards. The regiment thus
formed was known ROosevelts Rough Riders,
although 1t was commanded by Colonel Wood. OF
the regular army. Colonel Roosevelt being sec
ond in command. with the rank. until promoted.
to observation-disclosures. His conduct at the jungle
fight Of Los Guasimas and In the bloody charge
up San Juan Hill made him popular hero, and
gave rise to a large number of most interesting
stories concerning his personal bravery and his
influence over the men he led. At the very
start he licked this band OF Independent, high
spirited ranchers. cowpunchers and athletes into
regimental shape with uncertain hand. In
one Of his first speeches to them he said: You've
got to perform without finching whatever duty
is assigned YOU regardless of the difficulty or
danger attending il. No matter what comes,
you must not squeal" These words of Roose-
Welt became almost a religion with his men.
ITO do anything without fiinching and not to
squeaf' was their aim, and to hear the colonel
say Good" reward enough. One of his
troopers, who invaded home. thus
answered a Tribune reporter who had asked
concerning the colonel, He is fighter.
isn't he?'
A fighter! You'd give lifetime to that man
leading charge or to hear him yell Talk about
courage and grit and all that-hes got IT! why,
I've seen him dash into hail Of bullets. cheering
and yelling all the time. If possessed lie
doesn't know what fear is and seems TO bear a
charmed life All the Rough Riders adore him
Another told of how Colonel Roosevelt acted
when slightly hurt by fragment of Spanish
shell on San Juan Hill. He said:
Teddy with four or five other officers just
be:ow the brow of hill upon which one Of our
batteries was placed, when Spanish shell, Well
aimed flew over the crest and exploded Just
were painfully wounded, but Teddy, with his usual
good luck, escaped with a Craze of the back of
his right hand. It was trivial, but the scratch
bIed. | shall forget the delight on Teddys
face as he his own blood leak out. Whipping
out his handkerchief after moment. he bound it
near line. he held up his bandaged hand and
exclaimed gayly: See here, boys: I've got It, too!
thick of trouble Teddy. The first day the
Rough Riders held in reserve Teddy chafed
s sfaTDs we ali idoze Teddy He wears flannel
shirt most of the time. and refuses to fare any
better than his men Why. he wopdn.t nave AVE..
isn't of our fellows who wouldn't follow our
Teddy to hades if he ordered US to.
Writing afterward OF the battle of Las Quasi
mas, Colonel Roosevelt himself told of another
narrow escape he had. follows:
At every halt took advantage of the cover.
sinking down behind any mound bush or tree
trunk in the neiGhborhood The trees OF course
Once | was standing behind large palm, with my
head out to side. very fortunately for bullet
passed through the pam, filling my left eye aud
ear with the dust and plinters.
General Wheeler sale Of the colonel on his re-
turn from Cuba:
Absolutely devoted to hin. While We were together
on hoard the transport had an opportunity of OBJ
serving Roosevelt more closely than was possible