The Washington herald., 1913-10-05
Col Roosevelt Leader Of "ROugh Riders" Tells Of Pers Of
Cuban Campaign and Of the Demeanor of the
American Soldier Under Fire.

mind Mahan's account of Nelson's or
ders that each ship as it sailed forward,
IL il saw another ship engaged with an
enemy's ship, should rake the latter as
il passed. When Hawkins soldiers cap
tured the blockhOuse, I, very much elated,
ordered a charge on my own hook TO a
line of hills still farther on. Hardly
anybody heard this order, however; only
four men started with me, three of whom
were shot. ! gave one OF them, who was
only wounded, my canteen Of water. and
ran back much irritated that I had not
been followed-which was quite unjusti-
fable, because l found that nobody had
heard my orders. Gen. Sumner had come
up by this time, and I asked his permits
sion to lead the charge. He ordered me
to do so, and this time away We went,
and stormed the Spanish intrenchments.
There was some close fighting, and We
took a few prisoners. We also captured
the Spanish provisions, and ate them that
night with great relish. One of the items
was sailed flying-fish, by the way. There
were also bottles of wine. and jugs Of
fiery spirit. and as soon as possible had
these broken, although not before one
or two of my men had taken too much
liquor Lieut.. Howe, OF the regulars,
an aid of Gen. Sumner. brought me an
order to halt where l was; he could not
make up his mind to return until he had
spent an hour or two with us under fire.
The Spaniards attempted a cOunter-at-
tack in the middle of the afternoon, but
were driven back without effort. our men
laughing and cheering as they rose to
fire; because hitherto they had been as
saultng breastworks, or lying still under
artillery fire, and they were glad 10 get
"A chance to shoot at the Spaniards in
the open. We lay on our arms that
IrRnchpn
sweat. and had no blankets save a few
we took from -he dead Spaniards, we
found even the tropic night chilly be-
fore morning came.
Retreat Is Unpopular.
During the afternoons fighting. while
was the highest officer at our i'm
mediate part of the front Capts. Bough-
ton and MoRon. OF the regular cav
airy. two as fine officers as any man
could wish to have beside him in battle,
came along the firing line to tell me
that they heard a rumor that we might
fall back. and that they wished to record
their emphatic protest against any such
course. ! did not believe there was any
truth I'm the rumOT. for the Spaniards
were utterly incapable of any effective
counter-attack However. late in the
evening. after the fight Gen Wheeler
visited US at the front. and he told me
10 keep myself in readiness. as at any
moment 1t might be decided to fall back.
ia p. Greenway was beside me when Gen.
Wheeler was speaking. l answered:
well. general. l really don't know
whether we would obey an order to fall
back. We can take that city by rush,
and il We have to move out of here at
all I should be inclined to make the rush
in the right direction"
Greenway nodded an eager assent. The
old general. after a moments pause, eN-
pressed his hearty agreement. and said
that he would see that there was no
falling back. He had been very sick
for a couple of days, but, sick as he
was. he managed TO get into the fight. He
was a hancock II ever there was one.
but he was in very bad physical shape
on the day OF the fight. If there had
been any one in high command TO
supervise and press the attack that aft
ernoon. we would have gone right into
Santiago. In my part of the line the
advance was halted only because we
received orders not to move forward,
but to stay on the crest Of the captured
hill and hold it.
Early Morning Courage.
We are always told that Cookbook
in-the-morning courage is the most de-
sirable kind. Well. my men and the
regulars Of the cavalry had just that
brand Of courage. At about o'clock
on the morning after the first fight,
shooting began in our front. and there
was an alarm of a Spanish advance
was never more pleased than to see the
way in which the hungry, tired, shabby
men all jumped up and ran forward to
the Interest. so as to he ready for the
attack: which. however. did not come.
As soon as the sun rose the Spaniards
again opened upon us with artillery.
\ shell burst between Dave Goodrich
and myself, backing us with powder.
and killing and wOunding several of the
men Immediately behind Us.
Next day the fight turned into a siege;
there were some stirring Incidents; but
for the most part il was trench work
A fortnight later Santiago surrendered.
Wood Won his brigadier generalShip by
the capital way in which ne handled his
siege. He was put in command of the
captured city; and in few days / sue
Ceeded to the command Of the brigade.
The Health of the Army.
The health of the troops was not
good. and speedily became very bad.
There was some dysentery. and a little
yellow fever: but some of the trouble
was from a severe form OF malarial
fever. The Washington authorities had
behaved better than those in actual
command of the expedition at one crisis.
Immediately after the first days fight
ing around Santiago the latter had limited
by cable TO Washington that they might
like 10 withdraw, and Washington had
emphatically vetoed the proposal.
record this all the more gladly be-